We’ve heard it before; the Bengals do not typically give out third contracts to veterans. The exceptions they did make were on the defensive line, with players like Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, but they just can’t seem to get across the finish line with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. On a recent Sports Center appearance, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler broke down the latest on the extension negotiations between the two parties. 
Back during voluntary workouts Hendrickson had expressed that things were starting to get personal. These sentiments seem to be echoed by the team’s most recent first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, who told the media that the Bengals prioritize winning contract arguments over winning games. Regardless, Hendrickson returned to the table in recent weeks, and the two sides have been communicating as they work towards an extension. While that’s all good news, it hasn’t yet led to Hendrickson putting pen to paper.
Per Fowler, Cincinnati wants desperately to get this done. They came into the offseason with the goal of extending its three stars. Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enjoyed their impressive new contracts together all the way back in March when a joint announcement delivered the news of both players’ extensions. Three and a half months later, and the team is still chipping away at that third star.
The big hurdle here, according to Fowler, appears to be structure. When structuring extensions, Cincinnati doesn’t typically spread guaranteed money evenly throughout the contract, preferring instead to focus guarantees mostly in Year 1 of the new deal, usually in the form of the signing bonus. This makes it easier for the team to back out of a long-term deal early without having to shoulder the burden of excessive dead money.
Teams that operate in this fashion are part of the reason we’ve seen a push from players who desire fully guaranteed contracts. As we saw in the recent NFLPA’s collusion grievance arbitration ruling, though, the NFL appears to be highly motivated to steer the league away from full guarantees.
Hendrickson feels as if he’s earned more long-term security, and it’s going to be hard to disagree. The 30-year-old appears to be aging like fine wine. After a quiet first three years in New Orleans, in which he only accumulated 6.5 sacks, Hendrickson exploded in a contract year with 13.5. The breakout season led him to Cincinnati on a four-year, $60MM deal, and he rewarded his new team with a new career-high 14.0 sacks. Only eight sacks in 2022 qualified that season as a “down” year for Hendrickson before he rebounded with another new career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023 and repeated that total in 2024.
After his first 17.5-sack season, Hendrickson held out in an effort to put pressure on the team’s front office for an extension. When a deal wasn’t reached, the Bengals added a one-year, $21MM extension to his contract to effectively kick the can down the road to this offseason, giving them a bit more time to work towards a deal. Hendrickson has made it clear this offseason that he has no intention of playing for the Bengals on his current contract. The one additional year will, apparently, not work a second time.
Hendrickson also threatened back in May that he was prepared to hold out into the regular season, if that’s what it takes. According to Fowler, he is still very willing to follow through on that threat. Hendrickson is looking for big money. for sure, but more importantly, he wants big money in multiple years. After putting forth his best seasons in Years 7 & 8 of his career, he wants the Bengals to have faith that he’ll be able to deliver into the later years of his contract.
Bengals had one of the worst D’s last year and now won’t pay either DE (Trey and the rookie)? OK.
Stewart is a rookie who has proven nothing in the NFL. He proved very little in college as a matter of fact.
Let Him Hold Out
No Play = No Pay
No play no playOFFS
No one cares anymore. He’s going to sit out a year and according to several sources he will still owe the Bengals a year because he is already signed for this year.His options are,
play 1 year at 28-30 this year or next, or retire. I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to accomplish. Trying to win a staring contest with Mike Brown will not end well. (Ask Carson Palmer) I personally am tired of his drama queen act. The Bengals DON’T want you for 2 or 3 years, are you that big of a rock head that you think you can force yourself on the team.
@Man What Runs With the Football Carson Palmer won. He was traded and went on for another 7-10 year NFL career.
Bengals are a dumpster
Don’t you mean Trey is a dumba**? Why pay a guy for more years than they want him. They offered 1 year at 30 and he refused it. He can’t seem to understand they don’t want him after this year. Hope he sits out, then he’ll still owe them a year because he’s still under contract for this year. His only option is to retire because he’ll have to play for them for a year before he goes somewhere else.
feel bad for cincy that their stuck with the nfl version of john fisher