The Baltimore Ravens have been the most talked about team in the NFL news cycle since Tuesday night.
After originally agreeing to a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby in exchange for two first-round picks, the Ravens decided to back out of the deal. They were reportedly concerned about the long-term implications of the knee injury he is recovering from.
Shortly after making the decision to back out of the trade, Baltimore pivoted to agreeing to terms with star free agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson on a massive four-year, $112 million deal. Hendrickson is an excellent pivot from Crosby, although it caused a lot of negativity to surrounding the franchise.
That being said, the move has been made. Crosby will not play for the Ravens and the team will instead have Hendrickson coming off of the edge.
With that being said, a new report has shared that Hendrickson’s agreement with Baltimore came with an unexpected twist.
Ravens Had Change of Plans With Trey Hendrickson Signing
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Hendrickson thought that he would be teaming up with Crosby.
“Trey Hendrickson said that his understanding was when he was thinking of going to Baltimore it was to team up with Maxx Crosby,” Schefter said.
“That was his initial impression but he’s happy to get his deal done.”
The idea of Crosby and Hendrickson pairing up to get after opposing quarterback would have been a dream for Ravens fans. They’re not going to have that dream come true, but at least Hendrickson is still excited to join the team even without Crosby coming to town.
What Will Trey Hendrickson Bring to the Baltimore Defense?
Hendrickson has become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL over the last few years. He had a handful of teams with heavy interest in signing him this offseason.
Last year, the 31-year-old pass rusher was only able to play in seven games. He recorded 16 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a defended pass.
However, back in 2023 and 2024, he finished each year with 17.5 sacks.
Both Crosby and Hendrickson are among the most underrated defensive players in the NFL. They are both capable of causing mass chaos for opposing offenses. Even though the Crosby trade didn’t work out, Baltimore is in a great place with the Hendrickson deal.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold between the Raiders and Crosby. Will they keep him in town or trade him elsewhere? That remains to be seen, but the Ravens know who their top pass rusher will be.
Trey Hendrickson Deal With Ravens Included Unexpected Twist