Trey Hendrickson has revealed he was open to accepting a lower salary to reach a new agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals as contract talks remain stalled. The star defensive end chose to leave for Florida ahead of training camp to avoid disrupting his teammates while negotiations dragged on.
“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make this work,”
Hendrickson told Dianna Russini of The Athletic on Tuesday.
Hendrickson also noted that he received two contract offers from the Bengals that failed to include multi-year guarantees beyond the first season, which he found unacceptable. This was a key sticking point in the ongoing discussions.
Current Contract Issues and Team Dynamics
Hendrickson is entering the final year of his current contract and set to earn $15.8 million in base salary this season. He made it clear in May that he would not play for Cincinnati without a new deal. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals have only offered one year of guaranteed money, while comparable players like Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt secured three-year guarantees.
Negotiations between Hendrickson and the Bengals have been described as highly contentious. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that conversations remain difficult, even as Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed optimism. Brown told reporters Monday,
“I think it’ll get done,”
referring to the possibility of a contract agreement with Hendrickson.
Implications of the Holdout for Bengals’ Defense
The Bengals defense, a weak link in last season despite strong offensive performances from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, hopes to strengthen itself by pairing Hendrickson with newly drafted Texas A&M pass-rusher Shemar Stewart. However, Stewart is also currently holding out and is the only first-round pick from the 2025 draft yet to sign.
This absence of both key edge rushers threatens to significantly weaken Cincinnati’s defensive unit at the start of the upcoming season. Hendrickson, who led the league with 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024 and earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection, was one of the few bright spots for the Bengals defense last year.
Stalemate Continues Despite Hendrickson’s Strong Performance
Despite Hendrickson’s notable back-to-back seasons of elite production and multiple Pro Bowl honors, the Bengals have yet to offer him a contract extension comparable to those awarded to other top defensive ends around the league. With both parties dug in, the future remains uncertain as the start of training camp approaches and the holdout continues.