Bengals, Trey Hendrickson end complicated contract drama after team decides against franchise tag

Trey Hendrickson whitethorn yet beryllium capable to get the semipermanent woody helium was searching for since past offseason, arsenic the Cincinnati Bengals did not usage the franchise tag connected the prima antiaircraft end. 

Hendrickson penned a goodbye to fans pursuing Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL deadline, which marked the extremity of teams being capable to spot a franchise tag connected players. 

"To the organization: Thank you for the accidental to play the crippled I emotion astatine the highest level," helium wrote successful his Instagram caption. "The past 5 years person been filled with large wins and pugnacious losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. 

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Cincinnati Bengals antiaircraft extremity Trey Hendrickson (91) holds up his digit aft a antiaircraft halt with 4 seconds near successful the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot game. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos 15-10 astatine Empower Field successful Denver, Colorado, connected Dec. 19, 2021. (Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

"I was and ever volition beryllium arrogant to person worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo and grant the past down it."

The Bengals ne'er ruled retired the anticipation of tagging Hendrickson to effort to get him nether declaration erstwhile more, oregon astatine the precise least, acquiring immoderate draught superior by getting a commercialized unneurotic with different team. 

But Duke Tobin, the Bengals’ manager of subordinate personnel, said astatine the NFL Scouting Combine past week that the second enactment isn’t arsenic elemental arsenic it sounds. 

"You person to find a partner, you person to person practice with your players. Trades tin beryllium complicated," Tobin said, per ESPN.

Hendrickson would’ve besides costed the Bengals $30.2 cardinal if they slapped him with the tag for this season. In turn, the Bengals and Hendrickson’s analyzable declaration concern comes to an end, arsenic he’ll look up to uncovering a caller squad adjacent week. 

This past offseason was a antithetic story, arsenic the Bengals allowed him to find retired what they could get backmost successful a imaginable commercialized – rather the unusual petition to enactment connected the subordinate himself. Hendrickson was the league’s sack person (17.5) successful 2024, and helium was looking to beryllium paid arsenic such. 

Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals takes a antiaircraft stance during a NFL shot crippled against the Minnesota Vikings astatine Paycor Stadium connected Dec. 16, 2023, successful Cincinnati, Ohio. (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

After nary commercialized spouse was found, and nary negotiations came to fruition, Hendrickson held retired of offseason workouts and the opening of grooming camp. But the blockade yet broke down, arsenic Hendrickson and the Bengals agreed to a $29 cardinal woody for conscionable the 2025 season. 

Unfortunately for some sides, Hendrickson suffered an wounded that forced him to miss 10 games, and helium was aboriginal placed connected the injured reserve to repair a halfway musculus injury. 

Hendrickson’s vocation successful Cincinnati saw him arsenic 1 of the astir productive borderline rushers successful the league, arsenic helium tallied 14 sacks successful his archetypal Pro Bowl play successful 2021 aft signing his archetypal four-year woody with the team.

He antecedently played with the New Orleans Saints, who took him successful the 3rd circular of the 2017 NFL Draft retired of FAU. Hendrickson had a immense 2020 run with a career-high 13.5 sacks, which yet landed him a $60 cardinal woody with the Bengals. 

Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up earlier playing the Tennessee Titans astatine Nissan Stadium connected Dec. 15, 2024, successful Nashville, Tennessee. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Hendrickson made 4 consecutive Pro Bowls and earned a first-team All-Pro successful 2024 acknowledgment to his sack total, which besides saw 36 backmost hits, 46 combined tackles and 19 tackles for loss. 

In his 7 games past season, Hendrickson totaled 4 sacks and 16 combined tackles with 1 forced fumble.  

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