T.J. Watt gets extended: How it affects the Bengals in multiple ways

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates a stop in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The Bengals won 19-17 to finish the regular season at 9-8. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock.

No, it’s not NFL Draft season. What it is, though, is time for the Bengals to get moving and put their money where their mouths are.

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt got paid and paid massively on Thursday afternoon, signing a three-year, $123 million contract extension to become the highest-paid non-quarterback on a per-year basis.

Bengals All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is seeking a contract extension himself, and he has made it abundantly

clear that he will not play on the $16 million deal he is under contract for for the 2025 season.

Hendrickson, like Watt, is 30 years old, and he has 4.5 more sacks than Watt over the last two seasons.

Hendrickson was fined more than $100,000 for skipping the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp in June.

Bengals veterans are due to report to training camp on July 22nd, with training camp starting the next day.

Watt, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Danielle Hunter are edge rushers who have all signed contract extensions this offseason.

Joe Burrow has made it adamant that Hendrickson is a need for the Bengals, just as much as Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki. All three offensive stars got their contract extensions this offseason. There’s only one player left to go in Burrow’s needs, but the clock is ticking.

Speaking of, Chase is no longer the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history in terms of per-year salary, a distinction he earned with his new four-year, $161 million contract extension that includes $112 million in guarantees.

Watt is now averaging $41 million per year but is behind Chase in terms of guaranteed money at $108 million.

Highest paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL:

TJ Watt: $41M
Ja’Marr Chase: $40.25M
Myles Garrett: $40M
Danielle Hunter: $35.6M
Maxx Crosby: $35.5M
Justin Jefferson: $35M
Nick Bosa: $34M
CeeDee Lamb: $34M

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2025

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