The Cincinnati Bengals have done their part on offense, securing long-term deals for quarterback Joe Burrow and star receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. With their offensive core locked in, the team has entered what many believe is its best window to win a Super Bowl. But a glaring issue on defense threatens to derail those hopes: the uncertain status of star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson, who has delivered back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons, is not just a key player, he’s the anchor of Cincinnati’s defensive line. But as of now, he and the Bengals are at odds over a contract extension, and there’s no clear sign of resolution. At 31, Hendrickson is still performing at an elite level, but without a new deal, his future with the team remains up in the air.
On ESPN’s Get Up, analyst Ryan Clark made it clear how crucial Hendrickson is to the Bengals’ Super Bowl aspirations. Asked how badly Joe Burrow needs Hendrickson on the field, Clark didn’t hesitate: “As bad as a fish needs water.” He pointed to last season as a warning, when despite historic play from Burrow and record-setting performances from Chase, the Bengals failed to make the playoffs.
“They didn’t make it to the playoffs because, in games where Joe Burrow played absolutely out of his mind, the defense played bad enough for them to lose,” Clark said. “The one bright spot was Trey Hendrickson, 17.5 sacks, constant pressure, great against the run, a leader on the defensive side.”
The defensive concerns don’t stop there. Rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart has yet to sign his contract, leaving Cincinnati without the two players they’re counting on most to generate quarterback pressure. And with former Notre Dame coach Al Golden now leading the defense as coordinator, there are a lot of moving parts, and even more question marks.
Clark warned that without Hendrickson and Stewart, the Bengals risk wasting what could be one of the best offensive units in football. “They could be sitting at home with the best quarterback in the world, the best wide receiver duo, and the best offense, watching the playoffs with us.”
For a franchise that’s come painfully close in recent years, the message is clear: the time to act is now. And that starts with making sure Trey Hendrickson is in uniform when the 2025 season kicks off.