Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks last year and has been one of the most productive edge rushers the NFL has seen in recent years. He is entering the final year of his contract, and the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to offer him a contract extension.
An NFL insider gave a bold statement about what the Bengals are trying to do in Hendrickson’s contract negotiations.
Adam Schefter’s Take On Cincinnati Bengals’ Plans About Trey Hendrickson’s Contract Discussions
Hendrickson has been open about his frustrations and even skipped the mandatory minicamp, racking up over $100,000 in fines. The Bengals’ defensive end wants a long-term deal that reflects his standing as one of the league’s top pass rushers.
Hendrickson is set to make $16 million in 2025, but he’s made it clear to the front office he won’t play under his current deal as the Bengals have over $27 million in cap space. ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider, Adam Schefter, talked about the Hendrickson-Bengals saga during an episode of “The Pat McAfee Show.”
McAfee initiated the conversation by predicting that Hendrickson’s deal would be a three-year deal. He asked Schefter if the 30-year-old wants a longer deal or if the franchise is looking for a shorter deal.
“I think the Bengals would like a low deal, like one year,” said Schefter.
“I think the Bengals would like for it to be a one year deal” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/bNdCF7AdRX pic.twitter.com/J34DKv7fyl
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 18, 2025
Hendrickson is seeking a new contract that would pay him closer to the NFL’s top pass rushers, such as Cleveland Browns edge Myles Garrett, who secured a 4-year, $160 million extension in March. The Bengals and Hendrickson have not yet reached an agreement. However, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday, June 15, that the two sides have resumed dialogue.
He’s not only the leader of the defense but one of the most efficient edge rushers in football. His 17.5 sacks in 2024 led the league, and his 43 total sacks over the last three seasons trail only Myles Garrett. The Bengals are desperate for stability on defense and can’t afford to lose a player of his impact.
At 30, Hendrickson still has plenty of gas left in the tank. He’s coming off a career-high 46 total tackles in 2024 and has played in all 17 games in each of the past two seasons. During his rookie contract with the Saints, the FAU product had just 20 sacks over four seasons.
Hendrickson signed a four-year, $60 million deal when he joined Cincinnati in 2021 and signed a one-year extension in 2023. After a slight dip in 2022, he has reestablished himself as one of the league’s top pass rushers over the past two years. As contract talks continue, both sides will be looking for common ground to keep Hendrickson in Cincinnati for the long term.