OTL: AFC North Preview – Baltimore Ravens

AFC North Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC North Preview: Cincinnati Bengals

AFC North Preview: Cleveland Browns

It was an offseason of change in Baltimore, with many sensing a breath of fresh air, as Jesse Minter prepares to become just the fourth head coach in franchise history. It’s a hire that many believe will be exactly what this organization needs to get its defense living up to its reputation once again.

He has his work cut out for him: Baltimore’s defense has finished 31st in passing yards allowed in back-to-back seasons. After finishing 2024 with the second-most sacks in the NFL (54), the Ravens regressed in 2025, recording just 30, tied with the Carolina Panthers for 3rd fewest in the league. There’s too much talent on the Ravens defensive side of the ball to produce the results seen over the last two seasons.

Eric DeCosta and company did their job in addressing positions of need this offseason, but with all the change, is a return to dominance possible immediately?

Defense is Key for Minter’s Year 1 Success

Anthony Weaver has returned to Baltimore, this time in the role of defensive coordinator, after two seasons with the Miami Dolphins in the same role. Minter has already stated he will call the plays, but Weaver’s presence alone in the room will have a great impact on a defense that needed as much help as possible following a disastrous 2025. Everyone knows of the fallout from Maxx Crosby and the drama that came with it. At the end of the day, the Ravens still came to terms with free agent edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson, who stays in the AFC North after spending the last five seasons in Cincinnati. The Ravens also used their second-round pick on Zion Young, a 22-year-old edge rusher out of Missouri. Young produced 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 57 total pressures last season, all career-highs. His high motor will fit in well with the edge rusher group, which now features Hendrickson, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, and Adissa Issac.

The potential return of Nnamdi Madubuike is huge for the Ravens, who truly missed his presence following a neck injury in Week 2 that jeopardized his future. He’ll be welcomed back with open arms once he’s ready, but DeCosta’s offseason moves have given them the talent needed to not rush his return. Travis Jones has grown into a great interior defensive lineman, but the re-signing of John Jenkins, as well as the return of free agent Calais Campbell, gives Baltimore some respectable pieces up the middle. It’s a position group that, at the end of the day, is quite packed. Along with the players just named, the Ravens also used a 7th-round pick on defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, who reunites with his college d-line coach, Lou Esposito, as well as 2025 6th-round pick Aeneas Peebles. It’s a front seven that appears on paper to be much improved from a season ago. If Teddye Buchanan can return from his torn ACL and even play at the same level we saw a season ago, Baltimore’s in a good spot.

After losing both Alohi Gilman and Ar’Darius Washington to free agency, the Ravens made quite possibly their most underrated signing of the offseason. Jaylinn Hawkins came in on a two-year/$10 million contract, after spending the last two seasons in New England. Hawkins is coming off by far his best season of his six-year NFL career, recording 71 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, and a forced fumble, all career-highs. He makes quite an interesting trio with Kyle Hamilton and 2025 first-round pick, Malaki Starks. Starks is coming off a quiet but solid rookie campaign, finishing 5th amongst rookie safeties in tackles (61), tied for 2nd in interceptions (2), tied for 1st in forced fumbles (1). The secondary is going to possibly be one of the most interesting position groups to keep an eye on early in the year, after a season in 2025 in which many players voiced their frustrations about the confusion of their coverage schemes. Their secondary cost them games throughout last year, so cleaning up even half the mistakes should help alleviate some of the headaches.

Baltimore’s front office did its job in addressing its problems from a season ago, but a new scheme and new coaching staff will make it interesting to see if they made the right choices.

New Look Weapons for Jackson and the Offense

Another year, another offseason of Lamar Jackson disrespect. In just the last week alone, Jackson has been voted the 6th-best quarterback according to ESPN’s poll, 69th in the NFL’s Top 100, and not even in the Top 10 of Colin Cowherd’s quarterback rankings. If you’re smart, you just laugh and move on at this point, as it’s become exhausting to entertain the babble. The ironic part of it all is that Jackson might have his best receiver corps of his career entering the 2026 season. Yes, the Ravens lost both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to free agency, but the additions from this past April’s draft are more than intriguing as the new year approaches.

The Ravens addressed by far their most underwhelming offensive position group in 2025 by selecting Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with their 14th overall pick, and brought back veteran free agent  John Simpson. They truly put a focus on the offensive side of the ball by also adding wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, tight end Matthew Hibner, tight end Josh Cuevas, and running back Adam Randall.

The additions of both wide receivers alone are worth the attention. Lane has drawn media attention for his comical personality, similar to that of teammate Marlon Humphrey. However, don’t let it distract you from the fact that the kid is a true baller on the field. Lane is coming off a productive career at USC, totaling 1,368 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns, 13.8 yards per reception, and 99 total receptions across three years. The pick that followed, Sarratt, is no chump either. Sarratt was one of the most productive receivers in all of college football last season, collecting 64 receptions, 824 receiving yards, and the most receiving touchdowns in the nation (15). They join a young but talented wide receiver group with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Devontez Walker all looking for a big year in 2026. Flowers finished with over 1,000 yards again last season, but just five touchdowns in his Pro Bowl year. His counterpart, Bateman, is really looking to bounce back under a new coaching staff. Bateman finished 2024 with career highs in receptions (51), receiving yards (846), and receiving touchdowns (11). Jackson’s injuries, inconsistency at the quarterback position, and a lack of involvement all led to a pretty frustrating 2025 for Bateman, as his numbers took a big hit: career-low in yards (224) and his lowest target total (35) since 2021. The new coaching staff has spoken highly of Bateman, who gets a new coaching staff rather than what many viewed as a change of scenery. 29-year-old Declan Doyle comes over from Chicago to call plays for the first time in his career as offensive coordinator. It’s a lateral move from Chicago, where he did not have play-calling duties, working under Ben Johnson. The Ravens key offensive stars have raved about Doyle’s system and work ethic, despite his young age. You could make the argument that it was never all Todd Monken’s fault for the lack of success last season, but there’s no doubt the infusion of a young offensive mind brings intrigue to an already top offense in the league.

There are obviously questions to be answered at the center position, following the departure of Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders. Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn got the majority of the looks during the offseason programs while Corey Bullock was rehabbing from surgery. When the pads come on is when the true starter will emerge, but for all we know, the Ravens starting center might not even be on the roster at the moment.

Is Center Ethan Pocic a Fit in Baltimore?

Record Prediction: 12-5; 1st in AFC North

The post OTL: AFC North Preview – Baltimore Ravens appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/07/16/out-to-lunch/otl-afc-north-preview-baltimore-ravens/