Katie Blackburn Calls Trey Hendrickson’s Contract Situation “Unresolved” Amid Bengals’ Cap Juggling

The air felt thick with anticipation as Katie Blackburn searched for the right word. Speaking with reporters at last week’s NFL annual league meetings in West Palm Beach, the Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president was asked about defensive end Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation.

After a long pause — just over six seconds — Blackburn finally responded:
“Unresolved, I guess you could say.”

Her comment came in the context of a broader discussion about Cincinnati’s offseason spending — most notably the surprising extensions for wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, whose new deals totaled a combined $276 million. Just months ago, such a move seemed unlikely.

That investment speaks volumes about how the Bengals are planning for 2025 and beyond. Any return to the Super Bowl will hinge on the performances of their three cornerstone players: Chase, Higgins, and quarterback Joe Burrow.

“We’ll need to find ways to build around those pieces,” Blackburn said. “It’s doable.”

While the Bengals had several players post career-best seasons in 2024, they still missed the playoffs for a second straight year. Yet their top offseason priority was clear — keep the core offensive weapons intact.

Blackburn admitted that locking in Chase and Higgins, who will take up roughly 20% of the team’s 2025 salary cap, forced tough decisions elsewhere — including Hendrickson’s contract.

The 31-year-old led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season and, along with Chase, was named All-Pro. For the second consecutive offseason, Hendrickson has requested a trade, seeking both long-term security and a raise.

This time, the Bengals gave him permission to explore trade options. Blackburn said Hendrickson was intent on testing the market, while the team faced tight constraints after finalizing other major deals.

With top edge rushers commanding up to $40 million annually, Blackburn was asked whether there’s room for compromise with Hendrickson.

“I think there are numbers he should be happy with — even if he doesn’t think so,” Blackburn said after a brief pause.
“At some point, it’s on him to decide to be happy. If he’s not, well, that’s often what delays things.”

Hendrickson, through his agent Harold Lewis, later expressed frustration, citing poor communication from the team and disappointment in their stance.

Looking ahead, the Bengals could use the No. 17 pick in this year’s draft to address the pass rush. Still, Hendrickson remains under contract through 2025, with a base salary of $15.8 million. Blackburn — who handles the team’s largest contracts — emphasized the Bengals still respect Hendrickson and hope for a resolution.

Yet the team’s direction is clear: they’re building around Burrow, Chase, and Higgins. Cincinnati is counting on that trio’s chemistry to power a bounce-back season.

“Keeping the offensive core intact was our focus,” Blackburn said. “We believe that gives us the best shot to win.”

That strategy extended to other roster decisions as well. Veteran guard Alex Cappa was released, and the team signed Lucas Patrick in free agency to replace him. Head coach Zac Taylor praised Patrick’s fit against AFC North defensive fronts.

But even that $2 million one-year deal was made with the team’s cap priorities in mind.

“Our first step was making sure our receivers were paid,” Taylor said. “Once we handled that, we explored the guard market.”

As for the 2025 outlook, expectations are high. Blackburn said the team has the talent and opportunity to compete — now it’s just about following through.

“We’ve got to take advantage of what we have this year and deliver the results we want,” she said.