Bengals grant DE Trey Hendrickson permission to hunt commerce

Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson received permission to seek a trade one year after the Cincinnati front office shot down the same request.

Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 and has one year remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2023 with a base salaary of $15.8 million for 2025.

As part of a trade, Hendrickson is expected to sign a new contract given the lack of negotiations helped spark his latest demand.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby signed a record three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with Las Vegas announced on Wednesday in the latest signal of where the market could be headed for premium pass rushers. Crosby, 27, has 22 total sacks the past two seasons.

Cincinnati was angling to keep Hendrickson, personnel boss Duke Tobin said last week, who was named first-team All-Pro last season and has a league-high 35 sacks since the start of the 2023 season. In four seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson recorded 57 sacks and 11 forced fumbles.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years,” Hendrickson said in a statement on Thursday to ESPN. “I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”

Hendrickson had 61 quarterback hurries in the past two seasons and recorded 13-plus sacks in four of the past five seasons.

If the Bengals trade Hendrickson, they will need to replace their starting defensive ends from last season. Sam Hubbard, 29, retired earlier this week.

Multiple teams have been connected to Hendrickson rumors because of existing connections. The Chicago Bears, who employ former Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, are in the market for a pass rusher. Hendrickson spent the first four years of his career with the Saints. He could also be a target of the Indianapolis Colts, who hired Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator. Anarumo was Bengals defensive coordinator the past four seasons.

–Field Level Media