It took 13 hours for the Baltimore Ravens to pivot away from Maxx Crosby. The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end was on the verge of becoming a Raven in a deal that would send two first-round picks back to Las Vegas, before the Ravens pulled the plug at the last minute, citing concerns over Crosby’s medical.
13 hours later, the Ravens had signed his replacement: Trey Hendrickson, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, was signed in free agency on a 4-year, $112 million contract, including $60 million guaranteed. Hendrickson is not a like-for-like replacement for what Crosby would bring to the Ravens, but will undoubtedly transform the Ravens, the AFC North Division, and even your fantasy football team.
Hendrickson’s sacks will transform the Ravens defense
Hendrickson and Crosby would have brought entirely different skillsets. If Maxx Crosby is an all-rounder, capable of incredible volume and stamina as a defensive anchor, then Hendrickson is comparatively a specialist. Hendrickson’s strength lies in his pass-rush efficiency, where he remains one of the best in the NFL. He led the league in sacks in 2024, and if he can get back to his pre-injury peak, he’ll become a huge weapon for new head coach Jesse Minter.
Since 2021, Hendrickson has also been 2nd in the league in 4th quarter sacks. Minter has already labelled Hendrickson’s best skill as a ‘closer’, in his ability to secure wins in late-game situations, where the Ravens have faltered in the past, especially last season, when they finished with an 8-9 record.
Hendrickson’s sack record makes him a tempting value play for fantasy football selection. His sacking obviously will help in racking up his own points, but more sacks aid the fantasy floor of the entire team, as more sacks mean more punts and more early drives for Lamar Jackson. If you’re looking to get involved in Daily Fantasy Sports this season, an Underdog Fantasy promo code is a great place to get started.
Cancelling the Crosby trade protects valuable draft capital
The Maxx Crosby trade would’ve cost the Ravens two valuable first-round draft picks for 2026 and 2027. The deal was out of character for the Ravens, who have never traded one of their own first-round picks before.
Now that the trade has collapsed, they went from a $30 million contract and two first-round picks for Crosby to no draft capital and a $28 million contract for Hendrickson. The swap is not the perfect replacement, but it allows the Ravens to use their number 15 draft pick, their highest pick in 4 years, to draft a player of their choice to fill a hole in their lineup.
The Ravens have a host of draft picks this year: one first round, second round and third round pick, four fifth round picks and two seventh round picks. Keeping their high picks allows them to control their own future.
