OCTOBER 15: The 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense,” but the Bengals have no intention of moving their All-Pro pass rusher, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. Cincinnati is holding out hope that newly-acquired quarterback Joe Flacco can keep them in contention unless and until Joe Burrow makes a late-season return. More losses before the trade deadline could always change those plans, but the Bengals do have a relatively easy three-game stretch coming up.
OCTOBER 11: Having lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help at defensive end. Lynch’s interest in finding a Bosa replacement could lead to a trade before the Nov. 4 deadline. To that end, Dianna Russini of The Athletic expects the 49ers to call the Bengals about Trey Hendrickson.
The 2-3 Bengals aren’t declaring themselves as sellers yet. On the contrary, they acquired quarterback Joe Flacco from the Browns earlier this week in an effort to keep their season alive. Flacco will start Sunday against the Packers in place of the demoted Jake Browning, who struggled mightily replacing the injured Joe Burrow.
It’s a long shot that the 40-year-old Flacco will rescue a deeply flawed Cincinnati team that’s on the outside of the playoff picture. If he doesn’t, it could behoove the Bengals to sell Hendrickson to the highest bidder in the next few weeks.
After his second straight 17.5-sack showing in 2024, Hendrickson and the Bengals continued a long standoff regarding his contract during the offseason. They finally agreed to a revised deal in late August, thus preventing Hendrickson from holding out into the regular season.
While Hendrickson’s amended contract didn’t add any years, it did increase his 2025 salary from $15.8MM to $30MM. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is due to reach free agency in the offseason, when he’ll likely price himself out of Cincinnati. That’s assuming he even finishes the season as a Bengal. If he does, the Bengals could place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, but it would cost upward of $35MM to keep him under wraps. That may be tough to swing for a team that already has exorbitant commitments in Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins for 2026. That trio of offensive core players will combine to count approximately $100MM against the salary cap next season.
Burrow’s toe injury has been the Bengals’ main problem this season, but it isn’t the only culprit for their poor start. Despite Hendrickson’s presence, their defense ranks 30th in the NFL in points and yardage surrendered. That’s another reason a 2025 turnaround looks unlikely for the club. Hendrickson hasn’t done anything to hurt his trade value, though, having notched four sacks and eight quarterback hits over the first five games of the season. He’s Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) 11th-ranked EDGE player this year.
While the Bengals may eventually sell, the 49ers are lining up as buyers after a 4-1 start. They’ve weathered a series of injuries to key players – Bosa, quarterback Brock Purdy, and tight end George Kittle, among others – to reemerge as NFC contenders after a down 2024. They’ve succeeded despite an anemic pass rush that ranks 30th in the league in sacks. Bosa and Bryce Huff have combined for five of the 49ers’ six sacks. Cornerback Upton Stout has the other, meaning the majority of the 49ers’ front seven has been shut out.
Although it may not turn out to be Hendrickson, it seems like a given that the 49ers will bring in a complement (or complements) to Huff by early November. With around $24MM in cap space, the 49ers are as well-positioned as anyone to make an expensive splash. That could mean reeling in Hendrickson if the Bengals ultimately wave the white flag on their season.
Bengals gave up next to nothing for Flacco.
Many teams will be calling for Hendrickson. SF, Dallas, etc. Let the Bidding war begin. Why didn’t SF sign Joey Bosa??
DALLAS what a joke by !!!
Bidding war? He’s hurt now and he’s a free agent at the end of the year plus his salary is 30 million of which the acquiring team will be responsible for half or more. 3rd round at best
That would be like me coming home from the flea market and telling my wife I bought a 3 legged table for a song…lol.
Going to cost a 1st and multiple picks if enough teams are involved to drive up the price.
Too bad for 9rs that Bengals already have a QB that is a no doubt starter. They can’t include Mac or Purdy as they have no value. Maybe they should call Raiders because Geno is not the future. Geno would lose the job is they had drafted someone.
Nobody is giving up a 1st and multiple picks when they know Hendrickson will become a free agent. Bengals won’t be tagging him and if they were going to extend him it would have happened by now.
Agree, a ten game rental with no guarantees of resigning will never draw a first unless the player agrees to a contract prior to the trade. And it’s better for Hendrickson to test the free market in 2026.
I don’t know how comp picks work, but I know that he’s significant enough of a name and impact that someone will pay him in free agency. So any trade now would have to be better than whatever that projected comp pick might be later.
@technically. I haven’t looked at the price chart it went up, but it could be a 1st to a second if they dont sign anyone until the draft.
The earliest comp pick is at the end of the 3rd round and all the way to the 7th round. There’s no comp picks in the 1st and 2nd round.
@deerhunter. Yeah i thought they were changing it maybe it was proposed. It’s a third you’re right still think its atleast a 2nd for a offer, if the acquiring gm botches it that’s on him but they should get a third back.
Yeah a first maybe out of question with little time remaining. Bengals traded for Flacco like they have a chance. That means they are taking this to the deadline and Hendrickson has to demand a trade.
I do think multiple late rounders will be needed in a bidding war.
You went from a 1st to multiple late rounders. Way to stay convicted to yourself
It’s not that deep buddy.
Hendrickson will bring a 3rd or 4th and nothing more. Never was bringing a 1st and others
@deerhunter. Check the comp pick formula. It really depends on the deal he signs but I bet he gets a big deal in free agency and the Bengals will get a first or second. Whether he does anything is the question, but some team will give him the bag. The formula gets tricky with canceling out, but as long as the Bengals sign players that were released or players after the draft they will be getting a nice pick back.
End of the 3rd round is the best the Bengals can get
While it’s true that the Steelers have typically owned the Bengals, the AFC North likes to beat up on each other and these teams are even record since 2020. Despite Pittsburgh taking 3 of the last 4, the Bengals did actually win their last meeting, so yes, they do still have a chance. If the Bengals win on Thursday, they would only be 1 game behind Pittsburgh with the head to head advantage at that point. Still a tough road, but the season is far from over…unless they lose.
I think Hendrickson might have just blown his knee out calling his agent to see if there’s any truth to these rumors to the Niners.
LOL @ “relatively easy three game stretch.”
The Steelers and Bears will be easy?
Shanahan is Hell bent on running CMC into the ground and doesn’t use a young player like Guerendo so gauge Cindy’s interest ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No, not straight up; obviously a pick would have to be involved and more than likely a high-ish one or another player
lol @ “Cindy’s”
CINCY
So Cincy won’t trade him…but they also wouldn’t pay him…classic Bengals
MC- Why exactly would they trade him if they’re still in the hunt for the playoffs? And they did pay him. His whole sitting out act was to not have to participate in training camp because he settled for what they had been offering him the entire time.If they tagged him next year it would still be under the going rate for pass rushers. Would be wiser to tag him next year, then trade him for a good haul because he would still be cheaper than any of the other “elite” pass rushers.