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Should the Baltimore Ravens Go for Trey Hendrickson?
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Should the Baltimore Ravens Go for Trey Hendrickson?

Originally posted on The Lead  |  By Benjamin Stautzenbach  |  Last updated Feb 18, 2026 9:00 PM ET
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The Baltimore Ravens are in desperate need of talent on their defensive line, which is why they must add star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to their roster. 

After a disappointing season in which everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong, the Ravens head into the 2026 NFL offseason looking to make some changes to try to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XLVII.

They finished 30th in sacks and allowed the 24th most passing yards, both clear signs that Baltimore needs to make a change on the defensive line.

Trey Hendrickson Is an Immediate Upgrade 

Trey Hendrickson is finally hitting free agency after becoming disgruntled with the Ravens’ rival, the Cincinnati Bengals, and being forced to play out his contract. The Ravens would be a perfect destination for the frustrated star who is looking to win a Super Bowl and get a deserved raise.

Adding Hendrickson would bring a new layer to a Baltimore pass rush that struggled this year. Since signing with the Bengals, Hendrickson has been one of the most dominant rushers in the league, recording 61 sacks, forcing 12 fumbles, and being a four-time Pro Bowler.

In Baltimore, he would join two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry, instantly bolstering both his and the Ravens’ chances of making the Super Bowl. Baltimore would gain a game-changing defensive edge — one the team hasn’t seen since Elvis Dumervil or Terrell Suggs.

Not only would Baltimore be adding a superstar, but they would also gain a veteran presence that can help accelerate Mike Green’s development — a rookie who finished with just 3.5 sacks. Besides getting to the quarterback and bringing veteran leadership, Hendrickson would have provided an instant upgrade to a defense that gave quarterbacks way too much time in the pocket.

How the Team Can Make It Work 

Baltimore is in a tight spot. They have to extend Jackson’s contract to minimize his cap hit, while also retaining key pieces like Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens would need to get creative to make the cap space work.

One way the Ravens can free up some cap space is to reconstruct some players’ contracts. The first contract they can reconstruct is for cornerback Marlon Humphrey; his cap hit is $26 million for the 2026 season, but reconstructing, according to Over the Cap, could save the team $13 million.

Another player whose contract they can reconstruct is Roquan Smith, who has a cap hit of $32.7 million; reconstructing his contract would save $9.35 million in cap space.

Finally, the biggest name the Ravens could reconstruct is Nnamdi Madubuike, who suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2. He has a cap hit of $30.975 million. Still, if the team reconstructs his contract, the Ravens would save $15.5 million in cap space.

If Baltimore combined all the contracts, it would have opened up over $38 million in cap space — just enough to sign Hendrickson, who was paid $30 million last year.

Final Thoughts 

While signing Trey Hendrickson would be expensive, the Ravens don’t have time on their roster to wait for their young players to develop; instead, they should be in win-now mode as they look to take home their first Super Bowl since the 2012-13 season. Adding Hendrickson would elevate the roster, which remains a real threat and has potential for a championship run with an improved pass rush.

The Ravens must learn from the mistakes of this past season. Baltimore needs to add someone who can get to the quarterback and take off the pressure on the offense to carry their defense. To do that, they need to get Hendrickson.

This article first appeared on The Lead and was syndicated with permission.

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