Overview

• NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports the sides have re-engaged with cautious optimism, discussing a 2025 pay increase that still lets the deal expire after the season.
• Hendrickson has said he will not play on his current $16 million salary for 2025, increasing urgency with the Sept. 7 opener approaching.
• Cincinnati recently entertained trade inquiries, and media proposals—most prominently an Eagles package with a subsequent rich extension—remain speculative options rather than active agreements.
• Reporting indicates years and total value have been easier to align than locked-in guarantees, consistent with the Bengals’ reluctance to guarantee money beyond Year 1 and current cap pressures from star deals.
• Coaches have praised Hendrickson’s professionalism during the standoff, and analysts note the defense struggled last year and in preseason, heightening the stakes of resolving his status.