Bengals Grant Permission to All-Pro Edge Rusher to Seek Trade
The Cincinnati Bengals have granted All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, according to multiple reports.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Hendrickson traveled today to Cincinnati and met with members of the organization, and made it clear he’d be appreciative if they grant him permission to seek a trade — which they finally did after two years of failed negotiations.
In addition to Joe Burrow’s massive contract, the Bengals also have to pay star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Higgins got franchised tagged again, while Chase is reportedly seeking $40 million per year. In the end, there was just not enough to go around, and Hendrickson is now seeking a new opportunity elsewhere.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years,” Hendrickson said, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”
Trey Hendrickson has led the NFL with 35 sacks over the last two seasons and finished second this past season in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The Washington Commanders are among several teams who would be interested in trading for Hendrickson, per Schultz.
Hendrickson is often not mentioned in the same class as T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby, but he’s an elite pass rusher. Hendrickson finished the 2024 season as the league’s sack leader with 17.5. He had 3.5 sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season finale to capture the title as “Sack King” for 2024.
“Trey’s a really good player. If you ask guys who played him around the league, we don’t think he’s underrated,” Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. said in November of 2024. “Definitely by the media, though. Doesn’t get enough credit. Having a breakout year. I mean, I think last year he was up there in sacks, too. Trey (has) a really good get-off. Really good motor, really good with his hands. Savvy vet, he’s got a really good speed to power. He’s just really efficient in his rushes. He doesn’t really pop up on film and I think that’s why people just don’t see it from him. But, I mean, production, you can’t argue with that. And every year he’s got numbers. So, you definitely got to respect him and build a game plan around him.”
Only T.J. Watt (73.5) and Myles Garrett (72.0) have more sacks than Hendrickson (70.5) since 2020.