Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has been at the center of NFL rumors since the franchise granted him permission to seek a trade. With the All-Pro edge rusher still on the Bengals roster and the two sides not close to a contract extension, drastic action is reportedly on the table.
Hendrickson, age 30, wanted a new multi-year extension last offseason. Cincinnati didn’t come to terms on a new deal and it has already backfired. He recorded 17-plus sacks for the second consecutive year, earning his first All-Pro selection and finishing second for Defensive Player of the Year.
- Trey Hendrickson stats: 54 pressures, 36 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
A career-best season already pushed Hendrickson’s asking price up even higher. Then, the Cleveland Browns (Myles Garrett, $40 million average annual value) and Las Vegas Raiders (Maxx Crosby, $35.5 million AAV) made their prized edge rushers two of the highest paid NFL players in 2025. Cincinnati is now looking at having to pay north of $33 million per year for its four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Many around the NFL are skeptical of that happening. THe Bengals already extended Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow with a commitment of more than $120 million per season to three players. If Hendrickson is also extended, which the team is attempting, Cincinnati would be devoting more than half of its cap space to just four players. However, failing to extend Hendrickson could also have consequences.
Appearing on SportsCenter, senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler said “it’s entirely possible” that Hendrickson will sit out the entire 2025 season without a long-term deal. While it is a step rarely taken by players, Fowler said sitting out all of next season is Hendrickson’s “mindset” as of now.
- Trey Hendrickson contract (Spotrac): $18.666 million cap hit in 2025, NFL free agent in 2026
It would be a devastating blow for the Bengals’ defense, a unit that is already viewed as one of the worst NFL defenses in 2025 even with Hendrickson. Even losing him for a few regular-season games would leap to an evaporated pass rush, further exposing a secondary that has its own problems.
There’s also a very real possibility that Hendrickson’s camp is leaking this information with the hopes of forcing the Bengals’ hand. Burrow put leverage on the front office to extend both Higgins and Chase, it worked out. Now, Hendrickson is creating his own pressure on the franchise. Given the Bengals’ intentions of competing for a Super Bowl next season, Hendrickson’s threat could carry some weight.
