Trey Hendrickson Secures a Million-Dollar Raise with the Bengals
Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation has reached a resolution. The Cincinnati Bengals’ standout pass rusher will receive a $14 million raise for this season. This agreement raises his salary for 2025 to $30 million, according to sources close to the team. The new deal also includes a $1 million incentive that Hendrickson will get if he participates in 60% of the plays and the Bengals make the playoffs. Hendrickson, who will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, had not participated in any offseason training sessions, not even throughout training camp, while seeking a new contract. The player had insisted on not playing this season with his original $16 million contract.The Bengals and Hendrickson had discussed a two-year, $79 million extension that would have positioned him among the top three pass rushers in terms of new dollars, reaching $95 million over three years, including his original $16 million base salary for 2025. However, the proposed agreement included $33 million in guarantees, with no guarantees beyond 2025, which Hendrickson considered unfeasible. Hendrickson, 30, is coming off his best season in the NFL, where he led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024. He was also named to The Associated Press All-Pro team and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth consecutive season. This is the third significant move the Bengals have made this offseason to maintain their roster. In March, Cincinnati signed significant extensions with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase signed a four-year contract for $161 million, the highest average annual salary for a non-quarterback player in league history at the time. Higgins signed a three-year deal for $115 million. Hendrickson is now the fourth player on the roster, including quarterback Joe Burrow, who earns an average of at least $30 million annually. According to OverTheCap.com, Hendrickson is one of six NFL pass rushers who exceed that salary threshold. This is the second time Hendrickson has received a short-term cash injection with the Bengals. In 2023, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension that included an $8 million signing bonus, extending the four-year contract he signed with the Bengals, initially for $60 million. The agreement reached this Monday represents a commitment for both parties before next year. Throughout the offseason, Hendrickson reiterated his desire for a long-term contract with a significant amount of guaranteed money. Before the team’s second preseason game against the Washington Commanders on August 18, Hendrickson said that both sides had agreed on the length and total value of a possible contract extension. The agreement for next season significantly increases the value of Hendrickson’s contract for 2025, but he is still scheduled to become a free agent in 2026. Bengals team president Mike Brown also indicated that he believed Hendrickson deserved a raise based on his performance in previous seasons.There are plans to not have to play with the current contract. That is a common goal that we have. That is the plan to follow.
Trey Hendrickson
He’s a guy who, as I said before, has earned a raise and an extension. I’d love to give it to him. We’re trying to figure it out. It’s a good problem to have.
Mike Brown
