Ravens Reveal Key Benefit of Signing Trey Hendrickson

New head coach Jesse Minter expects Hendrickson's late-game pass rushing to boost the Ravens' defense.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Baltimore Ravens made a big offseason move by signing defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract. New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter highlighted one key benefit of adding Hendrickson - his ability to pressure the quarterback in the fourth quarter of games. Minter believes Hendrickson's late-game pass rushing prowess will help the Ravens protect leads and finish games stronger on defense.

Why it matters

The Ravens have had issues closing out games in recent seasons, often squandering leads in the fourth quarter. Bringing in a proven pass rusher like Hendrickson, who has the second-most sacks in the fourth quarter since 2021, should help solidify the Ravens' defense and allow them to finish games more effectively.

The details

Hendrickson, 28, is coming off a season with the Cincinnati Bengals where he recorded 14 sacks. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter praised Hendrickson's ability to get to the quarterback late in games, noting that he has the second-most sacks in the fourth quarter since 2021. Minter believes Hendrickson's late-game pass rushing prowess will complement the Ravens' existing defensive pieces and help them protect leads when they have the ball in the fourth quarter.

  • Hendrickson signed a four-year, $112 million contract with the Ravens on March 15, 2026.
  • The Ravens' 2026 season kicks off in September 2026.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A 28-year-old defensive end who was signed by the Ravens in free agency to a four-year, $112 million contract. Hendrickson is known for his ability to pressure the quarterback, especially in the fourth quarter of games.

Jesse Minter

The new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, taking over for John Harbaugh. Minter highlighted Hendrickson's late-game pass rushing as a key reason for signing him this offseason.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Trey is a closer. I mean, he's a guy that has the second-most sacks in the fourth quarter of games since 2021. That's an area where we want to improve and want to finish out games when we have the lead.”

— Jesse Minter, Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens

What’s next

The Ravens will look to integrate Hendrickson into their defense during training camp and the preseason as they prepare for the 2026 season. Minter and the coaching staff will be focused on finding ways to maximize Hendrickson's late-game impact to help the team protect leads and finish games stronger.

The takeaway

The Ravens' signing of Trey Hendrickson addresses a key weakness from recent seasons - their inability to hold onto fourth-quarter leads. Bringing in a proven pass rusher like Hendrickson, who excels at getting to the quarterback late in games, should provide a significant boost to the Ravens' defense and help them close out more victories in 2026.