Bengals Hendrickson contract talks stall on guarantees

The Bengals and Trey Hendrickson have agreement on contract length and annual value, but guarantees remain a sticking point.

Bengals Hendrickson far apart on guaranteed money

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson have agreed on how long the deal will last and the average annual value, but the guaranteed money is not close. Guarantees are the real price tag in NFL contracts because they bind the team and shield the player from nothing after signing. The Bengals previously faced a similar issue with Ja’Marr Chase last year when the APY would have made him the highest-paid receiver, yet the structure did not work in practice. For a player approaching 30, Hendrickson likely wants two years of full guarantees at signing, if not more.

With Week 1 approaching, Hendrickson’s ability to play depends on progress in talks. Cincinnati may need to bridge the gap or consider additional offers it is reportedly receiving. The standoff also highlights how teams price risk and how much a team is willing to grant to keep a veteran edge rusher in place for a season that will test the defense and the cap at once.

The standoff shows a larger trend in how NFL teams value guarantees versus year-to-year flexibility. A deal that leans on guarantees can lock in a veteran presence but also constrict cap room if injuries or performance shifts occur. Building a structure that satisfies both sides often requires balancing a big headline figure with protections that reduce long-term risk. This dynamic affects not just Hendrickson and the Bengals but future negotiations inside the franchise as players near or pass 30.

If Cincinnati pushes for more guarantees, it could set a template for how it handles other veteran contracts in a crowded cap era. If it softens and offers more guarantees, it risks loosening cap control. Either path will reveal how the team weighs star power against stability and what it signals about its willingness to commit to high-salary players beyond a few peak seasons.

Highlights

Negotiations will shape how teams price risk in a crowded cap era.