Bengals were reportedly handed harsh Trey Hendrickson reality before franchise-tag decision

Shortly after it was learned on Tuesday that the Cincinnati Bengals would not use the franchise tag to retain the rights for pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, a report shared that tagging Hendrickson "was never seriously considered by the team."  

Some previously suggested that the Bengals could tag Hendrickson and then trade him to a club in need of a pass-rusher. However, it sounds like Cincinnati was handed a harsh dose of reality regarding such a plan while speaking with other teams during last week's NFL Scouting Combine. 

What was "major factor" for why Bengals didn't tag Trey Hendrickson?

"The major factor was finding a trade partner willing to pay Hendrickson his desired contract while also paying the Bengals their desired compensation," Bengals reporter Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic revealed on Tuesday. "With Hendrickson’s age and injury entering the conversation this year, as well as a deep edge-rusher market in free agency and the draft, the desperation to pay the hefty price didn’t come to fruition while kicking the tires in Indianapolis."

Hendrickson turned 31 years old this past December and played in just seven games during the 2025 season before he needed core surgery. According to Dehner, none of the three "tag-and-trade deals" completed over the last five years involved a player over the age of 30. 

Additionally, it's no secret that Hendrickson wanted to sign a multiyear agreement with either the Bengals or a different team last offseason. He instead settled on receiving a revised deal from Cincinnati that gave him a raise and kept him in a contract year. 

Trey Hendrickson wasn't willing to do the Bengals any favors

"Cincinnati also needed to trust Hendrickson’s camp would work willingly to make a deal happen," Dehner added. "The sides are far from the best of friends after years of contentious negotiations, and Hendrickson was motivated to reach free agency, not to help the Bengals on his way out. Plus, the rest of the league was well aware of the fractured relationship between the Bengals and Hendrickson, so any potential suitor wasn’t going to make a strong offer knowing he would be likely to walk into free agency without needing to trade away any draft capital."

Per different stories, the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among "potential suitors" that could explore signing Hendrickson. 

As it pertains to a possible reunion involving Hendrickson and the Bengals, Dehner noted that Cincinnati never had "interest in paying Hendrickson what he wanted into his mid-30s."