Bengals Weigh Options for Trey Hendrickson as Free Agency Looms
The Cincinnati Bengals face a pivotal decision regarding edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is set to enter free agency if not franchise tagged by the March 3 deadline. Tagging Hendrickson could provide the Bengals with opportunities, including the chance to secure a return through trades or to negotiate an extension before the 2026 season. The urgency increases as the NFL combine approaches, especially following last summer's holdout concerning Hendrickson, who had a breakout year in 2024 with 17.5 sacks but struggled last fall, appearing in only seven games due to injuries. Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin commented on the complexities of trades, stating, "All trades are difficult. You got to find a partner and you have to find somebody that you have to have some cooperation with your players that you're talking about this with. Trades can be complicated and that hypothetical scenario would be very complicated." Tobin acknowledged that all options remain on the table for Hendrickson. If tagged, the Bengals would owe him approximately $30 million next season, with the possibility of tagging him again next spring at a higher cost if an extension is not reached. Tobin refrained from revealing the Bengals' strategy, noting, "He didn't have the year he wanted this year. We didn't have the year we wanted this year. Those are factors and we'll see where we go from there." Should Hendrickson not be tagged, the Bengals would gain significant cap space to pursue defensive reinforcements. Potential landing spots for Hendrickson, should he hit free agency, include the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-02-25