Why Trey Hendrickson accepted short-term contract fix amid desire for long-term deal

The Cincinnati Bengals earned somewhat of a financial victory when they got veteran pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to accept a revised contract that gave him a $14M pay raise for the 2025 season.  

Hendrickson nevertheless remains in the final year of his current deal. After he fully participated in practice on Wednesday for the first time this summer, he explained why he put pen to paper on an agreement that gives him no guarantees beyond the upcoming campaign. 

"I want to be a part of something special here," Hendrickson said, as shared by Ben Baby of ESPN. "I've vocalized that pretty early and often. Again, I can't write my own contracts. I think we'd all as players love to do that. There wasn't one that I saw long term that I would've considered."

On paper, Cincinnati could have the goods to produce a special season as long as the club features even an average defense through January. Quarterback Joe Burrow was a MVP finalist for the previous campaign and may be "playing the position better" than anybody in the league. Additionally, the Bengals did well to hold onto wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, wideout Tee Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki. 

That said, the Las Vegas Raiders rewarded defensive star Maxx Crosby with a three-year, $106.5M contract extension in March. Hendrickson could've held out for such a deal after he accumulated the most regular-season sacks (35) in the league over the past two campaigns. Instead, he was fine with taking things "one day at a time" as he prepares to play in Cincinnati's Week 1 game at the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 7.

"This compromise comes with a great amount of respect for me towards them," Hendrickson added. "I'm incredibly honored and appreciative that I can play football at this level."

On Tuesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic wrote that "the Bengals’ front office had no interest in 2026 Trey Hendrickson." The 30-year-old will attempt to change some minds regarding his long-term future when he takes the field for Cincinnati's regular-season opener at Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field.