The Cincinnati Bengals prevented wide receiver Tee Higgins from reaching NFL free agency by using the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive year. However, that decision could come at the cost of losing edge rusher Trey Hendrickson who surfaced in NFL rumors this week.
Hendrickson, a reigning Defensive Player of the Year finalist, is entering the last year of his contract. He briefly held out last summer in search of a long-term extension but the two sides never came close to a deal. Nearly a year later, the Bengals permitted him to seek a trade.
- Trey Hendrickson stats: 54 pressures, 36 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
The 30-year-old edge rusher’s trade value is at an all-time high. He set career-highs in pressures (54) and quarterback hits (36) last season, leading the league in sacks (17.5). As the lone bright spot on one of the league’s worst defenses, he earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished second in DPOY voting. Now he’s looking for a new team.
According to FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons had already been monitoring Hendrickson’s situation in Cincinnati. Now that the Pro Bowl pass rusher can explore a trade to another team, Atlanta and Washington are expected to pursue a deal for him.
- Trey Hendrickson contract (Spotrac): $18.666 million cap hit in 2025, NFL free agent in 2026
Other clubs – Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots – could also get involved. For now, the Falcons and Commanders are the only clubs actively linked in NFL rumors to a potential deal. This situation is also unlikely to play out as Matthew Stafford’s did with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bengals simply don’t have the financial flexibility to have Hendrickson, Higgins, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase signed to market-setting contracts. It appears Cincinnati has chosen which of its core players it will be prioritizing, which could lead to Hendrickson being moved ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
