The Cincinnati Bengals are facing a pivotal offseason, and a crucial decision looms regarding their star pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson. Will they commit a massive chunk of their salary cap to him, or will they look elsewhere?
After three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, the upcoming offseason is shaping up to be one of the most significant in the Cincinnati Bengals' franchise history. The team has a substantial amount of work to do, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Since fans aren't expecting any major shake-ups in the coaching staff or front office, the primary changes they can anticipate will be in the on-field personnel.
Many football analysts have been predicting that the Bengals would opt to use their franchise tag on the highly accomplished, 32-year-old All-Pro pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson. However, a recent report from a trusted insider suggests this widely held belief might be mistaken.
"An interesting name being floated is Trey Hendrickson," noted Jonathon Jones of CBS Sports. He further elaborated, "He’s coming off an injury-filled 2025 entering his age-32 season. While the Bengals retained the right to tag him after protracted talks last offseason, sources deem it unlikely Cincinnati allocates that much money to the position given all of its other defensive needs."
But here's where it gets interesting: Hendrickson, despite finishing last season with a series of injuries, would undoubtedly be one of the most coveted free agents in the entire league if he were to hit the open market. If that scenario unfolds, he'd likely be looking for more than the $34.8 million he received on the one-year franchise tag from the Bengals last year. He'd almost certainly be seeking the multi-year contract he's reportedly desired.
And this is the part most people miss: If the Bengals indeed decide against franchising Hendrickson, and he departs, the team would be placing an immense amount of responsibility on the shoulders of younger players like Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. Murphy began to show flashes of his potential as he gained more playing time in 2025, but Stewart, with virtually no NFL experience at that point, would be facing a monumental task. This raises the question: can these developing players truly step up to fill such a significant void?
If the Bengals are forced to venture into the free agency market to find a replacement for Hendrickson, one has to wonder about their prospects. It's a tough ask to find a pass rusher of his caliber available for a single-year deal. While a trade is a possibility, that hasn't historically been the Bengals' preferred method of acquiring talent.
However, there is a silver lining to this potential situation. Not using the franchise tag on Hendrickson would free up approximately $35 million in cap space. This significant sum could be strategically used to acquire one, or even multiple, players to address needs on both sides of the ball before the NFL Draft. If the Bengals can successfully leverage this financial flexibility, there's a hopeful outlook that their pass-rushing game might just take care of itself.
What do you think? Is it a wise move for the Bengals to let Trey Hendrickson potentially walk, or should they do whatever it takes to keep him? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
