The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly seeking an astronomical return for superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Last week, it was reported that the Bengals gave the 2024 sacks leader permission to seek a trade. Hendrickson is only signed for next season, signing an extension through 2025 for $21 million in 2023.

According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, the Bengals want a package headlined by a first-round pick in exchange for the 30-year-old defensive end. Wolfe adds that interested suitors are waiting patiently to see if the asking price will drop.

“I also checked with some teams there and was told the asking price for Trey Hendrickson is also very high. The Bengals are asking for a first-round pick and more…teams are waiting that out and hoping that that market drops a little bit.”

Hendrickson has recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, leading all players in that category during the 2024 campaign. In just 65 games with the Bengals, he has 57 sacks, 12 pass breakups and 11 forced fumbles.

A 2017 third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, Trey Hendrickson got off to a slow start before breaking out in 2020 (his contract year) with 13.5 sacks. The Bengals then signed him to a lucrative four-year deal worth $60 million in a move that could go down as the greatest free agent signing in franchise history.

Bengals Shouldn’t Expect Anyone To Match Their Asking Price

Trey Hendrickson and Najee Harris (Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
As good as Hendrickson is, it’s hard to envision the Bengals getting a first-round pick for his services. If Hendrickson were younger and not a pending free agent, it’d probably be a different story.

But the 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with quality edge rushers, namely Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Marshall’s Mike Green and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart.

So teams looking for a potent game-changing pass-rusher should wait until the draft rather than give up early-round picks for a player who’s about to enter his age-31 season.