Hendrickson to Ravens for $112M
Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson signed a four-year, $112 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens after a failed trade attempt for Maxx Crosby [https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/trey-hendrickson-agrees-to-4-year-112-million-contract-with-ravens-following-failed-maxx-crosby-trade-130209062.html, https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/baltimore-ravens/ravens-trey-hendrickson-signing-announcement/]. The move frees up $40 million for the Ravens, with ongoing talks for a Lamar Jackson extension [https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/live/nfl-news-free-agency-updates-ravens-reportedly-agree-to-4-year-112-contract-with-trey-hendrickson-after-backing-out-of-maxx-crosby-trade-with-raiders-125653978.html]. Is this a good deal for the Ravens?
The Ravens' pursuit of a premier pass rusher intensified after their Super Bowl hopes were dashed by the Kansas City Chiefs, where a lack of consistent pressure on Patrick Mahomes was exposed. General Manager Eric DeCosta initially targeted Maxx Crosby, but the Raiders proved unwilling to part with their star defender, leading Baltimore to pivot quickly to Hendrickson. Hendrickson's arrival is expected to significantly boost the Ravens' defense, which ranked in the middle of the pack in sacks last season despite having talented players like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. He will be 32 when the season begins. The financial flexibility gained by restructuring existing contracts and potentially extending Lamar Jackson's deal is crucial for the Ravens to compete in a tough AFC North. The team also hopes to re-sign key free agents like linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Hendrickson's consistent performance in Cincinnati, where he recorded double-digit sacks in multiple seasons, made him an attractive option for the Ravens' defensive scheme. He had a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2021.
