Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals' Late Additions Making Major Impact, Trey Hendrickson Contract Details Revealed

Starting point is 00:00:00 Who to thunk the Bengals making late offseason moves, adding players is already paying dividends. Let's break it down. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake Liscoe. He's James Rapine, and we are your host.

Starting point is 00:00:35 of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Covering the Cincinnati Bengals here on Lockdown Bengals since 2016, giving you a one-stop shop for everything you need, from film analysis to contract analysis, to the latest news, the latest moves. We've got you covered. And the everydayers already know it. If you're not in everyday or yet,

Starting point is 00:00:55 we invite you to join that awesome club of Bengals fans that makes Lockdown Bengals part of their daily routine. And you can even make Lockdown Bengals your first listen as that's what a good Bengals fan. obviously would do. I'm not here to police how you're a fan though, so we're glad you're glad you are here. Today's episode of Lockdown Bengals is sponsored by FanDul

Starting point is 00:01:16 where right now if you bet $5 and your bet wins, you'll get $300 and bonus bets to use across the FanDul app. And James today we dive into a number of tidbits that we haven't had time or information to talk about so far. First, the obvious value that the Bengals late offseason additions is already showing and the significance, the lesson we hope they take away from those moves. We also finally got the details on Trey Hendrickson's cap situation for his extra money that they added for his contract in 2025 and what that means for his tag number next year.

Starting point is 00:01:57 And there are a couple moves that we have to talk about, including a practice squad edition, a player very familiar to Al Golden on the defensive side of the ball. get there later in the show. But how much better do you feel, James, today after Lucas Patrick was said by Zach Taylor to have an injury that will keep him out for a couple of weeks that Dalton Reisner is on the football team right now? Yeah, it's huge. It's huge.

Starting point is 00:02:20 It's something, one, it's a guy that we've talked about for a while. And I think, I think the NFL views Dalton Reisner differently than we view Dalton Reisner, but clearly, clearly he made a big impact week one. and the Bengals believe he's going to make an impact moving forward because he's going to be the starter. And by the time you hear there, so watch this, Lucas Patrick could be on injured reserve and miss some time. I think that move is sounds pretty much inevitable. Give him a few weeks. Give him some time to heal after a calf injury to a 30-plus-year-old lineman.

Starting point is 00:02:54 That has been nicked up and dealt with a bunch of nicks really throughout the offseason and through camp. So injured reserve makes sense. And so does valuable depth. and that's why signing Reisner, going out and getting him makes sense. It's also why when they did sign Lucas Patrick, I was like, okay, that makes sense as a backup lineman. It totally made sense. And so, yeah, we wanted Reisner months ago. They didn't do that.

Starting point is 00:03:21 They signed him literally 12 days ago is when he was signed. He played in his first Bengals game 10 days after signing. we're two days past that. Awesome math, 12 days. He's been a Bengal. And if you look at it, he's a big reason why, at least for my money, that I believe this offense can turn it around.

Starting point is 00:03:45 Obviously, it's all these stars. But if you look at it and you say, oh, well, they should be improved at guard from where they were last year. They're going to figure it out. Well, yeah, part of that's Dylan Fairchild, but a big part of that's Dalton Reisner as well. And what he was able to do with just two,

Starting point is 00:04:00 practices, or two times in full pads, and really one time, because the other time was on the field against the Browns. Overall, I just think that this was, there's a home run signing at the time. You look at the numbers, you look at the value. It might be a grand slam signing now. It's just quite exciting to not immediately feel a pit of despair when the offensive lineman that starts the season at right guard for you for an offense that is so offensive line driven, despite what we saw from them to finish that game against Cleveland, where it did get hairy, it did get dicey, that you're not in panic mode immediately.

Starting point is 00:04:38 You're not thinking Jackson Kirkland's going to have to step in there or Matt Lee, who's been your center-only guy, we're not revisiting that conversation right now and talking about the possibility for him to finally get some work at guard after he missed all of the preseason. That's not in their plans, obviously, at this point anyway. The fact that it is a veteran with experience who has a good track record and pass protection,

Starting point is 00:05:01 who can just step in there and provide you adequate level pass protection. After, like you said, one padded practice, drawing huge phrase from Ted Harris calling it a, I don't remember the exact verbiage, but like exemplary professionalism was the gist of what Ted Karas had to say about Dalton Reisner being able to step in and perform with just an abbreviated introduction to the team, like you said,

Starting point is 00:05:28 a couple of practices. That's a big one. Another one that I think is pretty big. And I'm not saying Don't Reisor was perfect or anything. Obviously, like a lot of these linemen had their struggles in the second half in both the run game and the past game.

Starting point is 00:05:42 And Riser is no exception there. He had his issues. But just to have him, like I said, a relief compared to the alternative options. Beyond Riser, Mike Pennell, Noah Fant. And Noah Fant, a huge role, obviously, right away in this offense, playing a versatile role at tight end, 29 snaps for Fant, and I'm here to argue for more.

Starting point is 00:06:08 I'm here to argue for an expanded role for Noah Fant and a diminished role for, I think, honestly, negative at this point to the offense in true sample. And it was the Browns, so it could be weird stuff with Miles Garrett being present, But when Drew Sample's on the field as part of the passing game, Joe Burrow isn't looking at him. There's not a level of trust that exists passing the ball for Joe Burrow, from my viewing, to Drew Sample. There's one attempt to Drew Sample, obviously, in this game. I think Sample's late to get to the spot. It is part of why there's time for Devin Bush to close on Joe Burrow there.

Starting point is 00:06:56 But Noah Fant, maybe you're going to have to live with slightly worse blocking. I don't think Drew Sample is a good blocker in week one. At least you have a guy that can do something in multiple aspects of the game. So I'm sure, James, after one week to argue for a diminished role for Drew Sample, a bigger role for Noah Fant to keep the offense more versatile when he's on the field. Well, Noah fans are best tight end. So who am I to argue? I mean, it's not, it's not remotely close.

Starting point is 00:07:25 when you look at tight end and what tight end needs to be and what they need the tight end to do, that doesn't mean that Mike is sicky isn't better in some facets of his game, but he's a big receiver. And he, that's how they're going to use him nine times out of ten. And they should. That's how he should be used. There's no doubt.

Starting point is 00:07:43 Noah Fant. Clearly they were confident in him. They went to him the first play of the game. They obviously had that play to him in the red zone that resulted in a touchdown. Spider-2 by a banana. Yeah, that's right. spider 2 wide banana i think by the way cody ford elite fullback yeah no but i think that this uh it's a good point by you because when they signed noa fan the reason why because a lot of people

Starting point is 00:08:10 said why you don't need a tight end at that time you need this or that tight end was a need we knew that not a lot of people viewed it that way because they had just paid mike cacke and drew samples under contract and they had tanner hudson and then tanner mclaugh like let's say cam grandi But it was a need. And Noah Fant is the best most well-rounded tight end on the roster, and it's really not close. I'm not going to argue with you there. And this is how you wrap up the additions. Like how important these guys are, you're talking about a starting guard.

Starting point is 00:08:44 And I don't think anyone is debating that Dalton Reznor is one of the two best guards on the team. And your best tight end, most well-rounded tight end. And to get those guys for like what, three-ish, million bucks like you stole them you got them late in the process but they make you a lot better and that's why joe burrow said what he said last week i don't think they win in cleveland without no a fan and drew uh and uh dalton risner do you i don't know that's uh that's a that's a tricky question i think it's a i think it's a challenging question to answer i think that you know identifying the impact of individual players is hard to do

Starting point is 00:09:25 Noah fan, I think, helps a lot. I think risers probably the big one. Like, they score a touchdown with rising around the field early in that game. They needed those points, obviously. So you can make that argument pretty easily. Maybe whoever's playing instead, if that's Cody Ford, if that's. Probably Cody Ford. Jalen Rivers, probably Cody Ford.

Starting point is 00:09:46 Maybe you're dealing with past rush losses there early that the torpedo. Yeah. So I just, I think that those additions and Mike Pennell as well, obviously mattered a lot. He's going to be on the 53-man roster soon. It gives you some depth and some toughness on the interior of that defensive front. They mattered a ton. Getting Tri-Hendrickson's deal mattered a ton, and we have the details,

Starting point is 00:10:08 and this is where Jake Liscoe thrives. We'll get to that coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Fandle. The NFL season is here, and Fandle is making sure you're ready for kickoff, whether it's now week two with a deal for new customers. New customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. That's $300 to use on prop bets, parley's, same game live bets.

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Starting point is 00:12:11 Visit Supplyhouse.com to sign up for free and use promo code SHNFL5. You'll get 5% off your first order. That's Supplyhouse.com. Real people, real service. All right, Jake. let's dive into this Trey Hendrickson deal. He had three tackles in a sack. Rumor has it and not rumor.

Starting point is 00:12:31 I saw Trey Hendrickson thought he should have gotten at least another half sack the other day. But clearly disruptive. You look at his pass rush win rate, looked great, played well against the Browns. And the Bengals, well, they might not be saying goodbye to Trey this offseason, even though he only inked a one-year restructured deal. Yeah, you talk about a player that they don't win the game without and asking those questions. of their late external editions, and I think making sure that Trey was playing in this game. I don't think they win this game without Trey Hendricks, and I think there's a pretty clear argument that way. He made plays they needed at the end of game and affected plays at the end

Starting point is 00:13:09 of the game to help close things out, and he's just such a great closer. And I do want to circle back, James, if I could, just for one second before we talk about these contract details to the conversation around the tight ends and Drew Sample, Noah, the role's there for those guys because I do recognize I just want to throw out there that I do recognize that there's one thing that this offense is always going to trust true sample to do that they're never going to trust no offense to do and that's past protection assistance I think that that is a place where they're not going to get to a significant enough degree with with no offense to take true sample off the field in those particular situations when it is a past protecting

Starting point is 00:13:50 job on the table for for Drew Sample. So I did just want to circle back there. I do still think there's a clear role for Drew Sample in this offense. I still would love to see Cam Grandi get a shake at it, which is maybe a take. And I know this is a big tangent to this point, James. We just wanted to make sure I got that thought out there. Yes, Drew Sample, good at blocking. At least the Bengals trust him to do so. But he can't block Trey Hendrickson. Yeah. So the, the Trey Hendrickson deal here as we got the details on it. So we initially thought, and some of the initial reporting suggested that more money was prorated into that void year than it actually turns out was

Starting point is 00:14:32 prorated under the void year. So what the Bengals did is they got a $13 million new bonus for Trey Hendrickson in this deal that gets prorated into a void year. That means $6.5 million of his cap hit goes into 2026. And that cap hit for 2025 is reduced by what could have been $6.5 million higher. They will eventually roll over that $6.5 million, which will take care of that $6.5 million dead cap hit next year. So what's the impact is kind of cap neutral to do it this way? One, gives them a little bit more flexibility this year if they need that cap space in season for any reason.

Starting point is 00:15:09 Obviously, they did not make the move to sign Gibral Peppers, which we'll talk about a little bit more later in the show, but they will have some cap flexibility this year if they need it. for any moves that they might be required to make, whether it's a trade, whether it's a signing, whatever that is. The other big impact here is for Trey Hendrickson. So instead of a tag number in 2026 of what would be about $38 million, if that $6.5 million have been accounted for all in one year. The agent here allowing the Bengals to do a void year reduces the tag number for Trey Hendrickson in 2020.

Starting point is 00:15:49 from $38 million to just about $30 million. And that means for Trey, if he is going to get franchise tag next year, which is not a certainty by any means, but is an option. Without securing that no tag clause in the contract, this is potentially cost Trey Trenerson $8 million if he is franchise tagged in 2026. Now, if he is tagged, I think you'd have a whole ugly negotiation again. I don't think Tray would want to play on that tag. But I think this is just unforgivable work by the agent here, James, personally.

Starting point is 00:16:27 I don't see how you agree to that void year unless you secure a no tag clause at the same time. That just seems like bad business to me, just by opening yourself up to the risk of being franchise tagged at a lower number than you could have gotten in 2026. Yeah, I think this is going to come up. And Trey kind of dismissed it when he signed this contract and mentioned like, yeah, cap goes up, tag goes up. And like that is normal, but not in this scenario. Like that's a very real number. And if you look at it and you say, well, the Bengals are willing to offer Trey a one plus one type deal,

Starting point is 00:17:10 if he plays well this year and let's say they don't feel great about bringing back Joseph Osai or Miles Murphy doesn't. doesn't take a step and it's just Shamar that they're confident in and maybe not maybe they're not even confident in Shamar i think they will be but who knows well then you just tag tray you tag tray and now you have them again and we're back to where we were where this is this back and forth and there is a set deadline now and of july 15th is probably it usually it is of getting a long-term deal done with a franchise tagged player and we're back at back at square one and and so i don't want to rule that out. I don't think the Bengals like they were with T, like I think they were open last year at this time to not tagging T, even though we had discussed that, that possibility.

Starting point is 00:17:59 And I think that's where they're at with Trey as well, where it's not like they're like, oh, we're for sure doing this, but it's definitely an option now. They've definitely kept that door cracked. And that's good for the Bengals, but I also feel for Trey. I also feel for that decision And because there's a, I know that there was a trying off season for him. You could tell when he came up during the offseason program and talked for 20 plus minutes on the practice field and goes on the McAfee show and does all the things that he did to try to get a long term deal, whether he's here or elsewhere, he might be in that same position in March. And would not shock me one bit as we sit here in September to say, yeah, six months from now, we could be having similar conversations to what we've had over the past seven, eight months. just crazy to think that they're potentially leaving money on the table here from Trey Hendrickson and the representation side in allowing the void year.

Starting point is 00:18:54 A lot of times these void years don't really have an impact on the player because the franchise tag is typically not relevant, but when the franchise tag is below market value and you have a player like Trey who the Bengals could be interested in having for just one more year, I mean, that's obviously what they were comfortable offering him from a contract perspective based on everything we've heard from reports that the contracts they were offering him were essentially two-year deals with with kind of funny money in the third year and an easy out that that franchise tag will potentially be tantalizing for the Bengals and we could be going through another rough off season of negotiations there but great start to the season for

Starting point is 00:19:34 Trey Hendrickson picking up where he left off looking every bit the pass rusher that he's always been in this game could have had more production if The secondary and Camp Taylor Britain, in particular at times that held up a little bit better. But a good start for Trey Henderson, glad he'll be playing this year, just kind of crazy and wanted to cover this now that we finally got the details

Starting point is 00:19:55 that the tag number isn't maximized given the lack of a no tag clause for Trey Hendrickson in 2026. Now, the Bengals did also add to the practice squad in the defensive line room. We will finish the show there. another familiar face for Al Golden joins the Bengals. We'll go there coming up next. Mazda crafts cars for those who do more than simply move.

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Starting point is 00:21:11 Speaking of moving, the Bengals making a move on Tuesday adding to the practice squad. Scary line. Oh, my God. A player who. Jesus, peace. Tested well at the combine, a player who's a former second round pick, a former Notre Dame, a golden domer. What? Fighting Irish.

Starting point is 00:21:36 Golden. What? That's another thing they call them. Golden domers? That's the thing that people say. Yeah, but that's not like their name. It's not their name. Like, you might as well just call them the hurricanes.

Starting point is 00:21:47 What are you doing? Well, Isaiah Foskey added to the Bengals practice squad as the Bengals are looking to improve the depth on their roster. Former second round pick, like I said, former great athletic tests are very productive at Notre Dame. But the criticism on Foskey coming out, at least in his final year at Notre Dame, was that a lot of the sacks were kind of at the cleanup variety, not necessarily winning a whole lot on his own, never really got onto the field a ton.

Starting point is 00:22:14 And the NFL has a total of 149 snaps in his two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Didn't really get after it a ton of a pass rusher in his opportunities to do so. But it's a risk that for your practice squad is absolutely worth taking just 25 years old with some athletic upside, a guy to develop a guy that Al Golden is familiar with in Foskey. Yeah, I love this move. by the way he's 24 Jake he's 24 years old he's almost 25 he turns 25 he turns 25 at the end of October it's September the 24 year old no I I'm being nitpicky there but what is what's really interesting is you're talking about the 40th overall pick I think a lot of analysts I went back and looked

Starting point is 00:22:59 gave him a second round grade this is the same draft the bengals took miles Murphy 28th overall and so to get this guy into your practice squad knowing that he knows how Golden System. And to do it, after he had worked out for the Bears, and the Bears gave him a long look. And that's his former head coach there, is the defensive coordinator and Dennis Allen. Dennis Allen was the Saints head coach when they drafted him a couple of years ago.

Starting point is 00:23:25 Now he's the defensive coordinator in Chicago. He also got a look from the Eagles, worked out for them. To come to Cincinnati, to join the practice squad, to me, as far as practice squad signings go, it's pretty exciting. I'm not expecting him to be active tomorrow. But having that kind of depth is important. And who knows?

Starting point is 00:23:45 Maybe the Saints were just a train wreck, which is not that shocking. Maybe Foskey takes a little time and needs a little time. And the change of scenery with a familiar face like Al Golden and a guy like Jerry Montgomery can get a little bit more out of him. Like it's it's interesting to look back at the pre-draft stuff on him. Not that anyone thought he would be this super elite pass rusher. but I think there were a lot of people that thought he'd be a good player. And he hasn't been good yet. All right.

Starting point is 00:24:13 So why hasn't he been good over the first couple of seasons, 27 NFL games, and can you restart, refresh his career and make it happen? Maybe they can't. Maybe they can't. But I'd rather have Isaiah Foskey on the practice squad than a heck of a lot of other defensive ends that aren't 24, almost 25 in former second round picks that were the 40th overall selection just a couple of years ago. And the Bengals did have one spot open on the practice squad.

Starting point is 00:24:40 They had 15 guys there. So no corresponding move needed for this one. This will be the second edge rusher on the practice squad. They still, with Mike Pennell, only have the one interior defensive player. And Mike Pennell, like he said, we're expecting to see him on the 53 pretty quick here. I think the fact that he was called up and active over the guys that they have on the 53, suggested that move is coming. So I think there's potential for one of those.

Starting point is 00:25:07 defensive tackles currently on the roster to try to get onto the practice squad, maybe flip spots with Pennell if they get through waivers. But adding depth in the edge room on the practice squad, always welcome. And hopefully doesn't need to be tested anytime soon. I like the rotation they have going with the top four guys. Camp Sample hardly playing on Sunday as the fifth guy active. It was a whole lot of Shamar Seward Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Osai, and Miles Murphy rotating in there. But I kind of like the end rotation right now for the Bengals, excited to see how that plays out in the early part of this season is Shamar Stewart, certainly showing the tools in his opening debut for the Cincinnati Bengals, but Foskey as a developmental piece, see what you can get out of them,

Starting point is 00:25:54 see if you can be somebody that can develop over the course of this season, could do worse, for sure on your practice squad than Foski, I think. Yep, yep, that's exactly what it is. And it doesn't mean you, throw a parade or celebration that Foske's on the practice squad, but certainly someone that's solid. And I agree with you on Penel. I think he's going to come up. And maybe it's just the Lucas Patrick goes on our panel comes up.

Starting point is 00:26:19 But then you're really, really heavy at defensive tackle and would not be shocked if long term they make a move there. Heavy literally and roster-wise, because that would be their sixth defensive tackle. That's right. And I wouldn't be surprised to see them bring another offensive linemen up. So they have nine guys there. wouldn't be a shocking move if they really like one of the guys on the practice squad. If they wanted to bring one of those guys onto the 53,

Starting point is 00:26:44 that could be another option if they don't want to carry six defensive tackles. The other move that didn't happen for the Cincinnati Bengals, but did happen, unfortunately, and the AFC North is Jabro Peppers is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers lost a starting safety for at least a few weeks. It sounds like on Sunday, so Gibral Peppers goes to the Steelers, which when these moves happen in the division, when it's guys we've talked about, and it's guys that we think could help the Bengals is obviously annoying. I think the safety's played well for the Bengals against the Browns,

Starting point is 00:27:14 and that's including Tyson Anderson who played. Jordan Battle obviously had the issue in the Scramble Drill a couple times, but Jordan Battle also made some really great plays in this game, including a great tackle that we talked about yesterday on the film review with Mike Santagina, Bengals, Sands, and the interception. Those are very obvious plays. Stone had a couple nice plays as well, and Tyson Anderson was in on an important stop at,

Starting point is 00:27:37 1.2, helping Logan Wilson to make a tackle. So I liked what I saw from the safeties on Sunday. Still think Braille peppers could have helped. And so when you see that happen with the Steelers in the division, it's always just like a little bit annoying to see a division rival make those moves. Yeah, it is. More than a little bit. It stinks.

Starting point is 00:27:58 Because really, you look at it and they lose Minka, but they get a guy in Gibral peppers who I believe in, certainly. and they have a better corner. I mean, it's going to come down to Aaron Rogers and that offense and all those things and they look good the other day. But I do expect that defense to be much better than they were against the Jets for most of the season. So to see them get a little bit better, it stinks. And this is another example.

Starting point is 00:28:23 These additions do matter. We've seen it with the Bengals. And so it would have been ideal if he was in stripes. That's not the case. I don't know if the Bengals are actually interested in Jabroil Peppers, but they're going to have to deal with them twice. this year. Yep. And well, that's time to move on to week two, James. I think the bench were ready to put week one behind them and really a dud of a performance. No explosive plays

Starting point is 00:28:47 from this offense in week one. They were just so close to a couple of them that didn't end up clicking. But a good showing for the defense, especially the run defense, while there are issues to iron out. We talked about all this at corner yesterday. And we'll get into these matchups as your next episode we're going to cross over with locked on jaguars and get a first-hand perspective from the great tone on what's going on with those jaguars the biggest stories the biggest matchups the things are going to decide the game and then we'll get your game preview for you to finish out the week later here on lockdown bengals until then that's going to do it for this episode of the locked on bengals podcast thanks for listening ho today and have a good

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals' Late Additions Making Major Impact, Trey Hendrickson Contract Details Revealed

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