The Ravens are quickly pivoting after their failed Maxx Crosby trade by signing former Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, but the impact of their trade backflip is still being felt.
Watch NBA with ESPN on Kayo Sports | Stream an average 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs.| New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Baltimore and Hendrickson agreed to a four-year, $112 million ($A157m) contract, according to multiple reports. The deal makes him their primary edge rusher less than 24 hours after Baltimore controversially backed out of a blockbuster trade with the Raiders for Crosby.
The Hendrickson deal includes $60 million ($A84m) fully guaranteed.
Crosby reportedly failed his physical with the Ravens, and they backed out of the trade Tuesday night. The move would have sent the No. 14 overall pick to the Raiders, as well as a 2027 first-round pick.
The Ravens will instead keep those two first-round picks and sign Hendrickson to a lucrative contract, stealing a top player from the division-rival Bengals.
They are also saving money, as Crosby’s deal averages $35.5 million ($A50m) per season.
The move did not go down well in the NFL world, with NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reporting teams around the league were not happy with how the Ravens handled the situation.
“This is very much bullsh*t on Baltimore’s part,” one NFL GM told Pelissero.
“How can a team ever trust the Ravens again?,” one agent asked CBS Sports.
Hendrickson was highly productive in Cincinnati, earning first-team All-Pro honours when he led the NFL in sacks with 17.5.
He had contract issues of his own when he was with the Bengals, as Mike Brown is notoriously one of the NFL’s cheapest owners.
Cincinnati made life difficult for Hendrickson, who consistently requested a trade after the team refused to give him a long-term extension.
The 31-year-old pass rusher spent his first four years with the Saints, followed by five with the Bengals.
Crosby, meanwhile, is entering his age-29 season and was rated No. 15 overall among edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF rated Hendrickson No. 11 overall despite missing most of the season with an injury, when he played in just seven games and tallied five sacks.
Hendrickson won’t have to chase around Lamar Jackson anymore, but he will be forced to get after former teammate Joe Burrow.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
Discussion about this post