The sack king wants paid. Is a holdout coming?
The Cincinnati Bengals were able to retain Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the next four years, but one star player’s situation is still in limbo.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson is looking for a new contract after a 17.5-sack season in 2024. This coming season is the last year on Hendrickson’s deal, and he has mentioned wanting more long-term security.
A Fluid Situation
Jordan Schultz, a Fox Sports NLF Insider, reported today that Hendrickson’s situation with the Bengals “remains fluid.”
“As I reported Monday morning, the Bengals still hope to work out a deal with him despite granting permission to seek a trade. It won’t be easy, but they haven’t given up,” Schultz said.
Schultz also mentions that there are several teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, including the Indianapolis Colts, where Lou Anarumo landed. The interest is there, but teams are reluctant to both meet the Bengals’ asking price for Hendrickson and give Hendrickson the contract he is looking for.
A Holdout Coming?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that teams are interested in trading for Hendrickson, but the Bengals aren’t inclined to move him at all, and they want at least a first-round NFL Draft pick in any possible trade.
Fowler also said that he could see Hendrickson going through a holdout if things don’t change.
“Right now, it’s a stalemate. I do know this: I’ve heard this from several circles. Sometimes you hear players say, well, like, I’ll just sit out this year, and it’s posturing. I actually think he would strongly consider sitting out and possibly do it if they don’t get a deal done. Because $16 million this year is just not quite enough compared to where it should be.”
After last year’s hold-in by Ja’Marr Chase, the last thing anyone in Cincinnati wants to see is Hendrickson doing something similar this time around. The team doesn’t need this distraction, so hopefully, some kind of resolution happens before training camp opens.
Another Edge Gets Paid
In an ever-changing market, the Houston Texans just made Danielle Hunter the second-highest-paid defensive end in the NFL, so that new deal will likely have an impact on Hendrickson’s next deal.
Per Tom Pelissero, it’s a one-year extension worth $35.6 million.
The #Texans and Danielle Hunter have agreed to a one-year, $35.6 million contract extension that makes him the NFL’s second-highest paid defensive end, per sources.
Hunter will make $32M this season — a $12.5M raise — and $55.1M ($54.1M fully guaranteed) over the next two… pic.twitter.com/SR0UbySLse
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2025
It’s worth noting that Hunter, like Hendrickson, is 30 years old and turns 31 later this year. Perhaps seeing Hunter only get a one-year extension, albeit a major one, will help Hendrickson at least consider doing a one or two-year extension if the money is right.
It’s not that the Bengals don’t want to pay him. They just don’t want to be paying him $30+ million when Father Time finally catches up.
There seems to be momentum for Hendrickson returning to Cincinnati, but there’s also still a lot of work to do for both sides to come to an agreement. Let’s hope it happens soon so everyone can turn their focus to the draft and the 2025 season.
