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The Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson is not happy about playing out his four-year, $60 million extension that he signed back in March of 2021. Since signing that deal, which has been surpassed by many in the defensive end market, Hendrickson has essentially been renegotiating on a year-to-year basis with the Bengals so that the team can get him to show up and play.
This year, their negotiations have reached an impasse, as he began training camp holding out, only to return to the team as a hold-in. Based on the terms of his one-year extension that he signed back in 2023, he’ll take home $16 million this year as it stands today. For perspective, that ranks 30th among NFL defensive linemen per Spotrac, despite Hendrickson coming off four straight Pro Bowls and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2024.
According to a league source, Hendrickson and his team were allowed to seek a trade back in March when they convinced the Bengals that they were able to fetch a first-round pick in return in a trade. Ultimately, that ended up not being true, which is when Cincinnati ended trade talks regarding Hendrickson.
Now, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bengals have opened up trade conversations again after failing to come to terms with Hendrickson on a long-term extension. Per Pelissero, Hendrickson “is available for the right price.”
On one hand, an All-Pro pass-rusher is available. On the other hand, who is going to trade a high draft pick to pay a third-contract player a mega extension in his 30s?
It’s possible the Green Bay Packers will be interested. Rumors have already linked the Packers to Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons, but being interested in paying top-of-market money for a 26-year-old is different than being interested in doing the same for a 30-year-old.
Historically, the Packers haven’t even given their own players third contracts. According to cap analyst Ken Ingalls, in the 200os only four non-quarterbacks have received third contracts from Green Bay: receiver Jordy Nelson, kicker Mason Crosby, left tackle David Bakhtiari and nose tackle Kenny Clark. Crosby was a “non-positional player,” while Clark is notably young for his experience. For reference, Clark signed his third contract last summer and is still only 29 years old.
So if you’re looking for one-to-one comparisons for the Packers giving a non-quarterback a third contract at Hendrickson’s age, the only real examples in the last 25 years are Nelson and Bakhtiari. Now, we’re hoping that Green Bay gives up a high draft pick to do it for Hendrickson?
It’s not impossible, considering the Packers’ alleged interest in the pass-rusher market, but I wouldn’t expect them to win this bidding war. Either way, someone is going to get a heck of a pass-rusher, as long as they’re willing to stomach the price he’ll cost.
Update #1: Per Jordan Schultz, the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts “are among the teams that have shown interest” in Hendrickson. Based on what I’ve heard in the...
