Trey Hendrickson Contract: Salary & Conflict With Bengals

Trey Hendrickson was no blue-chip prospect when he was drafted in 2017. 

Hendrickson, who played his college ball at Florida Atlantic, was ultimately drafted in the third round by the Saints. He received a modest four-year contract that paid about $3 million total.

When Hendrickson reached free agency in 2021, he signed with Cincinnati. The Bengals were tooling up with the financial flexibility afforded to them by Joe Burrow’s contract. 

Hendrickson received another four-year contract, but this one paid $60 million. In 2023, he was extended for an extra year at a one-year rate of $21 million. That contract extension runs out at the end of the 2025 season.

Hendrickson has grown into an All-Pro player in Cincinnati, and he’s looking for the kind of financial security afforded to players of that caliber. His deals have all been modest, and his career earnings have yet to top $75 million. 

Obviously, that’s a lot of money to most people, but it’s pretty small for a 30-year-old All-Pro NFL edge rusher. 

Hendrickson is running out of time to sign that career-defining contract, too. He’ll turn 31 this year, which means he’s approaching the end of his athletic prime. The time to sign the eye-popping deal is now.

Unfortunately, Cincinnati is heavily leveraged by its big-name offensive players. Bengals odds are a popular target in Ohio because of the Burrow-to-Chase dynamo at the center of its explosive offense, and the front office has paid dearly to keep it together. Tee Higgins has had the franchise tag used on him for two consecutive years, which is unusual in itself.

There just isn’t a lot of money left for a high-level defensive end like Hendrickson. Cincinnati chose where it wanted to spend its money, and key defensive pieces are now getting the short end of the stick. 

Because of these circumstances, conflict between Hendrickson and the front office was inevitable. Don’t be surprised if the Bengals trade him this year. 

Trey Hendrickson Contract

Trey Hendrickson signed a one-year extension to his initial four-year contract with the Bengals. Without a new contract this year, he will be on track for free agency in 2026.

Trey Hendrickson Signing Bonus

Trey Hendrickson received an $8 million signing bonus in 2023 when signing his extension.

Trey Hendrickson Salary

Assuming he plays, Trey Hendrickson will receive $15,800,000 in base salary this year. 

Additionally, he makes $11,764 for every game he is active. If he is active for every game, that totals $200,000, which raises his total 2025 compensation to an even $16 million.

Trey Hendrickson Guaranteed Money

Trey Hendrickson’s only guaranteed money during this one-year extension is the $8 million signing bonus he was paid in 2023.