Chicago Bears Land Trey Hendrickson in Blockbuster $30M Move from Bengals
In a sensational offseason coup, the Chicago Bears have pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the NFL summer by landing star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals in a deal reportedly worth $30 million.
The blockbuster acquisition was confirmed early Monday morning by both franchises, sending shockwaves through the league and immediately bolstering the Bears’ defensive front. The 30-year-old Pro Bowl pass rusher, long seen as the heartbeat of the Bengals’ defensive line, is expected to bring immediate firepower and leadership to a Chicago defense hungry for consistency and explosiveness.
A Statement of Intent from the Bears
General Manager Ryan Poles hailed the move as a turning point in the team’s rebuild under head coach Ben Johnson, stating, “Trey is an elite player who embodies everything we want in a Chicago Bear. His work ethic, production, and attitude on and off the field will have a massive impact on this organization.”
Hendrickson, who notched 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons with Cincinnati, was reportedly seeking both a contract adjustment and a fresh challenge after four successful seasons with the Bengals. Though rumors had swirled around his future following Cincinnati’s early playoff exit last season, few expected a deal of this magnitude to materialize so quickly — and with the Bears as the destination.
A Game-Changer on the Edge
For Chicago, Hendrickson’s arrival represents a significant upgrade in the trenches. While the Bears showed flashes of defensive improvement in 2024, their pass rush ranked in the bottom third of the league. The addition of Hendrickson immediately alters that dynamic, giving Johnson a premier edge rusher who commands double teams and opens opportunities for younger defenders.
“Adding a guy like Trey gives us a difference-maker — plain and simple,” Johnson said in a statement. “He’s someone offenses have to game plan around, and that’s going to free up the rest of our defense to fly around and make plays.”
Terms of the deal
According to insider sources, the Bears will take on the final year of Hendrickson’s current deal while restructuring it into a new two-year, $30 million contract with incentives that could push the total value higher. The deal includes $20 million guaranteed, making it one of the most lucrative moves for a defensive player this offseason.
The Bengals, meanwhile, will receive a 2025 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2026, signaling a focus on future flexibility amid their efforts to extend key offensive stars.
Hendrickson’s Reaction
In a short social media post, Hendrickson thanked Bengals fans for their support and expressed excitement about joining the Bears.
“Cincinnati will always be a special place to me. Thank you for the memories and the love,” he wrote. “Now it’s time to get to work in Chicago. Let’s build something great.”
With training camp just weeks away, the Windy City is already buzzing with anticipation. If Hendrickson’s impact is anything close to what he delivered in Cincinnati, the Bears’ defense just got a whole lot scarier.
