Bengals Lose Trey Hendrickson to Free Agency

0:00For the NFL, it's March 4th, here's what's happening. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an update. The Cincinnati Bengals chose not to slap the franchise tag on defensive entry Hendrickson before Tuesday's deadline. That clears the way for him to hit free agency, ending his run with the team. Hendrickson wasted no time, posting a farewell message on social media right after 4pm Eastern. He topped the NFL in SACS last season with 17 and a half, piling up 39 over his previous 41 games. Experts now rank him as the number one free agent, so teams will line up with big offers next week. Fans feel the sting of irony, with the Bengals still needing a strong pass rush. Hendrickson signed a $40 million dollar deal back in 2021, added a one-year extension before 2023, and rewrote things last year, but long-term talks fell through. The team could have locked him up last off season, or traded him away earlier. Instead, they let free agency arrive, and now Hendrickson heads elsewhere.

1:04Looking ahead, Cincinnati might snag a compensatory draft pick in 2027 if he leaves. But they're planning to chase top free agents like Otife O.A. and Joey Bosa, which could wipe that out under the formula. CNN is sponsored by our partner. If sleep podcasts are your thing, this is your pillow, dope for comfort and calm, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.