Bengals skip franchise tag on star DE ahead of free agency

· Yahoo Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals are foregoing a franchise tag for standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson, allowing the star to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The move comes after the former All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler missed over half of the 2025 season due to injury, and amid plenty of speculation over the past year about whether or not Hendrickson was content with the Bengals.

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Trey Hendrickson set to become unrestricted free agent

Hendrickson has spent the last five seasons in Cincinnati and has been a full-time starter for the Bengals during that time. He spent the first four years of his career with the Saints after being selected by the franchise in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Hendrickson has recorded 236 tackles, 81 sacks, and 16 pass deflections over the course of his NFL career, and will certainly be a highly sought-after target in free agency this year. But according to analysis from The Athletic, the Bengals didn't seem interested in paying Hendrickson what he wanted in a new contract and were ready to move on after declining to extend him last year. So now, he'll be looking for a new home in his tenth NFL season.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Bengals skip franchise tag on star DE ahead of free agency

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