WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided the latest update on the ongoing contract saga with defensive end Trey Hendrickson from the NFL’s annual meetings.
Hendrickson is seeking a new deal from the Bengals and was given permission to seek a trade from Cincinnati before free agency started. Multiple teams showed interest in Hendrickson a source told The Enquirer, but the Bengals opted not to deal their star edge rusher likely due to compensation. For the Bengals to go through with a trade for Hendrickson, they want to feel good about what they would receive in return.
Trey Hendrickson contract situation with Bengals
To this point, the Bengals and Hendrickson haven’t been able to come to an agreement on what both sides believe is fair for a new deal. Hendrickson wants to be rewarded for his compensation and believes his contract should resemble what the market is paying for top players at his position.
Taylor was asked several questions about Hendrickson’s status during the AFC coaches’ breakfast on Monday.
“Trey's been a big part of our team and so again we want to work through it with him and his agent,” Taylor said. “We'll just see where it goes.”
Just finished a 50 minute chat with Zac Taylor at the AFC coaches breakfast today.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) March 31, 2025
Will be posting the highlights from the conversation soon. Stay tuned. #Bengalspic.twitter.com/5ZKGCq1dVk
Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin said the franchise acknowledges that Hendrickson deserves a raise, but the two sides have yet to agree on what the numbers look like. The market has also reset a few times with Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter all getting new deals. This directly impacts Hendrickson and the Bengals as they continue negotiations because it brings more data points to the conversation.
How much will Trey Hendrickson want in a new contract?
It’s unrealistic to think Hendrickson would be willing to accept a contract that doesn’t look similar to Hunter’s deal with the Houston Texans because of a few reasons, mostly age as both players are 30 years old and production. Hunter signed a one-year extension worth $35.6 million and will make $54.1 million in fully guaranteed money in the next two seasons.
Hendrickson has outperformed Hunter over the course of his four seasons with the Bengals with 57 sacks in 65 games, including 17.5 in each of the last two seasons. Hunter logged 12 sacks last year in Houston after eight years in Minnesota where he totaled 87.5 sacks.
Taylor stressed patience as the Bengals and Hendrickson try to work though the situation that’s been ongoing for two years now. Hendrickson requested a trade last year in the offseason due to displeasure with this contract. He ultimately accepted the terms of his current deal with expectation he would be rewarded with a new deal this offseason and that’s where things ...