The NFL community was shocked to learn that the Las Vegas Raiders had agreed to a trade that will send star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round draft picks when the new league year opens on March 11.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are widely expected to let veteran pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson reach free agency after they chose to not retain Hendrickson’s rights for 2026 via the franchise tag. During the latest edition of his “Nightcap” podcast, Pro Football Hall of Famer and current analyst Shannon Sharpe ripped the Bengals for their handling of Hendrickson.
What Bengals should have done with Trey Hendrickson
“You had Trey Hendrickson,” Sharpe said about the Bengals, per Chris Franklin of NJ.com. “Teams tried to make a trade for him last year, but you hold on to him. Now you let him go free, so you get nothing for him. What sense does that make? If you’re not going to sign him to come back, you’ve got to let him go. I have to trade you and get something for you.”
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals “tried and failed to trade Hendrickson at multiple junctures last season, both during the offseason and at the trade deadline, never coming close to receiving their asking price.”
Before the 2025 campaign got underway, the two sides agreed to a revised deal that gave Hendrickson a raise and also kept him in a contract year. He then played in just seven regular-season games before he needed core surgery in December.
Dehner mentioned that “there was never a chance Hendrickson would play for the Bengals in 2026.” Assuming that’s the case, Cincinnati not getting something in return for Hendrickson’s services looks silly considering the club won only six games this past season.
Bengals were never going to pay Trey Hendrickson what he wanted
“You let the man walk, and his value wasn’t going to get any higher,” Sharpe added about the Bengals not trading Hendrickson last offseason. “He’s coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and he’s an All-Pro. His value is not going to get any higher. You know you’re not about to give this man three, four years at $100-plus million. That’s not what you guys do, especially at the age of 31. That’s not what you do, Cincinnati, but you let him walk out the door, and now you get nothing for it.”
ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano predicted that Hendrickson will ultimately sign a three-year, $84M deal with $42M guaranteed to join the Indianapolis Colts. There’s zero indication the Bengals have any interest in matching such an offer for Hendrickson.
