Trey Hendrickson excited for fresh start with Ravens, says he's in a 'win-now window'

The veteran pass rusher is eager to join a Baltimore team with Super Bowl aspirations after a successful run with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:23pm

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Trey Hendrickson, a Pro Bowl edge rusher from 2021 to 2024, has signed a four-year, $112 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Hendrickson, who had 61 sacks in 72 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, expressed his excitement about joining a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations and the opportunity to play alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens, who had only 30 sacks last season, are hoping Hendrickson can provide a boost to their pass rush and help them finish games strongly.

Why it matters

The Ravens are looking to bolster their pass rush and improve their ability to protect leads and finish games strongly after blowing several big leads in recent seasons. Hendrickson, who has been one of the NFL's most dominant pass rushers over the past four years, could be the missing piece to help the Ravens become a true Super Bowl contender.

The details

Hendrickson, 31, signed a four-year, $112 million deal with the Ravens after weighing offers from several teams in free agency. He had a strong five-season run with the Bengals, recording 61 sacks in 72 games, but his final season-plus was marred by a hip injury that limited him to just seven games in 2025 and required core muscle surgery in December. The Ravens had only 30 sacks last season, the second-fewest in the NFL, and have struggled to protect leads and finish games strongly in recent years.

  • Hendrickson signed a four-year, $112 million deal with the Ravens on March 13, 2026.
  • Hendrickson had 61 sacks in 72 games with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2021 to 2025.
  • Hendrickson was limited to just seven games in 2025 due to a hip injury that required core muscle surgery in December.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A 31-year-old edge rusher who has been a Pro Bowler from 2021 to 2024. He signed a four-year, $112 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens in 2026 free agency after a successful five-season run with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Lamar Jackson

The starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, who Hendrickson is excited to play alongside and believes gives the team a chance to win a Super Bowl every year.

Eric DeCosta

The general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, who was able to sign Hendrickson after initially pursuing a trade for Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jesse Minter

The head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who praised Hendrickson's ability as a "game wrecker" as both a pass rusher and run defender.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited to go to OTAs. I'm excited to be at training camp. I'm a football player. I like to put my hand in the dirt. I like the smell of the grass. I like my cleats sweaty when I come in from a hard training camp practice. That's what I built my brand on.”

— Trey Hendrickson

“A game wrecker as a pass rusher. A game wrecker as a run defender. One of the most dominant players in the National Football League. When we talk about being able to have a closer mentality and finish games and dominate in the fourth quarter, Trey is the epitome of that with how he's played the last four or five years.”

— Jesse Minter, Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens

“I'm in a win-now window. My career has been phenomenal, and I've been blessed to meet great people and win a lot of games. This opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, get into the win column and build something from the ground up is an amazing opportunity.”

— Trey Hendrickson

What’s next

The Ravens will be eager to see Hendrickson in action during OTAs and training camp as they look to integrate him into their defense and build towards a Super Bowl run in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Ravens' signing of Trey Hendrickson is a clear sign that they are going all-in on winning a championship in the near future, pairing the veteran pass rusher with dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson to create a formidable team capable of making a deep playoff run.