Renowned All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, leading the league in sacks last season, has been granted permission to explore trade options by the Cincinnati Bengals, according to two individuals with insider knowledge.
These sources chose to remain anonymous as they were not officially permitted to elaborate on personnel decisions. This development was initially reported by ESPN following a statement from Hendrickson.
In his statement, Hendrickson expressed gratitude and affection towards the Bengals, saying, “Representing Cincinnati over the last four years has been an honor and privilege. My love for this city and organization runs deep, and I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue new possibilities.”
Hendrickson achieved an impressive tally of 17.5 sacks in the previous season, repeating his performance from the year before. Since joining Cincinnati in 2021, his cumulative 57 sacks place him third in the NFL over this era. Prior to his tenure with the Bengals, he spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
While Hendrickson initially requested a trade ahead of last year’s NFL Draft, the Bengals declined. Balancing contract extensions for wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins along with Hendrickson’s desires posed significant challenges. Nonetheless, Duke Tobin, director of player personnel, recently hinted at the probability of managing these contracts.
Tobin stated, “We boast an array of exceptional football talent and are fortunate to have effectively managed our salary cap. Our focus is on maintaining a high payroll with minimal dead money, ensuring our players in Cincinnati receive their due earnings. We aim to secure the futures of these athletes, rewarding their skill and enhancing our team, even though it is a formidable challenge.”
Earlier this week, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins for the second time while Chase is positioned to become one of the league’s highest earners among non-quarterbacks after his stellar performance this year.
Wednesday marked a pivotal moment as Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby agreed to a hefty three-year extension valued at $106.5 million, with $91.5 million guaranteed, thus affecting the trading landscape for both Chase and Hendrickson. Crosby’s new contract makes him the highest-earning non-quarterback in the NFL.
Even before Hendrickson’s trade request, Cincinnati was in the market for defensive reinforcement. This need became more pressing with the retirement announcement of defensive end Sam Hubbard, who concluded his entire seven-year career with the Bengals earlier this week.
