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The Ravens’ first and most important task of the offseason – assembling a new coaching staff – is almost complete. Now, their attention will turn to the roster, where several key decisions await.
The most immediate task is negotiating a contract extension with Lamar Jackson, who is currently set for a $72.5 million cap hit in 2026. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Eric DeCosta both made it clear that lowering Jackson’s cap number via an extension is a priority, but they are willing to restructure his deal if negotiations drag out as they did in 2023.
Either way, the Ravens need to free up some cap space so that they can make other moves. The team’s top pending free agent is Tyler Linderbaum, who figures to become the highest-paid center in the NFL on his next contract. He may not be an elite pass protector, but the Ravens need to improve their offensive line this season. Letting Linderbaum walk would run contrary to that, which may force DeCosta to offer a bigger contract than he would prefer.
Regardless of Linderbaum, the offensive line will still struggle if their guard play does not improve in 2026. Right now, it is unclear if the Ravens even have one starter on their roster. 2025 third-round pick Emery Jones has potential, but neither he nor Andrew Vorhees can currently be considered a starting-caliber lineman for a championship hopeful. But the guard market in free agency is notoriously overpriced, and finding rookie starters in the draft is no easy task. DeCosta might need to invest some premium resources to solidify this position.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens are hoping that new head coach Jesse Minter can boost the defense. Still, with Nnamdi Madubuike’s future still up in the air, the team needs to upgrade their pass rush on the interior and off the edge. But that is not a cheap endeavor, either.
Ultimately, DeCosta will need to prioritize where he invests this offseason and may not be able to address every need equally. How would you approach the next few months? Answer in our Ravens Reacts survey below!
