Superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals are in a contract staredown with no end in sight. Following a dominant 17.5-sack season where he earned First-Team All-Pro honors, the four-time Pro Bowler requested a raise or a trade to a team that would give him the financial security he feels he deserves. The Bengals have reportedly offered up to $28 million per year, but that isn’t enough for Hendrickson to sign. It’s worth noting that reports have not indicated how much of that $28 million would be guaranteed versus incentive-based.
With no end in sight, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio drew a parallel between Hendrickson and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass rusher Haason Reddick. For those who need a refresher, Reddick spent the 2024 offseason holding out for a new deal after the Eagles traded him to the New York Jets. He never truly got what he wanted, as he only got a reworked contract and didn’t play well after missing all of training camp and a portion of the regular season. Now playing on a one-year deal worth $14 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the pass rusher ultimately lost money with his holdout.
Perhaps Trey Hendrickson returns to the Bengals, as Cincinnati historically refuses to trade their star players. However, if he stays on the sideline, any of the following teams could make a move for him.
Mike Florio Draws Unfortunate Comparison Between Trey Hendrickson, Bengals
Possible Fits
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers invested heavily in their defensive line with rookie edge defenders Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. While these youngsters hold promise for the future, the team could use a proven edge defender with Jadeveon Clowney off the team. Trey Hendrickson could immediately fix this defensive line, and the Bengals star could help Carolina compete in what should be a wide-open division.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are ready to compete for a Super Bowl with second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the offense. While the offense has all the pieces it needs to succeed, the defense isn’t anything to write home about, especially in the trenches. Defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn should look for a pass rusher, and Trey Hendrickson could be the missing piece that takes this team over the top.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. While most believe they will use these selections to trade up for their quarterback of the future, they might use one of the picks to acquire Trey Hendrickson from the Bengals. Los Angeles has never worried too much about the future, and a Trey Hendrickson trade could help this team capitalize on what might be the final season of Matthew Stafford’s career.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers retained star defensive end Khalil Mack, but they could still use another pass rusher. The Bengals won’t want to trade Trey Hendrickson to an AFC rival, but the fit here is too good to ignore. Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to win games in the trenches, and Mack and Hendrickson could form the most dangerous pass rush duo in football.
Main Photo: Frank Bowen – Imagn Images
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