ESPN's Jeremy Fowler: Trey Hendrickson 'being shopped' by Bengals, long-term deal still possible

The Cincinnati Bengals shocked the NFL world earlier this week when they gave EDGE rusher Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. With one year left on his contract, Hendrickson is set to receive $16 million this year after leading the league in sacks last season.

It’s the second consecutive offseason Hendrickson has been involved in trade talks. All he did after being shopped prior to last season was finish the 2024-25 campaign with 46 tackles and 17.5 sacks, 3.5 more than the next closest player. He’s become one of the best defensive players in the entire league during his tenure in Cincinnati.

So, why are the Bengals looking to move their star defender? According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they’re offering him a long-term deal, but they’re finding it difficult to meet the salary demands that Hendrickson deserves at the moment.

“He’s being shopped right now,” Fowler said, via SportsCenter on Saturday. “The Bengals are open to options. You’re still leaving the door open to potentially keep him on a long-term deal. They have made an offer to him. It’s just not looking great, because of the money that he could command. The Bengals are going to have a hard time meeting that.

“But the feeling I get talking to teams is that they would love a first-round pick. That might not be attainable in a trade. A Day 2 package, including let’s say a second rounder and more, could get it done for last year’s sack leader. You look at teams like Washington, Atlanta and Philadelphia, they all need pass-rush help.”

All told, it’s easy to see why the Bengals would love to keep Hendrickson. It just might not be feasible, considering the pass-rusher isn’t the only player who the Bengals had to worry about this offseason.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins‘ contract was up and the team ultimately used its franchise tag on him for the second consecutive season when a new deal couldn’t be reached. The Bengals will pay Higgins $26.2 million to keep him in Cincinnati next season.

Moreover, the Bengals are working to strike a new contract with star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whose contract will end after the 2025-26 season. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals plan on making Chase the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL to keep him with the organization.

There’s only so much money that can go around in the NFL, so the Bengals might be better served recouping some draft picks for Trey Hendrickson, while his value is higher than ever. Time will tell what their decision is, but it’s evident the former Florida Atlantic star might be wearing a different uniform this coming season.