Analyst Suggests NFC Contenders Trade for Bengals Star

Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is teeing off on the team after his extension talks have lagged past the 2025 NFL Draft. Offseason workouts have arrived, and the Bengals have continued to sit on their hands regarding their best defensive player.

Hendrickson originally signed a four-year, $60 million deal with Cincinnati and quickly outperformed his contract. After providing plenty of surplus value, he was signed to a one-year, $21 million extension.

However, his continued ascension has left him severely underpaid, so he’s using his leverage accordingly. He has not participated in offseason workouts and has seemingly grown increasingly steadfast in his commitment to holding out.

That has unsurprisingly lent itself to online trade speculation about one of the game’s best defensive players. The Bengals' star was recently listed as a trade candidate for two NFC contenders by CBS Sports.

“The Commanders dealt picks to add both Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil this offseason,” Cody Benjamin wrote. “Yet they could still use a bona fide pass rusher for Dan Quinn's defense, which got more of a secondary focus early in the 2025 draft with Trey Amos' arrival at cornerback. If Washington is serious about contending, Hendrickson could be a quick fix up front, pairing with Dorance Armstrong and Co.”

Hendrickson parlayed a 13.5-sack season into his four-year deal with Cincinnati. In each season, he’s made the Pro Bowl. In 2024, he was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro.

Still, the Bengals are hesitant to pay big money to an edge rusher who is entering his age-31 season and adamant about signing a long-term deal. That is somewhat justified, given the age curve of pass rushers.

Yet, it’s a game of leverage, and Cincinnati is running out of it. As it stalls on extending its star and helping its season-ending defense, another Super Bowl contender with additional cap space, like the Detroit Lions, could swoop in.

“The Lions addressed their offensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft, also adding wide receiver depth,” Benjamin wrote. “One area that went curiously overlooked: pass rusher, despite the team desperately needing the since-departed Za'Darius Smith to step in as an Aidan Hutchinson replacement last season. With more than $40 million in 2025 salary cap space still available, they could be a prime landing spot for a proven talent.”

Like the extensions for receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it might just be a waiting game before the Bengals fold and pay their star. Until then, Cincinnati’s pass rush is left hanging in the balance.

The Bengals are a significantly better team with Hendrickson on the field. How much they are willing to pay for those services will define just how long this holdout lasts. In the meantime, it’s hard to write off any possibility – including a trade.