The Cincinnati Bengals will be letting a star edge rusher test free agency. According to Ian Rapoport, they will not franchise tag edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. He will hit free agency by the start of the new league year on March 11th.
The Bengals and Hendrickson had been at a stalemate over extension talks since 2024. Hendrickson wanted an extension with an average annual value similar to pass rushers like Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt, but they couldn’t hammer out a deal. The Bengals permitted Hendrickson to seek a trade in March 2025, but they were unable to find a trade partner.
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Tensions boiled over to the point where Hendrickson didn’t report to the first day of training camp on July 22, 2025. He chose to stay in Florida during his holdout instead of Ohio, where training camp was going on. Hendrickson finally reported to training camp on July 30, 2025, but he didn’t participate in on-field drills and practice.
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Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) reacts after a sack against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The Bengals ended Hendrickson’s hold-in by increasing his 2025 salary by $14 million, which brought up his maximum cap hit to $30 million. He earned four sacks and 16 tackles in seven games, but his season ended prematurely after undergoing core muscle surgery.
Despite the injury, Hendrickson is expected to be one of the top free agents in the 2026 class. Through his five-year tenure with the Bengals, he racked up 61.0 sacks, including a league-leading 17.5 sacks in 2024. He made Pro Bowls from 2021-24, and he earned the second-most Defensive Player of the Year votes in 2024.
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Many teams would be interested in the 31-year old pass rusher. The Chicago Bears have been a popular destination, with them needing an elite pass rusher. Teams like the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers would also be interesting destinations. Regardless, it will be hard for the Bengals to find a replacement for Hendrickson.
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