Trey Hendrickson contract dispute: Why Bengals’ top pass rusher may skip 2025 training camp

Trey Hendrickson has consistently been one of the Bengals’ top performers on defence, racking up sacks and disrupting quarterbacks game after game. However, his current contract runs only through the 2025 season, and he’s pushing for a new deal that better reflects his value to the team. With massive extensions looming for Bengals stars Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase, there’s been speculation that the team might not be able to afford everyone. and that Hendrickson could be traded or let go.

But instead of a trade, the Bengals have so far kept him on the roster. Still, the tension isn’t gone. According to reports, Hendrickson is expected to sit out the start of training camp in protest until contract talks move forward. This kind of move, often called a “holdout” in the NFL, is a way for players to send a clear message: they want to be paid fairly before stepping back on the field.

For the Bengals, Hendrickson’s holdout creates uncertainty during a crucial preseason period. Training camp is where team chemistry builds and game plans come together. Without their top defensive playmaker, the Bengals may have some challenges ahead.

As the Bengals’ 2025 season approaches, fans will be watching closely to see how the front office handles the situation. Will they lock in their star defender with a new contract? Or will they risk entering the season without one of their most crucial pieces on defence?

Trey Hendrickson’s contract holdout, explained

The Cincinnati Bengals are starting their 2025 training camp without one of their biggest defensive stars. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed on Tuesday that Trey Hendrickson will not report to training camp, signalling serious tension between the Pro Bowl pass rusher and the Bengals’ front office.

The reason? Money, and not just any money, but guaranteed money.

According to Schefter, Hendrickson and his team are pushing for a multi-year deal with a guarantee that reflects his elite status. Many of his peers at the edge rusher position have landed contracts that include three years of guaranteed money. But the Bengals, so far, have only been willing to offer a single guaranteed year. That offer hasn’t sat well with Hendrickson, and negotiations have now stalled.

After talks fell apart, Hendrickson posted an Instagram story showing he was in Florida, not exactly close to Cincinnati. The move seemed to make his intentions clear: unless there’s a serious change in the Bengals’ offer, he won’t be coming back anytime soon.

This isn’t the first time Hendrickson has made his stance known. Ahead of the 2024 season, he already expressed a desire for a new contract. The Bengals tried to meet him in the middle by giving him a one-year extension worth $21 million, which raised his salary for 2024 and set him up to earn $18.6 million in 2025, according to Spotrac. But that bump wasn’t what he was after, it was long-term security.

And it’s hard to say he hasn’t earned it. In 2024, Hendrickson led the entire NFL with 17.5 sacks, repeating the same total he hit the year before. He’s one of the most consistent and dominant defensive ends in the game. Still, his absence hasn’t been cheap. He already skipped mandatory minicamp earlier in the offseason and was fined over $104,000, a fine head coach Zac Taylor had warned him about in advance. Now, with training camp underway, Hendrickson faces daily fines for every session he misses.

Despite the standoff, the Bengals don’t seem to have lost hope. Owner Mike Brown said at a recent luncheon that he believes the deal will get done, adding, “The sooner the better.” Bengals executive Duke Tobin echoed the sentiment but admitted it’s unclear whether an agreement will happen before the season starts.

Trey Hendrickson’s contract details