The Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson are widely expected to part ways this offseason, but how that happens remains to be seen.
Hendrickson has been seeking a contract extension from Cincinnati for multiple years now, but the two sides have been unable to get it done, which has left Hendrickson disgruntled.
According to Paul Dehner Jr. Of The Athletic, he puts the chances of Hendrickson returning to Cincinnati at one percent.
While Dehner is certain Hendrickson won't be back with the Bengals, he cannot say for sure how that will happen, as he leaves the door open for Cincinnati to franchise tag and trade the star edge rusher.
"At long last, he can hit the open market outside the constraints of the Bengals. The only way that changes is if they apply a franchise tag with the idea of trading him to receive better (or earlier) draft compensation," he wrote.
Dehner points out that head coach Zac Taylor said "there's always a path" when it comes to Hendrickson returning, but Dehner doesn't believe there really is one.
"He said that because he had to, because there is no path here. It’s actually kind of funny envisioning what the real-life version of that path would be. My best answer would be to Google the Darien Gap," Dehner added. "Bridges have been set on fire here, so there’s no realistic return to Cincinnati for 2026 in the plans. When they let him walk, the team would likely receive a 2027 third-round compensatory pick."
The smartest move the Bengals can make is to tag and trade Hendrickson so they don't lose him for nothing.
Even with his age and injury-plagued 2025 campaign, a top-flight edge rusher like Hendrickson will garner a strong return in a trade, and likely better than the third-round compensatory pick the Bengals can get for letting him walk.
Hendrickson would obviously prefer to avoid the tag and pick his next team, but we would suggest there's a 50/50 chance that actually happens.
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