Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals remain locked in a contract dispute that will likely linger into the start of training camp. The All-Pro defensive end wants a raise, but a deal has yet to be agreed to.
Owner Mike Brown recently spoke about Hendrickson and offered an update for Bengals fans.
Mike Brown Is Confident Bengals Will Get Deal Done With Trey Hendrickson, Admits DE ‘Pushes Hard’
Hendrickson was a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He posted 13.5 sacks in his final year with the club and signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Bengals in the 2021 offseason. He signed a one-year, $21 million extension in 2023 and is entering his final year under contract.
He’s made the Pro Bowl each of his four years with the Bengals and was named first-team All-Pro after leading the league with 17.5 sacks last year. He also set career highs in tackles (46) and quarterback hits (36), and wants to be paid appropriately.
Cannot wait to see Desmond Ridder in a Bengals uniform. This preseason will be fun. I just hope he wasn’t signed to give Trey Hendrickson incentive to sign to rack up the sacks in practice hahaha. Sacked Ridder 3 times (4 total sacks) in the Raiders game in 2024. Here’s the last: pic.twitter.com/3FDjgOvDB6
— obscure bengals (@obscure_bengals) July 21, 2025
The Bengals haven’t made things easy on Hendrickson this offseason, as they’ve given big extensions to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cincinnati has a reputation for being a “cheaper” franchise, but it hasn’t been this offseason, at least for its offense.
Hendrickson is set to hold out until he gets a raise. Cincinnati’s veterans will soon report for camp, but it remains to be seen if the All-Pro will be in attendance. Brown recently spoke with the media about Hendrickson and is confident a deal will get done.
ESPN Bengals reporter Ben Baby tweeted Brown’s comments, saying, “Mike Brown on Trey Hendrickson’s potential new deal: ‘I think it’ll get done.'”
Mike Brown on Trey Hendrickson’s potential new deal: “I think it’ll get done.”
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) July 21, 2025
Cincinnati reporter Charlie Clifford expanded on Brown’s comments, “Mike Brown on Trey Hendrickson: ‘We are not going to trade Trey. We are working on getting it done.’ On negotiating with the All-Pro: ‘We’ve been through a few — and he pushes hard, he gets emotional. We never have an easy time of it. And if there’s one thing that is consistent, it always gets done. I think this one will, too.'”
Hendrickson has seen fellow edge rushers Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt receive at least $35.5 million annually with new extensions. While he’s a player of a similar caliber, the Bengals haven’t shown Hendrickson the money.
Another caveat to the Hendrickson drama is rookie Shemar Stewart. The Texas A&M product did not report to camp with the rest of the Bengals’ rookies and is the only unsigned first-round pick.
Stewart is supposed to be Hendrickson’s replacement, but the Bengals are currently without two of their top pass rushers. This isn’t a good way to start training camp for a defense, which was the main reason Cincinnati missed the playoffs last year.
