Defensive end Trey Hendrickson was one of the best free agent signings in Cincinnati Bengals’ history. Hendrickson was originally signed by the Bengals following a four-year tenure with the New Orleans Saints, and in Cincinnati his career would take off.
Unfortunately, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Following a five-year stint with the Bengals, Hendrickson left in free agency and, to make matters worse, he signed with the division rival Baltimore Ravens.. Once his departure seemed imminent, Hendrickson sent a message thanking the Cincinnati organization, coaches, teammates and fans, which ended with Hendrickson saying ‘who dey.’
However, that good will may seemingly be gone as Hendrickson was with the Ravens for their uniform introduction, in which he appeared to take a subtle shot toward the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Takes Shot at Team
While wearing a brand-new Ravens uniform, Hendrickson said, “What an incredible honor it is to continue to play in the AFC North on the right side of the ball. And I’m excited to get to work. Obviously, the uniforms are gorgeous … ready to get out there and get to work.”
It is no secret that the Bengals and Hendrickson had a rocky relationship, particularly towards the second half of his tenure. Before the final year of his contract, Cincinnati granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade as contract negotiations between both sides had become stagnant.
Finally, they agreed on a contract revision which gave Hendrickson a pay raise for his final season, but did not extend his contract. Then, Hendrickson had his worst season as a Bengals player, as he totaled only four sacks while playing in seven games as he missed a majority of the season due to injuries.
After the season, Cincinnati opted not to place the franchise tag on him and allowed him to leave via free agency. During his five-year tenure with the Bengals, Hendrickson registered 61 sacks and made the Pro Bowl four times.
Trey Hendrickson’s Replacement
Truth be told, replacing Hendrickson is probably an impossible assignment. At his best, Hendrickson was a first-team All-Pro player who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
In his place, Cincinnati signed former Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract. Regarding the signing, The Athletic’s Mike Jones wrote, “This is partially a potential-based signing as Cincinnati awards Mafe a deal that will pay him $20 million per season on average, although he has served as a rotational player and is coming off a two-sack, 31-tackle season. Mafe has shown he’s capable of more, recording nine sacks and 52 tackles and 16 quarterback hits as a full-time starter in 2023. The Bengals are counting on similar production as they try to replace Trey Hendrickson.”
Despite Hendrickson’s age, his contract value with the Ravens ended up being nearly double what the Bengals paid for Mafe. Mafe was ranked by The Athletic as the No. 28 best free agent. Daniel Popper wrote:
“Mafe was a rotational piece on Seattle’s loaded Super Bowl defensive front in 2025. He played 50 percent of the defense’s snaps under coach Mike Macdonald, but he has upside in more of a full-time starter role. Mafe is an elite athlete with a high motor and closing speed in space. He is also disruptive against the run. He needs to refine his pass-rushing moves to take the next step in his career.”
Trey Hendrickson Appears to Take Subtle Shot at Bengals