The NFL world was thrown full-bore into chaos on Tuesday, a day before the new fiscal year began for the league. Edge rusher Maxx Crosby was supposed to be traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens, but the Ravens backed out of the deal. This might have had a terrible effect on what the Indianapolis Colts wanted to do.
To be sure, Indy wasn't going to ever be able to acquire Crosby. The Raiders want two first-round draft picks for the elite player, and the Colts don't have that after general manager Chris Ballard traded those selections to the New York Jets in return for cornerback Sauce Gardner last year.
But Indy might have wanted to try signing edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. He formerly played under Lou Anarumo when Indianapolis's defensive coordinator was the DC with the Cincinnati Bengals. Under Anarumo, Hendrickson had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons. His production decreased last season because of an injury, and maybe the scheme.
Indianapolis Colts have no chance at Trey Hendrickson after Maxx Crosby mess
Would the Colts have had the money to sign the edge rusher? Maybe not, but the salary cap is malleable. If a team wants to make room, it can do so by releasing other players or restructuring deals. Indy has extension candidates in running back Jonathan Taylor and left guard Quenton Nelson, and extending them now lowers their cap hit for next season.
But now Hendrickson is off the table because the Ravens backed out of the Crosby trade. Less than a day after the deal fell apart, Baltimore is reportedly agreeing to terms with Hendrickson for four seasons and as much as $120 million. Is that an overpay for a 31-year-old player? Probably, but the contract might be front-loaded.
With Trey Hendrickson going elsewhere, the Indianapolis Colts might need to rebuild their edge rush group through the draft or inexpensive free agents who might not provide high-end production. Free agent Kwity Paye is gone and left for the Raiders. Indy did agree to terms with Arden Key, but Key has so far had a ceiling of 6.5 sacks in a season.
Indianapolis also has free agents in Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam. One or both might be re-signed, but they didn't produce well in Anarumo's first season with the team. Laiatu Latu appears to be growing into a very good player, but he needs the kind of help Hendrickson would have provided. That certainly won't be happening now.