Trey Hendrickson Cincinnati Bengals
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Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The San Francisco 49ers have been linked to Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson for much of the season after he signed a one-year extension with the Bengals in the offseason. Now, with the Bengals sitting at 3-6 while the 49ers are 6-3 and competing for a playoff spot, San Francisco is making a push to acquire the disgruntled pro bowler ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Bengals are standing firm on their asking price for Hendrickson: a first-round pick.
San Francisco does have a first rounder in the 2026 Draft, though it’ll likely be a mid to late round pick depending on how they finish the season. The Niners have four fourth-round picks this year, so their draft depth would not take a hit if they do move the pick, though the top-end talent would.
Hendrickson has been held to four sacks this season, though he has been working through a hip injury. He has 81 sacks in his nine NFL seasons, with his career high coming in both 2023 and 2024 when he posted 17.5 in each season
San Francisco will be competing with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles if Hendrickson is indeed on the market, according to Adam Schefter.
Why Would The Bengals Move On From Hendrickson?
So if Hendrickson is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, why would Cincinnati move on from him?
The answer to that question comes in two parts: first and foremost, he and the Bengals were unable to line up a long-term extension in the offseason, leading to his one-year, $25 million contract for this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason, at which point the Bengals would lose him and get nothing in return.
Losing Hendrickson in the offseason wouldn’t be as big of an issue for Cincinnati if they were in playoff contention; there wouldn’t be a thought in anyone’s mind about moving him if the Bengals had any chance at making a run. But, with Joe Burrow out and the Bengals now down to 3-6 on the season, Hendrickson’s production will likely be all for naught if he stays with Cincinnati and they don’t make the playoffs, which seems more than likely.
So it only makes sense for the Bengals to get a first-round pick in return for Hendrickson while they still have control of him.
Comparing Potential Hendrickson Move To Micah Parsons Trade
The biggest news leading into the NFL season was the Dallas Cowboys trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. There was a precedent set in that trade that could have implications on how Cincinnati approaches potentially moving Hendrickson.
The Cowboys acquired a solid player in Kenny Clark, along with two first-round picks for Parsons. Hendrickson and Parsons are comparable in the sense that they are two of the best pass rushers in the NFL, so the asking price for Hendrickson should be similar to what the Cowboys got for Parsons.
The only real difference is age. Parsons is 26-years-old while Hendrickson is 31, meaning the next contract he signs will more than likely be his last. Because of this, San Francisco may be able to get away with offering just one first-rounder and a player to sweeten the deal. They would also be able to sign Hendrickson long-term for the back-half of his career if they could get him.
If San Francisco gets into a bidding war, that price may go up, but it probably won’t be more than what Dallas got for Parsons.