CLEVELAND, Ohio — When you want to get paid, a statement must be made.
That statement has been made by Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, who both are seeking new contracts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Because of this, they will not show up to the first day of their respective team mandatory minicamps this week.
In the AFC North, you’re just as good as your star defensive end.
When Myles Garrett requested to be traded, the Browns kept him tied down with a four-year, $160 million extension, including $123.5 million guaranteed.
Now it’s Cincinnati’s and Pittsburgh’s turn to keep their edge rushers financially happy.
Hendrickson’s standoff with the Bengals has been ongoing for some time. He looks to make bank after a big 2024 season, where he led the NFL in sacks (17.5), earned a fourth Pro Bowl nod, and his first career first-team All-Pro selection.
Back in 2023, Hendrickson signed a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season, and now he wants to ink a new deal.
As for Watt, he enters the final year of the four-year extension he inked in 2021. The Steelers reportedly made an offer earlier this month, but it seems it’s not what Watt had in mind.
This could be a case of déjà vu. In 2021, Watt held in at training camp before signing a new extension days before Week 1.
Though his sack total decreased to 11.5 in 2024, he still garnered a second-team All-Pro selection, and his seventh career Pro Bowl nod. Watt also led the NFL in forced fumbles (six).
The Browns host Cincinnati in Week 1. Their first meeting with Pittsburgh and new quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be on the road Oct. 12.
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