Sat Mar 08 17:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Bengals All-Pro Defensive End Trey Hendrickson Granted Trade Request
**Cincinnati, OH** – The Cincinnati Bengals have granted All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, the team announced. Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season, is seeking a new contract after his request was approved. This marks the second consecutive year Hendrickson has requested a trade.
Hendrickson, 30, expressed his gratitude to the Bengals organization while stating his desire to explore new options. His impressive performance over the past two seasons, accumulating 35 sacks, solidified his position as one of the league’s top pass rushers. He’s currently third in the NFL in sacks since joining Cincinnati in 2021 and third in pressure rate during that span.
However, Hendrickson’s current contract, which includes a $15.8 million base salary and an $18.7 million cap hit in 2025, places him only 11th in average annual salary among edge rushers. This disparity, along with recent lucrative extensions for other top defensive players like Maxx Crosby, reportedly fueled his desire for a new deal.
The Bengals are currently negotiating with other key players, including wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who are also seeking significant contract extensions. While the team intends to keep Chase and Higgins, Hendrickson’s departure could free up cap space, impacting the team’s ability to finalize those deals. Hendrickson himself previously indicated a willingness to be traded if it benefited the Bengals’ Super Bowl aspirations. The team will likely be looking to gain draft picks in exchange for the highly productive defensive end.
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