The dispute will proceed for some time, however the Cincinnati Bengals will ultimately conform to a contract extension with star move rusher Trey Hendrickson.
The reigning NFL sack chief skipped the staff’s obligatory minicamp final week, reportedly racking up almost $105,000 in fines. However stories surfaced Sunday that the 2 sides have reopened talks.
Hendrickson is searching for a long-term extension that might give him a big increase from his 2025 base wage of $15.8 million.
The Bengals gave Hendrickson permission in March to hunt a commerce accomplice, and the veteran later expressed frustration over what he referred to as the staff’s lackluster communication in mid-Might.
But right here we’re in mid-June, and Hendrickson remains to be on Cincinnati’s roster.
The Bengals don’t actually wish to commerce him — they only don’t wish to pay him top-of-the-market cash. One report stated Cincinnati’s supply averages about $28 million per season.
That determine feels a bit of low. Given latest offseason developments, you must determine the eventual deal will greater than double what Hendrickson is about to make this season.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed a brand new extension in March value a median of $40 million per season (4 years, $160 million), elevating the ceiling for defensive finish salaries.
Simply days earlier, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders grew to become the highest-paid defensive participant of all time when he signed a three-year, $106.5 million deal averaging $35.3 million per season.
So take into consideration this from Hendrickson’s perspective.
He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks final season and completed as runner-up for NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months — behind Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and forward of Garrett. That is a very powerful contract of Hendrickson’s profession, the one which units him up for all times.
He’s additionally made 4 straight Professional Bowls, recorded 35 sacks over the previous two seasons, and posted 13.5 or extra sacks in 4 of the previous 5 seasons. And he simply turned 30.
Yeah, Hendrickson is aware of it’s his time to money in.
General, there are 4 defensive ends averaging greater than $30 million per season. The others are the Houston Texans’ Danielle Hunter (one yr, $35.6 million) and the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (5 years, $170 million).
The fifth-highest common belongs to the New England Patriots’ Milton Williams, whose four-year, $104 million extension comes out to $26 million yearly. So it appears either side agree that Hendrickson’s new deal must be richer than that.
However you possibly can wager all of your $100 payments that Cincinnati doesn’t wish to strategy the Crosby or Bosa ranges for Hendrickson.
So prepare for Hendrickson to skip coaching camp whereas holding out for a large payday.
The negotiations may stretch into September and proper as much as Cincinnati’s season opener on Sept. 7 towards Garrett and the Browns.
In spite of everything, Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t signal his extension till three days earlier than the staff’s 2023 opener. That five-year, $275 million deal was the richest in NFL historical past on the time.
Large receiver Ja’Marr Chase sat out coaching camp final season earlier than touchdown his four-year, $161 million extension — the biggest ever for an NFL receiver — in March. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins performed beneath the franchise tag the previous two seasons earlier than additionally agreeing to a brand new four-year, $115 million deal on the similar time Chase signed.
Hendrickson has seen the method firsthand. He is aware of how the Bengals do enterprise.
Cincinnati isn’t identified for giving cash away. It takes a agency stance from the participant and his representatives to get the franchise to budge.
So watch — Hendrickson will ultimately signal a wealthy deal. In all probability in September.