The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly having trouble with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, as he has yet to reach a deal on his contract extension with the team. This has left it possible for Joe Burrows to try and trade the standout pass rusher, with several teams now showing interest. One of those teams is the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns, which is worth $6.14 billion, according to Axios, in trading for Hendrickson, who may be a good fit to complement their stacked lineup of quarterbacks this season, which includes Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. This was first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
The Browns have shown interest in trading for Trey Hendrickson, per @Schultz_Report 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/0u0qobIWg3
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 17, 2025
The possible trade is because Hendrickson and the team have reached another “impasse” during their contract extension negotiations. Some progress was reported over the summer, but it was stalled again heading into the 2025 preseason.
Hendrickson is playing hardball with the Bengals and believes he is worth a lot more for the team than his current salary. He is slated to earn $16 million in cash for the season, though this is much less than what other stars of his caliber are earning. He leads the NFL in sacks, which means he is set to be a big asset for any team that wants him.
The Bengals have reportedly offered Hendrickson a base salary of $15.8 million this year, though the defensive end has been very vocal about being dissatisfied with the deal, believing it is still not enough, especially as he is considered one of the best defensive ends in the league.
The Bengals’ All-Pro will be hard to replace for Cincinnati, but as contract negotiations continue to deteriorate, they may put him on the trading block. Schultz believes that the Bengals are asking for either an impact player of a similar caliber as Hendrickson, as well as a draft pick or two, in exchange for the defensive star.
What Teams Are Also Interested in Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson?
It is not just the Cleveland Browns that have shown much interest in trading for Trey Hendrickson. Schulz revealed that the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers are also very much interested in him.
It is clear that Hendrickson wants more money, and there are several teams that may be willing to pay what he asks just to keep him. He has become a defensive powerhouse during his time with the Bengals, getting 35 sacks across two seasons.
Negotiations between him and the team are still ongoing, so nothing is final yet.
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