Bengals' Trey Hendrickson predicted to land $78M deal with AFC rival

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If Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson reaches free agency this upcoming offseason, he’ll be one of the top names available.

That’s a big if, though.

Hendrickson is now 31 years old and just had a contract year marred by injuries, ending with surgery. The Bengals could always opt to restrict him from the open market with a franchise tag, too.

But as Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox points out, the Indianapolis Colts would be a logical fit, hence predicting a three-year deal worth $78 million:

“If Hendrickson does hit the open market, the Indianapolis Colts would provide him with a very logical landing spot. Indy will be hoping to reenter the playoff picture after this season's collapse. The Colts could also use an edge-rusher of Hendrickson's caliber after notching a good-not-great 39 sacks through 16 games.”

Hendrickson going to reunite with former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis has been a common theory since Anarumo even got the job there.

The Bengals re-did Hendrickson’s final year of his contract before the season to end a standoff, then didn’t go through with his trade request. Given the mixture of age, injuries and future contract demands, the team couldn’t or wouldn't find a parter at the trade deadline, either.

The Bengals seem unlikely to give Hendrickson a three-year pact at a big price range. But they did re-sign a 30-year-old BJ Hill to a three-year deal last offseason, so it’s not totally unprecedented anymore.

While the Colts make perfect sense, a franchise tag still might be the best route for Hendrickson and the Bengals in the offseason, especially if this year did big harm to his value on the open market.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' Trey Hendrickson predicted to land $78M deal with AFC rival

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