The Cincinnati Bengals may be on the verge of a major standoff with one of their most impactful defenders. Trey Hendrickson, the Pro Bowl edge rusher coming off a league-leading 17.5-sack season, is publicly calling out the organization for a breakdown in contract negotiations, and his latest comments indicate a potential holdout is very much on the table.
Hendrickson Frustrated by Bengals’ Lack of Communication
Hendrickson, 30, is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn $15.8 million in 2025. Speaking with ESPN this week, Hendrickson didn’t hold back on his criticism and said:
“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft. The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level.”
“Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”
According to the veteran pass rusher, the Bengals front office made it clear last season and reiterated at the NFL Combine that if he continued to play at a high level, a long-term extension would be on the table.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show in April, Hendrickson said: “Last year and the year before, I’ve been talking about long-term contract, guaranteed money, things like that. It was discussed with me in a meeting, which I’m very fortunate to have had with my agent, that we would get something done this year. So that being said, last year, ‘Go out and play, play at the level you have, we’ll get it done’ — that was communicated with me.”
Despite delivering one of the most dominant seasons by a defensive player in recent memory, that deal has yet to materialize. And since the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, communication has reportedly gone dark.
“They’re more than welcome to call me. I’ve had the same cell phone number since high school,” Hendrickson added. “We’ve been nothing but willing to listen.”
Draft, Cap Priorities Hint at Bengals’ Strategic Shift
The Bengals have had a busy offseason, inking Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to lucrative extensions, securing Joe Burrow’s offensive weapons for the future. But their approach with Hendrickson has been notably different.
Cincinnati allowed the defensive end to seek a trade earlier this offseason, not necessarily to ship him out but to get a clearer sense of his market value. Yet no deal came together, and since then, signs have pointed toward a growing disconnect between the two sides.
Adding to the tension, the Bengals selected EDGE rusher Shemar Stewart out of Texas A&M with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While Cincinnati insists it was a best-player-available selection, it’s impossible to ignore how that move might affect the negotiations with Hendrickson—or signal a shift in the team’s future defensive plans.
Over his four seasons with the Bengals, Trey Hendrickson has posted 77 sacks, emerging as one of the NFL’s most reliable and relentless pass rushers. His 17.5 sacks in 2024 led the entire league and played a pivotal role in keeping Cincinnati competitive amid offensive inconsistency.
A potential holdout would leave a massive void in the Bengals’ front seven, a unit that has been central to their playoff success in recent years. With a rising AFC North and Super Bowl windows closing fast, this is not the time to gamble with elite talent on defense.
With minicamp and training camp approaching, the Bengals now face a high-stakes decision. Re-open talks and meet Hendrickson somewhere closer to his market value or risk alienating one of their foundational defensive leaders.
Unless something changes soon, all signs point to Trey Hendrickson staying off the field until the Bengals show they’re serious about keeping him long-term.