I think we all knew this was coming.
After “backing out” of a trade with the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, the Baltimore Ravens have signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year deal worth $112 million, per Adam Schefter. This not only means the Bengals will officially be without the best edge rusher they’ve had in a very long time, but that Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offensive line will face him twice a year (or possibly more).
Hendrickson was injured much of the 2025 season, but he was still the best pass rusher on the team. The same goes for the two years before as well, when he racked up 17.5 sacks in each of the ‘23 and ‘24 seasons, and led the league in the stat in the latter.
Without Hendrickson, the Bengals have been unable to pressure the quarterback. As Myles Murphy got more playing time in 2024, he started to show some flashes, but he, and 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, were never going to be enough. The Bengals did sign Boye Mafe to a three-year deal, paying him $60 million with $19 guaranteed. Hopefully he works out as well as Hendrickson did when he signed as a free agent in 2021.
That tag-and-trade scenario sure would have been nice.
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