Free agency grades are arriving, and the Baltimore Ravens were hit with a surprising one for the acquisition of Trey Hendrickson.
After a whirlwind first week of free agency, the Baltimore Ravens went from having Maxx Crosby to Trey Hendrickson. While both are perennial pass rushers, Hendrickson did not cost two first-round picks.
Instead, Hendrickson was awarded a four-year, $112 million deal, with $60 million of that being guaranteed. Considering the deal and what transpired to land him, the Ravens were hit with a surprising grade for the big free agency move.
Hendrickson is coming off a 2025 season that saw him secure only four sacks. In 2023 and 2024, he brought in 17.5 in both seasons.
The reason for the production dip has to do with a core muscle injury that impacted Hendrickson in a significant way. He missed 10 games and underwent surgery to correct the issue.
At 31 years old, suffering significant injuries may play a big part in how a player can rebound. Due to his age and the craziness of the failed Crosby trade, ESPN's Seth Walder gave the Ravens a "B-" on the signing.
"Roughly 13 hours after the Raiders announced that the Ravens had pulled the plug on their blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade, Baltimore agreed to terms with the best free agent pass rusher out there. The grade above is reflective of an evaluation of this signing on its own, and that's how I'm going to analyze it. But before we do that, 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," Walder wrote.
One of the biggest gripes that Walder presents is that Hendrickson is not as good as Crosby is in terms of run stoppage. That does play a major part in how a pass rusher is utilized, and is a big reason why Crosby played some 93 percent of defensive snaps when he was healthy and on the field.
Now, that does not mean Hendrickson isn't a dangerous player. In fact, he has been in the top 10 in pass rush win rate the past three seasons.
The Ravens have described Hendrickson as being their "closer," which makes perfect sense. His ability to get after the quarterbacks and actually win is a major reason why Baltimore brought him in.
Hendrickson may not be the best at run-stopping, but opposing offenses will have to ensure he can't get loose and get a sack, which presents a big problem in and of itself.
Crosby is two years younger and is good in the run defense, which would have permitted the "A" grade from Walder. With Hendrickson, the Ravens get a "B-."
The simple fact is the Ravens got the pass rusher they needed. Granted, having Crosby also in the building would have turned this defense into something to behold, but having Hendrickson will still elevate the unit in a major way.