Ja'Marr Chase Cincinnati Bengals Baltimore Ravens Trey Hendrickson
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Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals
The NFL offseason is officially underway, with some crazy moves already being made that could shift power in the league, especially in the AFC North, where the Baltimore Ravens are trying to get back on track as a potential Super Bowl title contender in 2026.
There’s been some drastic changes in the AFC North, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and longtime head coach Mike Tomlin parting ways, the Ravens firing one-time Super Bowl champion head coach John Harbaugh, and a trade fiasco involving superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby, and now Baltimore signing former Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.
Ja’Marr Chase Reacts to Trey Hendrickson Signing With Ravens
Trey Hendrickson Cincinnati Bengals
GettyTrey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals
After the Ravens shockingly decided to back out of the blockbuster Crosby trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the team quickly pivoted to offering Hendrickson a massive deal, which he took, sparking a hilarious reaction from his former superstar Bengals teammate, Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase took to social media after hearing that Hendrickson had signed with the division-rival Ravens, via NFL on ESPN.
Even though Hendrickson had clearly played his last game for the Bengals, as he had already said his goodbyes publicly, with Cincinnati unwilling to pay him what he wanted as a free agent, the fact that he signed with a division rival probably didn’t sit well with Chase and company.
However, the Bengals basically pushed him out the door, so Chase might be more disappointed with the team’s front office than Hendrickson’s decision to head to Baltimore.
It’s been a wild offseason in the AFC North, and it is far from over, as players were only officially able to sign their new deals on Wednesday when the new league year began.
Even though the Bengals moved on from Hendrickson, the team has found his replacement in Boye Mafe, formerly of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Mafe has agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal.
The Bengals also addressed the defense by signing former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.25 million contract.
Joe Flacco Would Consider Re-Signing With Bengals
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals
GettyJoe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals
With superstar quarterback Joe Burrow always being an injury concern moving forward, the Bengals must make sure they have a formidable backup at the position, which is where veteran journeyman Joe Flacco comes in yet again.
Flacco did an admirable job of filling in for Burrow after being traded to Cincinnati, even though the results didn’t show up in the win column.
Despite being 41, Flacco will have some interest on the open market, as he wants to compete for a starting job, but if that’s not possible, he’d be content with backing up Burrow during the 2026 NFL season, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Tom Pelissero
Veteran QB Joe Flacco, who will be a free agent Monday, wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job. But if he’s a backup, sources say, Flacco would strongly consider a return to Cincinnati, where he filled in for Joe Burrow last fall and made his first Pro Bowl.
“Veteran QB Joe Flacco, who will be a free agent Monday, wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job. But if he’s a backup, sources say, Flacco would strongly consider a return to Cincinnati, where he filled in for Joe Burrow last fall and made his first Pro Bowl,” Pelissero wrote.
It’ll be interesting to see if Flacco’s immediate future is in Cincinnati or elsewhere.