The Baltimore Ravens made a huge signing in the offseason by aquiring Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a result, Baltimore has received a bad grade (D-) regarding how Hendrickson will turn out for the Ravens.
“Ravens and Trey Hendrickson reached agreement on a four-year, $112 million contract. Hendrickson stays in the AFC North and now will be facing Joe Burrow and the Bengals twice a season.” Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account in March.
“The 31-year-old is coming off a season derailed by lingering core muscle injuries,” Brad Gagnon wrote in a Bleacher Report article. “There’s a good chance that contributes to his decline in his 10th season, paving the way for this panic signing to backfire on the Ravens.”
Trey Hendrickson Signing Labeled a ‘Panic Move’
Yes, you read that correctly. Gagnon believes this signing was a panic move considering how the signing happened and what transpired before it happened.
This has easily been one of the wildest offseasons in Ravens history. Why? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?
Trey Hendrickson was arguably the best player available in this year’s free agency class. This signing is fitting considering the Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade. The Ravens offered two first round picks to acquire Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby, we will have no further comment at this time.” the Raiders said in a statement in March.
Maxx Crosby underwent meniscus repair surgery on January 7.
“Crosby’s knee was a concern that was discussed between the Ravens and Raiders before the trade, according to league sources. Crosby was more than a month removed from knee surgery and began walking without crutches on Feb. 27.” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote.
Further reports revealed that Crosby did not pass his physical which led the Baltimore Ravens to back out of the trade.
“The Ravens’ concern centered on the uncertainty of Crosby’s durability after a couple of seasons in Baltimore because of a degenerative issue in his knee, a source told ESPN.” McFadden wrote.
Hendrickson Wants to Win-Now
Whether many label this Trey Hendrickson move a panic or not, there is one thing both the Ravens and Hendrickson want to do in 2026…
Win.
According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Trey Hendrickson believes the Ravens have legit Super Bowl aspirations.
“Hendrickson: “‘I’m in a win-now window. This opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and build something from the ground up is an amazing opportunity. A lot of things have transpired. This is a great fit for me.’” Jeff Zrebiec wrote on his official X account.
According to an ESPN article, he ranks second in overall pressure rate (13.2%), according to ESPN Research, and has 61 sacks, the fourth-highest total. Hendrickson was a third-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in 2017 and has 81 sacks in nine NFL seasons. In 2024, Hendrickson was named an All-Pro after leading the league in sacks with 17.5.
Trey Hendrickson missed 10 games due to injuries in 2025 and only had 4.0 sacks. He ended the 2025 season on injured reserve due to a procedure to repair a core muscle injury.
Ravens Get Bad Prediction Regarding Trey Hendrickson Signing