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The Bengals are in a risky standoff with Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart, and it’s threatening to derail their 2025 defensive campaign before it even starts.
Time Is Running Out on the Edge
The Bengals are heading into the 2025 season with massive uncertainty at the most important position on their defense: edge rusher.
Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season, reportedly turned down a $28 million per year offer from the team—believing it still didn’t match the top-tier deals of players like Maxx Crosby and T.J. Watt. He skipped minicamp and has said he won’t play under his current deal. The front office is letting him explore a trade but hasn’t budged on compensation or offered market value.
At the same time, first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart out of Miami—taken 17th overall—still hasn’t signed his rookie contract. While deals are slotted, his reps are reportedly pushing back on certain Bengals-specific contract language. The longer he remains unsigned, the less prepared he’ll be to contribute Week 1.
The Hendrickson Situation Is Bigger Than Money
Trey Hendrickson has been the most productive defender on the Bengals roster for the past three seasons. In 2024, he posted a career-best 17.5 sacks, earned All-Pro honors, and was the emotional anchor for a defense that would’ve fallen apart without him.
The fact that Cincinnati offered $28M per year and he still turned it down shows just how far apart the two sides are. With Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett setting the high bar in the $30–35M range, Hendrickson’s camp believes he deserves similar respect.
The Bengals, meanwhile, are betting that age, cap space, and internal options like Joseph Ossai or Cam Sample can fill the void. That’s a huge risk in a division with Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, and now a stacked Steelers offense.
Shemar Stewart Could Be Special—If He’s Signed
Shemar Stewart was drafted to be the future of the Bengals pass rush. At 6’5”, 270 lbs with elite quickness and power, he’s built to thrive in Lou Anarumo’s system. But so far, he’s not even in the building.
While rookie deals are generally formulaic, the Bengals are one of the few teams that still insist on contract clauses that delay bonus payments and limit guaranteed guarantees. It’s part of why they’re often last to sign their first-rounders. But in a year where every practice matters, they can’t afford a holdout from their most important rookie defender.
You can learn more about Stewart’s upside in our recent draft breakdown: Breaking Down Shemar Stewart’s Fit in Cincinnati
Why This Matters for 2025
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this defense was shaky last year. The Bengals ranked 29th in yards allowed and struggled to generate consistent pressure late in games. If Hendrickson leaves or holds out, and Stewart shows up late or unprepared, this team will have a major problem off the edge.
That also puts the young secondary in a vulnerable position—especially with last year’s injuries and unproven starters expected to contribute early. Without a pass rush, the DBs will get exposed.
Want to see how this defensive uncertainty stacks up with other AFC contenders? Check out our AFC North power rankings: Who Runs the North? Early 2025 Predictions
The Bottom Line on Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart
The Bengals offense is locked in. Joe Burrow is healthy. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are back. The window is open. The situation with Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart shows how quickly the Bengals could lose control of their defensive identity. If the front office fumbles this Hendrickson situation and lets Stewart’s rookie year start with drama, they’ll be playing from behind all season.
The Bengals can’t afford to slow-play defense while the rest of the AFC loads up. The longer they wait, the harder it’ll be to fix this—and by then, it may be too late.
