Trey Hendrickson Named Top Available Player for 2026 NFL Free Agency

The Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher is expected to command a lucrative multi-year deal on the open market.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:07pm

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Trey Hendrickson, the star pass rusher for the Cincinnati Bengals, has been named the top available player heading into the 2026 NFL free agency period. Hendrickson is coming off a dominant five-year stretch with the Bengals, recording 74.5 sacks since 2020, the third-highest total in the league. Unless the Bengals use the franchise tag to retain him, Hendrickson is poised to hit free agency and is projected to command a three-year, $99 million contract.

Why it matters

Hendrickson is an elite pass rusher, a rare commodity in the NFL, and his impending free agency will be one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 offseason. Several teams with significant salary cap space, including the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers, are expected to pursue Hendrickson aggressively.

The details

Hendrickson has spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, emerging as one of the league's premier pass rushers. He recorded 74.5 sacks since 2020, the third-highest total in the NFL during that span. However, Hendrickson missed seven games last season due to a core muscle injury that required surgery. Unless the Bengals use the franchise tag to retain him, Hendrickson is poised to hit the open market, where he is projected to command a three-year, $99 million contract.

  • The 2026 NFL league year and free agency period begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
  • A "legal tampering" window will open two days prior, on March 9, allowing teams to negotiate with soon-to-be free agents.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A star pass rusher who has spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 74.5 sacks since 2020, the third-highest total in the NFL during that span.

Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL team that Trey Hendrickson has played for over the past five seasons, and who may use the franchise tag to retain him for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Hendrickson has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL over the past five seasons. He has the third-most sacks in the league since 2020 with 74.5, and he played in only seven games last season due a core-muscle injury that required surgery. Hendrickson plays with a relentless, urgent motor that puts crushing pressure on a tackle's outside shoulder. He turns the corner and finishes with a straight-line burst, always hunting for the ball. He has 15 career forced fumbles.”

— Daniel Popper, Reporter

What’s next

The Bengals will have to decide whether to use the franchise tag on Hendrickson by the March 9 deadline, which would keep him in Cincinnati for the 2026 season at a cost of around $30.2 million. If he hits free agency, Hendrickson is expected to draw significant interest from teams with ample salary cap space, such as the Titans, Raiders, Chargers, Jets, and Commanders.

The takeaway

Trey Hendrickson's impending free agency will be one of the most highly anticipated storylines of the 2026 NFL offseason. As an elite pass rusher in the prime of his career, Hendrickson is poised to command a massive multi-year contract on the open market, with several quarterback-needy teams expected to aggressively pursue his services.