If the Jacksonville Jaguars want to address their pass rush in free agency, one of their best options will be locking up Trey Hendrickson. The All-Pro Pro Bowl defensive end would immediately turn the Jags' front four into one of the best in the league. Sure, signing him would be pricey, but he would be worth it.
The issue is that it's not a given that Hendrickson will be available in the open market, and based on a recent update, the Cincinnati Bengals may use the franchise tag to prevent him from leaving.
The Bengals may prevent the Jaguars from pursuing Trey Hendrickson
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media broke the news that the Bengals are toying with the possibility of placing the franchise tag on Trey Hendrickson, noting that there's a chance his time in Cincinnati isn't over.
Hendrickson has been looking for an extension that reflects his value as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL dating back to 2023, but the Bengals haven't caved in to his demands. They did give him an extension that gave him a bump in pay that year and also reworked his contract in 2025. However, the former Florida Atlantic Owl still hasn't gotten the top-market contract he wants.
That has led to chatter about Cincinnati letting him hit the open market, but Garafolo's scoop may indicate that they're not ready to let him walk, and why would they? The four-time Pro Bowl nod dealt with injuries last year, but registered a combined 70.5 sacks the prior six seasons.
Cincy could also tag Hendrickson and trade him to a team that's in need of a pass rush (e.g., the Jaguars). If that's the route they take, they may be able to get a couple of draft picks, maybe a second and a fourth, because the club that gets him would also need to give him a new deal.
Of course, the Bengals could also use the franchise tag to squeeze another season out of Hendrickson without having to give him a long-term deal, which, at this point, he may not get in Cincinnati.
The Jaguars may need to look for options aside from Trey Hendrickson
The Jaguars could have trouble signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Apart from having a cap crunch, he'll also draw interest from a club in need of pass-rush help. That said, if Jacksonville really wanted to make a push for him, the front office could free up enough space to sign him. Having said that, if the Bengals use the franchise tag, he would be off the market.
That would, in turn, force the Jaguars to either make a trade for Maxx Crosby, which would be substantially more expensive, or turn to the draft to get pass rush help. The downside of taking that path is that Jacksonville doesn't have a first-round pick in 2026 after trading up for Travis Hunter last year.
Moreover, the Jaguars may want to prioritize adding reinforcements at defensive tackle and cornerback before they bolster their pass-rush rotation.
The good news is that the Jaguars will have different ways to address the pass rush this offseason, but they will surely be thrilled if Trey Hendrickson is available in free agency.