Dan Orlovsky Issues Bold Demand: Should Bengals Break the Bank for This Defensive Star?

Ever wonder why the Cincinnati Bengals, blessed with a quarterback like Joe Burrow—one of the absolute brightest stars in the NFL sky—seem hell-bent on making life harder for him instead of easier? It’s like having a prized racehorse but refusing to fix the barn door. Now, sprinkle in the conundrum of Trey Hendrickson, an elite pass rusher who’s apparently worth so much that even former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky is throwing down the gauntlet, demanding the Bengals stop dragging their feet on paying up. The defense has been a headache, the front office’s tactics—questionable at best—and the playoff drought only deepens the mystery. So here we are, watching a team that knows the value of its crown jewels but seems oddly allergic to investing in them. How long before this balancing act tips over, and what does it mean for their chance at reclaiming a Super Bowl throne? Let’s dig into the drama behind the dollars and defenses.

The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best quarterbacks in football.

When a team is in that type of position, it has to do everything in its power to put him in a position to succeed.

However, they seem set on doing the opposite for Joe Burrow.

The Bengals have one of the best pass rushers in the game, yet they refuse to pay him what he’s worth.

With that in mind, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky called them out and made a case for them to pay Trey Hendrickson.

“The Bengals haven’t drafted anybody who recorded 10+ sacks for them since Sam Hubbard in 2018 (who just retired). If you can’t develop, you have to pay,” Orlovsky wrote on X.

The @Bengals haven’t DRAFTED anybody who recorded 10+ sacks for them since Sam Hubbard in 2018 (who just retired). If you can’t develop, you have to pay.

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 18, 2025

The Bengals missed the playoffs last season, mostly because of their questionable defense.

They brought back head coach Zac Taylor, and though they fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, they didn’t go to the lengths they needed to address their defensive shortcomings.

As things stand, Hendrickson isn’t only their best defensive player, he might be their only good defensive player.

The Bengals reportedly want to get at least one first-round pick and a young player in any trade.

That shows they’re well aware of his value, they just don’t want to pay him what he wants in a contract extension.

The organization has done a lot to infuriate its best players in the past, and it’s not a surprise to see them struggling to get back to the Super Bowl.

For as long as they continue to operate this way, it’s hard to believe any big-name free agent will want to join them, not even with Burrow in town.

The post Dan Orlovsky Makes Case For Bengals To Pay All-Pro Defender appeared first on The Cold Wire.