The Cincinnati Bengals drew a hard line last week, signaling they weren’t taking calls on Trey Hendrickson. At 3-5 with another projected L in the on-deck circle against the Bears, that stance suddenly feels more like posturing than policy.

Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano just stoked the fire, slotting Hendrickson as the No. 3 trade chip league-wide – behind only Maxx Crosby and Jeffery Simmons – and flatly stating Cincinnati should pivot to the future.

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“The Bengals might be willing to listen to trade offers for Hendrickson after their ugly loss to the Jets,” Manzano declared. “This team won’t make any real noise this year… The Jets started 0-7, but still went into Cincinnati and dropped 39 points and 502 total yards. The Bengals should look toward the future and prioritize acquiring a high draft pick by trading Hendrickson, who has four sacks this season. However, teams will need to monitor Hendrickson’s hip injury.”

That’s the crux.

Hendrickson remains Cincinnati’s most reliable finisher, but a defense bleeding explosives and struggling to get off the field can’t be fixed by one star edge alone. If the front office believes this unit isn’t playoff-caliber, cashing in on a premium pass rusher before the Nov. 4 deadline could convert an isolated strength into multiple future swings, especially if the medicals on his hip check out for buyers.

Cold math backs the skepticism.

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ESPN’s FPI pegs Cincinnati at just 12.5 percent to reach the postseason, the worst odds among AFC teams sitting on three wins. Banking on a late surge with one of the league’s leakiest defenses is wishcasting, not team building.

So the choice is stark and urgent. Double down on a long-shot chase for the seven seed, or sell high on Hendrickson to stock draft capital and reload around a fully healthy Joe Burrow next year. Standing pat feels like the one outcome that satisfies neither timeline. If the Bengals are honest about who they are right now, the smart play might be the uncomfortable one.