Cowboys Closing in on Elite Pass Rusher Trey Hendrickson in 2026 Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys’ long search for an elite pass rusher may finally be nearing its end. According to NFL insider Rickey Scoops, the Cowboys are closing in on a deal with former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. With 2026 NFL free agency officially kicking off today, Scoops posted “Sounds like Trey Hendrickson will be joining the Cowboys”.

Pivoting From Crosby to Hendrickson

The road to Hendrickson began with a failed pursuit of Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. 

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys put a strong offer on the table for Crosby, including the No. 12 overall pick, a future second-round pick, and a veteran player. 

Crosby was ultimately dealt to the Baltimore Ravens, ending Dallas’ blockbuster trade dreams, but adding a four-time Pro Bowler isn’t a bad consolation prize.

NFL insider Trey Wingo had signaled this pivot coming, saying to “expect Dallas to now shift their focus to Trey Hendrickson” once the Crosby price ballooned beyond what the Cowboys were willing to pay.

Solving the Cowboys’ Pass-Rushing Problem

A former third-round pick out of Florida Atlantic, Hendrickson broke out in his final season with the New Orleans Saints with 13.5 sacks, which led to a $60 million deal with the Bengals in free agency. 

Over the past five seasons, Hendrickson has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL, racking up the third-most sacks in the league (74.5) since 2020. He had 14 or more sacks in three of his five years in Cincinnati, including back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024. 

The 2025 season, however, was a different story. Hendrickson missed ten games due to a back and hip injury that led to core muscle surgery in December, finishing with just four sacks in seven games. 

The Bengals ultimately declined to franchise tag him, making him a free agent. 

Some NFL experts are worried that his overall regression and injury concerns could follow him to his next destination.

Can Hendrickson Still Be Effective?

The key question surrounding a potential Dallas signing is whether Hendrickson can return to his elite form. Bengals expert John Sheeran offered an optimistic take, saying there isn’t a better pass rusher set to hit the market than Hendrickson. 

Prior to getting hurt, he was still winning as a pass rusher at a higher rate than any edge rusher not named Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa. Even in an injury-riddled campaign, Hendrickson posted a -2.095 EPA on sacks and -0.745 EPA on pressures, both strong figures. 

Perhaps most telling for a Cowboys team that desperately needs pass rush help: his 3.0 pressures per game last season would have led every Dallas pass rusher on the roster. 

Cincinnati’s decision to let him walk stems from Hendrickson’s desire for guaranteed money beyond the first year of a new multi-year deal. 

Age is a factor too. 

Hendrickson will turn 32 years old late next season, and Spotrac projects him to command north of $25 million annually. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport projected a three-year, $97.5 million deal, while The Athletic put the number as high as $99 million.

Why Dallas Needs Him

The Cowboys’ defensive struggles in 2025 make the urgency clear. Last season, Dallas finished dead-last in passing defense (251.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (30.1 points per game). 

While the team showed some flashes from veteran Jadeveon Clowney and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, the lack of a consistent pass rush became a glaring issue by season’s end.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted the Cowboys also have Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh, and Boye Mafe on their radar as potential pass rush additions, but Hendrickson is clearly the crown jewel of this free agent class at the position.

If Jerry Jones can pull this off, Cowboys fans could soon forget about how the franchise fumbled Micah Parsons contract last season.