2026 BALTIMore ravens projection & preview

It finally happened, Steve Bisciotti finally woke up and realized what everyone else had realized two years ago... John Harbaughnwas holding this team back and had overstayed his welcome. Harbaugh had been the Ravens head coach for 18 years. It should've ended after 10, but Lamar Jackson saved his job in 2018 and has been saving it ever since. That came to an end after the 2025 seasoning which the Ravens finished with an underwhelming 8-9 record and missed the playoffs. Goodbye and good riddance. Hello Jesse Minter. Minter was one of the two top prizes in this coaching cycle, along with Klint Kubiak, who was hired by the Raiders. We'll get to them later.

QB

Lamar Jackson

Tyler Huntley

This is one of the most solid QB rooms in the NFL. Although Lamar was slowed by injuries, Tyler Huntley started in his place and won a couple games. A rarity for the team without Lamar on the field. Huntley is the perfect backup for Lamar. They have similar skill sets and are close on and off the field. With John Harbaugh at the helm, bringing Huntley back was a smart move. Another rarity... for Harbaugh. This room doesn't need improvement, but maybe a little insurance. Provide that Huntley re-signs in free agency. As for Cooper Rush, it was real and good luck at your next stop. A young developmental QB in the later rounds of the draft, wouldn't be a terrible idea. I like Taylen Green from Arkansas. He reminds me of Anthony Richardson the Colts, with a higher ceiling. Potential, that will have to be refined with the QB coach.

Of course, now that we've hit the post season, all attention goes to Lamar, and a contract extension. I admire for being his own man and not hiring an agent, but it can slow things down when it comes to contract negotiations. I think this gets done too, but if it doesn't, free agency is going to be a pipe dream for the Ravens. Although, Steve Bisciotti did mention moving this years $74.5 million dollar cap hit to a void year, if necessary, I'd rather not think about that.

RB

Derrick Henry

Keaton Mitchell

Justice Hill

​Rasheed Ali

Again, not much improvement is needed with this group. Although, Mitchell is a FA, he is a RFA, so I expect him back. Now, if a Nic Singleton, Kaytron Allen or Roman Hemby fall to the Ravens in the later rounds, I'd have to grab them and let the competition in training camp decide who goes and who stays.

Derrick Henry is called "the King" for a reason. Even at 31 years old, he is still a beast on the field, and shows no signs of slowing down. Henry benefits from Lamar, as much as Lamar benefits from him, so that means that "both" will be in the MVP conversation every season. This room needs to stay healthy.

Justice Hill has been a solid depth piece years, as RB3. Ali has shown flashes when given a chance, but it will be difficult for him to move too far up the depth chart. He is a solid special teams performer though.

WR

Zay Flowers

Devontez Walker

Rashod Bateman

LaJohntay Wester

This room lacks depth, and maybe, quality. If I'm Jesse Minter and EDC, I'm not re-signing Tyler Wallace, and although I'd love to bring DeAndre Hopkins back, he is getting a little long in the tooth. This room needs to be addressed in this draft, and/ or free agency. If I'm looking at the free agent pool, I'm looking at Alec Pierce from the Colts, Jauan Jennings of the 49ers, or possibly a trade for Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers. If you go after Aiyuk, it would have to be with the Niners picking up most, if not all of his contract extension that he signed, before bailing on them before the start of last season. That seems unlikely. AJ Brown from Philly is another possibility.He and King Henry are close friends and played together in Tennessee with the Titans.

This draft has a plethora of good young receivers in all 7 rounds. I'm looking at Makai Lemon- USC as my #1, followed by Jordan Tyson- Arizona State, Carnell Tate- Ohio State, and Denzel Boston- Washington. There are more in the 2nd round and beyond. Starting with Chris Bell out of Louisville, who probably is a 1st round pick, if not for a late season ACL injury. Then there's KC Concepcion- Texas A&M, who some have as a 1st rounder, Elijah Sarratt- Indiana, Chris Brazzell Jr.- Tennessee, and Omar Cooper Jr.- Indiana.

TE

Mark Andrews

Charlie Kolar

After a perplexing midseason contract extension for Andrews, we know he will be back. Maybe the idea was to sign and trade after a year, but I feel like that money should've been spent on the younger guys, and most likely cost you the ability to re-sign Isaiah Likely... pun intended. Andrews is not the same safety blanket that Lamar has always relied on. He has lost a step, and has had some inexplicable drops at crucial times, in big games. He has also, disappeared during the playoffs. A very perplexing move by EDC, "or" John Harbaugh. We're about to find out which was responsible.

​I have pounded the table for Charlie Kolar from the beginning. People forget that he was one of the best "pass catching" tight ends in college football at Iowa State. The Ravens (Harbaugh) definitely forgot that. Although he has improved his blocking skills, which is a huge plus. I'm definitely bring Charlie back, and it will cost a lot less than Andrews or Likely. The team will probably need to add a depth piece in the draft or free agency.

​An intriguing possibility in free agency is Kyle Pitts from the Falcons. Pitts has been inconsistent, but that is partly due to an unstable quarterback room in Atlanta. He will probably cost too much, but if you were able to sign him, this would help your receiver room as well. I've always viewed Pitts as a tight end, in a WR body.

OL

Tyler Linderbaum

Ronnie Stanley

Emery Jones

Rodger Rosengarten

Carson Vinson

Andrew Vorhees

Corey Bullock

This group is not very deep. So, this will be one area the team will have to address during the offseason. I can't see any way that the Ravens let Linderbaum walk. Unless, he prices them out, which to me would mean, he doesn't want to be in Baltimore. That is why I am keeping Bullock, just in case. Bullock is not the long term answer, but can be a place holder, until one is acquired through the draft or free agency.

There is no way on God's Green earth that I am bringing Daniel Faalele back, and if they do, that means it was EDC that made these terrible picks in the draft, and not Harbaugh. I hate this for Daniel, but he is one of the worst offensive linemen I have ever seen. Enjoy New York big fella. Emery Jones showed a lot of promise after returning from injury late season. He's a natural LG and that's where he should line up. Carson Vinson did not get any real play time, so hard to tell, nut I do think he can develop into a starter. I really liked hime in college. Rosengarten was inconsistent, and

Vorhees was worse.

Kevin Zeitler is available again, and worth a look to take Faalele's place. Although, Zeitler may want more than he's actually worth at his age. Alijah Vera- Tucker is another possibility, but his injury history scares the hell out of me. If he could stay healthy, he might be a steal in free agency... but, can he.

If the Ravens can't re-sign Linderbaum, then a center would become a priority in the draft. There's a few good ones available. Conner Lew from Auburn is one. Jake Slaughter from Florida is another one.

The team needs at least 3-4 depth pieces, either from the draft or free agency. In this draft there are a lot of quality prospects. We'll start with Francis Mauigoa- Miami, Spencer Fano- Utah, Kadyn Proctor- Alabama, Olaivavega Ioane- Penn State, and Caleb Lomu- Utah as all potential first rounders. Past that you have Emmanuel Pregnant- Oregon, Monroe Freeling- Georgia, Blake Miller- Clemson, Gennings Dunker- Iowa, Caleb Tiernan- Northwestern, and Max Iheanachor- Arizona State in the 2nd or later rounds.There is ZERO reason for EDC not to be able to bolster this room.

DL/EDGE/DE

Nnamdi Madubuike

Dre'Mont Jones

Travis Jones

John Jenkins

​Aeneas Peebles

Kaimon Rucker

Josh Tupou

C.J. Okoye

This is a solid, if not spectacular group. Although, all that changes if Madubuike can't come back. Fingers crossed. Jenkins was a solid addition through free agency, and I'd bring him back on another vet deal. Dre'Mont Jones is the wild card here. I know he loved playing in Baltimore, but he may be too costly to re-sign.I've got him coming back, for now. Rucker is inexperienced, and Peebles didn't get a lot of playing time, but I feel has mega potential. Travis Jones is solid, and I think Broderick Washington is a cut casualty. Need a couple of depth pieces that can rush the passer and create pressure in the backfield. This would go a long way in helping the DBs as well.

This is a pretty good d-line draft. At the top you have, EDGE Reuben Bain Jr.- Miami, EDGE Kedric Faulk- LSU, EDGE Cashius Howell- Texas A&M, DT Peter Woods- Clemson, EDGE R Mason Thomas- Oklahoma, DT Caleb Banks- Florida, and DT Kayden McDonald- Ohio State. There is plenty of depth past this group as well.

LB

Roquan Smith

Teddye Buchanan

Mike Green

Trento Simpson

Jay Higgins IV

Tavius Robinson

Malik Hamm

Adisa Isaac

This is another solid group. The key to this room is Roquan Smith. Smith seems to have lost a step over the last couple of years, and has a high cap hit. So, I might put the word out, that he could be available., and if a team is interested I'm listening. If you keep him, he becomes a restructure candidate, as his cap hit is $25 million plus. Buchanan was a pleasant surprise last season, before his late season injury. However, if you payed attention to him in college, you were not so surprised. A very solid linebacker. Mike Green was wildly inconsistent, and needs to really work on his game if the offseason. I need to see more of Jay Higgins, and not just because we didn't see enough of him this year. He can play. Period.Robinson has been a solid depth piece for a few years now. I'm still on the fence, whether I'm picking up Trenton Simpson's 5th year option. He's yet to show me that he can be a reliable plug and play player. Malik Hamm has missed more time, than he's actually spent time on the field. When he healthy, he is solid. David Ojabo is being sent packing, if it were up to me, and Adisa Isaac May join him. Ojabo has never developed, and Isaac has never played.

The linebacker position is not quite has deep in this draft, as some of the other positions, but there is still quality there for the taking. For starters, Anthony Hill Jr.- Texas, CJ Allen- Indiana, Jacob Rodrigues- Texas Tech, Harold Perkins- LSU, Taurean York- Texas A&M, Jake Golday- Cincinnati, Josiah Trotter- Missouri, and Deonte Lawson- Clemson to name a few. That is assuming you're not getting the top guys, Arvell Reese- Ohio State, Sonny Styles- Ohio State, or David Bailey- Texas Tech, who may be the best of them all, he can also be considered a defensive end.

S

Kyle Hamilton

Malaki Starks

Alohi Gilman

Ar'Darius Washington

Keondre Jackson

This is not a deep room, and could be even less so, if the Ravens can't re-sign Washington. Starks was underwhelming as a rookie, which made his lofty draft selection questionable. I won't judge a player off of one season though. Gilman was a solid trade pickup during the season. He was probably the team's best tackler, and created the ability to move Hamilton around like a chess piece. There is a definite need for depth. Either in the draft or free agency.

​Kyle Hamilton was a steal at #14 in the 2022 draft. His 6'4" height on a 220 pound frame, gives him advantages that other safeties don't have. As I mentioned before, you can move him to almost any position, and he gives you the advantage. Hamilton is a legitimate defensive player of the year candidate for the foreseeable future.

CB

Marlon Humphrey

Nate Wiggins

Chidobe Awuzie

T.J. Tampa

Keyon Martin

Bilhal Kone

Marquise Robinson

Robert Longerbeam

First, I'm looking at cutting Humphrey. He has a huge cap hit and seems to only want to play football part time. Maybe he should take his podcast career more seriously? Cutting Marlo after June 1st, saves around $7 million dollars in cap. For a team entering the offseason with only $22 plus million in cap space, that would be a huge help. Of course, you could trade him and get a couple of draft assets instead.Moving Marlon frees up reps for T.J. Tampa, who I think is ready for that next step.

Wiggins took a step back in 2025. It might be attributable to the so called sophomore slump. we shall see. Awuzie was probably the teams best DB, after being signed in free agency. They need to bring him back. I was very high on Longerbeam out of college. Injury prevented me from being proven wrong... or right. Kone and Robinson are still unknowns, while Martin did get some playing time.

The Ravens will need to add to this room during the offseason. I am always leery of paying DBs top dollar, as I prefer to save that money for the trenches. So, that would make me look more in the draft, than free agency. Of course, the Ravens seemed to think the opposite. Again, we'll see if that was EDC, or Harbaugh's doing. He needs to change, regardless.

This draft has a few cornerbacks that could be difference makers. Starting with, Mansoor Delane- LSU, Jermod McCoy- Tennessee, Avieon Terrell- Clemson, Colton Hood- Tennessee, and Brandon Cisse- South Carolina. There is depth in later rounds as well.

ST

Tyler Loop

Jordan Stout

Nick Moore

Loop was wildly inconsistent last year, especially past 50 yards. He has a lot of work to do, especially after missing a 50 yarder, that caused the Ravens to miss the playoffs. Stout had a breakout season, and needs to be a priority re-signing. I never heard Nick Moore's name mentioned during the season. Which is exactly what you want from your long snapper.

by Michael B.