Getty
The Bengals ultimately decided not to trade Trey Hendrickson because they simply did not receive the sort of trade offer they were looking for
The Cincinnati Bengals had an interesting trade deadline. After suffering a stunning loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 9, the front office reportedly changed its tune on the deadline and decided to look into selling off several players. While the team did trade linebacker Logan Wilson, they ultimately ended up holding onto defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
It’s safe to say that Hendrickson’s relationship with Cincinnati over the past couple of years has been complicated, thanks to his long-running contract situation. And yet, while the Bengals made Hendrickson available on the trade market, they ultimately ended up holding onto him because they simply did not receive the sort of offers they were looking for.
Why Bengals Didn’t Trade Trey Hendrickson
Since signing with the Bengals in free agency back in 2021, Hendrickson has become one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. As a result, he’s frequently made it clear that he wants a new contract, but with Cincy’s front office dedicating so much money to Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins on offense, it’s made it very difficult to keep Hendrickson happy, too.
With his contract negotiations stalling over the offseason, Hendrickson requested a trade that he ultimately never got. The Bengals weren’t particularly interested in moving him, and he eventually agreed to a one-year, $30 million restructured contract. The problem is that the two sides will be in the same position they were last year when the 2025 campaign comes to an end.
After the team’s crushing loss in Week 9, the front office decided to once again listen to offers for Hendrickson, but the end result was the same, as he stayed with Cincy. According to a recent report, the Bengals decided against trading Hendrickson because the best trade offer that came across their desk saw them land just a fourth-round pick in return for the NFL’s reigning sack leader.
“While Trey Hendrickson was among the most discussed names at the trade deadline, the Bengals didn’t get a better offer than a fourth-round pick for him,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.
Should the Bengals Have Traded Trey Hendrickson?
GettyTrey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Trading Hendrickson makes sense in concept, especially if the Bengals’ front office doesn’t intend on giving him the sort of deal he wants. The problem is that everyone in the league knows about the team’s problems with Hendrickson, which diminishes his trade value. Add in the fact that, even though he will turn 31 years old in December, he’s still looking for a huge new deal, and it makes it even more difficult to get a proper return for him.
Considering how a fourth-round pick was the best offer the Bengals got for Hendrickson, it makes sense that they weren’t too interested in moving him. However, if the team struggles to find common ground with the superstar defensive end in contract talks again over the offseason, they could ultimately end up losing him for nothing. So even though he stayed put for now, it’s fair to wonder just how much longer Hendrickson will be in Cincinnati.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
More Heavy on Bengals
Loading more stories
