Not great.
Thursday, a report came out that the Cincinnati Bengals gave star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to seek a trade.
The news comes after Hendrickson’s league-leading 17.5 sacks in 2024. Hendrickson demanded a trade last offseason but quickly backed off of his stance before his career year.
And now, with the new league year right around the corner, Hendrickson will get a chance to gauge his worth on the market with one year remaining on his deal.
The Bengals are now in a position where they can look to get the highest return back for Hendrickson, but the team trading for him would need to agree to an extension with him before the deal took place. That could hurt the Bengals a bit in terms of trade leverage.
As always, Bengals fans and players reacted to the shocking news on Twitter as it broke. There are some mixed reactions, but most fans are upset with the news and wondering what the vision is for the 2025 Bengals without Hendrickson in the mix on defense.
A couple of players reacted:
— Logan Wilson (@ljw21) March 6, 2025
— BJ Hill (@BJHill5) March 6, 2025
Fans and media had plenty to say also:
There are silver linings to a Trey Hendrickson trade. But that’s not the immediate point.
This is Cincinnati with a history for this and pissing off franchise passers. Playing with fire.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) March 6, 2025
People were ready to march Trey Hendrickson to The Hague after he had zero pressures vs Eagles journeyman LT Fred Johnson.
Now they wanna burn down the franchise because he wants to gauge his worth and the org is allowing him to do that (while still under contract)
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) March 6, 2025
Trey Hendrickson 2024
#3 in Pressure %
#1 in sacks and sack %
#3 in pass rush win rateTrey Hendrickson 2023
#7 in Pressure %
T#2 in sacks and #1 in sack %
#11 in pass rush win rateHas not missed a game/start past two seasons
Played 72.5 % snaps ‘24
Played 67.8 % snaps ‘23…— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 6, 2025
Trey Hendrickson did the Bengals a solid by playing on his contract last year. Think about how much of a discount he gave the Bengals. He deserves his bag. Whatever happens I hope he gets it. He has represented himself and this city the right way. #Bengals #MakeThatMoney
— GameOn513 (@gameonjmoney) March 6, 2025
I wonder what the conversations between the front office and Joe Burrow were like these last few days… the dude spent a whole day last month on Radio Row in NoLa making a case for Trey Hendrickson’s extension.
— Elise Jesse (@EliseJesseTV) March 6, 2025
the bengals don’t normally grant trade requests, but doing so also doesn’t mean a trade will happen.
if a trade is the plan, then they have backed themselves into a corner so far with higgins and chase they’re about to break the laws of physics. https://t.co/ipLGDAhrRy
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) March 6, 2025
The offer the #Bengals made to Trey Hendrickson isn’t as disrespectful as some may lead you to believe.
— DColdest (@DColdestt) March 6, 2025
Giving Trey Hendrickson the permission to seek trade will clear you 16mil cap this year. Now with that being said, trading Trey gives you no reason to not resign Tee Higgins.
— Kyle (@Kyle___H) March 6, 2025
I just feel lied to by the Bengals FO. Joe went on a media tour demanding them they pay their best players. We were told by Duke the plan was to extend all 3. It really just feels hopeless at the point. They are never going to change and we will never win a superbowl.
— abbie (@abbiekayt) March 6, 2025
If Trey does find a Club willing to trade for him & extend him, here’s a possible trade match
Colts receive:
DE Trey HendricksonBengals receive:
LG Quenton Nelson
Colts’ 2025 3rd rd pick (#80 overall)Nelson under contract through 2026
2025: $16,563,059 Cap/Cash
2026: $18M— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) March 6, 2025
this is wild
the Bengals & Eagles both signed their QB1s to extensions in 2023
since?
1 Bengal was re-signed to a contract over $40M (Logan Wilson)
8 Eagles were re-signed to contracts over $40M
(A.J. Brown, Landon Dickerson, Lane Johnson, DeVonta Smith, Jordan Mailata, Zach…
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 6, 2025
The Hendrickson saga has just kicked off. Will it reach a conclusion before the 2025 NFL Draft?
