Tensions are escalating between the Cincinnati Bengals and their premier defensive player. Four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson attended Bengals practice today out of uniform and aired his grievances, succinctly informing the media that he would not be playing under his current contract.
Hendrickson has been seeking either a trade or an extension from the Bengals for over a year. There had been optimism of late that a deal could get done, but Hendrickson's latest declarations indicate that negotiations are getting acrimonious.
The Bengals entered the 2025 offseason with a laundry list of major contracts due. Quarterback Joe Burrow notably got out ahead of negotiations, pressuring his franchise to spend big.
So far, the once notoriously thrifty Bengals have delivered. They signed wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to record-breaking extensions. Hendrickson is the logical next highest priority on the team, but he and the Bengals are clearly struggling to find a middle ground.
Though Hendrickson may not have the name recognition of the league's most famous pass rushers, he isn't far behind in production. Since 2020, Hendrickson has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and notched an amazing 70.5 sacks, third-most in the league behind only Cleveland Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett (72.0) and Pittsburgh Steelers superstar T.J. Watt (73.5). 2024 was also arguably Hendrickson's best season yet: he made first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career thanks to a league-leading 17.5 sacks.
Garrett recently agreed to a monster four-year, $160 million extension, so the price of elite edge rushers is higher than ever. That contract is likely out of reach for Hendrickson, but he could realistically demand $30 million per year on his next deal and even flirt with total compensation in the neighborhood of the three-year, $106.5 million pact Maxx Crosby recently signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
If a deal in that range is too rich for the Bengals or insufficiently lucrative for Hendrickson, it may be time to part ways. The relationship may not be worth preserving at this point. The Bengals' defence has been helpless even with Hendrickson dominating. They finished 31st in yards allowed in 2023 and 25th in 2024, and those problems have kept them out of the playoffs for consecutive years. If Hendrickson, who is 30 years old, regresses at all while on a significantly more expensive contract, the Bengals defense could struggle for years to come.
At this point, the Bengals may be better off trading Hendrickson while his value is still high. Unfortunately, that'll reduce their overall talent level this season, and it could alienate their veteran players, but the Bengals need to make the best of a bad situation. They've missed their opportunity to add talent via the 2025 NFL Draft, but they could still land a day two pick or better in 2026.
The Bengals need to recognize that their current roster is not Super Bowl-ready. As much as it may displease Burrow, they must manage their assets carefully and consider the future. Even if it means making some very hard decisions in the present.
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