The Cincinnati Bengals signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to huge contract extensions on Monday morning, delivering on quarterback Joe Burrow‘s. With the core of the offense now under team control for the next four years, the focus turns toward a Trey Hendrickson contract extension.
Hendrickson, age 30, is coming off an All-Pro season and has earned a Pro Bowl selection in four consecutive years in Cincinnati. However, the 6-foot-4 edge rusher wants a new long-term deal. Earlier this offseason, the Bengals granted their top defender permission to seek a trade.
Related: Cincinnati Bengals blasted by GM for Trey Hendrickson trade asking price
- Trey Hendrickson stats: 54 pressures, 36 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Many around the NFL have been skeptical of the Bengals’ ability to extend Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson. The deals seemed even more likely with Chase landing an extension worth $41 million per year. However, it appears the team is going to try and pull it off.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported that Cincinnati is still hoping it can sign Hendrickson to a long-term deal even after it extended Chase and Higgins. The franchise is aware it will be difficult to pull off financially, but Borrow has put the front office under some public pressure to get a deal done.
Cincinnati would’ve been better off signing Hendrickson to a multi-year extension a year ago when he originally asked the club for a new deal. In the time since his request, he finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting and the average salary for the top edge rushers has exploded. However, Cincinnati still is trying to make something happen.
Related: NFL power rankings after free agency, see where the Cincinnati Bengals land
Appearing on Sunday morning’s SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said that the Bengals have re-engaged in contract talks with Hendrickson, but the two sides aren’t close to a deal.
“This one’s complicated because Hendrickson does want a new contract well above $30 million per year. The Bengals have tried to sign him, they made him a contract offer. And I’m even told despite trade talks, they’ve had some reignited discussions with Hendrickson’s people over the last few days, but it still hasn’t gotten anywhere. I’m hearing the Bengals have not been overly eager to accept those trade calls and they’ve gotten them to look into it and really seriously entertain a trade here. It seems like they still want to try to find a way to keep him, but the question is do they have the cash to do it?
Jeremy Fowler on Cincinnati Bengals discussions on a Trey Hendrickson contract extension
Also Read: Highest paid NFL quarterbacks, see where Joe Burrow lands
- Trey Hendrickson contract (Spotrac): $18.666 million cap hit in 2025, NFL free agent in 2026
The Bengals have reportedly indicated to teams that acquiring Hendrickson would cost more than a first-round pick. It’s an asking price no club is willing to meet, especially given they would also have to sign Hendrickson to an extension worth more than $33 million per season.
While Cincinnati wants to extend Hendrickson, the issue is the NFL salary cap. Between salaries for Chase, Burrow and Higgins, the team is spending more than $120 million per year on three players. If Hendrickson lands a new deal, that will be more than $150 million invested in just four players on a 53-man roster. For a cash-strapped ownership group with a front office that has a poor track record in the NFL Draft, that could cause significant problems in the years to come.
Related: NFL defense rankings after free agency, find out where the Cincinnati Bengals placed