Trey Hendrickson escalates Bengals contract drama with stunning move

Ja’Marr Chase got paid.

Tee Higgins got the bag.

Trey Hendrickson wants the same — and he’s ready to play hardball.

The Bengals’ star defensive end had a straightforward answer when asked Tuesday if there’s any world where he considers playing this season on his current contract: “No. No.”

He arrived at Tuesday’s voluntary workout in business casual clothes and told reporters the situation has become “personal,” but indicated the situation can still be mended, though.

“You try not to let the business become personal,” Hendrickson said. “I think over the last week or so, it’s become personal, unfortunately. When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, if it’s business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction. The lack of direction, communications is leading to things that are allowing me to think about what’s going to happen more than how great they have treated me over the last four years.”

The defensive end added that he wanted to speak on the issue since Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had told him he would be fined if he does not attend mandatory minicamp starting June 10, which he believes is an indication “something won’t get done in that timeframe,” per ESPN.

Hendrickson, who has one year left on his deal after tallying a league-best 17.5 sacks last season, said Monday the team had cut off communication with him regarding a new deal.

He said Tuesday the team’s actions toward him are “provoked.”

“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,” Hendrickson told ESPN in a statement Monday.

“The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”

The Bengals and Hendrickson seem like they have about hit the tipping point, with Hendrickson publicly putting the team on blast.

He requested a trade before the 2024 season that the team did not honor, and he responded by leading the league in sacks.

The Bengals again allowed him to seek a trade this offseason, but nothing came to fruition.

Hendrickson has one year and $15.8 million left on his current deal, and seemingly has noticed how Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett have received lucrative paydays this offseason.

The Bengals made Chase the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, while keeping his running mate Higgins in orange and black for the future.

Bengals executive Katie Blackburn, though, did not make it seem like the team viewed Hendrickson’s situation in the same light as the others.

“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said April 1, per ESPN. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, that’s what holds it up sometimes. It takes him to say yes to something. We have all the respect in the world for him.”

The sides obviously have quite some time to work out a potential deal, but it seems Hendrickson is now putting his foot down and perhaps forcing a move.