Trey Hendrickson

AFC North Draft Rumors: Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens

April 10th, 2025 at 9:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Recently, we saw the Browns host a few probable Day 2 quarterback prospects, and it made us think that Cleveland is less likely to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and more likely to take his teammate Travis Hunter or Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter then pick a quarterback at the top of the second round. During an interview on ESPN’s The Daily Grossi, Tony Grossi seemed to support this notion.

Grossi seemed to confirm that the Browns like Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe “a lot” and that they could easily select him near the second round after addressing another position at No. 2 overall. I say “near the second round” because it’s likely that Cleveland could trade up a short distance back into the first round to secure a fifth-round option for a young passer.

This fits well with Milroe’s projected draft range, which Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports puts anywhere from pick No. 20 overall to pick No. 50. Cleveland holds the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall).

Here are a few other draft rumors coming out of the AFC North division:

After spending most of their offseason so far (and a huge portion of their salary cap) on the wide receiver position, the Bengals are expected to use most of their six draft picks on defense, according to Jordan Reid of ESPN. With the team so far failing to reach a new agreement with defensive end Trey Hendrickson and potentially even including him in a Draft Day trade deal, defensive end could be an obvious target in the first round. Tony Pauline of sportskeeda predicts that if Cincinatti does go pass rusher, assuming Carter and Georgia’s Mykel Williams are already off the table, it could trigger a run of pass rushers instead of allowing them to continue to slide later and later into the first round.
While the Steelers are expected to spend one of their two picks in the first three rounds of the draft on a quarterback, Reid claims that they could use the other on a defensive tackle or wide receiver. The team has done plenty of research on both positions, notably checking out defensive tackles Joshua Farmer from Florida State and JJ Pegues from Ole Miss and wide receivers Matthew Golden from Texas and Savion Williams from TCU.
Lastly, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley predicts that the most likely first-round scenario sees the Ravens bolstering their defensive line. Kyle Van Noy returns after giving the team 21.5 sacks in the last two years, and Odafe Oweh finally broke out with a 10.0-sack performance in 2024, but David Ojabo and Adisa Isaac — both drafted in the top three rounds of their respective drafts — have yet to make an impact. With Michael Pierce retiring and Travis Jones entering a contract year, defensive tackle could make a lot of sense. The first round is extremely deep at the position with players like Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen, and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams all projected to be selected somewhere around Baltimore’s 27th overall pick. More likely, though, the Ravens tend to let the draft fall to them and select the best player available regardless of position. With few true holes on the roster, this should give them a bevy of options.

Latest On Bengals-Trey Hendrickson Talks

April 2nd, 2025 at 2:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

When the Bengals finally signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term extensions, it appeared that defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be next to cash in.

Reports indicated that the Bengals had engaged with Hendrickson on contract talks and took the possibility of a trade “off the table.”

Since then, though, negotiations have gained little traction. At league meetings in Florida, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said that she “doesn’t know what will happen” with Hendrickson, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Blackburn then put some of the blame for the lack of progess on Hendrickson.

“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” she said on Tuesday (via Conway). “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something.” Blackburn then added that the Bengals “have all the respect in the world” for Hendrickson, calling him a “great player” and saying that the team is “happy to have him.”

Hendrickson expressed frustration and confusion about Blackburn’s comments during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

“The one thing I was hoping was an April Fool’s joke was that article,” said Hendrickson. “That was a little disappointing, because communication has been poor, that’s something that I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It has been…a little bit frustrating.”

Hendrickson also took umbrage with Blackburn’s uncertainty about the future and characterization that the ball is in his court.

“To read what I read yesterday was confusing, like it’s my decision,” he said. “I would’ve been willing to sign three years ago, two years ago, and this year. It was communicated to me that we would get something done this year.”

Hendrickson said that he doesn’t want to be the highest-paid player at his position. He was also willing to wait for Chase and Higgins to sign before the Bengals turned their attention to his deal.

“We don’t have any desires of being highest-paid or first in line,” he said.“We try to be as patient as possible.”

Hendrickson didn’t offer any specific terms that he was seeking, but repeated his desire for a long-term deal with significant guarantees.

“I’m not willing to play for incentives that will be out of my control,” he said, suggesting that he would not sign a contract with incentives for team success in the regular season or the playoffs. “I don’t think I want to play for a short-term contract and see where it goes.”

Hendrickson also mentioned the departure of Bengals defensive captain, Sam Hubbard, pointing out the team’s leadership void ahead of OTAs and hinted that he may not attend without a new contract.

Bengals Taking Trey Hendrickson Trade Off Table?

March 25th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals satisfied Joe Burrow‘s request at wide receiver, extending Tee Higgins after a slew of departure rumors followed the veteran No. 2 wide receiver leading into this offseason. Burrow also expressed hope the Bengals would pay Trey Hendrickson, the NFL’s reigning sack leader. The team had made Hendrickson available in trades, but not much has come out here since free agency started.

Suitors had viewed the Bengals’ ask as exorbitant, and a future in which the team moves forward with Hendrickson now appears in play again. Even though the Bengals’ extension structures for Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase did not produce much in the way of 2025 cap savings, they are ready to work with Hendrickson on a new deal, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes (video link).

This has reached the point where a trade is “off the table,” Schultz adds. This would be a significant development for the Bengals and teams eyeing Hendrickson in trades. Although a new contract is paramount to the sides extending this partnership to five seasons, a future in which the Bengals employ Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson in 2025 looks far more realistic than it did earlier this month.

Cincinnati is believed to have asked for more than a first-round pick for Hendrickson, who will turn 31 later this year. The team allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade March 6, doing so after negotiations broke down. But the sides have ramped up talks, resuming them even before the Chase and Higgins extensions. Coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, Hendrickson obviously wants to cash in while his value remains high. The Bengals have him under contract for one more season.

Hendrickson has seen the EDGE market move considerably already this offseason, and more dominoes are set to fall outside of Cincinnati. The Raiders, Browns and Texans respectively paid Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter. Although Hendrickson would not have a good chance to eclipse Garrett’s $40MM-per-year payday, Hunter securing a one-year Houston add-on worth $35.6MM may certainly be within reach. Hunter is also 30, despite coming into the NFL two years before Hendrickson, and has a comparable resume.

Then again, Hendrickson may be looking for more than a one-year add-on; he already signed a one-year extension in 2023. He has not explored free agency since becoming a steady pass rusher, having built on a Saints contract-year breakout with four strong Bengals seasons. The market has since shifted. Hendrickson is also running short on time to be viewed as a prime-years asset, due to his age. If the Bengals are unable to strike a deal soon, this situation could become messy once again. Hendrickson is tied to a $15.8MM base salary and $18.67MM cap number this year.

The market should be expected to include monster extensions for T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons by the offseason’s end. Aidan Hutchinson also being extension-eligible could provide another shakeup. The Bengals already found themselves on the back end of the receiver market, waiting until Chase’s contract year to give him a $40.25MM-per-year deal. Acting earlier on Hendrickson would make sense, especially now that a franchise often labeled frugal created some distance from that reputation by paying Chase and Higgins. While negotiations could break down again and reignite a trade market, Hendrickson may soon see his desired extension come from the Bengals.

Extension Talks Ongoing Between Bengals, Trey Hendrickson

March 17th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two of the Bengals’ major offseason priorities have been taken care of. Wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each have new deals in hand, and their respective futures are no longer in doubt. The same is not true for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, but that could soon change.

While Joe Burrow has publicly campaigned for all three players to receive monster extensions, it remained clear the Chase-Higgins tandem was the team’s priority. Hendrickson received permission to seek a trade after being denied the opportunity to do so last offseason. His goal remains a lucrative extension, either on a new Bengals pact or one from an acquiring team.

An asking price involving a first-round pick and more is in place, something interested teams are balking at. As a result, no traction on a trade agreement has been reached, something which could help steer Hendrickson back to the Bengals for 2025 and beyond. Working out a deal remains the team’s goal in the wake of the Chase and Higgins pacts, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Talks on an extension are indeed ongoing, Dianna Russini of The Athletic adds.

Providing further clarity with respect to the timeline in this case, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes negotiations on the Hendrickson front picked up late last week. This latest effort to work out a deal thus dates back to before the Chase and Higgins deals getting finalized, which helps explain the high asking price in a trade. Fowler confirms a market exists for a swap, but a breakdown in talks would likely be necessary for the Bengals to seriously entertain offers.

Hendrickson joined the Bengals in 2021, and his $15MM-per-year pact (and subsequent top-up) proved to be a highly worthwhile investment. The former Saint has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his four Cincinnati seasons, adding first-team All-Pro honors in 2024. Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season, matching his total from the previous campaign and helping his leverage in contract talks. With a trade being out of reach unless the asking price drops, Russini’s colleague Paul Dehner Jr. writes “the arrow is pointed toward” Hendrickson and the Bengals continuing their relationship (subscription required).

The Bengals re-signed edge rusher Joseph Ossai last week, and the team also has 2023 first-rounder Myles Murphy in the fold for at least two more years. Cincinnati ranked 24th in the league in sacks last season, though, an illustration of the vacancy Hendrickson’s departure would create in the event a trade were to take place. The Bengals are well aware of the fact a new contract with the 30-year-old will require a notable raise, and their attention can now fully turn to the latest round of extension talks on that front.

Bengals Progressing On Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Extensions

March 14th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

No longer appearing likely to extend Ja’Marr Chase and split with Tee Higgins, the Bengals have seen their updated plan — one featuring a hopeful long-term Higgins future in Cincinnati — produce notable progress.

After a report earlier this week indicated Higgins and the Bengals were still far apart, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the team has made “significant progress” on extensions for both Chase and Higgins. As Trey Hendrickson resides in limbo because of the team’s renewed Higgins interest, Cincy could have deals done with its longtime WR pair soon.

Nothing is developing on the Hendrickson trade front, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds no contract adjustment appears imminent, either. This may be the cost of doing business for the Bengals, who have set a clear hierarchy that places Higgins above Hendrickson in the contract queue. Hendrickson has been given permission to seek a trade, giving Cincinnati a major hole to fill if a deal comes together.

Meanwhile, however, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Chase and Higgins contracts should combine to reach or surpass $70MM per year. This seemed like a scenario the Bengals wanted to avoid as recently as January, when Duke Tobin said a Higgins extension would have to come at the “right number.” But Cincy re-tagged Higgins, as Joe Burrow ramped up pressure on the organization to keep the duo together. The Bengals will need to pay their duo more than the Dolphins and Eagles did their impact tandems.

It is worth wondering if this would be the best way for the Bengals to invest, especially considering just about everything had pointed to the team moving on from Higgins in 2025. The Bengals have a history with a quarterback growing frustrated with its lack of aggressiveness, however, as a Carson Palmer–Mike Brown dustup ended with the former franchise QB traded in 2011. Tobin was with the Bengals at that point. The team now appears close to keeping Burrow’s troops together, likely at the cost of keeping Hendrickson.

Chase turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market has shifted. Tobin said he expected Chase to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback, after his triple-crown season upped his value. But another position’s market has affected this aim. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. The Bengals are in the crosshairs here, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson could change that number again this offseason. Acting early would be in Cincy’s best interests now, though that has not exactly been a strength as of late for the team.

Garrett getting to where he did has already changed things for the Bengals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the leaguewide expectation is a deal that checks in between $40.1MM and $41MM per year. Chase would not have commanded this in 2024, but the Brown had said by training camp the Bengals were unlikely to pay their WR1 before last season. Although Chase’s hold-in applied pressure that did lead to negotiations, nothing commenced. Now recommitted to extending Higgins, the Bengals are set to authorize a monster Chase extension that will change their roster blueprint.

The Bengals sit at barely $26MM in cap space; that number would increase once the wideouts are paid. Higgins is on a $26.2MM tag number, while Chase is tied to a $21.8MM fifth-year option. This could open the door to the Bengals keeping Hendrickson, but with the 30-year-old sack kingpin in a contract year and pursuing an extension, Cincinnati attempting to keep Hendrickson without extending him would not go over well with a player coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.

The receivers are the priority, however, and Higgins can expect to score a deal north of $30MM per year. D.K. Metcalf having just agreed toa a $33MM-per-year Seahawks payday could pertain to Higgins, and the Bengals are almost definitely going to need to deviate from their policy of not guaranteeing future years to non-quarterbacks in order to move the Chase and Higgins contracts past the finish line. But the extension sagas involving Cincinnati’s receivers look to finally be nearing an end.

Bengals Seeking More Than First-Round Pick For Trey Hendrickson; Latest On Tee Higgins

March 14th, 2025 at 12:24am CST by Sam Robinson

Trey Hendrickson remains with the Bengals, but another record-setting contract — for Myles Garrett — has affected the edge rusher market. With T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons in contract years, the cost of deploying an elite player on the edge is rising. That will interfere with the Bengals’ Hendrickson situation.

While not an open-and-shut candidate to land a deal close to where Garrett went, Hendrickson is the reigning NFL sack leader who is in a contract year. As the Bengals have let Hendrickson shop for a trade, they have made it clear Tee Higgins will be their preferred extension recipient behind Ja’Marr Chase. Nothing has transpired on the Higgins front, and the Bengals have set a high price on Hendrickson.

Cincinnati wants at least a first-round pick for the 30-year-old pass rusher, with NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe reporting the AFC North franchise wants more than that. In speaking with a GM about the Bengals’ Hendrickson price, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates that exec views it as “ridiculous.”

Teams are prepared to pay Hendrickson the new going rate on the edge, Russini adds, but Cincinnati’s asking price in trades has complicated this market. As it stands, Hendrickson is tied to his one-year, $21MM add-on agreed to in 2023. He is due a $15.8MM salary next season. For now, the Bengals can accommodate that, but it will be interesting to see where this goes. The Bengals are not one to give into player demands, as they shut down Hendrickson, Higgins and Jonah Williams trade requests over the past two years.

Hendrickson’s Bengals situation differs from his 2024 issue, as the team — which has shown more interest in a Higgins extension that it did last year — has let Hendrickson shop. But teams are waiting to see if the Bengals will drop their asking price, Wolfe adds. Cincy will carry a major need at edge rusher if it does move on from Hendrickson, as longtime starter Sam Hubbard retired. The team did re-sign Joseph Ossai on a one-year, $7MM deal and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway adds a pursuit of four-year Giants EDGE Azeez Ojulari commenced before the Ossai deal. Though, Conway classifies the Bengals’ Ojulari interest as preliminary. Ojulari remains in free agency.

In confirming the Bengals want at least a first-rounder for Hendrickson, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder offers that it is highly unlikely the Colts reunite him with DC Lou Anarumo. The Colts did let Dayo Odeyingbo walk (to the Bears) but still have Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu and Samson Ebukam rostered. They also have a big-ticket DeForest Buckner extension and an eight-figure-per-year Grover Stewart contract on their books. The Colts also deviated from their Chris Ballard-era free agency blueprint by giving big-money deals to DBs Camryn Bynum and Charvarius Ward this week.

Higgins is “not happy” with being re-tagged, Wolfe adds, indicating talks with the Bengals on an extension have not progressed. This continues a refrain for Higgins. Although he has expressed interest in staying with Chase and Joe Burrow, he views himself as a WR1. The market appears to as well, as $30MM-per-year prices were thrown around when Higgins was viewed as a potential free agent target. The Bengals have set a “crazy” asking price on a Higgins trade, per Wolfe, and teams have called about a player that was once viewed as likely to leave Cincinnati in 2025.

With a Burrow-driven push seemingly changing the Bengals’ Higgins view, he remains on the team’s extension radar. As Hendrickson keeps looking around — after the Falcons and Commanders showed early interest — the Bengals will need to ramp up their efforts on a Higgins extension soon. Even though the Bengals have until July 15 to extend Higgins, the team exited the 2024 season having not seriously negotiated with its high-end WR2 since the first half of 2023. A show of good faith would stand to help that relationship, as Higgins has now been denied two free agency trips.

A new deal would drop Higgins’ 2025 cap number (currently at $26.2MM), while a Chase contract would reduce his $21.82MM figure. New contracts for the wideouts could allow the Bengals to keep Hendrickson in a contract year, but that obviously would not go over well with a player who wants to be extended — after back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons — before age diminishes his value.

Commanders, Falcons Interested In Trey Hendrickson; Bengals Made Extension Push

March 9th, 2025 at 9:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 9: Updating the situation, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes that the Bengals are talking to several teams and asking for “significant” compensation in a trade. Even if it is not Hendrickson, the Commanders want to add a defensive end, per ESPN.com’s John Keim. Josh Sweat and Khalil Mack headline the list, though Joey Bosa is now available. Younger rushers like Azeez Ojulari and Malcolm Koonce are also set for free agency.

MARCH 6: As the Bengals — perhaps at their quarterback’s urging — have changed their messaging on Tee Higgins, a tricky situation emerged due to Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson also being in contract years. With Joe Burrow on a top-market deal, it appeared something had to give. Right now, it looks like that piece will be Hendrickson.

A year after shooting down Hendrickson’s trade request, the Bengals have given their top pass rusher permission to find a new team. With Sam Hubbard retiring Wednesday and Joseph Ossai on the cusp of free agency, the Bengals could need a new plan at defensive end soon. As could be expected, Hendrickson suitors are out there.

[RELATED: Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase Not Close On Deal]

The Commanders are among the several interested teams, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, who adds the Falcons are also monitoring this situation. With the edge rusher market soaring past $35MM per year, Hendrickson will have a chance to parlay his sack title into a windfall. This comes ahead of the former Saints draftee’s age-31 season, representing an important stage to secure a big payday.

Hendrickson’s camp will have a chance to work out an extension with another team, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway notes. This would separate the Hendrickson matter from last year’s Haason Reddick situation, when the Jets sent a third-rounder to the Eagles for a player they did not intend to extend — at least, not immediately. The Hendrickson situation would appear to be smoother, as Conway adds the trade compensation part would come next.

The Bengals had negotiated with Hendrickson, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the standout D-end did not view the team’s market as in step with his value. Maxx Crosby just signed the NFL’s richest non-quarterback contract, at $35.5MM per year. Hendrickson is tied to a one-year, $21MM deal — agreed to while he was on a four-year, $60MM pact. The market has moved considerably since the latter deal came to pass. Although rumblings of the team being willing to pay Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson emerged, that seemed like wishful thinking.

It probably is no coincidence the Hendrickson trade news is coming not long after. The market could move significantly this offseason, as T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and perhaps Aidan Hutchinson join Hendrickson in being on the extension radar. Hendrickson now joins Garrett as a trade candidate.

Chase is set to become at least the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, and a whopping $40MM-per-year number — after his triple-crown season — has been floated. Higgins was tied to a $30MM-plus number at multiple points this offseason, when it looked like free agency was a realistic possibility. As Burrow has turned up the heat on the organization, Higgins has received a second franchise tag. After an extended stretch where it looked like the Bengals would extend Chase and either find a Higgins trade partner — in a tag-and-trade scenario — or merely separate in free agency, the team looks much more serious about extending its high-end No. 2 wideout. That leaves Hendrickson a trade chip.

While the Bengals are not known for third contracts, they did hand those out to both Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins in the late 2010s. Hendrickson technically signed a third Cincy deal, a one-year add-on in 2023, but he is seeking a true extension. He had kept the door open to his next deal coming from another team, and the Bengals are now willing to listen on trade offers.

The Falcons have been in search of a quality edge rusher for many years. Their Matt Judon trade did not produce Patriots-like production from the veteran talent, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter reports the Falcons will not re-sign Judon before free agency. Judon, 32, will hit the market for a second time. Lorenzo Carter is also set for free agency, again bringing a major need for Atlanta at this premium position. GM Terry Fontenot was also in the Saints’ front office when they drafted Hendrickson.

Washington received surprising production from Dante Fowler‘s latest Dan Quinn reunion; the former No. 3 overall pick totaled a Commanders-high 10.5 sacks last season, outproducing $10MM-per-year teammate Dorance Armstrong (five). Fowler is heading back to free agency. While Frankie Luvu has helped out in a pass-rushing role in Carolina and Washington, the team has a need at defensive end. With Jayden Daniels‘ rookie contract opening the door for additions — and the team is preparing to make them on defense — Washington would be a prime destination for a disgruntled D-end.

Bengals Grant Trey Hendrickson Permission To Seek Trade

March 6th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last offseason, Trey Hendrickson asked for a trade in the wake of his extension efforts falling short. The Bengals kept him in place and still wish to do so, but this time he will be able to gauge his market.

The 2024 sack leader has been given permission to seek a trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. As the team seeks to forge a path which includes keeping Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the fold, questions have lingered over the Bengals’ ability to keep Hendrickson as well. Today’s development could spur movement in his case. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes team and player met today to discuss the situation, with the Chase/Higgins duo being confirmed as Cincinnati’s priority.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years,” a statement from Hendrickson reads. “I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”

Hendrickson joined the Bengals on a four-year, $60MM pact. The former Saint provided exceptional value when playing out the deal, earning a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first three Cincinnati campaigns. In July 2023, a one-year arrangement was worked out which saw the former Saint earn $21MM for the season. That temporary move did not yield a smooth negotiating process afterwards, however.

After setting a new career high in sacks (17.5) in 2023, Hendrickson approached the Bengals about an extension. Those talks did not produce traction, and in response the former third-rounder requested a trade at the draft. To little surprise, the Bengals did not give thought to such a move, and they also remained steadfast in avoiding an extension. Hendrickson suited up for the 2024 campaign and delivered another high-end season, matching the previous year’s sack total and earning first-team All-Pro acclaim.

One year remains on the 30-year-old’s pact, and his $16MM in scheduled compensation (well short of the top of the edge rush market) does not include any guaranteed salary. A trade would free up $16MM in cap space for the Bengals while generating a dead money charge of $2.67MM. Moving on from Hendrickson would, on the other hand, obviously create a massive vacancy on defense.

Cincinnati ranked 24th in the league in sacks this past season despite a full campaign from the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up. Improving along the edge was already a 2025 goal even with Hendrickson being retained (especially given Sam Hubbard‘s retirement). In general, shoring up other areas on defense will also be needed to avoid a repeat of last year’s failure to reach the postseason. Especially with an extension being needed upon arrival, suitors may not be willing to part with the assets needed for a trade to be seen as worthwhile from the Bengals’ perspective.

De facto general manager Duke Tobin made it clear in January the team was aware of the fact a notable raise would be required to keep Hendrickson in place, adding a willingness on the team’s part to authorize one. In spite of that, it was later reported the FAU product would be on board with a trade if it was necessary to secure a new contract. Interest could be shown in the build-up to free agency, especially if teams become convinced Browns star Myles Garrett is not available.

The edge rush market is due to see multiple financial surges this offseason. That process began yesterday when the Raiders made Maxx Crosby the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. The Bengals may have to do the same with Chase, while Higgins (who received the franchise tag for the second year in a row) is also a target for a long-term contract. In any case, Hendrickson’s asking price has no doubt increased in the wake of the Crosby news and it remains very much in doubt if he will play a fifth campaign in Cincinnati.

Bengals Prepared To Make Ja’Marr Chase NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB

February 25th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals were unable to work out an extension agreement with Ja’Marr Chase last offseason, and the decision to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins led to doubt about his future beyond 2024. In the case of both receivers, the team remains intent on inking both to long-term deals.

Chase in particular will require an historic investment in the wake of Justin Jefferson resetting the market for non-quarterbacks last year. Chase’s LSU teammate secured $35MM per year on average from the Vikings, but a new Bengals deal will check in at a higher rate. Coming off the back of a triple-crown season, Chase has been connected to an asking price of $40MM per season.

In spite of the organization’s track record regarding massive player investments, reaching an agreement at least in the vicinity of that figure is the target. De facto general manager Duke Tobin said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the Bengals are planning to “reward” Chase by making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. Head coach Zac Taylor echoed that sentiment when speaking to the media (h/t Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer).

As Joe Burrow has turned up the heat on the franchise regarding doing what it takes to retain Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, Tobin has offered some support that the QB will see a positive outcome here. The longtime Bengals exec said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) he is optimistic extensions for all three are doable.

The Bengals are paying for delaying the Chase deal, as the hesitancy — a delay not shown by the Eagles and Dolphins with first-rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle — preceded a price-raising season from the 2021 fifth overall pick. Miami and Philly became the first teams — in the fifth-year option era — to extend a first-round wideout with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. Mike Brown said early in training camp the Bengals were unlikely to follow suit. Although the team was believed to have come close to extending Chase before last season, not doing so will lead to a bigger payment being required. While surpassing Jefferson’s $35MM AAV is one matter, a team not known for post-Year 1 guarantees going past the $88.7MM the Vikings fully guaranteed their All-Pro wideout is another.

Regarding Higgins, the Bengals paying him would contradict a years-long expectation. Higgins had been expected to depart, via free agency defection or tag-and-trade transaction, for a while. Last month, Tobin said the team would aim to re-sign Higgins at the “right number.” It would seem Burrow’s efforts, years after Carson Palmer forced his way out due to frustration with the organization’s transactional aggressiveness, are not going unnoticed in the Cincinnati building.

Hendrickson is eyeing a lucrative fourth contract, after tacking a one-year extension onto his initial Bengals agreement, and would be OK if it came after a trade. The All-Pro defensive end wants a quick resolution, however. Like Chase, one season remains on Hendrickson’s deal. For all the criticisms lobbed the Bengals’ way regarding contract matters, they do have a recent history of authorizing third contracts for D-linemen. They paid both Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap in 2018. Of course, paying Hendrickson with Burrow tied to a $55MM-per-year deal is a different matter even with the recent cap spikes considered.

As we detailed in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, how the Bengals proceed this offseason may well affect their long-term relationship with Burrow. The superstar QB will undoubtedly be monitoring these situations closely, with the Higgins matter — expected to produce at least a placeholder franchise tag — first on the docket.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Bengals Seeking Long-Term Deals For Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson

February 18th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals’ 2025 offseason will be defined by their ability to maintain as many core players as possible. A notable first step was foreshadowed yesterday when it was learned wideout Tee Higgins is expected to receive the franchise tag for the second year in a row.

Higgins was on track to be (by far) the most sought-after receiver in free agency, but the tag will prevent him from hitting the market. A long-term deal is the goal for Cincinnati, and presuming the tag is applied by the March 4 deadline team and player will have until mid-July to work out an agreement. Committing to a notable Higgins raise will be challenging given the contract statuses of Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, but keeping all three in place is the team’s goal.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Ben Baby report the Bengals aim to sign Chase and Hendrickson to long-term deals in addition to a new Higgins accord. Doing so would ensure stability at the receiver position and along the edge on defense, and it would certainly satisfy quarterback Joe Burrow‘s wishes. When speaking about the financial challenge Cincinnati faces this offseason, Burrow made it clear he would be willing to restructure his pact to free up cap space if necessary.

Negotiations with Chase took place throughout the 2024 offseason, and the team made it clear working out a monster extension was a priority. Waiting until 2025 increasingly seemed to be necessary, however, especially once Chase’s actions at training camp (which at times included holding in) did not yield a last-minute deal. To no surprise, the Bengals did not engage in contract talks with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year during the 2024 campaign.

Chase’s value was not in question entering the season, but if anything his performance upped his leverage at the negotiating table. The soon-to-be 25-year-old set new career highs across the board, topping the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). Coupled with the annual jump in the NFL’s salary cap, Chase has a clear case to surpass former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson as the league’s highest-paid receiver ($35MM per year).

That figure doubles as the high point for any non-quarterback contract as things stand. That could change this offseason, though, in no small part due to the potential for the edge rush market to take a notable step forward. Myles Garrett is in line for a new Browns pact or one which he will sign upon arriving via trade with a new team. T.J. Watt is among the veterans who could be extended at the position, meaning a Steelers raise could be in order. Micah Parsons‘ pending second contract, meanwhile, is the Cowboys’ top priority, and he could reset the market based on his age.

Nick Bosa‘s $34MM per season stands as the highest AAV in NFL history to a pass rusher, but that pact could be surpassed shortly. Despite Hendrickson’s age (30), he is in line to greatly benefit from the position’s upward movement on a new deal. The former Saint has racked up 57 sacks since signing as a free agent in 2021, including a league-leading 17.5 in 2024. Efforts to secure a raise last spring were unsuccessful, and Hendrickson’s resultant trade request was ignored by the Bengals.

With the parties in a similar situation this time around, de facto general manager Duke Tobin made it clear he is aware a lucrative new pact will be needed to keep Hendrickson in the fold. The four-time Pro Bowler is due $16MM in 2025 with a scheduled cap hit of $18.67MM; a long-term accord could allow for a new round of guarantees while lowering his immediate cap charge. For his part, Hendrickson is again open to changing teams to land a new pact, so the progress of talks with the Bengals will be worth watching closely with an outside market existing for his services.

With respect to pecking order, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes Chase – set to play on his fifth-year option at the moment – is still atop the team’s to-do list (subscription required). Notably, he adds other pacts (including most importantly Higgins and Hendrickson) may actually get done before Cincinnati finalizes Chase’s new deal since the term and financial details should essentially be in place already. In any event, Tobin and Co. will be tasked with negotiating on a number of in-house fronts over the coming weeks.

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