Trey Hendrickson Trade Offers Reportedly Didn't Include More Than 4th-Round Draft Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals were reportedly unable to find any team willing to part with a second-round pick in exchange for Trey Hendrickson's expiring contract ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that the Bengals never received an offer "better than a fourth-round pick" for Hendrickson, who remained in Cincinnati past the deadline.

The Bengals were unwilling to accept that price in part because the team has already paid out $13 million of his $16 million salary for 2025, Rapoport noted.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the day before the deadline that the Bengals wanted a first-rounder as part of any potential deal for Hendrickson.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported two days later that opposing teams believed Hendrickson's price stood at a second-rounder.

The Dallas Cowboys were one of the teams interested in Hendrickson, but they considered a second-round pick a "steep" price, according to Fowler.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero previously reported in August the Bengals had rejected a trade offer for Hendrickson including a second-round pick and other assets.

Both Russini and NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported at the time that the Bengals wanted a player as well as a pick for Hendrickson.

Hendrickson was coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons at the time. His asking price may have dipped since then due to his contract status, his four sacks through seven games, and the fact that he has been recently sidelined by a hip injury.

After multiple offseasons of contract negotiations ended without a long-term extension for Hendrickson, it seems like the Bengals are risking losing their star defender for nothing if he walks in free agency this offseason.

The franchise's willingness to keep Hendrickson past the deadline despite reported interest from teams including the Cowboys could indicate some hope in Cincinnati that the Bengals will make a late playoff push, especially if Joe Burrow is able to return from his toe injury before the end of the season.

The Bengals are 3-6 after losing six of their last seven games, however, most recently including back-to-back losses to the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. Joe Flacco will need to lead the Bengals to a winning record over the back half of the season in order to get his team into the playoff conversation.