Defensive end, Trey Hendrickson, is desiring a new contract or a trade. This follows his one-year extension last year, worth $21 million in new funds.
However, the Bengals are reportedly not playing along with Hendrickson’s current request. Whether Hendrickson’s contract will undergo adjustments remains uncertain.
Bengals reportedly won't budge on Trey Hendrickson's request for a trade. https://t.co/2sbgpH9ZoH
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 25, 2024
The Bengals have demonstrated “zero interest” in making a trade deal, as reported by Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com, casting a shadow on Hendrickson’s future with the team.
Presently, Hendrickson is due for a payout of $14.8 million in 2024 and $15.8 million in 2025. But this pales in light of the current market and his impressive performance of 17.5 sacks in 2023.
There’s chatter of Hendrickson considering hanging up his helmet. However, given past situations in Cincinnati, this tactic is unlikely to deliver his desired outcome.
Fans of Bengals will remember the similar case involving quarterback Carson Palmer. Had it not been for a collarbone injury to Jason Campbell days before the 2011 trade deadline, Palmer might still have been on the Bengals’ reserve-retired list.
A critical aspect is the inability to propose a new deal for Hendrickson until the one-year anniversary of his last contract, which is only three months away.
This is a significant restriction that limits immediate action. A temporary solution can be an unofficial commitment from the Bengals to negotiate a new deal at an appropriate time. But will this “wink-nod” agreement placate Hendrickson?
