Bengals' Trey Hendrickson Faces $10M Gap in Free Agent Contract Talks

The star pass rusher's high asking price is creating a standoff with interested NFL teams.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, one of the top remaining free agents on the market, is facing a significant contract impasse with teams interested in signing him. According to reports, there is a $10 million gap between Hendrickson's asking price and what teams are willing to pay, with the 32-year-old pass rusher reportedly seeking a deal worth at least $30 million per year.

Why it matters

Hendrickson is coming off back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the league's premier pass rushers. However, his injury-shortened 2025 campaign and age have teams hesitant to meet his lofty contract demands, which could price him out of the market and force him to settle for a shorter-term deal than he had hoped for.

The details

With recent high-profile edge rusher deals signed by Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh, Hendrickson is likely trying to land a contract in that $100-120 million range over 4 years. But teams are reportedly only willing to pay around $10 million less per year, creating a significant gap in negotiations. This standoff could lead to a prolonged free agency process for Hendrickson as he tries to find the right balance between his market value and teams' willingness to invest in a 32-year-old coming off an injury.

  • Hendrickson is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2026.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A 32-year-old defensive end who has emerged as one of the NFL's top pass rushers, recording back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jaelan Phillips

A defensive end who recently signed a 4-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, setting a new market for elite edge rushers.

Odafe Oweh

A defensive end who recently signed a 4-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Commanders, further raising the bar for top pass rushers in free agency.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As of this morning, there were teams I spoke with who said the gap between what he wanted and what they were willing to pay was close to $10M per year.”

— Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports Reporter (CBS Sports)

What’s next

Hendrickson will continue negotiating with teams in the coming days and weeks, hoping to find a compromise on his contract demands before the start of free agency on March 15.

The takeaway

Trey Hendrickson's high asking price in free agency is creating a standoff with interested NFL teams, who are hesitant to meet his lofty contract demands given his age and recent injury history. This could lead to a prolonged free agency process for the star pass rusher as he tries to find the right balance between his market value and teams' willingness to invest in a veteran player coming off an injury-shortened season.