Anonymous NFL GM predicts the worst case scenario happening for Bengals following Ravens backing out of Maxx Crosby trade
Trey Hendrickson could be back in the AFC North.
The Cincinnati Bengals were expecting to face Maxx Crosby twice a year for the foreseeable future after the Baltimore Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for the five-time Pro Bowler. Ja’Marr Chase even crashed out over the news hitting the wire last Friday night.
Chase doesn’t have to worry any longer as the Ravens have backed out of the trade agreement.
Any trade made before the new league year begins is not official. The earliest the deal could’ve been processed to the NFL was Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, the official start of free agency.
Reports say Crosby failed his physical upon arriving in Baltimore, causing the Ravens to back out of the deal and recoup their two draft picks and around $30 million in cap space.
If you were like Chase and worried about Cincinnati facing off against Crosby in important AFC North battles, that is no longer the case, but Baltimore may end up with a dominant defensive end even after backing out of the Crosby trade.
Anonymous GM predicts Trey Hendrickson will sign with Ravens
The Ravens have money to spend on another pass rusher, and former Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is still out on the market. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports an anonymous general manager is predicting Hendrickson to sign with Baltimore now that Crosby is out of the picture.
Of all the places the Bengals shouldn’t want Hendrickson to land, Baltimore is at the top of the list. The four-time Pro Bowler is only on the open market because he and Cincinnati couldn’t agree on a long-term contract extension over the past 12 months, and the Bengals weren’t willing to trade him to a team willing to pay him without getting compensation that simply wasn’t on the table.
Hendrickson, the 2024 runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year may also be a more affordable addition for the Ravens compared to Crosby beyond the benefit of not having to give up NFL Draft picks to acquire him.
It was surprising to see Hendrickson remain available after the first day of the negotiating window. The most likely reasons being he’s a year removed from his All-Pro 2024 campaign and played just seven games in 2025 due to a season-ending core muscle injury.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini expects Hendrickson to make a decision Wednesday as he has “offers on the table.” One of them could be from the Indianapolis Colts, the team with Hendrickson’s former defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, and defensive line coach, Marion Hobby, on staff.
The Crosby news is sending shockwaves throughout the NFL landscape, and Cincinnati’s best impending free agent is in the middle of it all.
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