The Baltimore Ravens paid Trey Hendrickson big money to perform at a high level. Will he be able to live up to the hype?
The Baltimore Ravens are looking to go all the way in 2026, and they are banking on All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson being the player who can take their pass rush back to an elite level.
Hendrickson, who was added to the team in mid-March, signed a four-year, $112 million contract. That is top-level money for the 31-year-old, who is expected to take the Ravens' pass rush to heights they’ve become accustomed to after the unit struggled in 2025.
After years of the Ravens' pass rush being one of their best units and a true juggernaut, that was far from the case last season. That drop-off was one of the biggest reasons why they decided to trade for Hendrickson.
That may be a lot to ask for the former third-round pick; however, it’s what the Ravens paid him to do.
A ton of pressure will be on the Ravens' defense, but that also applies to Hendrickson, who is expected to transform the pass rush and bring it back to an elite level.
Former Super Bowl-winning offensive guard Willie Colon questioned whether Hendrickson can be the player to be that game changer for the Ravens' pass rush.
"When you get a guy like Trey Hendrickson, you're not only asking him to be him, but you want him to have such an impact where other guys are able to eat off his plate as well," Colon said. "He's going to have to have a big year. He's going to have to have be that kind of guy, that enforcer, that really scares offenses.
"He's been consistent for a long time, but now he's on a defense that truly needs him to close out games in the fourth quarter like a Chris Jones does, like a T.J. Watt does, like a Myles Garrett does. Can he deliver? Can that defense deliver? And can they get back to being what they were in the past?"
It’s a fair question to pose.
While Hendrickson has proven to be among the NFL's top pass rushers over the past few seasons, it's fair to question whether he can replicate the same level of success he had during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Nonetheless, the addition of Hendrickson will certainly make the Ravens' pass rush better than it was in 2025. Last season, the Ravens ranked 28th in sacks (30), 11th in quarterback hits (96), and were tied for 22nd in quarterback pressures (197).
The Ravens aren’t just looking to be better; they’re looking to return to being dominant in the pass rush and in the overall defense.
Head coach Jesse Minter will also be responsible for helping the Ravens return to the standard they reached in 2023, when their defense was historically dominant.
During the 2023 season, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60) and takeaways (31), setting the bar extremely high for Minter as he begins his tenure.
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