The nature of Trey Hendrickson‘s Bengals future is once again in doubt this year. A free agent departure looms unless Cincinnati uses the franchise tag in this case. 
After playing a one-year agreement in 2025, Hendrickson has long been expected to find a new home this spring. A departure would set the Bengals up for a compensatory pick in 2027, but they could instead aim for immediate draft capital by tagging Hendrickson and then trading him to an interested team. Taking that route would likely not yield a notable return.
The Bengals will use the upcoming Combine to evaluate Hendrickson’s market, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. That comes as no surprise, as many major roster decisions are informed when front office executives and player agents gather in Indianapolis. The Bengals will gauge the willingness of suitors to acquire Hendrickson in a tag-and-trade scenario, but the presence of other pass rushers on the market will lessen the willingness of outside teams to pursue a trade in this case.
An executive Conway spoke with predicted teams will be prepared to spend no more than a third-round pick in a Hendrickson trade. Any acquiring team will be required to work out a long-term pact with the four-time Pro Bowler, something which the Bengals have – in highly public fashion – been unable to do for quite some time. That will limit the number of genuine contenders to acquire Hendrickson, who was previously the subject of much stronger trade offers.
The pending free agent class includes a number of younger options than Hendrickson, who is approaching his age-31 season. The likes of Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Kwity Paye are each on course to reach the open market for the first time in their careers. The list of free agents will also include another veteran in the form of Bradley Chubb, whose Dolphins release was learned of on Monday, while a blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade remains a possibility. The depth of alternative targets, coupled with Hendrickson’s injury-shortened 2025 campaign, could limit the Bengals’ ability to line up a significant trade package.
Hendrickson was limited to just seven games this past season due to core muscle surgery. The former Saint was highly productive during his healthy campaigns, though; in 72 Bengals contests, Hendrickson racked up 61 sacks. A parting of ways would come as no surprise with this largely successful Cincinnati partnership having run its course in the eyes of many. Nonetheless, the team may have a difficult time finding adequate value as part of its reset on the edge.
Titans all over him.
At his age, he’s a one year rental for any team, and not at top dollar either.
That’s a ridiculous claim. When healthy, he’s among the best pass rushers in the game by far.
His 2025 just destroyed his market though.
So if 2025 destroyed his market, how is that ridiculous lol?
Because if healthy he’s still an elite DE. He absolutely would command top dollar on a short deal if he has a healthy 2026 season and gets double digit sacks again.
If it is a tag and trade, I don’t feel like they will get a Parsons type haul. I guess you just have to decide if you think you can get a trade completed or if you are willing to let him walk and you get whatever Comp Pick is available (and don’t sign someone else who will eliminate the pick). But it would be rough to do the tag and then not have a trade partner and you are going to have to pay all that money anyway.
No one is going to give a pick for the privilege of paying Trey $30M next year.
Cinci really screwed up not trading him
Ever known a couple that couldn’t stop arguing in public, even at events that weren’t about them, and you could feel everyone wishing they would just break up already? As a football fan, that’s kinda how I feel about the Bengals and Hendrickson. I hope the relationship ends once and for all soon.
Players get disgruntled so I think these types of scenarios will always exist. Recently we had the Browns / Garrett staredown then the 49ers / Aiyuk standoff and now the Raiders and Crosby have gotten into the act.
Tag and trade Hendrickson and a couple of draft choices for Maxx Crosby. He’s already signed for 2 years. Better alternative than letting him walk and signing Joey Bosa or Bradley Chubb.
@Man What Runs With the Football – LOL, are you sure you don’t want to make the Raiders throw in Bowers as well?
Cincinnati did this to themselves.