The latest comments from Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson indicate an extended contract holdout could be in the works.
Hendrickson is in the final year of his current contract with Cincinnati, under which he is set to make $15.8 million. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show in April, Hendrickson outlined his desire for an extension with the Bengals, dating back to last season, and how management told him that if his production remained at a high level, a deal would be done.
“To have a year that I have remaining on my contract … we can get into that real quick,” said Hendrickson. “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.
“So basically, this year, it’s going to get worked on. They also reiterated that at the combine. So that just kind of clears the air on that. Moving forward, the happiness of my camp … [the Bengals] are more than welcome to call me. I’ve had my cell phone, same cell phone number since high school, open line of communication is always open with me and my agents. So if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen.”
Hendrickson led the league with 17.5 sacks last season.
However, in new comments made to ESPN, the Bengals pass rusher has indicated growing frustration with management.
“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,” said Hendrickson in the new statement. “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. Coaches are aware of these past conversations.
“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.”
The Bengals drafted EDGE defender Shemar Stewart out of Texas A&M with the 17th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati inked wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to new deals this offseason, but has taken a different approach with Hendrickson. The team allowed the pass rusher to seek a trade earlier this offseason, partly to gauge how the league valued him in hopes of spurring contract talks. But given that no deal was struck — and these latest comments from Hendrickson — we could be speeding towards an impasse.
And a holdout shortly.
