There's been a few factors this offseason that have led people to believe the Bengals may move on from Hendrickson.

Cincinnati continues to hold all the leverage with Hendrickson, who threatened retirement last offseason and seems unlikely to just up and sit out in 2025. The Bengals have said they want to bump his pay on an extension, but there's no hard deadline to get something done.

Hendrickson had the Bengals up against it in negotiations for his contract extension before the draft. They had no answers at edge rusher for the short or long term. They regain leverage by picking Stewart. A plan for life without Hendrickson is in place between Stewart, Myles Murphy and rotational pieces behind them.