After five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Trey Hendrickson will be playing against them twice a year as a member of their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hendrickson will sign a four-year, $112 million contract with Baltimore.
This seemed like the inevitable outcome for the Ravens after opting not to go through with their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders due to concerns over Crosby’s physical.
Hendrickson was the best pass-rusher left on the market. The Ravens badly needed to add a star-level player on their defensive line. This way they are only giving up money instead of the added cost of two first-round draft picks, which was what they were going to send to Las Vegas.
The Bengals seemed to signal the end of Hendrickson’s tenure last offseason when they declined to give him an extension, instead agreeing to a revised deal that raised his salary to $30 million in 2025 without adding time to his contract.
Odds decreased even further on the first day of free agency when Boye Mafe agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract with Cincinnati.
It seemed unlikely the Bengals would make a strong play to keep Hendrickson, despite their need for help on defense. Their top four players are set to count $122.7 million against the cap in 2026.
Hendrickson is also coming off a down year with four sacks in seven games. His season came to an end after Week 8 due to a core muscle injury that required surgery in December.
Even though the injury concerns will raise questions about Hendrickson’s value going forward, especially now that he is 31, but the upside for the Ravens is huge if he returns to form.
Hendrickson is is just one year removed from being named to the All-Pro first team and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting after leading the league with 17.5 sacks.
There are valid questions to be asked about where Hendrickson is at physically at this stage of his career, but pass-rushers with his upside don’t become available that often.
If Hendrickson comes anywhere close to his 2024 production next season, the Ravens will have a difference-making star at one of the most important positions on the field as they look to make a push for the Super Bowl while Lamar Jackson is still in his prime.