Getty
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Ravens already have one former Cincinnati Bengals player, Trey Hendrickson, whom they signed this offseason. Nonetheless, could the Ravens sign another veteran player with past ties to the Bengals?
During the May 4 edition of CBS Sports HQ, when discussing veteran free-agent running backs, Ryan Wilson stated that former Bengals running back would make sense for the Ravens.
“I love the idea of Joe Mixon landing with the Baltimore Ravens,” Wilson said. “It would give them a two-for-one type of setup. Mixon has dealt with injuries in recent years and has not been at his best, but if he can get healthy and is used in a reduced role, around 30 percent to 40 percent of his old workload, he could still be effective.”
Moreover, Wilson explained why it would make sense to have Mixon, who has spent the last two season with the Houston Texans, as his RB2 behind the 32-year-old Derrick Henry.
“Pairing him with what Baltimore already has in the backfield, where Derrick Henry can wear defenses down, would create a strong one-two punch,” Wilson added. “Mixon could come in to finish drives and also offers something the current group does not have much of, which is a reliable receiving option out of the backfield.
“A healthy version of Mixon in Baltimore would give Lamar Jackson more support and could still bring a large portion of what he offered at his peak, as long as his snaps are managed, likely in the 15 to 25 range per game.”
Ravens HC on Signing Former Bengals Edge Trey Hendrickson
With the Bengals opting to let Hendrickson walk, the Ravens swooped in to keep him in the division, and Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter is more than glad with Cincinnati’s decision.
“Trey is a closer. I mean, he’s a guy that has the second-most sacks in the fourth quarter of games since 2021,” Minter said in a March 29 article (h/t NFL.com). “That’s an area where we want to improve and want to finish out games when we have the lead.
“We’ve had more leads in the fourth quarter than any team in the last five years. So, getting a guy like that will help our pass rush, help the defensive backs, rushing coverage work together.”
Baltimore Couldn’t Pass Up on Signing Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson posted an overall PFF defensive grade of 82.9 during the 2025 season, ranking 13th among 115 qualified edge defenders. Moreover, the former Bengals star recorded a pass-rush grade of 90.0, ranked 6th among 115 qualified edge defenders. His run-defense grade of 56.8 ranked 90th at the position.
Nonetheless, it was a challenging 2025 campaign for Hendrickson as his season was cut short after having core muscle surgery. He would play only 285 snaps, generating 23 total pressures, four sacks, 14 hurries, five hits, and forcing one fumble. Against the run, the veteran only recorded nine solo tackles.
Despite the down season from Hendrickson, Minter says the Ravens couldn’t pass on the opportunity to land a player of his caliber.
“So, when you add a primary premium pass rusher, it makes everybody else’s job on the defense easier at times,” Minter added. “He’s gonna draw a lot of attention.
“I think our pass rush in general is gonna be a lot better, because other people may have more one-on-one opportunities. And then the DBs, you know, when you don’t have to cover as long, it makes life easier. We couldn’t be more excited to add Trey.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo