Sources: Bengals give Hendrickson big pay bump (0:35)
Sources: Bengals give Hendrickson big pay bump (0:35)
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Ben BabyAug 25, 2025, 05:33 PM ET
- Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
CINCINNATI — Trey Hendrickson‘s contract situation is resolved.
The star pass rusher will get a $14 million raise from the Cincinnati Bengals for this season, boosting his 2025 salary to $30 million, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Hendrickson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Before receiving the raise, Hendrickson had not participated in any offseason workouts, including all of training camp, while seeking a new deal with the club. He had insisted he would not play this season under the original contract at $16 million.
Hendrickson, 30, is coming off his best season in the NFL. He had 17.5 sacks in 2024, leading the league. Hendrickson also was named to The Associated Press All-Pro team and reached the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight season.
It’s the third significant deal the Bengals made this offseason in an effort to maintain their roster. In March, Cincinnati signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to significant extensions. Chase signed a four-year deal worth $161 million, which was the highest average annual salary for a non-quarterback in league history at the time. Higgins signed a three-year deal worth $115 million.
Hendrickson is now the fourth player on the roster, including quarterback Joe Burrow, making an average of $30 million annually. Hendrickson is one of six edge rushers at or above that salary threshold, according to OverTheCap.com.
This is the second time that Hendrickson has received a short-term cash infusion with the Bengals.
In 2023, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension with the Bengals that featured an $8 million signing bonus. That extended the four-year deal he signed with the Bengals that was initially worth $60 million.
Monday’s agreement is a compromise for both sides ahead of the upcoming year. Throughout the offseason, Hendrickson had repeatedly stated that he wanted a long-term deal with significant guaranteed money.
Ahead of the team’s second preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 18, Hendrickson told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge that the two sides had agreed on the length and total value on a potential contract extension.
The arrangement for the upcoming season significantly increases the value of Hendrickson’s contract for this season but he’s still scheduled to become a free agent in 2026.
Hendrickson had insisted that he would not play the upcoming season on his current salary.
“There are plans are not having to play on the current deal,” Hendrickson said on July 30. “That’s something we a common goal to get to. That’s the plan moving forward.”
At the team’s annual media luncheon in July, Bengals team president Mike Brown also indicated that he believed Hendrickson had merited a pay increase based on his performance in previous seasons.
“He’s a guy that I’ve said before has earned a raise and an extension,” Brown said on July 21. “I’d love to give him one. We’re trying to work one out. It’s a good problem to have.”
