Bengals Secure Stars, But Trey Hendrickson’s Future Remains Uncertain

The Cincinnati Bengals have locked in their two biggest offseason priorities, securing long-term extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. But while those deals are settled, Trey Hendrickson’s situation remains uncertain.

The Bengals have made it clear they want to keep last season’s NFL sack leader, yet they also allowed him to explore trade options. With the NFL Draft fast approaching, neither a trade nor an extension has materialized, leaving Hendrickson’s future in limbo.

Speaking at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn acknowledged that the team is still working through the situation.

“As you try to put all the pieces together, you eventually run into certain limitations,” Blackburn said, via Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. “He felt strongly about his position and believed there was significant interest out there. So, we allowed him to explore his options. We don’t do this often, but in this case, we thought it was the right approach. Every situation is different. He’s still a Bengal, so we’ll see how things play out.”

Historically, Cincinnati hasn’t been a team that trades away key players. Instead, they’ve typically forced starters to play out their contracts before letting them walk in free agency—like Jessie Bates. However, with their recent big-money commitments to Chase and Higgins, the Bengals may be signaling a shift in philosophy.

Blackburn noted that the team has made what they consider a competitive offer to Hendrickson, but the ball is in his court.

“I think he should be happy with certain numbers, even if he doesn’t feel that way right now,” Blackburn said. “At some point, it’s on him to decide. If he’s not satisfied, that’s what’s causing the holdup. Ultimately, he has to agree to something. But we have the utmost respect for him. He’s been a phenomenal player, and we’re happy to have him. Hopefully, we can work something out. We’ll just have to see.”

A four-time Pro Bowler since joining Cincinnati, Hendrickson has been pushing for a long-term, high-value contract for years without success. The lingering question is whether he’ll sit out if he can’t reach an agreement with the Bengals and no trade is made.

“I’d be lying if I said I knew exactly how this will turn out,” Blackburn admitted. “We just have to wait and see.”