The Cincinnati Bengals have a well-known reputation for being a stingy franchise when it comes to paying their players. While the team has recently opened the checkbook for its offensive stars, Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart are locked in contract disputes.
The poorly handled negotiations have prompted media members and former players to give their opinions, including a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Torrey Smith Blasts Bengals For Sloppy Contract Negotiations
The Bengals front office took two steps forward this offseason by giving wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins big-money extensions. This continued the team’s recent trend of paying its star players. Cincinnati gave Joe Burrow a five-year, $275 million extension at the beginning of the 2023 season.
Cincinnati was kicking its reputation of being a cheap franchise with these deals. However, the goodwill built up by those deals has quickly vanished. After building that goodwill, the Bengals are now at an impasse with Hendrickson and Stewart. Hendrickson is holding out of mandatory minicamp while Stewart recently left after not signing his rookie contract.
Cincinnati’s contract issues have caught heat from former NFL players who never suited up for the Bengals. Two-time Super Bowl champion Torrey Smith is the latest ex-player to let his thoughts be known in a recent tweet.
The Cincinnati Bengals
Top 5 Organization in terms of player talent.Probably the worst run organization in the league though. Very confusing leadership decisions happen all the time.
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) June 12, 2025
Smith tweeted, “The Cincinnati Bengals Top 5 Organization in terms of player talent. Probably the worst run organization in the league though. Very confusing leadership decisions happen all the time.”
Hendrickson has been one of the NFL’s most productive edge rushers over his four years with Cincinnati and was named first-team All-Pro after leading the league with 17.5 sacks last season.
He’s slated to make $18.67 million this season in his final year under contract; meanwhile, he watched Myles Garrett reset the edge defender market at $40 million per year this offseason.
Stewart’s situation is different, as the Bengals want to alter some of the language in his contract. He wants the contract to read the same as the team’s 2024 first-round pick, Amarius Mims, but neither side is budging. To this point, Stewart has yet to sign his contract or participate in any practice.
Bengals Must Sign Hendrickson and Stewart Contracts to Fix Defensive Issues
The Bengals were a tale of two teams in 2024. The offense finished 7th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric after being on fire all season, but the defense was ranked 28th in the Defense+ metric. Defensive woes ultimately kept Cincinnati out of the playoffs, despite a 9-8 record.
If Hendrickson and Stewart miss time, Cincinnati’s pass rush will take a major hit. Hendrickson has totaled 57 sacks over his four years as a Bengal, and Stewart’s raw athleticism off the edge will make him dangerous.
Delaying any longer on these contracts could end the 2025 season before it begins, and any year that the Bengals miss the playoffs with Burrow is a wasted season.
