Trey Hendrickson is officially free to find a new home.
The Bengals granted the All-Pro edge rusher permission to seek a trade, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday, per sources.
A third-round pick of the Saints in 2017, Hendrickson joined Cincinnati as a coveted free agent in 2021 and proceeded to tally double-digit sack totals in three of his four seasons with the Bengals. Hendrickson finished 2024 as the NFL leader in sacks with 17.5, earning his first All-Pro nod by producing at an elite rate despite belonging to a Cincinnati defensive front that struggled against both the run and in generating a consistent pass rush.
Hendrickson's performance led Bengals fans to hope extending the pass rusher would rank near the top of the team's offseason priorities, but at 30 years old, it appears he no longer fits their long-term plans. Instead, it appears the Bengals will attempt to recoup as much as possible in a deal involving Hendrickson. The edge rusher has one year remaining on his current contract, which is scheduled to account for $18.66 million in cap space in 2025, including $15.8 million in base salary.
With no guaranteed money left on Hendrickson's deal and two straight 17.5-sack seasons in his last two years, Hendrickson is a highly attractive trade chip for teams seeking help on the edge. Cincinnati can save $16 million in cap space by trading him this offseason, making such a deal beneficial for the Bengals from a business standpoint.
From a football perspective, such a deal will hurt Cincinnati defensively. Sam Hubbard retired earlier this week, and shipping out Hendrickson would mean the Bengals would enter 2025 without either of their starting edge rushers. With Joseph Ossai and Cameron Sample both headed toward free agency, the Bengals would only have 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy -- a rotational player in his first two seasons -- remaining from their two-deep at the position, meaning they'll have to make a significant effort to restock the position this spring.
