The Bengals received a boost as All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson ended his holdout and will report to training camp. The long, at times tense, contract talks led to Trey Hendrickson missing minicamp and early camp, accumulating significant daily fines.
He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season and has totaled 35 sacks over the past two years. Has been loud and clear about his need for a new contract. One that he believes is commensurate with the market value of top-tier pass rushers.
His next contract is to give him a base value of $15.8 million in 2025. Which is nothing compared to the recent high-paid extensions given to contemporaries such as T.J. Watt ($41 million AAV), Myles Garrett ($40 million AAV), and Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million AAV).
His return is a positive sign for the team, though he has yet to sign a new contract agreement. Hendrickson’s camp and the Bengals front office are in harmony about the average annual value of a proposed extension. The big impediment, though, is the amount of guaranteed money.
The Bengals have consistently avoided offering major long-term guarantees beyond year one, a stance they’ve maintained with nearly all players. Such as the enormous Franchise cornerstones Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase signed, exemplify the exception rather than the rule.
Hendrickson understandably seeks more guaranteed years to align with the deals other top-tier defensive ends have secured in recent years.
His return from the holdout shows good faith, signaling his hope to continue negotiations without facing more financial penalties. For missing the first days of camp already, he stood to lose an estimated $250,000 in fines.
In coming back, he indicates his readiness to play with the team on the field, even though the off-field talks continue.
The extended time frame of this conflict has been a concern to the Bengals, especially with the significance of Hendrickson to their defense. He is a critical component for a unit that aims to be better after it ranked 25th in overall defense a year ago.
His absence from offseason workouts and the beginning of camp resulted in lost time for developing chemistry under new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Despite his return, it’s generally considered that he won’t be fully involved in practices until a new contract is agreed upon.
Bengals owner Mike Brown previously stated his intent to re-sign Hendrickson, saying, “We want him here.” Despite allowing Hendrickson to seek a trade earlier this offseason, no serious offers emerged, reinforcing the Bengals’ desire to retain him.
The next few days will be pivotal. Hendrickson’s return increases pressure on both sides to find common ground and bridge the gap on guaranteed money in negotiations. The Bengals’ top priority is securing their defensive leader long-term to stay competitive in the fiercely contested AFC North division.
Hendrickson’s main goal is to secure his financial future and earn the recognition he believes his elite play deserves. By showing up to camp without a contract, he’s clearly aiming to accelerate talks and secure a deal before the season starts.
