The Cincinnati Bengals have spent a whole lot of cash this offseason, extending wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Higgins deal was particularly surprising given that most did not expect the Bengals to pay two receivers big money, but, here we are.
Here’s the problem, though: Cincinnati also has to extend defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has demanded a trade amid his contract dispute with the Bengals.
Not only has Cincinnati handed new deals to Chase and Higgins, but it also gave a massive extension to quarterback Joe Burrow fairly recently, so to say that the Bengals are somewhat strapped for dollars would be putting it lightly.
For that reason, Cincy does not seem overly eager to strike a fresh pact with Hendrickson, and it is apparently peeving him so much that he may even be willing to sit out the 2025 NFL season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that Hendrickson is absolutely considering taking these drastic measures if he doesn’t get his way this offseason.
“I think it’s entirely possible, based on what I’m hearing, for him to sit out the year if he doesn’t get a new deal,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “I think that’s his mindset right now.”
Of course, it’s easy for Hendrickson to weigh this possibility now, but when push comes to shove, he will surely realize that that isn’t exactly an ideal solution for him.
The four-time Pro Bowler is now 30 years old, so he really can’t afford to sit out a full year. Just ask Haason Reddick. Hendrickson has racked up 17.5 sacks each of the last two seasons, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024.
He remains one of the league’s most dominant defenders, but given his age, you can understand why the Bengals are somewhat hesitant to hand him a massive long-term contract.
Still, Cincinnati is trying to win a Super Bowl, and it will absolutely need Hendrickson in the fold if it plans on making a run in the AFC next season. Chances are, the two sides will reach some sort of agreement.
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