Baltimore Ravens sign DE Trey Hendricks

Trey Hendrickson's four-year, $112M signing with Baltimore earns a B Contract Value Index (CVI) — a solid deal that reflects his elite pass-rush credentials but carries real risk given his age trajectory and the Ravens' current competitive window. At $28M AAV, Hendrickson slots into the upper tier of edge-rusher compensation, appropriate for a player with a recent Pro Bowl appearance and proven ability to generate pressure consistently. The signing makes tactical sense for a Ravens team sitting at 8-9 and fighting for playoff relevance in a tight AFC North, where defensive line production directly impacts their ability to compete; a 91-day window to the regular season means this is a concrete win-now investment, not a rebuild-phase acquisition. That said, the four-year commitment on the back end of a 30-something defensive end's career introduces durability concerns — elite pass rushers don't age gracefully, and $112M total guarantees significant dead-cap exposure if decline accelerates sooner than the contract arc anticipates. The B CVI reflects a fair but not discount valuation: Baltimore is paying market rate for proven production, but there's limited margin for error if injuries or regression derail his effectiveness in years three and four. For a franchise chasing immediate help in the trenches, it's a defensible move; for a front office hoping to extract four years of peak value at that price point, it's optimistic.