Finally, the Baltimore Ravens are being talked about for the right reasons.
It wasn’t always trending that way. What began with intrigue quickly turned into skepticism after a high-profile pursuit of Maxx Crosby fell apart following concerns during his physical. The situation drew criticism and raised questions about direction and execution, questions that Eric DeCosta seemed to silence. For a moment, however, it felt like Baltimore’s offseason might be defined more by what didn’t happen than what did, especially when Crosby went public to tell his side of the story.
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But good front offices don’t stay stuck. They pivot, and that’s exactly what the Ravens’ leadership structure did. That brings us to someone we haven’t discussed enough as a result of all of this, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. He signed a four-year deal worth $112 million.
CBS Sports gives the Ravens and Trey Hendrickson its seal of approval.
Recognizing the urgency to bolster their pass rush, the Ravens must be credited with moving decisively to land Trey Hendrickson. This is, without question, one of the biggest moves of the offseason. This one seems on par with adding Derrick Henry on the offensive side of the ball in 2024. Hendrickson was widely viewed as the top edge rusher available in free agency. The move didn’t just fill a need. It reshaped the conversation.
CBS Sports recently released its take on 2026 NFL free agency winners and losers after the first two weeks of the new season. Garrett Podell noted the following.
“Prior to an injury-plagued 2025, Hendrickson produced 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024. (The Ravens) also got both their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks returned, which will be crucial in helping Baltimore build a long-term, sustainable roster around two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.”
That kind of production, paired with proven consistency, gives Baltimore the disruptive presence it lacked off the edge, but there were other quiet wins, too. The addition of Jaylinn Hawkins adds versatility to a defense already featuring stars like Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks.
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As noted, Hawkins did a little bit of everything last season, reinforcing Baltimore’s commitment to depth and flexibility on the backend. In a matter of weeks, the Ravens turned a potentially rocky offseason into one earning league-wide respect. The noise surrounding Crosby has faded. What remains is a team that addressed its needs, protected its future, and reminded everyone why it’s consistently in the ‘contender’ conversation.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens were named the NFL offseason’s biggest winners by CBS Sports