{"id":790551,"date":"2026-03-04T03:43:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T03:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/790551\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T03:43:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T03:43:26","slug":"trey-hendrickson-avoids-franchise-tag-becomes-bengals-free-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/790551\/","title":{"rendered":"Trey Hendrickson avoids franchise tag, becomes Bengals free agent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Trey Hendrickson may finally be able to get the long-term deal he was searching for since last offseason after the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> decided not use their franchise tag on the star defensive end.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hendrickson penned a goodbye to fans after Tuesday\u2019s 4 p.m. ET NFL<\/a> deadline, which marked the end of teams being able to place a franchise tag on players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“To the organization: Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level,” he wrote in his Instagram caption. “The last five years have been filled with great wins and tough losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"Trey <\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson holds up a finger after a defensive stop with four seconds left in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field in Denver, Colo., Dec. 19, 2021. (Albert Cesare\/The Enquirer\/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

“I was and always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo and honor the history behind it.”<\/p>\n

The Bengals never ruled out the possibility of tagging Hendrickson to try to get him under contract once more, or, at the very least, acquiring some draft capital by pursuing a trade with another team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Duke Tobin, the Bengals\u2019 director of player personnel, said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that the latter option isn\u2019t as simple as it sounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You have to find a partner. You have to have cooperation with your players. Trades can be complicated,” Tobin said, per ESPN.<\/a><\/p>\n

Hendrickson would\u2019ve also cost the Bengals $30.2 million if they slapped him with the tag for this season. So, the Bengals and Hendrickson\u2019s complicated contract situation comes to an end, and he’ll start looking for a new team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last offseason was a different story. The Bengals allowed him to find out what he could bring back in a potential trade, an odd request to put on a player. Hendrickson was the league\u2019s sack leader (17\u00bd) in 2024, and he was looking to be paid like the NFL’s sack leader .\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Trey <\/p>\n

Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals takes a defensive stance during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Paycor Stadium Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (Jeff Dean\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

After the Bengals couldn’t find a trade partner and negotiations yielded little, Hendrickson held out of offseason workouts and the beginning of training camp. But Hendrickson and the Bengals agreed to a $29 million deal for the 2025 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Hendrickson sustained an injury that cost him 10 games, and he was later placed on injured reserve to repair a core muscle injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hendrickson was one of the most productive edge rushers in the league in Cincinnati, registering 14 sacks in his first Pro Bowl season in 2021 after signing his initial four-year deal with the team.<\/p>\n

He previously played with the New Orleans Saints<\/a>, who took him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of FAU. Hendrickson had a huge 2020 campaign with a career-high 13\u00bd sacks, which landed him a $60 million deal with the Bengals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Trey <\/p>\n

Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before playing the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium Dec. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (Andy Lyons\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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Hendrickson made four straight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2024 thanks to his sack total. He also recorded 36 quarterback hits, 46 combined tackles and 19 tackles for loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his seven games last season, Hendrickson totaled four sacks and 16 combined tackles with one forced fumble. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n