Baltimore Ravens 2026 Offseason Outlook

It’s a new era in Baltimore, as Jesse Minter takes over as just the third Ravens head coach in the last 28 years. Brian Billick won a Super Bowl in his nine years as head coach. John Harbaugh won a Super Bowl as well, and last season’s 8-9 finish was only the third losing season for Harbaugh in 18 years as head coach. And so, even though the Ravens missed the postseason, superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off a less-than-superstar season and their best players are getting up there in age, this remains a team with high expectations.

Much like Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens see themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders — yet they’ve only been to the AFC title game once, following the 2023 season. Baltimore will enter 2026 with a solid chance to win the AFC North, but it’s up to Minter to re-establish a defensive mindset that has defined this franchise for 30 years. And general manager Eric DeCosta needs to make some decisions about the offensive make-up of the roster and how best to maximize the talent around his star quarterback.

2025 recap

After a disastrous 1-5 start to the 2025 season, the Ravens got some injured players back and stormed back to win five straight. But just when it appeared Baltimore was going to emerge as a serious contender, the team lost four of its last six games. Two of those losses were to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers — including the regular-season finale that would have sent the Ravens to the playoffs if not for a missed field goal by rookie kicker Tyler Loop.

Jackson missed four games due to injury but he was not 100% for much of the time he was on the field. Jackson, who turned 29 in January, was not nearly the dynamic runner he’s been throughout his career — producing the lowest rushing totals of his career. Along with Minter’s hiring, the Ravens brought in Declan Doyle as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Doyle was OC for the Chicago Bears last season under offensive guru Ben Johnson, so it will be interesting to see how he works with Jackson.

Derrick Henry, meanwhile, turned 32 on the last day of the regular season — yet he continues to run with great speed and power. Henry rushed for 1,595 yards — his fifth season with 1,500-plus — and passed Tony Dorsett for 10th on the all-time rushing list.

Still, it’s the defense that failed Baltimore in 2025. The Ravens ranked 18th in points allowed and 24th in yards allowed. Safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith are among the bright spots, but the pass rush struggled, in part because defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike was injured for much of the season.

Key free agents

C Tyler Linderbaum
DE Dre-Mont Jones
WR DeAndre Hopkins
LB Kyle Van Noy
S Ar’Darius Washington
FB Patrick Ricard
LT Joseph Noteboom
CB Chidobe Awuzie
G Daniel Faalele
TE Isaiah Likely
RB Keaton Mitchell

Ravens salary cap space

$22,043,387

2026 draft needs

Baltimore has a bunch of key free agents, so draft needs will change based on who the Ravens end up re-signing. It’s likely they will lock up standout center Tyler Linderbaum, but offensive tackle could be a need, because two-time Pro Bowler Ronnie Stanley will be 32 next season. If the Ravens can’t re-sign speedy Keaton Mitchell, then finding a complement/heir apparent for Derrick Henry would be important. But the priority is defense, particularly the pass rush. In his latest mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Ravens taking two edge rushers with their first three picks.

2026 opponents

Home:Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, L.A. Chargers, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Tennessee

Away:Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis