While everyone is busy watching the rival drama unfold on Netflix's "Quarterback" Season 2, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are opening training camp and getting set for another NFC South title run. And, the Bucs could be aided by a huge bit of news that just broke.
Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has been stuck in the middle of difficult contract talks all offseason, and the latest twist makes it very clear that he has dug in his heels. Hendrickson posted this to his Instagram, essentially telling the world he's gone.
Hendrickson is now in Florida and far away from Bengals training camp.
Wait, Florida? You don't say.
We've been talking about this possibility for months now.
The Buccaneers just received a golden opportunity to trade for Trey Hendrickson
Enter: Jason Licht.
The Bucs are one of the few teams who could be a Trey Hendrickson away from the Super Bowl. Offensively, they're as good as any team in the league. It's been the defensive side of the ball which has let them down in recent years.
What better way to remedy that problem than to go after the NFL's sack leader from last season? Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks led the league and would be more than welcome in Tampa Bay. That's for sure.
There are, of course, questions to be answered. Is Hendrickson's statement going to lead to a Bengals contract? At this point, it doesn't seem likely, with contract talks breaking down multiple times. Based on Cincinnati's issues with getting first-round pick Shemar Stewart signed, too, there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
If Hendrickson were to become firmly available, what would the Bucs have to give up in order to land him? Let's assume a first rounder would get it done. Do the Bucs make it happen?
Considering it would likely be a late first-round pick, that seems like a no-brainer for Licht. If you can put Hendrickson on that defense, he would make that entire unit better.
With the secondary having been a longstanding worry between injury and overall talent level at certain positions, they'd get a boost with the Bucs being able to get after the quarterback even more, thanks to Hendrickson.
Does Licht make the phone call? Let's sure hope so.