Baltimore Ravens’ $112 Million Contract For Star Player Is Labeled The NFL’s “Worst”
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Baltimore Ravens made one of the greatest moves of the 2026 offseason when they signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract. The deal included $60 million in guaranteed money and signaled the team’s urgency to strengthen its pass rush.
Not everyone likes the move.
Bleacher Report analyst Brad Gagnon recently labeled Hendrickson’s contract the NFL’s worst deal entering the 2026 season. He pointed to the veteran pass rusher’s age, injury concerns, and long-term financial impact as real reasons for concern.
Hendrickson joined Baltimore after the Ravens failed to complete a trade for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. Reports linked Baltimore to Crosby throughout the offseason, but the deal collapsed before the teams could finalize it. The Ravens then turned their attention to Hendrickson and reached an agreement.
Critics Question Ravens’ Long-Term Gamble
Gagnon believes the Ravens acted out of desperation after the Crosby trade fell apart.
“The 31-year-old is coming off a season derailed by lingering core muscle injuries,” Gagnon wrote. “There’s a good chance that contributes to his decline entering his 10th season, paving the way for this panic signing to backfire on the Ravens.”
He also raised concerns about the later years of the contract. Hendrickson will count $34.5 million against the salary cap during his age-35 season in 2029.
“Watch for the Ravens to wind up paying a $27 million dead-cap charge just to make him go away in 2028,” Gagnon added.
The criticism comes after Hendrickson recorded only 4.0 sacks during an injury-plagued 2025 season. That marked his lowest total since 2019 and fueled questions about how much production he still has left.
Still, Hendrickson brings an impressive resume to Baltimore. He earned four Pro Bowl selections and led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024. He also posted 17.5 sacks in 2023 and earned All-Pro honors during his dominant 2024 campaign.
Gagnon argued that Baltimore might have found a better option by retaining younger pass rusher Odafe Oweh, who signed a four-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Commanders.
The Ravens, however, clearly believe Hendrickson can return to his previous form. The contract includes sack-based incentives worth up to $2 million each season. Hendrickson can earn an extra $500,000 for reaching 8, 10, 12, and 14 sacks.
After years of contract disputes and trade requests in Cincinnati, Hendrickson finally secured the long-term deal he wanted. Now he faces the challenge of proving Baltimore made the right investment.
