The Baltimore Ravens are a team with plenty to prove in 2026.
Jesse Minter has to prove he can succeed in the wake of a two-time Super Bowl winner in his first head coaching job. Lamar Jackson has to show the world he can stay healthy and lead his team to sustainable playoff success. Trey Hendrickson can stick it to both the Cincinnati Bengals ownership that didn't want to give him the big money contract Baltimore eventually did, as well as anyone who sees him as a consolation prize after the team's Maxx Crosby trade fell apart.
Minter's experience in Maryland -- he was a defensive assistant under John Harbaugh from 2017 to 2020 -- should help lessen the gap created by the coaching change. But the Ravens are relying on some aging stars to carry
them (Hendrickson included) and a defense that backslid mightily after 2023's trip to the AFC title game.
Let's take a look at the factors that will shape their 2026.
Key addition: EDGE Trey Hendrickson
Maxx Crosby would have been a wonderful piece of the puzzle, but getting Hendrickson without having to give up two first round picks is a healthy contingency plan for a team that drafts well. Baltimore's pass rush ranked 29th in pressure rate and 31st in sack rate last season. For $60 million guaranteed, here comes a player who was a perennial defensive player of the year threat as recently as 2024.
Hendrickson turns 32 in December and saw his production drop significantly in 2025 after a contract standoff and subsequent injury. But he's also the guy who had 35 sacks across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. If he can be even 85 percent as effective as he was at his peak, he'll be a much-needed boost in Baltimore.
Key departure: C Tyler Linderbaum
The Ravens lost a handful of key blockers, including the occasionally frustrating Daniel Faalele and run-blocking specialist tight end Charlie Kolar. None had a greater impact on the offense than Linderbaum, whom the Ravens hoped to re-sign this spring only for the Las Vegas Raiders to jump in and completely reset the center market by offering him $27 million annually. While his blocking in both phases of the game was an obvious strength, his ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap could have a quieter, but similarly important, effect on how Jesse Minter's first offense as head coach looks.
Potential 2026 breakout player: WR Devontez Walker
Someone needs to fill the WR2 slot behind Zay Flowers. Rashod Bateman crashed down to earth last season, is often injured and could be suspended pending a domestic violence investigation. Ja'Kobi Lane earned some preseason hype, but Walker could still fulfill his potential under new head coach Jesse Minter.
He had a 20.6 percent catch rate over expected (CROE) and 16.9 EPA in the incredibly limited sample size of eight targets last season. If he can be even half that efficient over a full season he'll be Lamar Jackson's huckleberry.
Position ranks
- QB rank (expected points added per dropback, via RBSDM.com): 14
- WR corps rank: 20
- RB corps rank: 1
- TE corps rank: 27
Will they improve in 2026?
Yes. Concerns remain about the offensive depth. But a healthy Lamar Jackson could be all the difference between 2025's disappointment and a return to the postseason this January.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ravens 2026 season preview: A welcome return to terrifying defenses past?
