A top pass rusher is hitting the open market.
The Bengals will not place the franchise tag on Trey Hendrickson before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, according to multiple reports, and he will become a free agent instead of getting tendered a one-year deal that would’ve been worth around $30 million.
The legal tampering period begins Monday and free agency officially opens next Wednesday.
This likely ends what became a contentious relationship between Cincinnati and the 31-year-old, who held out during part of training camp before the 2025 season due to a contract dispute.
The two sides couldn’t agree on a long-term deal, but Hendrickson did receive a raise to a $30 million salary for the 2025 season.
Hendrickson made four straight Pro Bowls from 2021-24 before he was limited to seven games in 2025 due to injury. He recorded four sacks.
He has 81 career sacks, 70.5 of which came between 2020-24. He posted 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and ’24.
Hendrickson was a third-round pick by the Saints out of Florida Atlantic in 2017, and after a slow first three seasons broke out in 2020 with 13.5 sacks.
He left New Orleans to sign a four-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals in 2021.
Hendrickson becomes one of the top free agents available and should command a big contract, even if he’s on the wrong side of 30.
