Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 this season, establishing him as a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors on Thursday night.

It’s rare for a player of Hendrickson’s caliber to play on expiring deal without any long-term security, which is why this is a pressing matter for both sides. Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin told The Enquirer the team recognizes they need to give Hendrickson a raise in an exclusive interview at the Senior Bowl last week.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson's future with the Bengals has been a topic of discussion for some time and Hendrickson suggested that this offseason will be the right time to settle the question once and for all.