What’s Next for Trey Hendrickson? Bengals’ Contract Saga Continues

The ongoing contract saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is playing out in the public eye, with both sides making their stance known through the media.

During the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn made a bold statement regarding Hendrickson’s contract, implying that he should be content with the current terms. That didn’t sit well with the veteran defensive end, who took to The Pat McAfee Show to voice his frustration.

“That was a little disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple of months,” Hendrickson revealed. “They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been frustrating, but at the end of the day, this is the business. I’m blessed to be in the NFL, and I’m excited to be a Bengal.”

A Promised Deal That Never Came?

Hendrickson, set to make $15.8 million in the final year of his current contract, believes he has earned long-term security. According to him, the team assured him over the past few seasons that they would address his contract situation. That promise, however, has yet to materialize.

“I’ve been talking about a long-term contract and guaranteed money for a couple of years now. Last year, I was told to go out and perform, and we’d get something done. They reiterated that at the Combine,” he said. “But now, here we are, and it still hasn’t happened.”

Despite the contract impasse, Hendrickson put up another dominant season, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks and earning his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Given his production, it’s understandable why he wants clarity on his future with the team.

Sticking to His Guns

While Hendrickson maintains a strong level of respect for the Bengals and head coach Zac Taylor, he made it clear that there are certain aspects of a new deal he won’t compromise on—namely, contract length and guaranteed money.

“I don’t want to play for incentives that are out of my control. I don’t want a short-term deal and then see what happens. I want to be able to tell my wife, ‘Here’s where we’re going to live, here’s where we’re going to build a family.’ That’s important to me,” he explained.

One thing Hendrickson wanted to make crystal clear is that he understands where he stands in the team’s extension hierarchy behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, he would have appreciated more transparency from the organization about their plans.

“When I say communication has been poor, I mean it’s been here and there,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for Ja’Marr and Tee—they deserve everything they’re getting. I just wanted to know if I was in the queue. My wife and I try to be as humble and patient as possible.”

What’s Next for Hendrickson and the Bengals?

Earlier this offseason, the Bengals granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade—possibly to gauge his market value and see if another team would meet his contract demands. However, no deal has materialized, which could indicate that no team is willing to pay his asking price, or that Cincinnati’s trade demands are too high.

With OTAs set to begin later this month and the 2025 NFL Draft approaching on April 24, Hendrickson’s situation is only going to become more pressing. If both sides continue to hash things out publicly, the drama surrounding one of the league’s top pass rushers is far from over.