CINCINNATI — Trey Hendrickson was never going to leave Cincinnati – at least this season.
He genuinely enjoys playing in the city and playing for a franchise that is desperately trying to win its first Super Bowl.
But the 29-year-old star edge rusher out of Florida Atlantic also wants to be recognized as one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. And sometimes, in Cincinnati, his star quality can get lost.
After speaking with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com on Monday, Hendrickson held court with the general media on Tuesday following the second practice of the week and explained exactly why he asked for a trade several weeks ago, only to pull it off the table, realizing that he’d rather report and help the Bengals win a Super Bowl this season.
Trey Hendrickson works against Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai Tuesday pic.twitter.com/Ac3F0wucc6
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 14, 2024
“It’s something that I want to explore all options, and if it wasn’t going to happen long term here, (then), for the security of my family, exploring the option where they would have a benefit also in me potentially looking elsewhere,” Hendrickson explained. “But I’m also humbled by experience that they want me to be here, the communication is very open and transparent very respectful.
“So I have nothing but good things to say. At the end of the day, it was a decision for my family, but I think when you’re at the crossroads of separating business and team, I love this team. I love the guys. They were a huge part of my individual achievements.”
Hendrickson made the demand in April 24, a day before the NFL Draft. In 2023 the Bengals and Hendrickson agreed to a one year extension worth a total of $21 million. As part of the extension, the Bengals gave Hendrickson an $8 million signing bonus in 2023 and increased his salary for that year by $5 million.
His 2024 salary remains the same as his original contract. His cap number in 2023 is virtually unchanged while his 2024 cap number increased by $2.67 million.
This was a typically savvy move by the Bengals front office as Hendrickson was coming off a wrist injury late in the season.
Hendrickson proceed to go out and set a franchise record for sacks with 17.5 in 2023, breaking his previous club record of 14 in 2021 (Coy Bacon holds the unofficial mark of 22 in 1976).
Hendrickson and his agent Harold Lewis just wanted some love and respect, playing for a team that had the wisdom to extend Hendrickson for one more season and save money against the cap this coming season.
There was never any real threat of him holding out. Hendrickson was always going to play in 2024 for the Bengals. Something Zac Taylor told me at the end of the draft on April 26 and something Hendrickson confirmed Tuesday.
“Oh, yeah. No doubt. Yeah. That’s a no-brainer,” Hendrickson said. “I love this team. I’m in great shape. It’s good to see the guys. We got great draft picks in the building. So yeah, a no-brainer.
“It was one of those things that, at the time, all options are on the table and as things unfold with the answers of what I was told obviously on the business side of things, you kind of take it one day at a time and as each pillar fell it’s like, I love this team. I love the coaches. I love the staff. I love this organization. It’s all the things I want to do is be here long term.”
Hendrickson acknowledged the rough feelings at first when the Bengals stuck to their business position and reminded him that he was the one that signed the extension at the end of the 2022 season.
“I would take it again,” Hendrickson said. “I’m not asking for like a great business decision. I know that asking ownership, there’s not a lot of ways to cut it. I just know what I can do and how I can do it and I think my tape has proven that over the last four years as a starter and like at the end of the day. I understand the business side and I’m not asking like for good business decisions. At the end of the day, it’s just I’m not going to let the team suffer for that.
“It’s a it’s extremely difficult,” Hendrickson added. “It’s one of those things that they don’t teach you at FAU. They teach you a lot but I love football. I love the guys that we brought into this building.
“Like I said, I love the coaches and organizations so separating that In the you know production side of football and obviously there’s no one that could have predicted the edge rushers being this way and things like that. The main thing I was asking is for security and things like that and that that comes with … as I continue to sharpen my sword get ready for the season. I feel bigger faster stronger than I’ve ever been and um excited to play with these guys again.”
Hendrickson realizes the window is closing and he’d like to cash in on the money that the likes of Maxx Crosby, Vonn Miller, Chris Jones and Myles Garrett, ranging between $23 million and $31 million average annual value with guarantees ranging between $26 million and $60 million.
“I think my goal was to play here longer. So when they offered me a chance to play for Cincinnati another year, I took it,” Hendrickson said.
