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It would appear we are headed for the end of the years-long contract standoff between the Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson. After back-to-back offseasons of failed negotiations and a band-aid restructure for 2025, it would appear that the 2024 NFL sack leader will hit the open market, likely finding a new home.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals do not intend to use the franchise tag on Hendrickson, setting him up to seek the long-term deal he was unable to find in Cincinnati.
“The sense at the end of the week is that Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) and Odafe Oweh (Chargers) will probably not be franchise-tagged. That could change over the next 48 hours, but Oweh has not received any indication that he will be tagged, and most around the league would be surprised if the Bengals tag Hendrickson,“ Fowler wrote.
Fowler’s prediction comes from what he heard around the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It appears that rather than franchise Hendrickson or try to tag him with the idea of finding a trade partner, the Bengals are fine to just let him walk and recoup whatever potential compensatory pick the league gives them for his departure after five seasons in Cincinnati.
Fowler did note that things can change in the hours leading up to the franchise tag deadline on Tuesday, but if the Bengals have made their minds up, it is unlikely that their stance changes between now and then. Hendrickson will finally get the leverage he needs to land what is likely his last big payday.
As far as the Bengals go, they will rely on the likes of Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart to generate pressure next season, but don’t rule out them being players in the pass rush market in free agency or the NFL Draft. Hendrickson is one of, if not, the best free agent signing in Bengals history and now, it appears that chapter has come to an end and both sides will likely be glad to find resolution after two years of intense negotiations.