T
he Cincinnati Bengals have a huge problem on their hands. All offseason long, the franchise have had contract disputes plague their every move, now having those issues spew out onto the practice field. First round pick Shemar Stewart and veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson have been notably absent from offseason activities as they deal with contract standoffs with the organization.
But Hendrickson’s contract situation has been most notable. Coming off of his second consecutive 17.5 sack season in 2024, Hendrickson is seeking a new deal that not only gives him more long-term stability but also one that makes him among the highest paid edge rushers in the league. Skipping OTAs as a result, as well as minicamp, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made comments on June 11 and admitted that Hendrickson missing camp has been a distraction.
Burrow’s Comments
Speaking with the media after a practice session, Burrow spoke on how Hendrickson’s absence has impacted the team. Admitting that his absence is heavily felt, Burrow expressed eagerness to get Hendrickson back so that the distractions are dealt with and the team can go back to focusing fully on football.
“Of course. Of course,” Burrow said when asked whether or not Hendrickson’s absence was a distraction. “Last year, we had two [contract issues]. This year, we have one. So we do have less. You’d love to have none, but that’s life in the NFL. We’re all supporting Trey and would love for him to be back.”
Despite boasting one of the NFL’s best offenses last season, the Bengals defense struggled and was a big factor in the team finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, Hendrickson’s 17.5 sacks led the league and earned him both his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and his first ever First-team All-Pro selection.
Can the Bengals Get Something Done?
Extending Hendrickson sooner rather than later is in the best interest of both parties. The longer the franchise waits, the likelier it is that negotiations last through training camp. Hendrickson has made it clear that he is willing to miss games if he does not have a new deal and for a team whose defense was bad outside of Hendrickson, they cannot afford to have him unavailable. The next option would be to work out a trade– and trying to get a big return– but even if they trade him, there would be a massive hole to fill on the edge.
There is no timetable for a deal, but negotiations are still taking place nonetheless. The question now becomes how much money Hendrickson can get and if he is able to join the list of highest paid players at his position.
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