Media Reaction to Ravens Reportedly Signing Trey Hendrickson
The wildest five-day period in franchise history ended with the Ravens reportedly reaching an agreement with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112 million deal.
Not only was Hendrickson by far the top edge rusher in free agency, but he was also ranked as the No. 1-overall free agent by multiple outlets.
While pundits continue to speculate about the surreal series of events that began with the Ravens reportedly trading two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby and then the deal falling through, there is no debate about what Baltimore is getting in Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler who has spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here's a look at what pundits said about the Ravens landing Hendrickson:
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: "This is a big-time pickup for the Baltimore Ravens. And to get him away from a team within the division, with the AFC North, is also a plus. So, I don't think that we can look at this and say anything bad about what the Ravens did here. They ended up getting what they needed, what they wanted, and you have to give props to them for doing that."
The Athletic’s Mike Jones: "Grade: A. The night after their stunning reversal of course on the Maxx Crosby front, the Ravens land the top pass rusher on the free-agent market. The 31-year-old Hendrickson ranks among the most productive at his position in the last five seasons. His 74.5 sacks rank third in the NFL since 2020. During an injury-shortened 2025, he recorded four sacks and 23 pressures. Hendrickson fills a big hole that the Ravens have long had in their defense, giving them a true game-wrecker off the edge. He also comes at a more affordable rate than Crosby, given that Baltimore doesn't have to part with two first-round picks to secure his rights."
ESPN’s Seth Walder: "I think it's worth talking about the decision to go this route relative to the Crosby trade. And for that, the Ravens would earn an 'A' grade. Hendrickson is not as good a player as Crosby. He's older and isn't anywhere close to the once-again Raider against the run -- but he also doesn't require spending two first-round picks while commanding roughly the same financial compensation. That is a world of difference and makes this acquisition so, so, so much better. Baltimore can sign Hendrickson today, have him contribute to its title chances now and have first-round picks this year and next year which can help in both the short and long term."
For The Win’s Christian D’Andrea: "Grade: B+. The man is a force who fights through double-teams with regularity, understands offenses have specifically planned to minimize his impact, then wrecks shop anyway."
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: "Since 2019, Hendrickson has totaled 79 sacks, which are 10 more than Crosby over that span. Hendrickson also has recorded a 12.3% pressure rate over the past seven seasons, which is better than Crosby's 10.4% pressure rate. And, like Crosby, Hendrickson has put up four double-digit sack seasons since 2019. During that period, Baltimore has had only two edge rushers with more than 10 sacks: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024). Hendrickson isn't the same run defender as Crosby, but the Ravens have Tavius Robinson who can set the edge on early downs. What Baltimore has lacked for years is a feared rusher coming off the edge."
CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani and Zachary Pereles: "Hendrickson is undoubtedly a top-of-the-line pass rusher. Every year from 2021-2024, he had at least a 17% pressure rate. The only other player who could say that is Micah Parsons. Hendrickson is relentless. He has the speed and bend to win outside and the power to win inside; he has active hands, too. He is a complete pass rusher."
The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino: "One underlined benefit that came to mind when the news surfaced Wednesday morning: Hendrickson stays in the AFC North, and his familiarity and experience going up against division rivals should give the Ravens a boost, especially coming off a season that saw the Steelers claim the division title in the regular-season finale with a lousy 10-7 record."
Pundits Shoot Down Conspiracy Theories
The Ravens have been scrutinized for pulling out of the Crosby trade and then agreeing to terms with Hendrickson, with a couple of "insiders" in particular seeming to take issue with the deal falling through after the Ravens reviewed the results of Crosby's physical.
Fortunately, there are voices of reason:
The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin: "As suspicious as it looked, the Ravens and General Manager Eric DeCosta did nothing wrong. The Raiders only have themselves to blame. The Raiders know that trades or free agent signings don't become official until all players involved pass a physical exam. They also know that physicals are entirely subjective — teams are granted wide discretion on whether to pass or fail a player. The Raiders did this in 2014, canceling a $42 million contract with free agent Rodger Saffold after conducting a physical. Considering Crosby played part of last season through a torn meniscus and was still on crutches a week ago, the pre-trade physical was going to be more than a formality.
"[The Ravens] were within their rights to fail Crosby's physical, much like prospective home-buyers can walk away from escrow if an inspection turns up unexpected damage. While the Ravens obviously knew Crosby was rehabbing from surgery, it is certainly possible that Tuesday's exam turned up damage that was more extensive than expected. The Ravens reportedly consulted with the Cowboys' team doctor, Dr. Dan Cooper, considered one of the leading knee surgeons who performed on Patrick Mahomes recently."
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer: "I'd believe Ravens GM Eric DeCosta when he says he's 'gutted' that the Maxx Crosby trade didn't work out. He's told people that Crosby is his favorite non-Raven in football, and he and his new coaching staff were dancing in the streets when the deal was agreed to last Friday night. It was a chance to fill a major hole with a player who fit what the Ravens look for culturally in about every way (though Crosby does that for pretty much everyone). So what was the biggest problem?
"My sense is it comes down to the question of longevity. A meniscus injury can be a difficult one for an older player to come back from, and carries a high risk of arthritis down the line. The issue for Crosby was never going to be whether or not he could play this year — he's expected to be cleared in June or early July. It was whether or not the injury could shorten his career. Say, then, that the doctors told DeCosta that Crosby's knee might be a real problem in just a year or two. At that point, it'd be tough for anyone to sign off on trading two first-round picks for him, especially with the prospect that he could seek a new deal after the season, at which point Will Anderson Jr. may have pushed the edge rusher market to $50 million per year."
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "I know there's been a lot of discussions about conspiracy theories, and the Ravens had buyer's remorse, and it was too much for a trade, so let's just sign Trey Hendrickson. That was the portrait of a general manager that was crushed. [DeCosta] used the word 'crushed,' 'gutted.' I mean, this was something where it was clear they wanted it to happen, they wanted to do the trade for Maxx Crosby. I was told that Maxx Crosby is Eric DeCosta's absolute favorite non-Raven player in the NFL. They wanted to make this work. And the fact that Mike Garafolo and Jane Slater reported that the Ravens approached the Raiders at some point and tried to rework the deal, knowing what they knew about Crosby's knee to try to make this happen, sort of speaks to that they really tried to make this work while also knowing the risk."
ESPN’s Adam Schefter: "Trey said that his understanding was when he was thinking of going to Baltimore the idea was to team up with Maxx Crosby and I don't think he was particularly thrilled that the Maxx Crosby trade fell through. He was looking forward if he opted for the Baltimore offer in the midst of his discussions with multiple teams to playing with Maxx Crosby, that was his initial impression."
Ravens Wire’s Glenn Erby: "In the NFL, deals fall apart sometimes. This one just featured a high-profile name at one of the busiest times of the offseason. Front offices understand that business is business, and if anything, DeCosta's phone continuing to ring proves the Baltimore Ravens remain one of the league's most active and respected organizations. The Crosby chapter may be closed, but if history (and the present) are any indication, Baltimore's next big move is probably already being worked out behind the scenes."
Ravens Get High Marks for Chidobe Awuzie, Jaylinn Hawkins Signings
The Ravens strengthened their secondary by re-signing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and former New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Pro Football Focus gave both signings good grades.
Awuzie
"Grade: Above Average. Awuzie ranked in the top 20 among cornerbacks in both PFF overall grade and PFF Wins Above Replacement in his first season with the Ravens, and he is rewarded with another one-year deal. For a Ravens defense that has questions at cornerback beyond Nate Wiggins, it's a smart signing. Across 408 coverage snaps last year, Awuzie allowed 29 receptions for 328 yards and recorded seven pass breakups."
Hawkins
"Grade: Very Good. Hawkins broke out during the Patriots' run to the Super Bowl, posting a career-high 74.9 PFF overall grade while earning a 74.7-plus PFF grade in both coverage and run defense. With his contract coming in way below projected value, he forms arguably the league's best safety room with Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks."
