The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to sign free agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in a high-priced pivot after their canceled blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby.
The sides agreed to a four-year, $112 million deal that can be worth up to $120 million with incentives, according to Schefter. The deal includes $60 million fully guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus, sources told Schefter.
The deal keeps Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals, in the AFC North and provides the Ravens with a much-needed star pass rusher less than 24 hours after Baltimore backed out of its trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby.
League sources told ESPN that the Ravens had medical concerns that arose during Crosby’s physical. Trades are contingent on players passing the physical and aren’t official until the start of the new league year Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Crosby had surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He was aware that he needed surgery in the fall but continued to play until the Raiders decided to shut him down for the final two games of last season, a decision that left Crosby frustrated.
The canceled trade again left the Ravens with a need to address their pass rush, which was one of their biggest weaknesses last season. Baltimore had 30 sacks in 2025, tied for the second fewest in team history.
Baltimore now has Hendrickson, arguably the top available player in this year’s free agent class and an All-Pro selection in 2024, when he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks. He ended the 2025 season on injured reserve following a procedure to repair a core muscle injury, finishing with four sacks in seven games.
Sources told Schefter that Hendrickson will make an additional $500,000 for reaching specific sack thresholds per season, starting at eight sacks and then escalating to 10, 12 and 14.
Since signing with the Bengals as a free agent in 2021, Hendrickson has been one of the NFL’s most effective pass rushers. During that span, he ranks second in overall pressure rate (13.2%), according to ESPN Research, and has 61 sacks, the fourth-highest total.
A third-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in 2017, Hendrickson has 81 sacks in nine NFL seasons.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Ben Baby contributed to this report.
