Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson signed a four-year, $60 million contract before the 2021 NFL season.
In return, he repaid the team’s trust with career-highs of 34 total tackles, 14 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Despite his impressive numbers, his $15 million annual average salary makes him the ninth highest-paid edge rusher in the league (tied with Carl Lawson).
Still, it’s nowhere near Myles Garrett‘s $25 million annual value and T.J. Watt’s $27.7 million.
Yet even though his salary isn’t on par as those two gentlemen, Hendrickson gives them a run for their money in one key statistic.
Most sacks in the @NFL over the last 2 seasons
T.J. Watt 37.5
Myles Garrett 28.0
TREY HENDRICKSON 27.5Where on earth is the love for Trey @Bengals ?pic.twitter.com/DayUtEEc8d
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) July 21, 2022
The NFL on CBS’ official Twitter account revealed that Hendrickson had the third-most sacks over the past two seasons.
Watt had 37.5, Garrett had 28, and Hendrickson isn’t far behind with 27.5.
Those numbers beg the question, “Where on earth is the love for Trey?”
For starters, his performance has been overshadowed by an explosive Bengals offense.
Football fans and analysts often credit that unit as the reason for their enormous success because of quarterback Joe Burrow behind center.
They also have Joe Mixon from the backfield who had 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
The Bengals also have an explosive receiving corps with Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase.
The highlights of those players overshadow the success that the Bengals defense had in 2021.
Hendrickson Prefers To Be A Silent Operator
Hendrickson thrives when he can operate without much fanfare.
That way, other teams don’t pay much attention to him.
It’s a costly mistake that can lead to multiple sacks in a game from him.
Before they know it, he will dominate the line of scrimmage while maintaining his persona as a silent operator.
