The Cincinnati Bengals selected Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart in the 2025 NFL Draft, a move many thought might foreshadow the team’s plan for current edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
After all …
Hendrickson is desirous of a hefty contract extension with the Bengals after his fourth year in Cincy. He topped the NFL in sacks last year with 17.5, meeting that total now in back-to-back seasons.
Is Cincy giving up on him? Doubtful. Even with the young addition in Stewart.
But Cincy is pulling the plug on negotiations, Hendrickson is now claiming, adding that the Bengals essentially lied to him about their plans to up his salary.
The two sides have not only not put pen to paper on any agreement for an extension, despite Hendrickson’s four-time Pro Bowl resume as one of the game’s best defensive ends. … but things have turned ugly.
“The (contract) 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,” Hendrickson tells ESPN.
“Coaches are aware of these past conversations.”
The player adds that now the Bengals have shut down talks altogether.
“Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating,” he said. “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.
While the pick of Stewart will greatly help their less-than-impressive defense outside of Hendrickson, signing Trey should still be a priority.
And for a minute there, it seemed like that might happen.
According to The Athletic’s recent report, things were moving in the right direction.
Diana Russini said on the Scoop City podcast, “I did a little digging on it and I’m still getting really good vibes coming out of Cincy that they’re going to try to get a deal done with Trey [Hendrickson].”
Like he has done for past deals, quarterback Joe Burrow is adding to the “good vibes” by campaigning to keep Hendrickson with the Bengals.
“Joe Burrow has pushed for Cincinnati to lock in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson,” Russini reported.
“Based on conversations I’m having, the Bengals are trying to do just that.”
Well … right now? Nope. Not “good vibes.”
Heading into 2025, the Bengals will need Hendrickson’s production on the defensive line to give them any chance at rushing the passer.
Hendrickson is responsible for just under half of Cincinnati’s sacks for the entire 2024 season (17.5 of 36).
