Fans rejoiced when it was announced that the Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson were able to come to terms on an agreement for the 2025 season. It may not be a long term solution, but it’s one to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.
Looking past 2025, Hendrickson could remain on the Bengals in 2026. Should the team so choose, they could further tarnish their relationship with the four-time Pro Bowler.
It Would Cost the Bengals $34.8 Million to Franchise Tag Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson’s massive raise to play in the 2025 season is nowhere near enough. His decision to opt out of training camp and not play in any of the team’s preseason games spoke volumes. Cincinnati knew they were going to have to pay Hendrickson to get him to play, and finally they gave in.
With Hendrickson set to earn $30M this season, that number is nearly double what he was set to earn. In order for Hendrickson to remain on the team in 2026, it’s going to cost the Bengals even more. There’s no doubt that Hendrickson is worth every bit of that $34.8M, it’s just a matter of him being a lost cause at that point.
While a trade was explored, Cincinnati seemed to never seriously field any offers. Unlike the Micah Parsons situation, Hendrickson is set to earn somewhere in the range of what he believes he’s worth. With his current salary, Hendrickson will be the 6th highest paid EDGE rusher in the league.
With 2025 yet to play out, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Bengals and Hendrickson can work together after this season. Every chance the team has had to make things right, they’ve found a way to mess things up.
It seemed like a no-brainer to keep Hendrickson around, but even fans were divided when the news was announced. Fans were able to breathe once again, but they realized that this is likely his swan song. That said, it’s important to note Hendrickson’s revised deal does not include a no tag clause.
A Look at the Bengals 2025 Schedule
There’s a very real possibility the Bengals could start the season 3-0. Three of their first four games are on the road, but the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Minnesota Vikings are all very winnable games. Joe Flacco leads the charge in Cleveland as Cincinnati has a chance to jump all over rookie J.J. McCarthy in Week 3.
Weeks 4-6 indicate a much tougher schedule. Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos could go either way, but then it’s a pair of NFC North powerhouses. No one has any idea how the Detroit Lions or Green Bay Packers will look by Weeks 5 and 6, but both could easily be near the top of the NFC.
Joe Burrow and company faces a gauntlet late in the season. Ending against Miami, Arizona, and Cleveland is far from terrible. The weeks before is where things get interesting. The team has their Bye in Week 10 with a crucial three game slate from November 27 to December 14.
In that span, the Bengals play the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills on the road. The following week they’ll play the Ravens once more, this time at Paycor Stadium.
Trey Hendrickson’s Hefty 2026 Franchise Tag Would Set the Bengals Back Millions