The Cincinnati Bengals are in the middle of a strange 2025 season. After losing Joe Burrow early in the year and dropping five of their next six games, the Bengals are 3-6, but still in the playoff hunt.
However, one of the main storylines that lingered from the offseason through the trade deadline was the future of Trey Hendrickson on the roster. He didn't get traded by the deadline, but heading into free agency, his time in Cincinnati could be coming to an end.
For ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals pass rusher is heading towards a big payday this offseason. While Cincinnati could wind up keeping him, the All-Pro pass rusher could see his next contract reaching $34 million per season.
Trey Hendrickson projected by ESPN to land $34 million-plus contract in free agency
"The Bengals have the option to franchise-tag Hendrickson at around $36 million." Fowler writes. "That's steep for a team in transition, but could be a way to facilitate a sign-and-trade. Seven pass rushers make at least $34 million per year, and Hendrickson could become the next."
While a sign-and-trade would be the Bengals' best-case scenario if Hendrickson departs this offseason, it's not as likely as the All-Pro pass rusher signing in free agency.
Fowler predicts that Hendrickson could land a deal north of $34 million, joining the seven other pass rushers with huge contracts eclipsing that number.
He'll be 31 years old at the start of 2026, potentially opening the door to a shorter-term deal. Hendrickson will have plenty of suitors interested in him this offseason, and he'll likely land a deal around $34 million, as Fowler projects.
More: NFL insider reveals why Bengals didn't trade Trey Hendrickson
This season, Hendrickson has four sacks and 11 tackles. While he won't reach the back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons he had in 2023 and 2024, his pass rush prowess will draw plenty of teams' attention in free agency.
That is, if the Bengals let him get there. They could try to franchise tag him, which would be a huge $36 million one-year tag. After such a tag, they could look to trade him to a new team that could work out a multi-year extension.
But the risk for Cincinnati is high, as seen by their efforts to land a second-round pick for Hendrickson at the 2025 NFL deadline. No team offered more than a fourth-rounder. The Bengals are better off letting Hendrickson walk to land a third-round compensatory pick.
Fowler's contract update for Hendrickson has the All-Pro veteran pass rusher landing a deal around $34 million per season. The Bengals pass rusher is likely heading towards a big payday this offseason.
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