The 2026 Ravens: What’s Better? What’s Worse? What’s TBD?

As easy as it is to blame Tyler Loop for the Ravens not winning the AFC North and hosting a home playoff game last season…

Well, yeah. Had he made the kick, those other things would have happened. Still, it’s probably more unbelievable that they were even in a position to win the division last year than the fact that a rookie kicker shanked a clutch field goal in Pittsburgh with the season on the line.

The Ravens weren’t a good team last year. They just weren’t. Oh, there were spectacular highs performed by spectacular talents, and they circled the proverbial wagons when their season was on life support and made it interesting at the end, but they weren’t good. The defense looked lost as often as they looked found, the offensive line put up less resistance than a wet paper towel with triple perforations and their other-worldly quarterback had long stretches of looking quite worldly as injuries took their toll.

But they fought. They battled. As was the case under nearly all of John Harbaugh’s 18 years patrolling the sideline, they never quit. And somehow, with Lamar Jackson performing miracles and Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely being there to help them come to fruition, they were right there. One field goal away.

That is the surprise. The fact that this team even sniffed a shot at the postseason was the surprise.

But it’s an all-new year, with new coaches, revamped lines on both sides of the ball and a quarterback who is once again staring down the barrel of a frantic contract negotiation. Does this team look better than last year’s disappointment? Let’s take a look at where they might be better, where they could be worse and what we just don’t know yet.

Better

• The quarterback room: Look, it all starts and ends with a healthy Jackson, as it does for every team with a high-dollar, elite signal-caller. I like having Tyler Huntley as the backup from the start rather than the Cooper Rush experience. I also came around on rookie Joe Fagnano as a third quarterback who could possibly keep the ship afloat for a week or two as he develops.
• Receivers: They didn’t add that “splash” guy to the room, but there is at least some reason for optimism with what Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. I’m also a believer that Devontez Walker has more than he has shown to this point. Rashod Bateman has a path with a new staff in place, and Zay Flowers has improved every season.
• Defensive Line: If Nnamdi Madubuike can play, well, shoot. This could become a strength. He, Travis Jones and a returned Calais Campbell can form a tough interior rotation, and Trey Hendrickson will no doubt be an improvement on the edge. If Mike Green can take a significant step, and Tavius Robinson continues his improvement course, this could be a group that gets after people.
• Defensive Backs: It’s not the personnel as much as it’s the coaching that I believe will have a positive impact. OK, I also really like the addition of Jaylinn Hawkins to a group that already included All-World player Kyle Hamilton, promising youngster Malaki Starks and the play-making fiend, Keondre Jackson. Corners Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie will have to improve from last year, but I think they will with a new scheme and improved front applying pressure.
• Defensive Coaching: As mentioned, I have a lot of faith in this group. Had the Ravens just added Anthony Weaver I would have gained a lot of confidence in their improvement. Add him to Jesse Minter, Mike Mickens and company and I think the defense is safely back in good hands.

Worse

• Running Backs: I like Adam Randall, and he impressed me some this summer. But last year’s team had Keaton Mitchell and a year-younger Derrick Henry, to go along with Justice Hill. Henry could just keep playing at the same level and we won’t see a drop-off from this group. I’m just looking at it on paper here.
• Tight Ends: The loss of Isiah Likely and Charlie Kolar brings this down, even if the rookies have looked better as the summer has gone, and Durham Smythe brings some serious blocking chops to the group. Still, I liked last year’s group better, and Mark Andrews is not getting any younger.
• Kickers: I have no idea what Tyler Loop is going to be. His talent is obvious, and I’ve watched him connect from 60 in practice. But he just looks different in games, and you never know how last year’s big miss will play in his head going forward. Ryan Eckley looks tremendous at punter, but he’s a rookie and replacing an All Pro in Jordan Stout.

To Be Determined

• Offensive Line: I’m leaning towards this being an improvement because of the replacement of both guards. Vega Ioane looks like the real deal at right guard, but he’s a rookie. John Simpson is somewhat of a journeyman, but that would have been an improvement over what was out there last year. Ronnie Stanley is another year older, and it would be great to see Roger Rosengarten start out strong this year, as opposed to his second-half improvement each of his first two seasons. Center is frightening. It could be the killer of the offense if it doesn’t work out.
• Linebackers: I have confidence in a seemingly fit Roquan Smith bouncing back in a big way, and it would be great to see Teddye Buchanan return to the field sooner than later. The wild card here would probably be Trenton Simpson, who has a lot of athletic gifts, but hasn’t been able to put it together consistently yet.
• Offensive Coaching: I have a lot of confidence in Minter, Weaver and company fixing the defense. We have tangible proof of these guys being competent coaches who can build good defenses. But despite all the optimism from players and fellow coaches, I have to see Declan Doyle’s offense when it counts, and how he adjusts to adversity when it inevitably comes. We just don’t have any data yet as to how that will look.

Record Prediction: 11-6, first in AFC North. Fall in AFC Championship Game.

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