Twenty-three months following the first of two trade requests, the tenure of one of the most decorated, and at times contentious players in recent Bengals history is over.With the passing of the league’s 4 p.m. franchise tag deadline Tuesday, All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is officially an unrestricted free agent.The decision by Cincinnati to let Hendrickson walk in free agency is the right one. Just as it was the right move to hold on to the four-time Pro Bowler ahead of the 2025 season. This past season, the Bengals had no path toward fielding a playoff-caliber defense with Hendrickson on another team. Both sides knew it, and after multiple rounds of at times heated contract talks, a $13 million dollar pay bump for 2025 was reached. Each party understood this would be their final handshake at the negotiating table. The headaches for both club and player date back to before the 2023 season when an extension — that eventually created even more arguments — set the stage for a heightened tug of war the past two offseasons.After an awkward 2025 trade deadline came and went, Hendrickson missed the remainder of the season due to injury, and the Bengals began to see flashes from former first round pick and fellow defensive end Myles Murphy. Ultimately, the idea of tagging Hendrickson and facilitating a sign and trade could have happened had the draft capital been offered. It appears the rest of the league wasn’t willing to part with even a 2026 third round pick to potentially cut the line in the Hendrickson sweepstakes.Instead, potential suitors waited it out, and the bids, which surely started being placed during last week’s scouting combine, will be officially sorted out as early as next week.Once signed elsewhere, the Bengals will receive a 2027 compensatory draft pick. It’s a small return comparatively to what was out there ahead of the 2025 offseason, but again, try telling Joe Burrow the only Pro Bowl talent on defense was being sent away after missing the playoffs in 2024. Not happening. What should be toasted to in Cincinnati is the best late-game closer on defense in franchise history. That’s what Hendrickson will be remembered for – 72 regular season games, 61 sacks. It may be a while before that happens again around here.
CINCINNATI —
Twenty-three months following the first of two trade requests, the tenure of one of the most decorated, and at times contentious players in recent Bengals history is over.
With the passing of the league’s 4 p.m. franchise tag deadline Tuesday, All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is officially an unrestricted free agent.
The decision by Cincinnati to let Hendrickson walk in free agency is the right one. Just as it was the right move to hold on to the four-time Pro Bowler ahead of the 2025 season.
This past season, the Bengals had no path toward fielding a playoff-caliber defense with Hendrickson on another team. Both sides knew it, and after multiple rounds of at times heated contract talks, a $13 million dollar pay bump for 2025 was reached. Each party understood this would be their final handshake at the negotiating table.
The headaches for both club and player date back to before the 2023 season when an extension — that eventually created even more arguments — set the stage for a heightened tug of war the past two offseasons.
After an awkward 2025 trade deadline came and went, Hendrickson missed the remainder of the season due to injury, and the Bengals began to see flashes from former first round pick and fellow defensive end Myles Murphy.
Ultimately, the idea of tagging Hendrickson and facilitating a sign and trade could have happened had the draft capital been offered.
It appears the rest of the league wasn’t willing to part with even a 2026 third round pick to potentially cut the line in the Hendrickson sweepstakes.
Instead, potential suitors waited it out, and the bids, which surely started being placed during last week’s scouting combine, will be officially sorted out as early as next week.
Once signed elsewhere, the Bengals will receive a 2027 compensatory draft pick. It’s a small return comparatively to what was out there ahead of the 2025 offseason, but again, try telling Joe Burrow the only Pro Bowl talent on defense was being sent away after missing the playoffs in 2024. Not happening.
What should be toasted to in Cincinnati is the best late-game closer on defense in franchise history. That’s what Hendrickson will be remembered for – 72 regular season games, 61 sacks. It may be a while before that happens again around here.