Bengals, Trey Hendrickson end complicated contract drama after team decides against franchise tag

Trey Hendrickson whitethorn yet beryllium capable to get the semipermanent woody helium was searching for since past offseason aft the Cincinnati Bengals decided not usage their franchise tag connected the prima antiaircraft end. 

Hendrickson penned a goodbye to fans aft Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL deadline, which marked the extremity of teams being capable to spot a franchise tag connected players. 

"To the organization: Thank you for the accidental to play the crippled I emotion astatine the highest level," helium wrote successful his Instagram caption. "The past 5 years person been filled with large wins and pugnacious losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. 

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Cincinnati Bengals antiaircraft extremity Trey Hendrickson holds up a digit aft a antiaircraft halt with 4 seconds near successful the 2nd fractional against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field successful Denver, Colo., Dec. 19, 2021. (Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

"I was and ever volition beryllium arrogant to person worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo and grant the past down it."

The Bengals ne'er ruled retired the anticipation of tagging Hendrickson to effort to get him nether declaration erstwhile more, or, astatine the precise least, acquiring immoderate draught superior by pursuing a commercialized with different team. 

But Duke Tobin, the Bengals’ manager of subordinate personnel, said astatine the NFL Scouting Combine past week that the second enactment isn’t arsenic elemental arsenic it sounds. 

"You person to find a partner. You person to person practice with your players. Trades tin beryllium complicated," Tobin said, per ESPN.

Hendrickson would’ve besides costed the Bengals $30.2 cardinal if they slapped him with the tag for this season. So, the Bengals and Hendrickson’s analyzable declaration concern comes to an end, and he'll commencement looking for a caller team. 

Last offseason was a antithetic story. The Bengals allowed him to find retired what helium could bring backmost successful a imaginable trade, an unusual petition to enactment connected a player. Hendrickson was the league’s sack person (17½) successful 2024, and helium was looking to beryllium paid similar the NFL's sack person . 

Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals takes a antiaircraft stance during a crippled against the Minnesota Vikings astatine Paycor Stadium Dec. 16, 2023, successful Cincinnati. (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

After the Bengals couldn't find a commercialized spouse and negotiations yielded little, Hendrickson held retired of offseason workouts and the opening of grooming camp. But Hendrickson and the Bengals agreed to a $29 cardinal woody for the 2025 season. 

But Hendrickson sustained an wounded that outgo him 10 games, and helium was aboriginal placed connected injured reserve to repair a halfway musculus injury. 

Hendrickson was 1 of the astir productive borderline rushers successful the league successful Cincinnati, registering 14 sacks successful his archetypal Pro Bowl play successful 2021 aft signing his archetypal four-year woody with the team.

He antecedently played with the New Orleans Saints, who took him successful the 3rd circular of the 2017 NFL Draft retired of FAU. Hendrickson had a immense 2020 run with a career-high 13½ sacks, which landed him a $60 cardinal woody with the Bengals. 

Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up earlier playing the Tennessee Titans astatine Nissan Stadium Dec. 15, 2024, successful Nashville, Tenn. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Hendrickson made 4 consecutive Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro successful 2024 acknowledgment to his sack total. He besides recorded 36 backmost hits, 46 combined tackles and 19 tackles for loss. 

In his 7 games past season, Hendrickson totaled 4 sacks and 16 combined tackles with 1 forced fumble.  

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