Bengals add reported $14M to Hendrickson's deal to end dispute
The contract dispute between Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals is finally over.
The All-Pro defensive end has reached an agreement on a $14-million pay raise for this year with the Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hendrickson, who's still scheduled to become a free agent in 2026, will reportedly earn a salary of $30 million in 2025.
The two sides had been negotiating an extension for months, with Hendrickson seeking a more lucrative deal ahead of his contract year after leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024.
The Bengals announced the new agreement with Hendrickson on social media.
We have agreed to a revised contract with Trey Hendrickson. pic.twitter.com/snh3M4nkc5
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 25, 2025
Cincinnati was open to trading its top pass-rusher amid stalled contract talks, but the team was able to resume negotiations and reach an agreement this week. The amount of guaranteed money was reportedly one of the bigger issues in the talks between the Bengals and the four-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals initially offered a three-year, $95-million deal to Hendrickson that didn't include any guaranteed money in the second year, sources told The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
This is Hendrickson's 9th yr in the NFL. If he leaves after '25, Bengals could in theory net a 3rd- or 4th-round comp pick. If he signed through '26 and left, they could only get a 5th-round comp pick at best, because he'd be a "30/10" player (30+ yrs old and 10+ yrs of service)
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) August 25, 2025
Hendrickson, who topped the NFL with 35 sacks across the last two years, is a key member of a Bengals defense that had a disappointing 2024 season.