At long last, the well-chronicled contractual stalemate between the Cincinnati Bengals and star defensive end Trey Hendrickson is over. The club decided not to place the franchise tag on him, suddenly giving the New England Patriots multiple high-profile options to address a glaring need.
New England is reportedly among those "keeping tabs" on disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders standout Maxx Crosby amid trade speculation. However, only one team can get him, if any. Enter Hendrickson, who's officially set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 11 and presents the Patriots with another outstanding option.
Hendrickson instantly vaults to the top of the list of the best pass-rushers available following the Bengals' latest non-move. He can be the missing piece to a Patriots squad that was one win away from a Super Bowl title in 2025.
Bengals' decision not to franchise tag Trey Hendrickson gives Patriots prime chance to land prized free agent
A nagging hip/pelvis injury that required core muscle surgery limited Hendrickson, who will be 32 in December, to seven games this past season. There are valid concerns surrounding his health (or lack thereof) and age, especially at the payday he figures to command. However, that shouldn't deter the Patriots from trying to add him.
Since 2020, only two players have recorded more sacks than Hendrickson's 74.5. The names ahead of him, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, have taken home three of the past five Defensive Player of the Year awards. That's the level of talent we're dealing with here.
The Patriots won the AFC despite boasting one of the least disruptive front sevens in the NFL. They finished near the bottom of the ranks in sacks (35) and pressures (120). In other words, consistently getting to the quarterback was a major problem — one Hendrickson can single-handedly fix when right.
Opportunities to add a legitimate game-wrecker like Hendrickson don't come around often; opposing offenses must worry about him on every play. His presence along the Patriots' defensive line could make a massive difference in 2026. Fortunately, they have the resources to successfully recruit him to Foxborough.
As things stand, the Patriots have the 11th-most cap space in the league. They're also equipped to win now with a head coach-quarterback duo between Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye. The combination of money and being able to contend for a championship should appeal to the four-time Pro Bowl veteran.