The Cincinnati Bengals have had several opportunities to keep star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson on their roster next season and beyond, but they have yet to do so. The 31-year-old will hit unrestricted free agency when the NFL free agency period begins on March 11, as the Bengals won't franchise tag him, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The franchise tag is a tool that NFL teams can use to lock up an impending free agent to a one-year contract, and Cincinnati could have done just that with Hendrickson. The former first-team All-Pro is coming off an injury-shortened season, but led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024.

The Bengals permitted Hendrickson to seek a trade last offseason as he sought a contract extension, but he didn't find a trade partner. They then gave him a $14 million raise for 2025, but not an extension.

On one hand, it makes sense to let go of an aging and costly player coming off an injury-shortened season. Hendrickson has a market value of two years, $50.8 million ($25.4 million AAV), per Spotrac. Cincinnati could use that money to plug multiple holes this offseason.

On the other hand, the organization must be aggressive if Hendrickson walks. It ranked 30th in scoring defense last season and needs help on all three levels. It can't afford for the star to leave and not acquire other veterans through free agency and trades.

The NFL Draft presents another opportunity to get defensive help, but that's a long-term play. A first-round prospect like Ohio State safety Caleb Downs could help right away if the Bengals select him No. 10 overall, but the team can't expect later-round rookies to be difference-makers in 2026.

Cincinnati signed Hendrickson to a four-year, $60 million deal in March 2021 after he spent his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder notched 14 sacks across 16 games that season before tallying eight and 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024, respectively. He then recorded four sacks over just seven games in 2025, as he missed time due to a hip/pelvis injury.

Hendrickson helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship in 2022, their two most successful seasons since owner Mike Brown inherited the team from his late father Paul in 1991. Now, the two parties appear to be going their separate ways.