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.

Pro's stellar performance, his age and the need to pay expensive offensive stars make for a complicated situation in Cincinnati.

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.