Bengals owner remains optimistic about Trey Hendrickson extension

The Cincinnati Bengals expect to reach an agreement with EDGE Trey Hendrickson soon, despite heated contract negotiations throughout the offseason.

Hendrickson is set to play on a one-year, $21M contract this upcoming season. He has said he will not play this upcoming season without a new deal and received permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason. 

Bengals owner Mike Brown remains confident they'll sign the 30-year-old EDGE. 

"We are not going to trade Trey," he said Monday at the team's media luncheon. "We are working to get Trey signed as we speak here."

Brown admitted there has been some tension with Hendrickson, but that's just a part of the process. 

"We've been through a few [negotiations] — and he pushes hard, he gets emotional," the owner said. "We never have an easy time of it. But if there's one thing that is consistent, it always gets done. And I think this one will."

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin also confirmed the team is communicating with Hendrickson about a new contract. It's unclear if he'll report to training camp on Tuesday if he doesn't sign one before then.

Rewarding Hendrickson with a new deal quickly would be smart for the Bengals. He's, perhaps, their best defensive player. 

Hendrickson led the league in sacks last season (17.5 in 17 regular-season games), earning a first-team All-Pro nod. Additionally, he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. 

Except for Hendrickson, no Bengal had more than five sacks last season. Cincinnati took Texas A&M Aggies EDGE Shemar Stewart (pick No. 17) in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he remains unsigned.

Even if he were under contract, the rookie probably wouldn't be a viable replacement for Hendrickson. Stewart had just 4.5 sacks in three seasons with the program. 

The Bengals should have signed Hendrickson earlier in the offseason. However, if he has a deal before Cincinnati's Week 1 road matchup against the Cleveland Browns, how negotiations unfolded won't matter.