In a surprising turn of events, Cincinnati Bengals' defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade from the team, citing his desire for long-term security. According to reports, Hendrickson's agent, Harold Lewis, confirmed the request. The 29-year-old player is not scheduled for free agency until after the 2025 season and is set to make $14.8 million in base salary in 2024 and $15.8 million in base salary in 2025, as per Spotrac. However, Hendrickson doesn't seem to be happy with the situation at present.
Despite the trade request, the Bengals have made it clear that they have no intention of trading Hendrickson. The team is focused on winning the Super Bowl this year and does not plan to deal stars, as Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reported. In addition, Hendrickson's agent has also confirmed that the player is considering retirement.
Hendrickson has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three seasons with Cincinnati. Last season, he made a career-best 17.5 sacks and totaled 39.5 sacks through his last three years with the team. Despite being a bright spot for the team, Hendrickson's future with the Bengals remains uncertain.
This is not the first time a high-profile player has requested a trade from the Bengals. Wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is entering the final season of his contract, requested a trade in March. However, he later
As of now, it's unclear what will happen with Hendrickson's trade request and whether the Bengals will be able to convince him to stay. The team has not yet made any public statements regarding the matter beyond confirming that they have no intention of trading him.