Last week, we asked Baltimore Beatdown readers which Ravens on offense and defense in 2026.
For the first, there was one dominating answer: Rashod Bateman.
The 26-year-old wide receiver is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, which included four games missed due to injury. His 2026 cap hit is an affordable $6.2 million, but that will jump to an average of $12.9 million over the following three years.
At his 2024 production, that is a solid deal if not an outright steal. But Bateman
averaged just 0.70 yards per route run and 5.9 yards per target while occupying a 69% snap share when healthy last year. That will not cut it in Declan Doyle’s new-look offense, especially with four young receivers drafted in the last three years sitting behind him on the depth chart.
But there is plenty of reason to believe Bateman can bounce back. He stands to benefit from a refreshed scheme and a healthy Lamar Jackson as much as anyone else in the offense. Improved offensive line play in particular will open up opportunities downfield, where Bateman did most of his damage in 2024.
Bateman’s 2024 season flew under the radar due to Zay Flowers’ 1,058-yard campaign, but he was quietly one of the most efficient receivers in the NFL. He averaged 16.8 yards per reception and 10.9 yards per target – both top-10 figures leaguewide – and reeled in one touchdown every eight targets. A return to that production as the deep threat in Doyle’s new scheme would solidify his status in baltimore.
On the defensive side of the ball, readers largely split their vote between fourth-year linebacker Trenton Simpson and second-year edge rusher Mike Green.
Simpson, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He opened the 2024 season as the starting WILL linebacker next to Roquan Smith, but found himself on the bench by December. Last year, he lost out on the same job to fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan. Buchanan is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December, giving him an outside chance at being ready for Week 1. But if the Ravens want to give him a longer ramp-up period, Simpson could have a path to playing time early in the season.
Green was billed as a steal for the Ravens in last year’s draft, but he failed to live up to expectations with just 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. Jesse Minter unlocked Odafe Oweh last year, so he might be able to do the same with Green. The 2025 second-rounder was asked to play a whopping 712 snaps as a rookie with almost 40% in run defense. But pass-rushing is his strength, and a healthy Tavius Robinson and the addition of Zion Young will allow him to spend more time chasing quarterbacks than setting the edge.
Of the two, Green stands to make a more consistent impact off the edge. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has double-digit sacks in sight for the 22-year-old, which would certainly qualify as proving himself. Simpson is somewhat of an X-factor. He could be headed to the bench once Buchanan is healthy regardless. But taking a leap to what the Ravens originally saw in him – an uber-athletic converted safety who could impact the pass game in coverage and as a blitzer – should keep him on the field in some capacity. At present, that feels like somewhat of a long shot, especially with Baltimore likely to run plenty of dime personnel this year.
The Ravens are still tied for the best odds to win the AFC (+500 via FanDuel), but they now sit fourth in Super Bowl odds (+1100) behind the Rams, Seahawks, and Bills. None of these players can individually propel a championship run in Baltimore, but frankly, the entire team has something to prove this season. And hoisting a Lombardi Trophy next February might be the only way to do it.
