News came out of a Trey Hendrickson trade request one night before the opening round of the 2024 draft. The Pro Bowl edge rusher is seeking additional guarantees on his pact, which has two years remaining. 
Neither the 2024 nor ’25 campaigns currently have guaranteed salaries scheduled. Hendrickson and the Bengals worked out a revision last offseason which upped his 2023 earnings and added $16MM in compensation for 2025. Coming off a career year, though, the 29-year-old met with the team to negotiate another top-up this March.
Talks on that front did not produce a deal, and Cincinnati made it clear to Hendrickson a trade would not be given consideration. Once the draft was over, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the former Saints sack artist would remain with the team for 2024, something Hendrickson’s recent actions further point toward.
The former third-rounder is in attendance for the Bengals’ voluntary offseason workouts, an approach which runs counter to that which many other players employ while in the midst of a contract dispute. Hendrickson is still seeking a deal moving him closer to the top of the pecking order amongst edge rushers, but when speaking about his situation he noted the organization has been “transparent and respectful” in dealing with him. The FAU product also made it known he prefers to continue his career in Cincinnati.
“This is where separating business and the team is difficult. At what point am I contradicting what I want?” Hendrickson said (via the team’s website). “Long-term, winning games, all those things are what I want to do here in Cincinnati and removing myself from the team doesn’t help the team.”
Hendrickson notched 17.5 sacks last season, one in which he earned a third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. Across his three-year tenure in Cincinnati, he has racked up 39.5 sacks, cementing his status as one of the league’s top edge rushers. The $21MM AAV of his current deal ranks 11th at the position, however, which helps explain his desire for a raise (or assurances from the Bengals in terms of up front compensation). Regardless of how Hendrickson’s contract situation plays out, he is aiming to be able to rescind his trade request and remain with the team for years to come.
“My mindset is to win a Super Bowl and I think we’ve got the quarterback and the pieces to do it,” he added. “I want to be here a long time. I want to win football games and I want to bring a Super Bowl to Cincinnati.”