All-Pro Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson set to hit free agency

[p]According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cincinnati-bengals/bwahmpRr/"]Cincinnati Bengals[/a] decided not to place a tag on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hendrickson-trey/Y9uWzyGm/"]Trey Hendrickson[/a] and will allow the edge rusher to test free agency, which starts on March 11th, the first day of the new league year.[/p][embed guid="832fc8f8-a85f-4bdd-a3a7-056ed8d238d0" url="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2028918903800242345?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]In a statement posted on Instagram, Hendrickson confirmed his departure from the Bengals after five years.[/p][p][b]"To the organization: Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level. The last 5 years have been filled with great wins and tough losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. I was and always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo & honor the history behind it,"[/b] Hendrickson said.[/p][p][b]"Cincinnati is Home. Now and forever,"[/b] he concluded.[/p][embed guid="80670ccc-cd85-4e1c-a2f7-8d7bbbd9396d" url="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2028940996998774871?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Trey Hendrickson, 31, joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 after spending the first four years of his career with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-orleans-saints/lSi5prB1/"]New Orleans Saints[/a], who picked the edge rusher with the 103rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/florida-atlantic-owls/MTPMM6GN/"]Florida Atlantic[/a].[/p][p]Hendrickson was voted a Pro Bowler in his first four seasons in Cincinnati and led the league in sacks with 17.5 in 2024, which also set the single-season franchise record. The former Owl finished second in AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting and was voted an All-Pro First Teamer in that same season.[/p][p]The following offseason, Hendrickson pushed for an extension with the Bengals, who placed the franchise tag on the star defender. Hendrickson, who was looking for a deal with an average annual value similar to defensive stars like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garrett-myles/Uotj0KLS/"]Myles Garrett[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crosby-maxx/ClrRIiOe/"]Maxx Crosby[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watt-t-j/8GFQTLN4/"]T.J. Watt[/a], held out during training camp and was allowed to seek a trade, but returned to the practice field ahead of the 2025 NFL season after the Bengals were unable to find a viable trade partner.[/p][embed guid="1ab33e49-8b31-4557-8c1b-65c36e1e4a65" url="https://x.com/NFL/status/1961446467823894701?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Due to a foot injury, Hendrickson played in only 7 games in 2025, recording 4.0 sacks.[/p][p]In his five years in Cincinnati, Hendrickson played 72 games (70 starts) and racked up 61.0 sacks, which ranks him sixth in Bengals franchise history.[/p]