Bengals' Zac Taylor Updates Key Contract Hendrickson Talks

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, representing the team at the NFL annual meetings, met with the media on Monday and gave an update on the team's negotiations with superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Sources indicate Hendrickson is looking to get an extension worth an annual average value of over $30 million per season. He is scheduled to make $16 million in the final year of his latest pact he signed in 2023.

Taylor is comfortable with the pace of the negotiations and is looking forward to keeping Hendrickson in the fold.

"I think he's one of the premier pass rushers in this league," Taylor said. "Teams have to throw a lot of attention to him as they start their game plan each week, a guy who works his tail off, day in and day out, 365 days a year, which I appreciate. So we'll continue to work through the process with Trey."

The Bengals have dished out big money to wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Many believe it is now Hendrickson's time to be rewarded. Taylor said everyone has to be "patient" and hopefully a deal will get done sooner rather than later.

Hendrickson has had 17.5 sacks per season the last two seasons. The former Florida Atlantic University product started his career with the New Orleans Saints. He arrived in Cincinnati in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl the last four seasons. Hendrickson also was named to the Associated Press First Team All-Pro in 2024 and was runner up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.