The Bengals wasted no time locking down their offensive stars—Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins got their well-earned bag, making sure Joe Burrow’s got his weapons for years to come. But while the offense is all set, Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation? Yeah, that’s still just… floating. And then there’s the Bengals’ EVP Katie Blackburn, basically saying, “Look, we want him, but he’s gotta want this too.” So, what’s the deal? Why is Trey’s extension still stuck in limbo?

See, it all started when the Bengals permitted the edge rusher to seek a trade earlier this offseason despite their wish to retain him. Fast forward, and neither any trade nor any contract extension has come to light. And now? On Wednesday, the DE appeared on the Pat McAfee Show, where he discussed his contract situation in Cincinnati.

When McAfee asked about what is currently happening with his contract, the 30-year-old DE first joked about April Fool’s Day, confessing he was jokingly traded to all 31 teams. The guy hoped that Blackburn’s comments were also a joke. But nope. His agent confirmed that the Bengals’ EVP comments were real. “Communication has been poor over the last couple months,” Hendrickson said. “They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been something that’s been a little bit frustrating.”

Look, Joe Burrow earlier demanded that he wanted his trio (Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson) back on his roster. Now that the Bengals have already extended Chase’s (four-year $161M) and Higgins’ (four-year $115M), Trey remains the last of the trio waiting for a contract extension. The catch? Cincy promised him an extension last year on one condition—he would have to perform very well if he wanted to get a long-term deal.

“Last year and the year before I had been talking about long-term contract, guaranteed money, things like that,” he continued. “It was discussed with me in a meeting, which I’m very fortunate to have had, with my agent, that we would get something done this year. So that being said, last year, go out and play to the level you have will get it done. That was communicated with me.” Cut to the reality, and there’s still no extension.

And let’s be honest—Hendrickson earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his four seasons with the Bengals. On top of that, the guy’s been the sack leader of the league in the last season with 17.5 sacks under his name. Safe to say the guy’s literally a nightmare for the QBs. That means the 30-year-old DE has sought a big contract extension for himself. Sure, there has been poor communication for an extension, but he’s open to getting a call from the front office.

Trey Hendrickson is willing to negotiate a contract extension

Since the day Trey Hendrickson put pen to paper on that four-year deal with Cincy, he’s been the heartbeat of their defense. The guy’s barely missed a snap, racking up a ridiculous 57 sacks and 157 tackles along the way in Cincy. Safe to say, when it comes to wrecking QBs, Trey’s been that dude for the Bengals. And with such numbers against his name, the guy surely deserves a massive contract extension. BUT!

After offering big paydays to Chase and Higgins earlier, Cincy has made a competitive offer to Trey—at least that’s what the Bengals’ EVP Katie Blackburn believes. “I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, you know, that’s what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something.”

But the catch is that Trey wants a long-term contract with guaranteed money. And considering his contract is still hanging in the air, it’s safe to say there is still no progress in negotiation. However, the guy admitted on Pat McAfee Show that the franchise can call him, and the line of communication is always open. “I’ve had my cell phone, Same cell phone number since high school. Open line of communication is always open with me and my agents. So, if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen,” he concluded.

The frustration is real, folks. The guy’s been seeking a long-term contract with guaranteed money for a few years. But one thing’s for sure: whenever Trey Hendrickson lands that lucrative long-term deal, he’s going to stack some serious cash.