Trey Hendrickson’s standoff with the Cincinnati Bengals finally came to an end on Monday – just in the nick of time for the new NFL season.
Earlier this offseason, Hendrickson had put in a trade demand amid a bitter contract dispute with the Bengals.
But the team and the defensive end reached an agreement Monday on a $14million raise for this year, which will boost his salary for the 2025 season to $30m, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The restricted deal is also said to include a $1m bonus incentive if he plays 60 percent of the plays and the Bengals reach the playoffs.
The 30-year-old is now expected to suit up for Cincinnati’s opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 7.
The agreement solves the Bengals’ problems – for now. It only offers a one-year solution with Hendrickson set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
Trey Hendrickson’s standoff with the Cincinnati Bengals finally came to an end on Monday
The defensive end reached an agreement Monday on a $14million raise for this year
His holdout this offseason had been one of the biggest across the NFL with the two sides locked in talks over a long-term extension for months.
The saga has rumbled on throughout the offseason and initially saw Hendrickson skip the early days of their training camp as he held out for a new contract.
However, at the end of last month, he returned as a ‘good-faith gesture’ to reignite dormant negotiations.
Yet, the player reportedly put in a trade request, which the Bengals were said to be seriously considering.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Bengals were strongly considering moving on from Hendrickson and were putting out the feelers to see what they could get for him.
The Las Vegas Raiders later emerged as a surprise contender for Hendrickson as they looked to add to their arsenal of weapons which also includes Maxx Crosby.
The Bengals have also faced a salary cap crunch since signing quarterback Joe Burrow’s favorite targets Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to contract extensions totaling $276 million this offseason.
Currently the pair accounts for less than 17 percent of the team’s cap figure, but that number balloons to more than 20 percent in 2028, making a long-term deal for Hendrickson a bit more complicated.
