Trey Hendrickson
 

SI says the Colts are "top landing spot" for Trey Hendrickson

Obviously it would depend on the price, but I think he'd be a great addition to the team. Suggested compensation I've seen online is a 2026 2 and a 2026 6. That's pretty steep, but I could potentially stomach it for the benefit.

The biggest counterargument is the Trey Hendrickson we have at home, Laiatu Latu. That said, who would complain about having 2 Trey Hendricksons?

That compensation seems fair considering the huge contract he wants. I am just not sure I am down for an all-in move when the most important part of the team is a glaring question mark and kind of looks like shit.

I don't know which way I lean. If they signed him tomorrow, I'd be super excited. If they decide not to... I get it.

I also don't really trust most of these articles, although it's pretty clear that Hendrickson is having a struggle session with CIN's front office.

The biggest obstacle I see is the future salary demands. How can we make that work?

Backloading. Give him a 5 year deal with a $45 million signing bonus and a $5 million fully guaranteed first year salary. $50 million cash year 1, $14 million year 1 cap hit.

Isn't backloading contracts the opposite of how Ballard usually handles contracts?

They can restructure deals for guys like Buckner, Pitman, and Taylor.

Not recently. Ward and Bynum are heavily backloaded, Buckner contract has a void year where he's not under contract but counts $7.2 million against the cap, and he counts $26.6 million against the cap the next 2 years because his cap hit last year was $8.35 million.

How much restructure room is there with Buckner and how much do you want to kick the can down the road?

I have no idea, I was just giving an option of how to get a contract done.