Trey Hendrickson Said Bengals Offered 'Atrociously Low' Contract, Per Manti Te'o

The Cincinnati Bengals made an "atrociously low" offer to star edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson, according to NFL Network's Manti Te'o.

Te'o said Tuesday on Good Morning Football he recently chatted with Hendrickson. The 2024 All-Pro said he wants to remain with the Bengals but that the team isn't coming to the table with a compelling deal:

Hendrickson told Te'o that guaranteed money is the biggest hurdle for his representatives and Cincinnati. He said he's willing to take fewer years on his next contract to no avail at the bargaining table.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday on First Take he had also spoken with Hendrickson, who communicated he won't suit up for just one year of guaranteed cash:

Not surprisingly, the 30-year-old was a no-show as the team prepares to open training camp Wednesday. Based on a social media post, he's nowhere near Southern Ohio:

Cincinnati has shown a willingness to pay its best players the market rate by handing nine-figure extensions to quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Still, the Hendrickson saga is leading a lot of people to wonder how much has actually changed in terms of how the organization is run.

The optics for the Bengals are even worse because they're locked in another financial dispute with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, who's ostensibly supposed to be the long-term successor to Hendrickson.

Based on its approach to the four-time Pro Bowler's demands, it sounds as though Cincinnati doesn't believe he'll turn down a $15.8 million base salary for 2025 at the end of the day. That theory might actually get put to the test with the two sides seemingly making little progress.