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Trey Hendrickson says the Cincinnati Bengals have ended contract talks, leaving his future with the team uncertain. The defensive end released a statement Monday saying the team hasn’t spoken with his camp since the NFL Draft in April.
“There’s been no communication between my camp and the organization,” Hendrickson told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “The offers we received didn’t match the vision we were promised if I kept playing at a high level.”
Coming Off His Best Season Yet
Hendrickson, 30, is entering the final year of his current contract and just had a career-best season. He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2023 and was named to the Associated Press All-Pro team—becoming one of the first Bengals to earn the honor since 2015. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who also made the All-Pro team, signed a $161 million contract this offseason, becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Hendrickson, meanwhile, has made the Pro Bowl in all four of his seasons with the Bengals. He originally signed a four-year, $60 million deal in 2021 and received a one-year extension in 2023. But last offseason, he asked to be traded when the team didn’t offer a new long-term deal. He later reported to voluntary workouts.
Lack of Communication Frustrates Hendrickson
In his Monday statement, Hendrickson said talks have stalled completely.
“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,” he said.
He added that he’s not asking to be the highest-paid defensive end or reset the market but wants a fair deal and clarity before the season starts.
Public Disagreement With Bengals Leadership
This isn’t the first time Hendrickson has voiced frustration with the team. On The Pat McAfee Show last month, he pushed back against Bengals executive Katie Blackburn’s comments made at the NFL’s annual league meeting.
Blackburn had said on April 1, “I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at.” I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, that’s what holds it up sometimes. It takes him to say yes to something. We have all the respect in the world for him.”
Hendrickson responded by saying the communication had been poor and that the Bengals hadn’t directly contacted his agent. “That’s been frustrating,” he said.
Coach Has No Update as OTAs Approach
Last Friday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he had no update on Hendrickson’s contract. The Bengals begin organized team activities (OTAs) later this month. Hendrickson is due to make $15.8 million in base salary this season.
Rookie Shemar Stewart Also Sits Out Over Contract
Hendrickson isn’t the only Bengals defensive end dealing with contract issues. First-round pick Shemar Stewart did not participate in rookie minicamp last week due to an unsigned contract.
A report from ESPN revealed that Stewart is unlikely to join team workouts until a deal is signed. He declined to sign a waiver because of a disagreement over the size of his camp bonus. According to the report, the bonus offered was lower than what Dallas Turner—also picked 17th overall by Minnesota—received this year.
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This report used information from ESPN.
