Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

2 Cincinnati Bengals Stars Request Trade Day Before 2024 NFL Draft

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated 4/24/24

Reports surfaced late Wednesday after that two stars on the Cincinnati Bengals team requested a trade. The request comes as the Bengals plan how they want to attack the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night.

There were rumors earlier this offseason that wide receiver Tee Higgins would ask for a trade after the Bengals applied the franchise tag. With a couple of wide receivers around the league receiving extensions Wednesday, including Amon-Ra St. Brown earning $120 million from the Detroit Lions, Higgins had every incentive to ask for a trade.

Tee Higgins requested a trade

According to Adam Schefter with ESPN, Higgins has officially requested a trade from the Bengals. The Bengals front office has not talked to Higgins’ camp about an extension in over a year.

Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins also has requested to be traded being that there have been no contract talks with the team now in over a year. https://t.co/vN984f7TVb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2024

Trey Hendrickson requested a trade

Another massive blow to the Bengals’ morale came when Schefter reported defensive end Trey Hendrickson requested a trade from Cincinnati. Hendrickson signed a three-year extension in 2023 that runs through the 2025 season, but the 30-year-old would like a longer deal.

Hendrickson has been a critical piece of the Bengals’ defense since the 2021 season. He had 39.5 sacks in the previous two seasons and 17.5 sacks last season.

The Bengals have some money this offseason. Per Over The Cap, they have $23.4 million for the upcoming season. But they have to use much of that to sign draft picks and for emergency spending during the season. They also have to consider how to handle Ja’Marr Chase’s expected extension.

The Bengals could trade two stars before a 2023 season they were hoping to catch the Kansas City Chiefs with a healthy Joe Burrow.