Trey Hendrickson Reacts To Bengals Contract Negotiations

Trey Hendrickson played like the best edge rusher in the entire NFL this past season, but the Cincinnati Bengals are not paying him like it.

He ranks 10th among edge defenders in the NFL in average annual salary at $21 million. Hendrickson has expressed his desire to remain a Bengal for his entire career in the past, but he finds the way the team has handled his upcoming contract "disappointing."

"Respect is something I have for Zac Taylor and I take that approach every day being on time, communicating with him and, yes sir I will do all the right things. There's a mutual respect. Just to say the word respect and actions are speaking a lot louder in a different direction, it’s disappointing," Hendrickson told the guys on the Pat McAfee Show.

The 30-year-old star had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, where he finished with the most sacks in the league with 17.5. He was also named First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career, as well as being selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth year in a row.

The team has given Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, but they are still trying to work out the kinks of his contract. Not a whole lot of progress has been made, as the two sides cannot seem to agree on a number, so only time will tell where the star edge rusher ends up.