The Cincinnati Bengals are entering an offseason with a lot of questions to answer on the defensive side of the ball. While the linebackers and the secondary are big issues, a different area is more important.
Figuring out the pass rusher room is priority number one for the Bengals. Inside the pass rusher room, the biggest question, by far, is what they’ll do with Trey Hendrickson.
The All-Pro is hitting free agency, and with that comes three major questions the Bengals must answer this offseason. PFF.com’s Bradley Locker highlighted those questions, all of which won’t be easy decisions to make.
Bengals face three pivotal Trey Hendrickson questions this offseason
1. Do Bengals re-sign/bring back Trey Hendrickson?
This question is the first one the Bengals must answer this offseason, as it will have a direct impact on the next two questions.
Last offseason, the Bengals re-signed Hendrickson on a one-year deal, and with the 2025 season not going to plan for either Hendrickson or the Bengals, things are now in an awkward spot.
“With Hendrickson set to be an unrestricted free agent yet again, the Bengals could franchise tag him or keep the star on a short-term deal,” Locker writes.
Singing Hendrickson to a short-term extension, like they did last offseason, would help retain their best pass rusher. They could also franchise tag him and keep him on a guaranteed deal if the contract negotiations don’t work out.
While those two paths to keeping Hendrickson on the Bengals are on the table, is that really what the Bengals should do? If they decide not to keep him, there are two ways they can move on from Hendrickson, one of which involves a tag-and-trade.
2. Should the Bengals franchise tag and trade Trey Hendrickson?
“Even if Hendrickson is franchise-tagged, though, Cincinnati could try to trade him,” Locker writes.
This scenario is a very possible reality for the Bengals. The Bengals, if they don’t want to let Hendrickson walk, could decide to franchise tag him.
In doing so, the Bengals could then look to trade him for a solid return, which could be a third-round pick. They couldn’t get such a return at the trade deadline this past season, getting offers for a Day 3 pick instead.
But, with the chance to have Hendrickson for a full season, a trade for a franchise-tagged Hendrickson would be a bit more appealing.
However, while the Bengals could do such a thing, that might not be the best solution. Instead, the Bengals could simply let Hendrickson walk. And it might not be a bad thing.
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3. Should the Bengals let Trey Hendrickson walk in free agency?
“Alternatively, letting Hendrickson walk and sign elsewhere is entirely on the table, especially after multiple seasons of contract stalemates,” Locker writes.
Seeing Hendrickson leave in free agency uncontested by the Bengals isn’t that far-fetched. There’s a good reason why this is very much on the table for the Bengals: Compensatory picks.
If Hendrickson signs with another team, the Bengals could, in theory, get a 2027 compensatory third-round pick. His new deal is likely to be for a strong AAV, which means the Bengals could land a very strong compensatory pick for letting him walk.
While there’s no guarantee the Bengals would be getting a third-round compensatory pick, they also might not be able to land such a good draft pick in trade talks.
Bengals fans should be well aware that this scenario is very possible. It might even make the most sense for the Bengals to avoid any further trouble or questions with Hendrickson.
All three of these questions are big ones, but of these three, the one most likely to be answered is this third and final one. Hendrickson walking this offseason is a very strong possibility, thanks to the NFL’s compensatory pick formula.
