Why Bengals should consider lowering asking price for Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Why Bengals should consider lowering steep asking price for Trey Hendrickson

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 1:43 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals aren't going to deal EDGE Trey Hendrickson for a bag of chips.

The Bengals are listening to trade offers for Hendrickson, entering the final year of his contract. He has said he won't play this season without a new deal.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, teams that inquired about the pass-rusher have said the Bengals want a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick.

Teams that have recently inquired about Bengals star Trey Hendrickson were told Cincinnati’s asking price included a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick, according to league sources.

The player heading back does not have to be a pass rusher. pic.twitter.com/0BqesqeZRp
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 18, 2025

The player the Bengals would acquire doesn't have to be an EDGE, but they would probably accept a deal that includes one. Letting go of Hendrickson — the league's sack leader (17.5 in 17 games) last season — would create a hole in Cincinnati's pass-rush.

It's easy to see why the Bengals have a high asking price for the stud. Still, the team may want to lower it.

Teams rarely trade high draft capital for 30-year-old non-quarterbacks like Hendrickson. When they do, it typically doesn't turn them into a Super Bowl contender.

The New England Patriots dealt Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Seymour to the Las Vegas Raiders (then in Oakland) before the 2009 season.

Seymour played for the Raiders from 2009-12, making two Pro Bowls and earning a 2011 second-team All-Pro nod. The franchise still never made the playoffs during that span.

Plus, none of the teams reportedly interested in Hendrickson can likely give Cincinnati what it wants. According to longtime NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are among the teams kicking the tires on the four-time Pro Bowler.

The #Panthers, #Browns and #Colts are among the teams that have shown interest in trading for #Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson, per multiple sources.

An in-division and in-state trade is highly unlikely and any deal will be tough regardless. Cincinnati is believed to want an… pic.twitter.com/DHPnCuPNki
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 17, 2025

The three teams may not be in a position to move high picks or young players. All could be entering rebuilding mode after missing the playoffs last season.

The Bengals should've just paid the defensive star, but they've been unwilling to meet his demands. Now, Cincinnati is aiming to recoup multiple assets in a blockbuster trade for Hendrickson. Until the team lowers the price or signs the EDGE, it may remain unable to do that.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: