The Baltimore Ravens have lit the NFL offseason ablaze. They made a stunning move by backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade, and swiftly transitioned to Trey Hendrickson. Baltimore is expected to sign Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract.
Baltimore desperately needed a backup plan after pulling the rug on the Crosby deal due to medical reasons. From the get-go, Hendrickson seemed like the perfect fit. They had to act quickly, though, and did just that, agreeing to terms early on Wednesday morning.
The Ravens are getting a good one. After talking with Matt Fitzgerald, site expert for FanSided’s Cincinnati Bengals site Stripe Hype, he told Baltimore fans exactly what they can expect from Hendrickson.
“Hendrickson can sleepwalk his way to a double-digit sack season when healthy,” Fitzgerald wrote. “Give Hendrickson even a passable interior pass rush and/or a fringe starter edge defender opposite him — neither of which the Bengals could provide in 2023 or 2024, when he racked up 35 sacks — and he’ll be well worth whatever his free-agent contract amounts to.”
Baltimore Ravens find themselves an elite pass rusher in Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson’s 2025 season ended early due to a core muscle injury. Still, in seven games, he had four sacks, and that injury-riddled season will hopefully be a one-off thing. He’s been very durable across his nine-year career.
Hendrickson is in the prime of his career, too. Although he’s 31 years old, he’s been very productive as of late. Prior to that 2025 campaign, he had been to four straight Pro Bowls and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2024, while also finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Of course, you don’t earn those accolades without incredible sack numbers. Hendrickson had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons from 2023 to 2024, and from 2020 to 2022, he totaled 35.5 sacks. He's an elite producer off the edge and finishes whenever he gets a chance at meeting the quarterback in the backfield.
The Ravens should also have that interior pass rush that Fitzgerald is talking about. Travis Jones broke out in 2025, veteran nose tackle John Jenkins eats blocks for breakfast, and it seems like Nnamdi Madubuike is trending toward a return after playing in just two games last year due to a neck injury. They could use one more contributor on the interior, but the pieces are there for Hendrickson to see favorable matchups and eat along the edge.
Ultimately, while the Crosby decision certainly angered some front offices across the NFL, it looks like it’ll pay off. Baltimore brings in an elite pass rusher with fewer injury questions, while also adding him for a little bit cheaper, pending contract structure details.