Trey Hendrickson’s absence from the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp this week was expected, but it underscores the deepening rift between Hendrickson and the franchise. While both Chase and Higgins have since inked lucrative extensions, Hendrickson remains without a new deal, per CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, as there has been no progress on a new contract for the All-Pro edge.
Hendrickson, coming off a 17.5-sack season and leading the NFL with 35 sacks over the past two years, is holding out for a new contract. He currently has one year and $16 million remaining on a deal that carries an $18.3 million cap hit. While the Bengals gave him permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, they ultimately opted to keep him—just not pay him.
Now 30, Hendrickson has made his position clear: he won’t play this season under his current deal. “It’s become personal,” he said last month, after making a surprise appearance at OTAs to express frustration and clarify his stance. His decision to skip minicamp puts him at risk of being fined $104,768 under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Meanwhile, top edge rushers like Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Danielle Hunter have all landed deals averaging over $35 million per year. Hendrickson, a first-team All-Pro and runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting, rightfully believes he belongs in that category—and he’s not alone. His quarterback Joe Burrow publicly supported Hendrickson earlier this year, stating he “deserves to get paid.”
The Bengals may be walking a fine line. A well-structured two-year, $76 million extension with a sizable signing bonus could satisfy Hendrickson’s demands while giving the team a manageable exit strategy after 2026 should his production taper off.
As the July 23 training camp approaches, the Bengals face a critical decision: get a deal done or risk alienating their defensive cornerstone. With rookies Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy largely unproven, Cincinnati cannot afford to have their season derailed before it even starts due to a contract standoff.
The clock is ticking—and so far, this is an unmoving standoff.