The path to the top seed for the AFC may have just become a little bit easier for the Buffalo Bills. This conference that has tough teams with some of the top quarterbacks is always a back-and-forth battle as there is so much talent. One team that has had the Bills’ number in recent memory is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been in major drama with multiple players this past offseason.
The Bengals have been in contract disputes with both their star edge rusher in Trey Hendrickson, as well as their first-round pick edge rusher in Shemar Stewart. While the organization figured the issues with Stewart, the drama with Hendrickson has continued on for months and now it seems like we are getting closer to a resolution, but a different kind that not many fans may have expected.
Bengals setting themselves up for major disaster with latest Trey Hendrickson news
According to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are now listening to trade offers that could send Hendrickson out of Cincinnati. Pelissero stated that “no deal is imminent” but that Hendrickson is “available for the right price.”
With contract talks at an impasse, the #Bengals are listening to trade offers for four-time Pro Bowl DE Trey Hendrickson, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 17, 2025
No deal is imminent. But the NFL’s reigning sack leader is available for the right price. pic.twitter.com/EFVYNGq8eH
Last season, even with Hendrickson causing chaos against quarterbacks, the Bengals were the worst defense in the league hence why Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase had to carry the team just to keep them competitive. The thing is, the Bengals can be Super Bowl favorites just based on their offense alone. However, we know that the defense has to do their part.
If the Bengals were to move on from their only consistent impactful player on defense, their Super Bowl chances go way down, even with still having the greatness they have on offense.
From the Bills’ perspective, this would be great for fans as Buffalo has struggled against Cincinnati the last few years. While they would still have to find a way to stop (or atleast contain) the Bengals’ offense, Josh Allen and the offense could have a lot of fun against Cincinnati's defense.
Now that the Bengals are listening to trade offers, it will be interesting to see what a team will give up to acquire Hendrickson, who will make any team immediately better.