The Cincinnati Bengals granted edge rusher Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, opening the door to the Defensive Player of the Year finalist being moved ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. While multiple suitors have emerged, the Bengals are setting a steep asking price to make a deal.
Hendrickson, age 30, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2024. He recorded his second consecutive season with 17.5 sacks, while setting career-highs in quarterback hits (36) and tackles for loss (19).
- Trey Hendrickson contract (Spotrac): $18.666 million cap hit in 2025, NFL free agent in 2026
He wanted a multi-year extension last offseason but a deal came to fruition and he responded with a DPOY-caliber campaign. Now entering the final year of his contract, the former third-round pick is exploring his trade options with the Bengals fielding offers from around the league. Acquiring him won’t be cheap.
According to ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals’ front office is believed to be seeking a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft or at the very least a strong package of Day 2 picks. That’s not the only cost the acquiring team needs to pay, with Hendrickson also seeking a contract extension north of $30 million per season.
“People I’ve spoken to believe Cincinnati wants either a first-round pick or a strong Day 2 package to ship Hendrickson, who will command well above $30 million per year on a new deal.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on what the Cincinnati Bengals want in a Trey Hendrickson trade
- Trey Hendrickson stats: 54 pressures, 36 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Clubs like the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens have plenty of Day 2 picks that could be moved and are in the market for pass-rushing help. However, both clubs don’t necessarily have the cap space to afford extending Hendrickson’s contract.
That leaves teams like the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills as potential landing spots with the necessary draft capital and cap space to land Hendrickson and sign him to a long-term deal. From the Bengals’ perspective, trading Hendrickson would free up more financial flexibility to extend Tee Higgins and it would add much-needed draft capital to rebuild the defense.
