Bengals' Trey Hendrickson is 'extremely dug in' over contract dispute; here's what to know

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals resolved 2 large declaration situations this offseason, but a important 1 lingers arsenic the squad prepares for the upcoming season.

After inking wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to semipermanent contracts, the concern with prima antiaircraft extremity Trey Hendrickson remains unresolved.

The NFL's sack person successful 2024 has not participated successful immoderate voluntary workouts this offseason arsenic helium looks to get a caller contract. Last season, Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, was named to The Associated Press All-Pro squad and reached the Pro Bowl for the 4th consecutive season.

Bengals newsman Ben Baby and National newsman Jeremy Fowler look astatine the biggest questions for Hendrickson and the Bengals arsenic Phase 3 of the offseason programme heads to mandatory minicamp connected June 10.

How did we get here?

This twelvemonth marks the 3rd consecutive twelvemonth Hendrickson has sought immoderate benignant of enactment connected his contract. In 2023, helium signed a one-year hold that included an $8 cardinal signing bonus. One twelvemonth later, helium wanted to motion a semipermanent woody but was rebuffed. That prompted a commercialized petition that went unanswered.

This offseason, Hendrickson again requested the accidental to prosecute a commercialized amid the deficiency of a deal. But this time, it was granted. Cincinnati allowed Hendrickson to research the marketplace earlier escaped bureau and the NFL draft.

According to a root acquainted with the proceedings, respective teams initially showed involvement successful signing Hendrickson to a semipermanent declaration if they could successfully commercialized for him. However, thing materialized, starring to the prolonged dialog betwixt some sides. -- Baby

What is the buzz astir the league?

Most teams hold the Bengals are successful a pugnacious spot due to the fact that of the marketplace realities of Hendrickson's value. Four walk rushers gain much than $34 cardinal per year, and Hendrickson's play arsenic a sack person suggests helium should beryllium successful that radical with Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter, Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa.

Hendrickson not lone wants due marketplace value, but helium wants semipermanent security, which means a one- oregon two-year woody astir apt won't suffice.

Some astir the league judge Cincinnati volition fig retired a mode to support him.

"I can't spot however they tin fto a large subordinate spell for a draught pick, fixed the unit to triumph now," an NFC enforcement said. Trade talks person cooled, with the content that Cincinnati either didn't get an connection including a first-round prime oregon it rebuffed engaging commercialized offers successful March. It feels similar this is declaration hold oregon bust, astatine slightest close now.

"I inactive deliberation they tin travel to a compromise, getting him supra that $30-million threshold portion covering themselves," different NFC enforcement said. "The property [30] is thing that indispensable beryllium a origin for them."

If nary woody occurs, I've spoken to respective radical who judge Hendrickson precise good mightiness travel done connected his committedness to miss games oregon adjacent the season. "He's highly dug in," a root said. -- Fowler

How did the marketplace displacement successful the offseason impact the declaration talks?

A mates of deals this offseason person exacerbated the concern betwixt Cincinnati and Hendrickson. When the 2 sides talked successful 2024, astatine a clip Hendrickson believed the Bengals were funny successful rewarding a prime play with a caller deal, it was hard to foretell however the declaration worth for borderline rushers was going to jump.

First, Garrett signed a record-breaking woody worthy $40 cardinal annually, ending his ain acrimonious standoff with the Cleveland Browns. Then the Houston Texans and Hunter agreed to an hold worthy $35.6 cardinal a year. Hunter is 30. His declaration features respective void years and efficaciously runs done 2026, but it raised the terms constituent further. And Hendrickson took notice.

"Having that speech successful July of 2024 does not forecast May of 2025," Hendrickson said. -- Baby

Do the Bengals person the headdress space?

The Bengals typically similar to reserve capable headdress abstraction to get done an full season, which leads to a much blimpish attack compared to different teams astir the league.

So portion Cincinnati technically has $27.6 cardinal successful headdress abstraction for 2025, not each of that is instantly disposable for subordinate acquisition. For example, erstwhile Zack Moss went down with a season-ending cervix wounded past season, Cincinnati was capable to get moving backmost Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears.

That being said, the Bengals bash person the indispensable abstraction to relationship for expenses during the play and a imaginable Hendrickson extension.

He is acceptable to gain $15.8 cardinal positive $200,000 successful bonuses this season. By reworking contracts and finalizing the aboriginal of linebacker Germaine Pratt, who represents $5.8 cardinal successful headdress savings, Cincinnati could conception a woody that tin get Hendrickson successful the scope of $28 cardinal to $30 cardinal annually. -- Baby

Which broadside needs the different more?

By far, it's the Bengals. Even if Hendrickson gets cut, teams volition beryllium champing astatine the spot to motion idiosyncratic who has a basal wage of $15.8 cardinal for 2025.

To enactment that successful perspective, that's astir the aforesaid yearly wage arsenic the Chicago Bears' Dayo Odeyingbo (three sacks successful 2024).

Last season, Hendrickson accounted for 48% of the team's sack total. The Bengals notably did not person a bully defence past season. Not having 1 of the NFL's leaders successful virtually each large walk unreserved class volition not marque improving nether caller coordinator Al Golden immoderate easier arsenic the Bengals effort to drawback a two-year playoff drought. -- Baby

Could this resistance into the regular season?

Absolutely. Hendrickson has firmly indicated that helium has nary tendency to play connected his existent contract. When asked point-blank if helium was consenting to skip games, helium artfully danced astir the question.

But the nonanswer, coupled with his different comments during a lengthy interrogation league with section reporters successful May, signals that it could past into the regular season. Hendrickson has already been informed helium could beryllium fined if helium misses the mandatory minicamp. While the mislaid wealth could sting temporarily, Hendrickson has made it precise wide helium has beardown convictions astir his worth and existent woody with the Bengals. -- Baby

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If they can't get a woody done, what are the different options?

Hendrickson could beryllium the 1 who relents and plays retired the last twelvemonth of his deal. That would marque him a escaped cause adjacent year. However, earning a woody astatine the aforesaid magnitude successful 2026 arsenic helium commands this offseason is the furthest happening from a guarantee, considering Hendrickson's age.

He could extremity up making this arsenic bitter arsenic possible, arsenic Carlos Dunlap did successful 2020, which near the Bengals nary prime but to commercialized him successful the mediate of the season. If the remainder of the league knows Cincinnati has to eradicate a toxic situation, that could besides interaction the benignant of commercialized compensation teams are consenting to offer. -- Baby

How are his teammates responding to his stance?

Players person been mostly supportive of Hendrickson's determination to basal his crushed and question a caller deal. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been 1 of his astir ardent backers.

However, Burrow did person an absorbing remark erstwhile asked astir Hendrickson's situation. "Just similar anybody, I'm definite there's things he'd similar to person back," Burrow said connected May 20. "He's precise good thought retired successful his process and what he's trying to do. If helium thinks that's the mode to go, past that's the mode to go."

Fellow teammates privation Hendrickson to beryllium rewarded for what helium has brought to the team, and the locker country arsenic well. "He's an astonishing player, man," Chase said Tuesday. "I mean, everyone sees it. We each spot what helium does to this team, the vigor helium brought backmost the time helium came in.

"We each cognize helium deserves it." -- Baby