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After a long dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals that has spanned multiple offseasons, Trey Hendrickson is headed to free agency. The Bengals decided on March 3 that they would not franchise tag the star pass-rusher ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The tag would've cost Cincinnati $30.2 million in 2026.
It ends a stint in Cincinnati that included multiple trade requests and a dispute that became ugly in the public last offseason.
Hendrickson initially signed with the Bengals on March 15, 2021, when he inked a four-year, $60 million deal coming off a 13.5-sack season at age 26 with the New Orleans Saints. He later signed a one-year, $21 million extension in 2023, saying he wanted to remain with the Bengals.
The star has always been in search of a long-term deal that the Bengals never appeared willing to give, especially after signing Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow to some hefty extensions. The Bengals have never been known for having deep pockets or at least a willingness to dip into them, sparking the feud that began a turn for the worse in 2024.
Hendrickson first requested a trade in April 2024 after posting 17.5 sacks during the 2023 season – a new career-high.
He eventually returned to the team and then requested a trade for the second time in March 2025. This time, the Bengals granted him permission to seek employment elsewhere.
Bengals EVP Katie Blackburn's comments were the turning point, making the situation personal.
"I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn't think he'd be happy at," Blackburn said via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he's not, you know, that's what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him. He's been a great player. We're happy to have him. And so maybe we'll find a way to get something to work. We're just gonna see where it goes."
Hendrickson responded on "The Pat McAfee Show" a day later. On May 13, 2025, he told reporters at an impromptu press conference that he wasn't willing to play for the Bengals on his current contract.
He eventually reported to training camp without a new deal in place, but did eventually agree to a raise on Aug. 25, 2025.
Now the pass-rusher will head to free agency, where he can choose his next team for the first time in a long time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trey Hendrickson won't get franchise tag from Bengals, per reports