Trey Henrickson responded to a comment Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn made this week regarding the situation this offseason with the team and their star pass rusher. At the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, Blackburn suggested Hendrickson was a little greedy.
“I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes.
“So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him. He’s been a great player. We’re happy to have him. And so maybe we’ll find a way to get something to work. We’re just gonna see where it goes.”
The Bengals allowed Trey Hendrickson to seek a trade this offseason.
After 35 sacks in the last two seasons, Henrickson wants a pay raise in the same offseason the Las Vegas Raiders gave Max Crosby $35.5 million per year and the Cleveland Browns gave Myles Garrett $40 million per year.
Trey Hendrickson claims the Cincinnati Bengals aren’t communicating
During an appearance on ESPN‘s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Hendrickson said he was taken aback by Blackburn’s comments and hoped they were an April Fool’s joke. He said the Bengals have not communicated with his agent directly in negotiations.
“Well, first off, yesterday was April Fools,” Henrickson said. “I was traded to all 31 teams and had like 100 different contracts. So the one thing I was hoping that was an April Fool’s joke was that article, but called my agent and found out it was not, and that was a little disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple months.
“You know, that’s something that I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been something that’s been a little bit frustrating. But again, this is the business of it, you know.”
"Those comments from Katie Blackburn were definitely disappointing & communication has been poor over the last couple of months..
It's been a little bit frustrating & if they have anything they'd like to discuss we're definitely willing to listen" ~ Trey Hendrickson #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/C9PUdfKewj
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 2, 2025
The Bengals made it sound like a deal was coming
Hendrickson wants a long-term deal with the Bengals. He claims the front office suggested they could give him a good deal if he had a great year in 2024. Following his 17.5 sacks last season, he claims the Bengals told him at the combine in February that they would get a new deal done.
“So that being said last year, ‘Go out and play. Play to the level you have. We’ll get it done.’ That was communicated with me, basically, that this year it was going to get worked on,” Henrickson said. “They also reiterated that at the combine, so that just kind of clears the air on that. And moving forward, the happiness of my camp, they’re more than welcome to call me.
“I’ve had my cell phone, same cell phone number since high school. Open line of communication is always open with me and my agent, so if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen.”
The Bengals will need to listen to trade offers from Henrickson’s camp before the draft. It would be very ugly if their star defensive end held out in 2025 after Cincinnati spent vast resources on pass catchers Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Mike Gesicki.
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