Bengals pursue draft pick and defensive player in Hendrickson trade talks

The Bengals are looking for a high-value return in a potential Trey Hendrickson deal, including a 2026 first-round pick and a defensive player.

Bengals seek draft pick and defensive player in Hendrickson trade talks

Over the weekend reports circulated that Cincinnati has been listening to trade calls for defensive end Trey Hendrickson. On Monday, new details emerged about what the Bengals would want in return, including draft compensation and a defensive player who does not need to be an edge rusher. Dianna Russini of The Athletic said the team has discussed a 2026 first-round pick as part of the package. Hendrickson was given permission to seek a trade this offseason but has not found a match yet. He is set to make $16 million in the final year of his contract and has indicated he will not play under the current pact.

Any team that trades for Hendrickson would likely need to have a contract in place to ensure he will be on the field. The Bengals have not yet found a partner that meets their price, and negotiations have stalled over guarantees in the coming years. With the preseason entering its final stretch and the season opening soon, the trade market could hinge on whether a new deal can be agreed and whether the Bengals will soften their ask. The saga also highlights how teams balance short-term needs with longer-term cap considerations ahead of the season.

This situation shows the friction between immediate on-field impact and long-term financial planning. A top pass rusher who carries a large guaranteed sum creates a stiff negotiating hurdle for potential buyers. Cincinnati appears to want both a meaningful draft asset and a capable defender to help right away, a combination that may be hard to match. The move also tests Hendrickson’s leverage: he can push for a favorable longer-term contract, but any holdout could complicate his value to other teams. In a league where cap management shapes every offseason decision, this trade talk may foreshadow more deals that trade off current production for future flexibility.

In broad terms, the market for veteran edge rushers could be changing. Teams must weigh not just the player’s performance now but the certainty of future guarantees and the associated cap impact. If a willing partner emerges that can meet both the on-field and financial asks, a trade could reshape Cincinnati’s defense and the player’s career arc. If not, Hendrickson may either stay put under tough terms or exit with questions about what a true return would look like for a stalwart in 2024’s sack race.

Highlights

The market for veteran pass rushers is watching closely as teams weigh impact now against cap realities ahead.