When the Baltimore Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson this offseason, many analysts viewed the move as a fallback after the Maxx Crosby Debacle. But to be clear, a four-year, $112 million deal is not a fallback. It's a statement.
The Ravens committed to Hendrickson as their premier pass rusher, indicating that he was the missing piece in what could be a Super Bowl-caliber defense.
Through his first two games, the veteran edge rusher has delivered mixed results. He was easy to miss in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts but put on a show in a loss to the New Orleans Saints, producing three tackles and a sack.
In Baltimore's Week 3 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil, Hendrickson can build on his strong Week 2 showing and prove himself worth every penny that the Ravens paid him.
Baltimore Ravens' Trey Hendrickson has a golden opportunity to prove his worth vs. Cowboys
The Ravens signed Hendrickson to be a pass-rushing ace, the player who can put games away in key moments. That will be as necessary as ever against the Cowboys this weekend. Dallas features a high-powered offense capable of keeping pace with Lamar Jackson's explosive unit.
The Cowboys' offense has ranked third in EPA per play and fourth in success rate so far this season. But they have an obvious weakness. As talented as their offense is, their starting tackles leave something to be desired.
Left tackle Tyler Guyton entered training camp in a battle for a starting spot after two disappointing season. He has allowed four pressures so far this year and allowed 57 pressures and eight sacks across his first two years. Right tackle Terence Steele has allowed three pressures and a sack in 2026 and has consistently been on the hot seat for Dallas in recent offseasons.
Both players can be beat by Hendrickson's explosiveness and refined technique off he edge. Let's not forget that Hendrickson posted back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks just a couple of years ago. Even if he has lost half a step at this point in his career, he's still one of the most dangerous edge defenders in football.
Hendrickson is the eighth-highest paid edge defender in the NFL, based on yearly average. He needs to remind the rest of the league why the Ravens paid him so much, and he has the perfect chance to do so in Brazil this week.
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