Cincinnati Bengals
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Trey Hendrickson sent a message to the Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals appear to bemoving on from All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. After five years with the Bengals, Hendrickson will be allowed to negotiate a new contract with other teams as the NFL’s legal tampering period is less than a week away.Cincinnati could have prevented that had they utilized the $24.3 million franchise tag, but the team opted against using the tag on Hendrickson.
A new deal seems unlikely, which will end Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati. In five years with the Bengals, Hendrickson totaled 61 sacks, made four Pro Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Pro while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Now, with Hendrickson set to leave the franchise, he made his feelings clear as heshared a message on social media.
Trey Hendrickson Sends Farewell Message to Cincinnati Bengals
In his goodbye message, Hendrickson thanked the organization, his teammates, his coaches, the staff, and Bengals fans. He ended by declaring Cincinnati to be his home now and forever and included the team’s signature “Who Dey.”
Hendrickson leaving does not come as a surprise as the relationship between the player and the franchise had soured. After the 2025 season, regarding a potential Trey Hendrickson return,ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote, “This relationship has run its course. The Bengals have the option to franchise tag Hendrickson, but after a year of contentious contract negotiations, the edge rusher appears poised to land elsewhere and capitalize on a booming positional market.”
ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak reacted to the news of the Bengals not tagging Hendrickson, saying, “Truly one of the worst managed contract situations in our living memory.”
Prior to the 2025 season, the Bengals allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade as negotiations on a contract extension had stalled. According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero,the Bengals rejected a trade for Hendrickson that would have resulted in a second-round pick for Cincinnati. Instead, the Bengals asked for a first-round pick and a young defensive player. After a trade was not reached, Hendrickson received a pay raise for the 2025 season, in which he played in only seven games after a core injury that required surgery.
Compensation for Hendrickson
Now, the Bengals could receive a third-round compensatory pick for Hendrickson if he does land a high-priced contract from another team. However, Cincinnati would have to be careful on which free agents they would bring in as if they add more than they lose, they will not receive compensation for their All-Pro pass rusher.
Looking back, rejecting the trade for Hendrickson last season was a mistake. They will end up losing Hendrickson for less compensation and the pass rusher only totaled four sacks in the 2025 season. Additionally, the team finished as the third-worst defense as they failed to make the postseason for the third consecutive season.
Fortunately for the Bengals, they now possess the No. 10 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Bengals have not selected in the top 10 since the 2021 season, when they drafted Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick.A mock draft by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Cincinnati selecting pass rusher Rueben Bain out of the University of Miami as a potential Hendrickson replacement. Brugler wrote, “At this early juncture, defensive line is the overwhelming favorite to be the Bengals’ pick.”