Bengals' biggest surprise from first day of free agency is the player who didn't immediately find a new team

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Mar 10, 2026 9:25 AM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals reached agreements with two new starters for their defense on the first day of the two-day negotiating window leading up to the official start of NFL free agency. Safety Bryan Cook and defensive end Boye Mafe are big-time additions to a defense that needs an injection of talent and leadership.

Signing both on the same day was a mild surprise. They could easily end up as the highest-paid free agents signed by Cincinnati this offseason, and they reached agreements within an hour of each other. That three of the Bengals' own free agents, Joseph Ossai, Noah Fant, and Cordell Volson, all found new homes was also surprising to see so quickly.

Nothing feels like more of a shock than seeing all of this happen while Trey Hendrickson remained available.

Trey Hendrickson surprisingly remains available after first day of negotiating

Hendrickson, A to Z Sports' top-ranked available free agent at the start of the negotiating window, remains the top player on the board as of Tuesday morning.

Six EDGEs from our top-100, including Mafe, reached agreements Monday while Hendrickson could not get a deal done with interested clubs such as the Dallas Cowboys.

It's not as if the market was quiet in any sense of the word. Jaelen Phillips is set to get $30 million a year from the Carolina Panthers. Odafe Oweh will ink $25 million per year from the Washington Commanders. Mafe will soon sign for $20 million per year from Cincinnati to ultimately replace Hendrickson.

The NFL showcased its thirst for pass rushers, and yet, one of the best remains open to negotiations. It's confusing to say the least.

Man I've got no idea what the Trey Hendrickson market is going to be. The EDGE market exploded today, and Hendrickson is older and not a three down player. Weird spot rn.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 10, 2026

Why Trey Hendrickson may still be available

The answers to Hendrickson's availability may be found in the reasoning why Cincinnati allowed him to test the market in the first place. He's 31 years old, coming off a season-ending core muscle injury, and has been trying to sign a multi-year contract with guaranteed money beyond the first year of the deal.

That mix may not be as attractive to interested franchises.

The Bengals, who notoriously avoid future guarantees in their contracts, had their own issues negotiating with Hendrickson over the years. Other teams may've gotten a taste of that all Monday afternoon.

Hendrickson's injury specifically feels like a safe bet for the hold up. The four-time Pro Bowler opted for season-ending surgery with the idea of being fully healthy for the offseason in mind, but teams may want to check him out in-person before committing major money for his services beyond this season.

Hendrickson should still end up becoming the most expensive free agent loss for the Bengals, but his availability after the first day of the madness is notable for reasons we just don't know for sure yet.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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