After a long and public contract dispute, the Cincinnati Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson reached an agreement on a restructured contract for the 2025 season. A $14 million raise and a chance to test the open market next offseason were enough to get Hendrickson to rejoin the team and chase down quarterbacks this season.
With his contract expiring after this season and the Bengals’ reluctance to give him guaranteed money in 2026, most believed that this would be Hendrickson’s last season in Cincinnati, but new details have emerged that may change that outlook.
We knew Hendrickson’s deal didn’t include a no-tag clause, but with the Bengals adding a void year to his contract, the cap hit for franchise tagging him next season becomes a bit easier to digest, if the Bengals choose to make that move.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports reports that Hendrickson’s salary cap number for 2025 is $25,166,668. The void year helps reduce the cap hit this season, while also making the franchise tag for next season $30.2 million if the Bengals choose to use it. That figure is 120% of what Hendrickson’s current salary is in terms of the salary cap.
The Bengals seem to want to take it year by year with Hendrickson, and to this point, it has worked out in their favor. If Hendrickson has a repeat of last season, keeping him in 2026 at $30.2 million would feel like a steal, given the current pass rusher market.