Head coach Zac Taylor said last week that the franchise's decision to draft defensive end Shemar Stewart with the No. 17 pick of the 2025 NFL draft had nothing to do with Hendrickson, and that he doesn't "think you can ever have enough defensive linemen, especially in this league and this division."

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has clamored for a contract extension since the start of the offseason. He is currently slated for an over $18 million cap hit in the final year of his deal.

Cincinnati continues to hold all the leverage with Hendrickson, who threatened retirement last offseason and seems unlikely to just up and sit out in 2025. The Bengals have said they want to bump his pay on an extension, but there's no hard deadline to get something done.