Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals received a worrisome update ahead of free agency
The Cincinnati Bengals havebegun making moves prior to free agency officially commencing next month. Cincinnati is currently projected to be among the top-10 teams in available cap space in this free agency period, andreports suggest that the team will be aggressive in trying to improve their defense.
Regarding the possibility of the Bengals being aggressive, ESPN Bengals writer Ben Baby noted on X that the Bengals did have the capability of spending in free agency.He wrote,“Bengals will have plenty of cap space to be aggressive if they want to be.”
Despite this, the Bengals have one of the most sought-after free agents in this cycle. Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2020, when he signed a four-year deal with the Bengals after previously playing for the Saints. However, as we get closer to free agency, it seems increasingly likely that he will leave the Bengals after spending five years with the team.
NFL Insider Offers Update on Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson
With NFL free agency a few weeks away, NFL insider Tony Pauline gave an update on some of the trending situations around the league. Regarding Trey Hendrickson’s upcoming free agency,he wrote, “While there have been several predictions where Hendrickson could sign in free agency, people with knowledge of the situation tell me that it’s not out of the question that Cincinnati will attempt to tag and trade the nine-year veteran. Hendrickson will have to agree to a new contract with any team that attempts to trade for him if the Bengals move ahead on this strategy.
Other than the tag and trade, the conversation from the Bengals on Hendrickson’s future in 2026 has been very quiet.”
This is not the first time the possibility of the franchise tag has come up.ESPN Bengals writer Ben Baby had previously said it was not a “viable option.” He said, “Hendrickson would make $30.2 million on the franchise tag based off salary for last season. As soon as the tag is placed on Hendrickson, he can accept it immediately and lock in that amount as fully guaranteed. With Hendrickson turning 32 next season and coming off an injury-shortened 2025, that could be more guaranteed money than he would receive on the open market.”
Trey Hendrickson’s Contract Projection
Although Baby views it as non-viable, with the Bengals’ cap situation, tagging him and risking him playing on that one-year deal is something Cincinnati would be able fit in their cap space. Unfortunately, that would leave them little resources to improve the rest of their defense.
However, Baby may be downplaying the value Hendrickson will have on the open market. After 61 sacks in the past five seasons,The Athletic released contract projections for the top available free agents and said Hendrickson’s deal could end up being a three-year, $99 million contract. That would result in his average annual salary being more than what the franchise tag will be for the position. Unfortunately, with the projection and the expectation that a tag would result in a trade, it seems like Hendrickson’s time with the Bengals is nearing an end.