What do the Bengals reportedly want in a Trey Hendrickson trade? Cincinnati continues exploring options


                        What do the Bengals reportedly want in a Trey Hendrickson trade? Cincinnati continues exploring options
By: CBS Sports Posted On: August 19, 2025 View: 1

trey.jpg
Getty Images

It appears a resolution to the long-running Trey Hendrickson saga could be on the horizon, as NFL Media reported that the Cincinnati Bengals are listening to trade offers on the NFL's reigning sack leader.

TheMMQB notes that there hasn't been a ton of movement on a potential Hendrickson trade just yet, as the team would still like to keep him in the fold. Albert Breer reports that the offer the Bengals have on the table is massive in average per year, but lacks the guarantees Hendrickson is after. Hendrickson confirmed as much to ESPN during Monday night's Bengals-Commanders preseason game. He and the team are "close" to an agreement on average annual salary and the length of the deal but the guarantees indeed remain a point of contention. 

What would it cost to trade for the 30-year-old pass rusher? The Athletic reports that teams that reached out to Cincinnati asking about Hendrickson have been told that the asking price includes a "young defensive player" and a 2026 first-round pick. The young defensive player does not necessarily have to be a defensive end. There's a belief the Bengals could have acquired a better draft pick if they decided to move Hendrickson earlier in the offseason. Now, it's more complicated. 

Trey Hendrickson trade rumors: Breaking down whether 2024 NFL sack leader will play for Bengals in Week 1

John Breech

Trey Hendrickson trade rumors: Breaking down whether 2024 NFL sack leader will play for Bengals in Week 1

This is a pretty steep price when you consider that Week 1 of the regular season is just three weeks away, and that the team that trades for Hendrickson will also have to give him a new contract he would be happy with. The pass-rush market has been reset multiple times this offseason, so what is the AAV Hendrickson would settle for, and what kind of guarantees is he looking for? 

For reference, Hendrickson is set to earn $16 million in cash this upcoming season. 

Top 10 highest-paid pass rushers 

Via Over The Cap

Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. He requested a trade in March before eventually no-showing at training camp. Just over a week later, Hendrickson reported to camp, but has not practiced with his teammates. The fact that the Bengals are now reportedly open to trading Hendrickson is notable, as team owner Mike Brown said during his pre-training camp interview Cincinnati would not be moving him

Trey Hendrickson landing spots: Ranking best fits for Bengals star with team listening to trade offers

Cody Benjamin

Trey Hendrickson landing spots: Ranking best fits for Bengals star with team listening to trade offers

When CBS Sports' John Breech asked Hendrickson last week whether he felt more or less optimistic about getting a new contract done after being in training camp for two weeks, he responded, "I'm going to keep my thoughts to myself on that."

Hendrickson came over to the Bengals in 2021 after four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, and has made the Pro Bowl in each season with Cincinnati. He was named a First Team All-Pro for the first time this past season.

Read this on CBS Sports
  About

Omnixia News is your intelligent news aggregator, delivering real-time, curated headlines from trusted global sources. Stay informed with personalized updates on tech, business, entertainment, and more — all in one place..