Trey Hendrickson has dealt with a lot of displeasure in regards to his contract situation this offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals star led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 in 2024, his second consecutive season with that mark. Conversely, Hendrickson is not a top-ten earner among edge rushers in the NFL.
Hendrickson wants a seemingly well-deserved raise, and his expression of displeasure has reached another All-Pro edge rusher's feed. Three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt took to social media to support Hendrickson following the Bengals star's statement.
"I assume it went something like this: Last offseason: “We can’t/don’t want to do a deal now, but we’ll make you right next offseason and get it done early.”
"Player has great season … This offseason: Lowball offer and/or crickets.
"Pay a fair price early or pay top dollar later.
"Teams want to treat it like a business, but don’t like it when players do the same,'' posted Watt.
Watt's response inspired quite a few other current and former NFL stars who rallied around the refusal of Hendrickson taking a discount.
"Pay him for services rendered!!!" Saints edge Cameron Jordan wrote in a reply to Watt's post. "They could've took care of him last (year)! And he went DPOY worthy."
"Yes I 100% agree this is how teams do it and this is exactly how Detroit did me and why I was forced to leave because when it came to them paying me off of an elite 2014 campaign they expected a home town discount," former defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh added. "But they forgot they already got that from me in 2010 when I was supposed to be paid more than Matthew Stafford as the next first rounder.
"They said we can't pay you more than a QB, I said ok I'll wait until my second contract and then you can pay me more than him because I'll prove to you that I'm worth it and more!"
"JJ the next excuse these teams can no longer use is AGE!!!" added 33 year-old Ravens veteran Kyle Van Noy. "Numbers are Numbers!! Trey deserves his cash money and will continue to ball except for 2 games this season!"