The Bengals selected edge rusher Shemar Stewart with their first-round choice (No. 17 overall) in last month’s draft. The pick created speculation that fellow EDGE Trey Hendrickson – who has been looking for a new contract from Cincinnati for several years and who was given permission to seek a trade in March – may indeed be on his way out.
As The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noted in a recent Scoop City podcast, however, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor shot down that notion (video link). Of course, it is difficult to imagine Taylor saying anything that would reveal the club’s plans or weaken its negotiating position with teams interested in Hendrickson, but according to Russini, Taylor’s remarks were not mere coach-speak. She is still getting “good vibes” from the team with respect to this situation and believes Cincy is still working hard to hammer out an extension.
Per Russini, the Bengals are trying to “get creative” and “move money” to bridge the gap with Hendrickson. As it stands, the Bengals have $25MM of cap space and are projected to have over $72MM of room in 2026 – this despite the massive deals authorized for both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason – so the resources do appear to be available.
Hendrickson, 30, signed a one-year extension in July 2023 that took the free agent contract he signed with the Bengals in 2021 through the upcoming 2025 campaign. As part of that contractual update, the four-time Pro Bowler received $21MM in new money, though the $15.8MM base salary he is scheduled to earn this year pales in comparison to the figures at the top of the exploding pass rusher market, which now features seven players enjoying AAVs of at least $28MM.
Having posted 17.5 sacks for the second consecutive year in 2024 en route to his first First Team All-Pro nod, Hendrickson understandably wants a contract commensurate with his market value. Despite the Bengals allowing him to look for a trade partner that would also greenlight a new mega-deal, they have set a lofty asking price in a trade and have rejected multiple offers from interested teams. The lack of movement in trade discussions could accelerate Cincinnati-Hendrickson talks, though traction in those negotiations has also been difficult to come by.
Since the Bengals seem unwilling to let Hendrickson go unless another team comes through with the type of trade package that presently appears unrealistic, Hendrickson may have to accept something of a discount if he wants to land a new multiyear pact in the near future. Russini acknowledges as much, and she believes he wants to stay in Cincinnati while confirming the team wants to retain him, so there may yet be a way for the parties to find common ground.
The Bengals ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of total defense, scoring defense, and sacks in 2024, so despite the Stewart addition, a Hendrickson departure (coupled with Sam Hubbard’s retirement) would certainly undermine the team’s attempts to return to the playoffs in 2025.