Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is still waiting for his next contract. With training camp just weeks away, there’s no deal and no sign of real movement.
Money always matters in the NFL. Teams can’t win without talent, and top players expect to be paid like it. Hendrickson has produced at an elite level, but the Bengals haven’t rewarded him yet. That could turn into a problem as the season gets closer.
Trey Hendrickson’s Bengals Situation Could Go Into Season, per Analyst
In the last three seasons, few defensive ends have enjoyed the success that Hendrickson did.
With 43 sacks in his last 49 games, the 30-year-old outpaces other defensive backs. He doesn’t run across social media with chatter or self-promotion. Instead, he lines up, wreaks havoc, then goes home to a quiet existence.
Despite his fantastic play over the last three years, Bengals management seems rather reluctant to discuss an extension. With one year and $16 million remaining on his deal, the defender believes that he deserves more. ESPN’s NFL analyst Peter Schrager appeared on a May 28 edition of “The Pat McAfee Show,” detailing why the current situation in the Queen City does not look promising.
“I don’t know if the Trey Hendrickson situation gets settled by the time we’re at Training Camp..
He’s a wonderful member of the community and he’s a great leader in the locker room” @PSchrags #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SxN18dzNHe
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 28, 2025
“The Bengals entered this offseason with this label of being cheap and being small-time. Then, they broke the bank on what they thought were their top two priorities. Two wide receivers under the age of 30, who everyone thought were going to be one or the other. In one fell swoop, they took care of both of them,” he said.
“Little did they realize that they would have an upset veteran player who happens to be a wonderful member of the community and a great leader in the locker room who’s like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. I want mine, also.’ I don’t know if it gets settled.”
During the interview, McAfee mentioned the fact that Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett will make $40 million this year. Over the same three seasons, where Hendrickson tallied 43 sacks, Garrett can only claim one more (44).
Hendrickson’s contract averages out to $21 million per season. Among defenders, that ranks him 30th. Looking deeper, focusing strictly on the defensive end spot, eight players make more.
The Bengals, as of right now, chose offense over defense. They are likely to score a lot of points this season. However, without their star pass rusher, the number of points they give up will be in question.
After re-signing both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, did the management create a financial imbalance where they cannot pay their best defender? How their official approach with Hendrickson looks will be worth keeping tabs on.