The defensive mastermind of Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter is worth mentioning. Minter’s excellence alone helped the Los Angeles Chargers rank No. 10 in opponent rush yards allowed per game last season. The Chargers also ranked No. 10 in the NFL in total sacks with 45 in 2025, despite there being few All-Pro names on the Chargers roster last year. Therefore, Minter knows that having a veteran linebacker like Trey Hendrickson a part of his defensive roster is a blessing, and fans should expect Minter to dial up some impressive formations to wreak havoc on opponents in 2026.
Hendrickson played only seven games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, sidelined by a core-muscle injury that required surgery last December. Having healed plentifully, Hendrickson won’t operate as the sole primary force on the Ravens defensive line as he did with the Bengals. Instead, Hendrickson will be accompanied by other powerhouse pass rushers who will make it even more difficult for opposing offensive linemen to account for his innate skill set. Hendrickson peaked under current Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, averaging 17.5 sacks per season in both 2024 and 2025 before Anarumo departed from the Bengals. Now, Hendrickson will be a chess piece inside Minter’s methodical strategy, and won’t have to rely solely on willpower to shed blockers and disrupt plays.
Minter’s use of the modular 3-4 formation isn’t foreign to the Ravens, but the franchise hasn’t had an edge rusher as renowned as Hendrickson since all-pro Terrell Suggs wore the team jersey. With proper conditioning and healing for Hendrickson and Nmandi Madubuike in progress, Minter could be quietly constructing the most powerful defensive front in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. Time will tell.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens expect big impact from Trey Hendrickson in 2026