Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson has officially held out of mandatory minicamp, signaling frustration with his current deal. The move wasn’t subtle—it cost him over $100,000 in fines, and the message to the front office was clear: pay me or expect more of this.
Hendrickson has been nothing short of elite over the past two seasons, recording 17.5 sacks in both and making a serious case as one of the top edge rushers in the game. He’s a tone-setter on defense and has been a key piece of Cincinnati’s identity since arriving from New Orleans in 2021.
But with just one year remaining on his current deal and no extension in sight, Hendrickson is betting on himself. The question is—will the Bengals blink?
Cincinnati’s front office is in a bind. Joe Burrow’s mega-extension has already locked up a huge chunk of the cap. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have both also been paid monster contracts this offseason. Defensively, they’ve let some pieces walk, banking on their youth and development pipeline.
But Hendrickson isn’t just another contract to sort out—he’s their most productive defender and one of the few true game-wreckers on the roster. Losing him, even temporarily, would be a massive blow.
There’s also the locker room impact to consider. Hendrickson is widely respected among teammates. Letting him walk could send the wrong message to a group that’s been built around trust and competitiveness.
For now, both sides are reportedly open to talks, but nothing has moved publicly. Training camp looms, and so does a decision. Pay him. Trade him. Let him play it out.
No matter how it ends, this is now one of the biggest storylines of the Bengals’ offseason.