The Cincinnati Bengals are without edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart on the practice field due to holdups in contract negotiations. Coming off a season that saw Cincinnati field one of the worst NFL defenses , things aren't looking promising for the franchise just a few months out from Week 1.
Bleacher Report 's NFL reporter James Palmer said in a Q&A that Hendrickson's holdout is perhaps the 'most contentious' contract negotiation in the NFL. While he wants to become one of the highest-paid NFL players , Hendrickson is not looking for a deal that resets the market at his position.
"This is maybe the most contentious one to watch. There's been a lot of public comments by the Bengals and by Trey Hendrickson …I do think it's worth noting they wanted to change the perception of how they do business this past offseason. It didn't really end up happening all that much…I do know that he's not looking to reset the market."
Related: Bengals still making below-market offers to Trey Hendrickson
Trey Hendrickson contract ( Spotrac ): $18.666 million cap hit in 2025, NFL free agent in 2026
As Palmer noted, Cincinnati added a one-year extension to Hendrickson's contract in July 2023. It came with the organization telling him that if he kept producing at a high level, he would receive a long-term deal. He recorded 17.5 sacks the following season and then sought a multi-year extension only to be rebuffed. In 2024, he earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting after his second consecutive season with 17.5 sacks.
However, Cincinnati prioritized contract extensions with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase . The Bengals then spent their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Stewart, seemingly finding a long-term replacement for Hendrickson.
Related: Insider predicts how Bengals contract saga with Trey Hendrickson ends
Trey Hendrickson stats : 54 pressures, 36 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Now, Cincinnati finds itself without both of its projected top edge rushers heading into the summer. Stewart is sitting out because the Bengals' front office is insisting on language in his contract that would allow the club to void future guarantees. However, it's an unprecedented request that hasn't been included in contracts for first-round picks before.
Hendrickson has made it clear that he's willing to sit out regular-season games, even threatening not to play on the final year of his contract, if a new deal can't be reached. With a significant cap remaining at the negotiating table and Cincinnati also taking a bizarre stance in contract negotiations with Stewart, there seems to be increasing doubt of Hendrickson being on the field in Week 1.
Also Read: NFL power rankings 2025, see where the Bengals placed
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