Trey Hendrickson Contract Dispute: Why the Bengals Will Eventually Pay Their Star Pass Rusher | Deadspin.com

The dispute will proceed for some time, however the Cincinnati Bengals will ultimately comply with a freelance extension with megastar go rusher Trey Hendrickson.

The reigning NFL sack chief skipped the workforce’s necessary minicamp ultimate week, reportedly racking up just about $105,000 in fines. But stories surfaced Sunday that the 2 facets have reopened talks.

Hendrickson is looking for a long-term extension that will give him an important carry from his 2025 base wage of $15.8 million.

The Bengals gave Hendrickson permission in March to hunt a industry spouse, and the veteran later expressed frustration over what he referred to as the workforce’s lackluster verbal exchange in mid-May.

Yet right here we’re in mid-June, and Hendrickson remains to be on Cincinnati’s roster.

The Bengals don’t truly need to industry him — they only don’t need to pay him top-of-the-market cash. One record mentioned Cincinnati’s be offering averages about $28 million in keeping with season.

That determine feels a little bit low. Given fresh offseason traits, you must determine the eventual deal will greater than double what Hendrickson is ready to make this season.

Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed a brand new extension in March price a median of $40 million in keeping with season (4 years, $160 million), elevating the ceiling for defensive finish salaries.

Just days previous, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders turned into the highest-paid defensive participant of all time when he signed a three-year, $106.5 million deal averaging $35.3 million in keeping with season.

So take into consideration this from Hendrickson’s perspective.

He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks ultimate season and completed as runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year — in the back of Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and forward of Garrett. This is an important contract of Hendrickson’s profession, the person who units him up for existence.

He’s additionally made 4 directly Pro Bowls, recorded 35 sacks during the last two seasons, and posted 13.5 or extra sacks in 4 of the previous 5 seasons. And he simply became 30.

Yeah, Hendrickson is aware of it’s his time to money in.

Overall, there are 4 defensive ends averaging greater than $30 million in keeping with season. The others are the Houston Texans’ Danielle Hunter (twelve months, $35.6 million) and the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (5 years, $170 million).

The fifth-highest reasonable belongs to the New England Patriots’ Milton Williams, whose four-year, $104 million extension comes out to $26 million every year. So it kind of feels each side agree that Hendrickson’s new deal must be richer than that.

But you’ll be able to guess all of your $100 expenses that Cincinnati doesn’t need to method the Crosby or Bosa ranges for Hendrickson.

So get in a position for Hendrickson to skip coaching camp whilst retaining out for a large payday.

The negotiations may just stretch into September and proper as much as Cincinnati’s season opener on Sept. 7 in opposition to Garrett and the Browns.

After all, Bengals megastar quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t signal his extension till 3 days earlier than the workforce’s 2023 opener. That five-year, $275 million deal used to be the richest in NFL historical past on the time.

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase sat out coaching camp ultimate season earlier than touchdown his four-year, $161 million extension — the most important 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 observed the method firsthand. He is aware of how the Bengals do trade.

Cincinnati isn’t identified for giving cash away. It takes a company stance from the participant and his representatives to get the franchise to budge.

So watch — Hendrickson will ultimately signal a wealthy deal. Probably in September.