Trey Hendrickson Remains Unsigned as Teams Balk at Price Tag

The star pass rusher is seeking a lucrative long-term deal, but the market has yet to meet his asking price.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Trey Hendrickson, one of the top free agents remaining on the market, is still unsigned as teams are unwilling to meet his high contract demands. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hendrickson sees himself in the same tier as players like Danielle Hunter and Jaelan Phillips, who recently signed massive deals worth $40 million and $30 million per year respectively. However, the market has not been willing to pay Hendrickson at that level, leading to an impasse in contract negotiations.

Why it matters

Hendrickson's contract situation highlights the challenges star players can face in free agency when their asking price exceeds what teams are willing to pay. As the market continues to evolve, players and teams must find a middle ground to reach agreements. Hendrickson's prolonged free agency also leaves several teams in need of pass rushing help waiting to see where he lands.

The details

Hendrickson, who recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, is described by Schefter as a "very strong-minded, prideful person" who is unwilling to compromise on his contract demands. The Bears, Colts, Chargers, Buccaneers, and Titans have all been mentioned as potential landing spots for Hendrickson, with connections to former coaches and coordinators potentially playing a role.

  • Hendrickson became a free agent on March 10, 2026.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A star pass rusher who is seeking a lucrative long-term contract in free agency.

Adam Schefter

An ESPN reporter who provided insight into Hendrickson's contract demands and the market's response.

Danielle Hunter

A defensive end who recently signed a $40 million per year contract extension.

Jaelan Phillips

A defensive end who recently signed a $30 million per year contract with the Carolina Panthers.

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What they’re saying

“Trey Hendrickson sees himself in the company of those kinds of players, and so you would think that there would be a corresponding contract in that vicinity. But if there's not a team out there that's willing to give you 40 or 30 million dollars, sometimes it takes a player a little bit of time to understand how the market works like that, and to accept that just because Danielle Hunter might get 40, you might not get 40. Just because Jaelan Phillips gets 30 doesn't mean you'll get 30.”

— Adam Schefter, ESPN Reporter (ESPN)

“He's a very strong-minded, prideful person. He wants to get his price. Until it feels like it does, he's not willing to compromise on that.”

— Adam Schefter, ESPN Reporter (ESPN)

The takeaway

Trey Hendrickson's contract demands have priced him out of the market so far, as teams are unwilling to meet his asking price despite his strong production. This situation underscores the challenges star players can face in free agency when their perceived value exceeds what the market is willing to pay, and it will be interesting to see if Hendrickson eventually compromises or if he remains unsigned until a team is willing to meet his terms.