The Cincinnati Bengals were open to trading defensive end Trey Hendrickson with the same stipulation that was in place for months: The right price had to be offered.

That price never arrived at their doorstep, and according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Quinnen Williams may be the reason why.

Quinnen Williams trade may’ve kept Trey Hendrickson in Cincinnati

Schultz believes the Bengals were softening their asking price for Hendrickson, but Williams being traded from the New York Jets to the Dallas Cowboys for the price of a 2026 second-round pick and 2027 first-round pick

“The one massive move that wasn’t made that I thought had a legit shot of happening was Trey Hendrickson,” Schultz said. “It was my understanding that they had lowered their asking price, but ultimately, then Quinnen Williams gets a massive haul from the Cowboys to the Jets. And as a result of that, I think Cincinnati then said, ‘Okay, if we’re going to trade Hendrickson, it needs to be in the vicinity of Quinnen Williams.’ They were not going to get that for a 30-year old pass rusher, as great as he is, on an expiring contract.”

Cincinnati was been long rumored to want a first-round pick coming back in a Hendrickson trade. If the price was softened to a second-rounder and the Williams trade impacted that, then the Bengals were out-thinking themselves comparing two completely different players with two completely different contract situations.

Hendrickson, who turns 31 next month, only has eight games remaining on his adjusted one-year, $29 million deal he signed in August. Williams is turning 28 next month and is under contract through the 2027 season. It makes total sense why one player could command a first-rounder and the other could not.

Cincinnati didn’t have to trade Hendrickson, and another reason why a deal didn’t happen has to do with the present rather than the future.

Bengals keeping Trey Hendrickson goes beyond trade value

Dropping two consecutive games has the Bengals at 3-6 on the season. ESPN’s model gives them a 6% chance at making the postseason. Hope is at a premium, but not all gone inside the offices of Paycor Stadium. Schultz believes the team still thinks making the playoffs is possible, and keeping Hendrickson is imperative to making that a reality.

“I also still think there is hope internally that the Bengals can make a playoff push,” Schultz said. “Especially if Joe Flacco continues to play well, and if Joe burrow continues to be on track for his rehab mid-December. I don’t think Cincinnati really ever wanted to trade Hendrickson, but between Indianapolis, Dallas, I thought maybe Seattle could get involved, ultimately, asking price was too high. Trey Hendrickson, for now, remains a Bengal.”

Cincinnati is banking on the improbable, and Hendrickson will be part of the ride, for better or for worse.