The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a new contract, securing his services for the 2025 NFL season after a long and contentious negotiation. But neither side got what they wanted. And even though the front office found a way to make a deal, it comes with a price.
How did we get here?
Contrary to what everyone told you all offseason, the Bengals did what everyone told them they should do. However, getting ahead of the salary explosion was largely ignored as the stereotypical “Bengals are cheap” storylines gained traction.
Cincinnati signed Hendrickson in free agency in 2021.