The Cincinnati Bengals and star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson look further away from a potential contract agreement as the days go by.

Hendrickson has made it clear that he’s not happy with his situation in Cincinnati, and for the second time in the offseason, the Bengals have considered trading him, with a sought-after return in mind.

“Teams that have recently inquired about Bengals star Trey Hendrickson were told Cincinnati’s asking price included a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick, according to league sources. The player heading back does not have to be a pass rusher,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic wrote on X.

Teams that have recently inquired about Bengals star Trey Hendrickson were told Cincinnati’s asking price included a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick, according to league sources.

The player heading back does not have to be a pass rusher. pic.twitter.com/0BqesqeZRp

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 18, 2025

Ironically, the Bengals value him as a trade asset, but they don’t seem to feel the same way about paying him what he wants.

He’s one of the best pass rushers in the game, and it’s only right that he wants to be compensated as such, especially after leading the NFL in sacks and being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

The Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league last season, despite Hendrickson’s elite efforts.

One can only wonder how much they might struggle without him, even after parting with maligned defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

The Bengals have a long history of rubbing their players the wrong way, and have a tough time recruiting elite free agents.

After watching the way they’ve dealt with stars not named Joe Burrow, it’s hard to believe they stand a chance of convincing many others to sign with them.

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