The Cincinnati Bengals have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to decide whether to franchise Trey Hendrickson. If tagged, the defensive end would make $30.2 million in the 2026 season. If not, he becomes a free agent next week.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the situation remains unresolved and potential “tag trade” options are already being explored.

“He’s waiting to see if the Bengals franchise tag him today,” Schefter said Tuesday via “Get Up.” “They haven’t communicated that to him yet. He’s waiting to hear. There haven’t been any conversations yet. Trey Hendrickson is sitting in Florida waiting to see what the Bengals want to do with him.

“I think the Bengals have looked around the league to see if teams would be interested in trading Trae Hendrickson, in which case they would tag him and tag him to trade him. But I don’t think they have a lot of interest in trading Trae Hendrickson that way. So, they have to make a decision by four o’clock on what they’re going to do today.”

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Schefter added that Hendrickson could leave as a free agent.

“My guess, and this is a guess because you don’t know what’s going on with the Bengals, is that he wasn’t tagged and was allowed to leave in free agency,” Schefter said. “But I know the Bengals have made calls regarding the tag and trade options. And I don’t think they’ve heard exactly what they want yet.”

Trey Hendrickson During the 2025 season, the team signed a restructured one-year contract worth up to $30 million.

Also read:Trey Hendrickson free agency: Team reportedly interested in acquiring Bengals DE worth $9B

Also read: ‘How much help does Joe Burrow need’: NFL fans react when Bengals re-sign Dalton Risner

Bengals unlikely to target Trey Hendrickson, may turn to Odafi Owe

this cincinnati tigers Franchise label is not expected to be used Trey HendricksonAccording to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“The feeling this weekend is that Trey Hendrickson and (Chargers linebacker) O’Duffy Owe probably won’t be tagged with the franchise tag,” Fowler wrote Sunday. “That could change over the next 48 hours, but Ove has not received any indication that he will be tagged, and most around the league would be surprised if the Bengals tagged Hendrickson.”

If Hendrickson becomes a free agent, Cincinnati could target Odafe Oweh, who had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The linebacker also posted a 16.5% pass rush win rate. Contract forecasts range from $77 million to $88 million over four years.