Report: Bengals draw onerous line in Trey Hendrickson contract talks

Cincinnati Bengals star defensive finish Trey Hendrickson has been holding out from coaching camp as he seeks a brand new contract, and it doesn’t sound like the 2 sides are all that near a deal.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stated on “SportsCenter” Monday that there was “some progress” in negotiations between the Bengals and Hendrickson’s representatives over the previous week or so. The actual disagreement has to do with assured cash, and Cincinnati’s brass shouldn’t be budging.

“Hendrickson needs a stronger assured construction, significantly later in what ought to be a multiyear deal. In speaking to folks with the Bengals they really feel like, ‘Hey, we have in all probability relented so far as we are able to go.’ So it is a basic stare-off proper now, and it is time to buckle up,” Fowler stated, by way of Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report.

Hendrickson is about to earn $16M in base wage within the closing 12 months of his contract this season. He lately stated he has proven a willingness to take lower than market worth on a brand new deal, however the Bengals don’t need to assure him cash past the 2026 season.

Based mostly on what he has stated, the 30-year-old Hendrickson shouldn’t be looking for to develop into the highest-paid defensive participant in soccer. So as to accomplish that, he must high the three-year, $123M extension T.J. Watt signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers final week.

Hendrickson had 35 sacks over the previous two seasons, which was essentially the most within the NFL throughout that span. He had 17.5 sacks every season and completed second in NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr voting in 2024.

The Bengals took care of one main offseason challenge on Sunday once they lastly signed first-round decide Shemar Stewart to a rookie deal. All it is going to take is one facet to budge within the workforce’s ongoing stalemate with Hendrickson, however all events appear to be dug in as coaching camp rolls on.