A month has passed since All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson spoke on his ongoing contract situation with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He provided an update Monday. It wasn't encouraging.
"No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft," Hendrickson said, via a statement to ESPN. "The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. 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."
Hendrickson lamented a similar lack of communication in early April, and he also labeled comments from Bengals EVP Katie Blackburn on the contract situation as "a little disappointing." More than a month since Hendrickson voiced his displeasure, it sounds as if no progress has been made and both parties remain engaged in a standoff.
Hendrickson has repeatedly pointed to alleged promises made to reward him financially if he earned it on the field. He certainly did so in 2024, leading the NFL in sacks with 17.5, his second straight 17.5-sack season. He's been a model of reliability and production since joining the Bengals, playing in 65 games and recording 57 sacks over four seasons.
Cincinnati has already made headlines financially this offseason by finding a way to work out a lucrative extension with receiver Ja'Marr Chase and also keep teammate Tee Higgins on a multi-year deal after initially franchise tagging him for a second straight year. The Bengals also signed quarterback Joe Burrow to a massive extension in 2024, successfully retaining their explosive offensive trio.
Those commitments may have narrowed their room to pay Hendrickson more than the $15.8 million he's due in base salary in 2025, the final year of his current contract. That number is far below the new standard for elite edge-rushing talent: $40 million per year, a rate set by the Browns and Myles Garrett.
Despite leading the NFL in sacks in 2024, Hendrickson ranks outside of the top 10 in average annual salary. With his 31st birthday approaching in December, now is the time for the Florida Atlantic product to capitalize on his earning power. We'll see if he accomplishes that goal with the Bengals, or if a trade elsewhere is necessary.
