Trey Hendrickson has been the cornerstone of the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense for the past four seasons. The defensive end led the league in sacks last year. Despite being one of the most productive edge rushers in the league, the franchise is yet to offer him an extension.
An NFL analyst shared a concerning update about the standoff between Hendrickson and the Bengals.
Contract Tensions Persist as Trey Hendrickson and Cincinnati Bengals Remain in Limbo
Hendrickson signed a one-year extension to his four-year deal at the end of the 2023 season, keeping him in Cincinnati through 2025. But after his stellar play the past few years, Hendrickson expected the Bengals to negotiate a new deal.
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. Hendrickson has been open about his frustrations and even skipped the mandatory minicamp, racking up over $100,000 in fines.
During an episode of ESPN’s “Get Up“, NFL insider Adam Schefter addressed Hendrickson’s contract situation with the Bengals.
“This is really troubling, I think,” Schefter said. “Because these two sides have been at this for so long, and yes, they’re talking, but they are not making any progress. They can not even agree on the length of the deal right now, forget about the numbers.”
“As training camp gets closer and closer, Trey Hendrickson is going to have a significant decision to make, and that’ll be: does he show up to training camp and hold in, or does he simply bypass training camp altogether, the way he did with the mandatory minicamp?”
Schefter revealed an interesting way for Hendrickson to find a workaround with the fines for missing the training camp.
“Now, if you skip training camp, there are fines in the collective bargaining agreement. He would be fined $50,000 a day, but I know our friend Mike Tannenbaum at the table knows how this works,” he said.
“If and when the two sides ever could reach a contract agreement, then they would just add in more money and say, ‘Here’s the money to cover the $50,000 a day.’ ”
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 on June 15 that the two sides have resumed dialogue. But Schefter’s words added more worries for Bengals’ fans.
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 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.
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 seek common ground to secure Hendrickson’s long-term future in Cincinnati.
