Bengals pivot from Hendrickson, unlocking significant cap space to rebuild their defense.
The Trey Hendrickson era in Cincinnati is officially over, and that could signal a move to different options for the Bengals.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Bengals will not place the franchise tag on their star pass rusher, sending Hendrickson to unrestricted free agency for the first time since 2021.
The move opens up a path for Cincinnati to rebuild its defense with multiple new faces instead of pouring all of its resources into one player.
Rapoport posted to X on March 3, confirming the news and writing that "one of the NFL's best is free."
The tag would have cost roughly $30.2 million for one season, and for a team with that many holes on defense, the front office decided to spread that money around.
With Hendrickson now headed to the open market, Cincinnati can turn its attention to filling out a roster that badly needs defensive help.
Why the Bengals Let Hendrickson Walk
The relationship between Hendrickson and the Bengals had been falling apart for years. He requested trades in April 2024 and March 2025 before holding out through training camp.
Cincinnati gave him a $14 million raise to bring his cap hit to around $30 million for 2025, but that was always a temporary fix.
Hendrickson wanted a multi-year deal with guaranteed money similar to Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, and the Bengals were never willing to offer that commitment to anyone other than Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.
On top of the contract issues, Hendrickson only played seven games in 2025 before undergoing core muscle surgery and finished with just four sacks.
Without him, the defense fell apart.
Cincinnati went 6-11 and finished third in the AFC North while allowing 28.9 points per game, which ranked 30th in the NFL.
Who Could the Bengals Target?
With roughly $52.7 million in cap space and Hendrickson's number off the books, the Bengals are expected to go after starting-caliber players at defensive end, defensive tackle, and safety.
Cincinnati also needs help at linebacker, so the front office plans to be aggressive when free agency begins with legal tampering on March 9.
On the edge, Jaelan Phillips stands out as a younger option at 26 years old coming off a solid stint with the Eagles.
Boye Mafe and Kwity Paye are also realistic targets.
At safety, Bryan Cook is a name to watch since he is a Cincinnati native and former Bearcat who could be available after a release from the Chiefs.
Jaquan Brisker and Kamren Curl should also draw interest.
The idea behind letting Hendrickson walk is that Cincinnati can get two or three quality starters for the price of one elite player.
The Bengals also hold the No. 10 pick in April's draft, giving them a chance to pair free agency additions with a top defensive prospect heading into September.