Players Come To Defense Of Trey Hendrickson During Contract Dispute With Bengals

The contract situation between Cincinnati Bengals has gotten much worse. Now, current and former NFL players are coming to the defense of Hendrickson.

Trey Hendrickson Contract Situation

Trey Hendrickson just spoke for 22 minutes. Says he will not play this season on his current contract.

His arrival today at voluntary OTAs is a result of things becoming “personal” after being informed by Zac Taylor on Monday he would be fined for missing mandatory minicamp. pic.twitter.com/M5dJ7Vko2r

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) May 13, 2025

One day after releasing a statement about his contract situation, Hendrickson appeared at the Bengals’ voluntary workouts on Tuesday and addressed reporters.

Hendrickson revealed that he spoke with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who informed the star defensive end that he would be fined if he missed the mandatory minicamp.

“We’re just not seeing eye to eye on the structure,” Hendrickson told reporters (via Charlie Clifford). “I’m very disappointed with the communication that’s been had.”

The Bengals are pushing for a short-term deal, while Hendrickson wants a long-term deal that makes him one of the highest-paid at his position.

Hendrickson, 30, is set to make a base salary of $15.8 million in 2025, the final year of his contract. Hendrickson is the NFL’s reigning sack leader at 17.5 sacks.

Hendrickson is not one of the 10 highest-paid players at edge rusher.

Players Defend Trey Hendrickson

I assume it went something like this:

Last offseason: “We can’t/don’t want to do a deal now, but we’ll make you right next offseason and get it done early.”

Player has great season…

This offseason: Lowball offer and/or crickets.

Pay a fair price early or pay top dollar…

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 12, 2025

Hendrickson claims that the Bengals told him before the 2024 season that they would work on his contract next offseason.

After Hendrickson turned in an All-Pro season, the organization has not offered a new deal that reflects his demands.

Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt defended Hendrickson on X, writing, “Teams want to treat it like a business, but don’t like it when players do the same.” Watt suggested that the Bengals need to pay Hendrickson a “fair price early or pay top dollar.”

Ndamukong Suh commented on Watt’s message and shared a story about how Detroit expected him to take a “hometown discount” after an elite 2014 season.

“Yes I 100% agree this is how teams do it and this is exactly how Detroit did me and why I was forced to leave because when it came to them paying me off of an elite 2014 campaign they expected a home town discount,” Suh wrote. “But they forgot they already got that from me in 2010 when I was supposed to be paid more than Matthew Stafford as the next first rounder.”

Yes I 100% agree this is how teams do it and this is exactly how Detroit did me and why I was forced to leave because when it came to them paying me off of an elite 2014 campaign they expected a home town discount..

But they forgot they already got that from me in 2010 when I…

— Ndamukong Suh (@NdamukongSuh) May 12, 2025

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said Hendrickson is worthy of Defensive Player of the Year, and the Bengals need to pay him for “services rendered.”

Pay him for services rendered!!! They could’ve took care of him last yr! And he went DPOY worthy

— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) May 12, 2025