Trey Hendrickson Cowboys Closing In: $97.5M Deal After Bengals Exit, Devin Lloyd Lands Elsewhere
The two biggest defensive free agents from the 2026 NFL class are finding their homes. Trey Hendrickson is closing in on a massive deal with the Dallas Cowboys, while Devin Lloyd has already landed his record-breaking contract after an All-Pro 2025 season. Here is the full breakdown on both.
Trey Hendrickson to Cowboys: Three-Year, $97.5M Deal Taking Shape
According to NFL insider Rickey Scoops, the Cowboys are closing in on a deal with former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Scoops posted: "Sounds like Trey Hendrickson will be joining the Cowboys."
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport projects a three-year, $97.5 million contract — a major move for a Cowboys team that missed out on Maxx Crosby when he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.
Dallas has already started creating cap room to pursue Hendrickson. The Cowboys restructured offensive tackle Terence Steele's contract on Monday, creating approximately $13 million in additional salary cap space. The new deal includes $22 million in fully guaranteed money.
Why the Cowboys Pivoted to Trey Hendrickson After Losing Maxx Crosby
The road to Hendrickson began with Dallas's failed pursuit of Maxx Crosby. The Cowboys offered the No. 12 overall pick, a future second-round pick, and a veteran player — a package the Raiders rejected in favor of Baltimore's two first-rounders. ESPN's Trey Wingo had signaled this pivot was coming, saying to "expect Dallas to now shift their focus to Trey Hendrickson" once the Crosby price ballooned beyond what they were willing to pay.
The Bengals declined to use the franchise tag on Hendrickson — which would have paid him $24.434 million for one season — allowing him to hit the open market. Hendrickson thanked Cincinnati in an Instagram post, writing in part: "The last 5 years have been filled with Great wins and Tough losses."
Trey Hendrickson's Career: Two Straight Seasons of 17.5 Sacks Before Injury
Hendrickson battled injuries throughout the 2025 season but still ranked sixth among all edge defenders in PFF pass-rush grade at 90.0. He has posted five consecutive seasons with a PFF pass-rush grade above 85.0 and generated 23 total pressures on just 177 pass-rush snaps before his season ended.
Prior to getting hurt in 2025, Hendrickson was winning as a pass rusher at a higher rate than any edge rusher not named Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa. He led the NFL in sacks in both 2023 and 2024 with 17.5 each season — a back-to-back production mark that no other rusher in the league matched.
Devin Lloyd Signs With Washington Commanders: Four-Year, $100M Deal
All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Commanders — making him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL heading into 2026.
Lloyd delivered a career-best 2025 season after the Jacksonville Jaguars declined his fifth-year option a year earlier. He posted the highest PFF overall grade of his career with 80.0-plus marks in run defense, coverage, and pass rush — earning second-team All-Pro honors and making himself unavoidable for Washington, which desperately needed linebacker help after finishing dead last in total defense.
Lloyd really excelled in coverage in 2025 — a coveted quality in today's NFL. At 27 years old and hitting free agency for the first time, the Commanders are getting one of the most complete linebackers available at a position they have neglected for years.
