Trey Hendrickson, the standout edge rusher for the Cincinnati Bengals, has reportedly requested a trade to another club after the team used their franchise tag on him. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Hendrickson is seeking more long-term security as he has non-guaranteed base salaries of $14.8 million and $15.8 million for the next two seasons. However, the Bengals have not been willing to fulfill that desire, prompting Hendrickson to seek a trade.
Hendrickson has been with the Bengals for the past three seasons and has been a standout player, recording 39.5 sacks in 48 regular season games. He also had 3.5 sacks in Super Bowl LVI. Despite his success with the team, it looks like his next sacks could come in a different uniform if the Bengals decide to grant his trade request.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins was the first player on the roster to request a trade after being tagged by the team. The Bengals have been reluctant to grant trades due to their strong roster and their desire to keep key players under contract for future seasons. However, with Higgins and now Hendrickson expressing interest in leaving, it remains to be seen how far this trend will go.
The offseason is still young and there may be more changes coming as free agency approaches and teams look to strengthen their rosters ahead of training camp. The Bengals will need to weigh their options carefully before making any trades or signings, as they look towards another successful season in 2022-2023.
