Overview
- Director of player personnel Duke Tobin declined to disclose Cincinnati’s plans and said nothing is on or off the table with Hendrickson.
- A franchise tag would pay roughly $30.2 million in 2026, with NFL.com noting an estimated $36.7 million cap hit for the Bengals.
- Tobin described a possible tag-and-trade as “very complicated,” citing the need for a trade partner and player cooperation.
- If not tagged by the March 3 deadline, Hendrickson will enter free agency after a 2025 season limited to seven games and four sacks following core-muscle surgery.
- Reporting links the Colts and 49ers as potential destinations if he reaches the market, while some ESPN analysts expect Cincinnati to move on to preserve resources.