Cowboys Reportedly Eyed Trey Hendrickson Trade, Bengals' Asking Price Seen As 'Steep'

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly considered making a bid for Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson while stocking up on defensive help at the Tuesday trade deadline.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that the Cowboys "pursued Hendrickson," but considered the Bengals' asking price of a second-round pick "steep."

Hendrickson remained with the Bengals after the deadline.

The Cowboys meanwhile pivoted to acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets as part of an effort to retool a defense that has so far this season been one of the least effective in the NFL.

It took just a 2026 seventh-round pick for the Cowboys to acquire Wilson, who has seen limited playing time with the Bengals this season and requested a trade in October.

ESPN's Dan Graziano pointed out that the Philadelphia Eagles' trade for Jaelan Phillips, which netted a 2026 third-rounder forthe Miami Dolphins, may have also made the Hendrickson price seem inflated.

The Cowboys didn't shy away from giving up prime draft capital, however, in order to acquire Williams. The trade involved the franchise sending a 2026 second-round pick, 2027 first-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to New York.

But Williams is already signed for two more seasons, while Hendrickson is playing this season on an expiring contract despite multiple attempts to push for a long-term extension from the Bengals. He's also three years older and currently sidelined by a hip issue he said he re-aggravated in Week 8.

Those considerations may not have lowered Cincinnati's asking price. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the day before the deadline that the Bengals were "still asking for a first-round pick" in any deal for Hendrickson.

After reworking Hendrickson's expiring contract to give him a raise ahead of the 2026 season, the Bengals would need to pay an estimated $34.8 million in order to franchise tag him this winter, ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Given that price and the Bengals' previous inability to hash out a long-term deal with the star defender, it seems like there's a chance Hendrickson will be hitting free agency next spring.

The Bengals may be willing to risk that for a shot at making the playoffs. Cincinnati has lost six of its last seven games and is coming out of back-to-back defeats by the Jets and Chicago Bears, but the team now has Joe Flacco and the hope Joe Burrow could return in mid-December.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) and Baltimore Ravens (3-5) between the Bengals and the top of the AFC North, and with matchups with the Ravens coming up in Weeks 13 and 15, Cincinnati could be hoping to climb back into the playoff picture with a late-season winning streak.

In that case keeping Hendrickson, who is coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and had four in his first seven games, will be key to the Bengals' hopes of contending this winter.