Trey Hendrickson’s NFL future is complicated by one issue.

Few names have generated more controversy during the 2026 free agency cycle than Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals’ defensive end has been a hot topic for over a year, with speculation about whether he would eventually sign a bigger contract elsewhere.

That speculation became reality on March 9, when Hendrickson officially hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. Over the past few weeks, several NFL franchises have expressed interest in bringing in the pass rusher.

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But despite all the chatter and reported meetings, Hendrickson remains unsigned. The first day of legal tampering has already passed without the deal being completed. This raises the obvious question of what is holding things back.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the answer comes down to money. Hendrickson has been in discussions with several teams, but so far no one has met his asking price. This stagnation stems from recent signings that have reset expectations across the league.

Houston handed Daniel Hunter a $40 million-per-year contract extension. Carolina got attention for giving Jalen Phillips $30 million a year. Hendrickson sees himself in the same class as an elite edge rusher, which means his price tag is somewhere in that range.

“Sometimes it takes a player a little bit of time to understand and accept how the market works. Just because Danielle Hunter might get $40 million doesn’t mean she’ll get $40. Just because Jalen Phillips gets $30 million doesn’t mean she’ll get $30,” Schefter said. “So now he is talking to several teams, but so far no one has met his price and he is a very strong and proud man. He wants to get his price and he is not willing to compromise until he feels that way.”