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They sat in a corner sandwiched by uncertainty; four of the Ravens’ 11 draft picks less than one full day removed from the end of their rookie season, and 24 hours before their first NFL head coach was fired. It was locker room clean-out day. Mike Green organized a pile of game-worn jerseys to exchange with his buddies. Beside him, Emery Jones Jr. rounded up his belongings. Teddye Buchanan sat hunched over, leaning on his left knee because his right was wrapped in a prominent brace. Aeneas Peebles grabbed a sharpie to sign a purple jersey on the floor. They laughed. They hugged. And they went their separate ways, signaling the start of their first NFL offseason. Here’s a look back at how their individual inaugural seasons unfolded and thoughts about where they go from here: Malaki Starks, safety When the Ravens first interviewed Starks last spring, they asked who he believed was the best safety in the NFL. Kyle Hamilton “was the first person I said,” he recalled. In July, the All-Pro Hamilton said the No. 27 overall pick was “miles ahead” of where he was upon entering the league. Still, there were early concerns about Starks’ missed tackle rate (13.3%) and coverage lapses, most of which he cleaned up by the back half of the season — a credit to him being a quick study and the circumstantial increased role. Starks played more coverage snaps than any other NFL safety and ranked in the top 11 in total defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The question(s) here: How does a Minter defense deploy the versatile Hamilton, and how does Ar’Darius Washington return health wise and is free agent Alohi Gilman still on the team? Nevertheless, a Hamilton-type trajectory would mean Starks could be a centerfield fixture for years to come. Mike Green, outside linebacker Don’t expect Green to show up at training camp having undergone some complete physical transformation. He’d like to get in better shape and put on a bit more muscle mass, Green said, but “I think my size and my speed come with its own advantages.” He finished the year third on the team in sacks (3 1/2) and tied for second in tackles for loss (7). Those rankings look a lot better on a team that struggled to pressure the quarterback and collectively recorded their fewest sacks (30) in 15 seasons. Asked what he learned over his first NFL season, Green gave an affirming, “I’m just capable of doing everything that I think I can do. “Rookie coming in to fill big shoes, it definitely wasn’t easy. It came with its own trials and tribulations, of course. I think I did good for the most part doing that. Just coming in here and trying to make a name for myself the first year — which a lot of rookies really can’t — was pretty tough. For my first year here, I left a mark. There are plays and things that we wish that we can get back, but I think it shows your true personality when you’re able to overcome everything that you’ve been through.” When the Ravens traded away Odafe Oweh and endured injuries across the defensive line, Green accepted a regular role. He played the second most pass rush snaps of any rookie edge rusher. The Ravens will certainly address the position either with a splash in free agency or in the draft but it’s clear they see Green as a centerpiece of their future at the position. Emery Jones Jr., guard Because of a shoulder injury, the third-round rookie didn’t see the practice field until Oct. 1. He wasn’t active for a game until late November. Jones played sparingly in place of Andrew Vorhees as part of a guard rotation that didn’t last long. Former coach John Harbaugh thought he played “OK” in his debut but that he “didn’t outplay” Vorhees or Daniel Faalele. A new offensive line coach in the well-respected Dwayne Ledford plus a likely addition via free agency or the draft could rewrite the offensive line room. Based on last year’s struggles, the guard position is an open competition. Related Articles Ex-Ravens coach John Harbaugh on leaving Baltimore: ‘I’ll miss that’ Watch Episode 25 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Mike Preston: Will Ravens’ coaching youth movement pay off? | COMMENTARY Ravens 2026 offseason guide: Examining free agents, key dates and more Ravens hire Anthony Levine Sr. as new special teams coordinator Teddye Buchanan, linebacker The fourth-round rookie was promoted to a starting linebacker role by Week 2. It had been 20 years since the last time a Day 3 pick started on the Ravens’ defense within his first two games. Buchanan survived the normal, step-slow struggles of a rookie. Then around the midway point of the season, he turned a corner. Buchanan logged 93 tackles, two quarterback hits, half a sack and a forced fumble before tearing his ACL in Week 15. Assuming a full recovery with no major setbacks, Buchanan is primed to be the starter beside Roquan Smith (barring a blue chip free agent signing, of course). Carson Vinson, tackle Vinson took seven reps on the offensive line this past season: six in relief for the injured Ronnie Stanley in Week 15 then one two weeks later against the Packers. There was never an obvious path for him sans major injury along the offensive line. The Ravens drafted him as a long-term project. After the draft, DeCosta described Vinson as a “polished, tough, tenacious guy.” Both tackle spots are locked up by Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten. A significant step forward for Vinson might mean he’d be first off the bench. A step back, or if the Ravens draft a replacement, could leave Vinson closer to the practice squad. Bilhal Kone, cornerback Kone’s rookie year ended before it started. The sixth-round pick showed promise in training camp then suffered a major knee injury in the preseason opener. By November, he was lightly jogging in a pool at the facility and by season’s end he seemed to float around the locker room with ease. He should get another try to compete for a roster spot this summer. Tyler Loop, kicker The image of a football curving east of the uprights, fading into a flood of swirling yellow towels tarnished what was an otherwise productive first year. Loop will long be remembered for the errant 44-yard kick that boxed Baltimore out of the playoffs. That was his only missed field goal inside 50 yards. He missed three from 50-plus, despite showing supreme leg strength in the preseason. Kicking is “a terrible job,” owner Steve Bisciotti said, showing sympathy for the 24-year-old and first kicker drafted by the Ravens in 30 years. But that swing won’t forever define him. “That kid’s resilient enough from what I’ve learned,” Bisciotti said, “and he’ll be our kicker next year.” Ravens kicker Tyler Loop reacts after missing a field goal in a Week 18 loss to the Steelers. Loop's missed kick kept Baltimore out of the postseason. (Matt Durisko/AP) Loop hadn’t attempted a pressure-cooker kick like that before. His get-back will be a talking point throughout training camp but the expectation in Owings Mills is that he is still their long-term solution at kicker. Bisciotti said as much. Plus, Loop’s direct kicking coach, Randy Brown, survived what was a near-total staff turnover. LaJohntay Wester, wide receiver The sixth-round pick set a high bar for himself early. Wester’s most memorable play of the year came in the preseason, returning a punt 87 yards for a touchdown against the Colts. He vowed to be a speedy field flipper come the regular season. That never quite manifested but Wester showed flashes and, despite a critical muffed punt in Cleveland, maintained a roster spot because of his return ability. That will continue to be his path to playing time next season. Aeneas Peebles, defensive tackle Former defensive line coach Dennis Johnson once called Peebles, a Day 3 draft pick, the most explosive defensive lineman he’d ever seen. Hyperbole? Perhaps a smidge, but the point was that Johnson saw legitimate potential in the undersized rookie. Peebles played depth reps through the first five weeks of the season, sat for two months, played four more snaps in Week 13 then healthy scratched the final weeks of the season. The Ravens should address their defensive line in free agency and the draft, especially if Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck injury means he’s unavailable next season. But if Peebles takes a sophomore step forward, he could stick around as an insurance piece — or more — on the active roster. Robert Longerbeam, cornerback DeCosta’s prophetic analogy comparing cornerbacks to sports cars that break down quickly struck another sixth-round rookie. Longerbeam, like Kone, was placed on season-ending injury reserve after Baltimore’s preseason opener. Last year’s draft marked the fourth time in five years the Ravens selected multiple cornerbacks in the same class. A healthy Longerbeam figures to battle for a roster spot this August, more likely sticking around on the practice squad. Garrett Dellinger, guard Baltimore selected Dellinger with the 243rd overall pick. DeCosta said they saw him play at the Senior Bowl and thought he had “traits” to eventually be a contributor. Then in December, the Browns plucked him off the Ravens practice squad and the Titans claimed him off waivers a week later. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

John Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens after 18 seasons, but if the current Giants head coach has any bitterness toward the franchise’s decision, he’s not showing it publicly. Harbaugh joined the BMore Football Podcast hosted by Jerry Coleman and The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston to discuss the end of his time in Baltimore and his future in New York. Harbaugh spoke glowingly of Ravens ownership and fans, saying nothing but nice things about his time leading the AFC North franchise. He also spoke openly about picking the Giants and his relationship with Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson. Here’s a snippet of what Harbaugh had to say on the podcast: On Ravens firing Baltimore moved on from Harbaugh shortly after a Week 18 loss to the Steelers. The Ravens finished 8-9 on the season, missing the postseason for the first time since 2021. “In my book it’s all been good,” Harbaugh said. “It’s all been fine. I’m not saying I didn’t want to stay because I did. I love the players. I love everybody in that organization. I’ll always be grateful for every player, every coach, every person on that staff, equipment, training staff, the people on the marketing side and travel. “All the people were just so awesome, mostly the players and the coaches. I love those guys, so I’ll miss that. I’ll miss that. But you know what? Those relationships aren’t going away either. So on to the next thing for everybody.” Owner Steve Bisciotti said in his news conference after Harbaugh’s firing that he likely would’ve made the same decision even if Harbaugh’s Ravens beat the Steelers in Week 18 to earn a playoff berth. Coleman expressed his surprise at Bisciotti’s answer on the podcast. “It’s probably just a tough question to answer,” Harbaugh said in reply. “Maybe we win the next game. You know, maybe we win all four games. Maybe we win four games in a row. You know, that could have happened. That should have been your follow-up question, Jerry. That would have been a great follow-up question.” Harbaugh added that he thinks he’d still be in Baltimore if the Ravens made the playoffs and went on to win the Super Bowl. “But it didn’t happen that way, so it doesn’t matter,” he said. His relationship with Jackson Questions about Harbaugh’s relationship with Jackson came up throughout the 2025 season. Jackson missed several games because of injuries, and he missed Wednesday practices regularly during the late stages of the season. Outside voices questioned if Lamar and Harbaugh could ever reach a Super Bowl together. Harbaugh likes the relationship he had with Jackson, despite external questions about their fit. “When he had issues with stuff, he would tell me,” Harbaugh said. “As far as I know, if he had issues that he didn’t tell me, I don’t know because he didn’t tell me. But I never had that feeling that I wasn’t, that he and I weren’t talking about something. I always felt like he always told me. I could read him pretty good.” Related Articles Watch Episode 25 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Mike Preston: Will Ravens’ coaching youth movement pay off? | COMMENTARY Ravens 2026 offseason guide: Examining free agents, key dates and more Ravens hire Anthony Levine Sr. as new special teams coordinator Ravens 7-round mock draft: Who might be a fit for new coach Jesse Minter? The former Ravens coach acknowledged feeling disappointment that he never reached nor won a Super Bowl with Jackson, but he also shared a sense of pride over their accomplishments together. Jackson won a pair of NFL MVP awards under Harbaugh, and the Ravens were regularly among the league’s best offenses under Jackson’s guide. “We built an offense in 2019, and everybody said it couldn’t happen,” Harbaugh said. “We called it a revolutionary offense, and it was. Watch football today. It’s not played the same way it was before 2019. Offensive football has changed dramatically. Why? Because they saw what we did in Baltimore. That’s a fact. Nobody can deny that. Anybody who knows football knows it’s true. It’s real, all right. And that’s Lamar Jackson football.” Picking the Giants When Harbaugh was let go by Baltimore, he had his share of NFL suitors. He had conversations with the Las Vegas Raiders about their opening, which went to former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak after Harbaugh picked the Giants. Harbaugh detailed his positive conversations with the Giants in the podcast episode. “They’re good recruiters,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve got to hand it to them. They don’t take no for an answer. It was a great process.” He says a day inside the Giants facility sold him on the job, including a brief meeting with former Giants star Michael Strahan. “I was starstruck,” he said. He also enjoyed a laugh with Coleman and Preston when discussing how he’ll handle media scrutiny in New York, which is a bigger market than Baltimore with more outlets covering the team. “There are like 10 Jerry Colemans in New York that are going to be pestering you,” Coleman said. “Are you prepped for all that?” “How could anybody prepare for 10 Jerry Colemans?” Harbaugh said, jokingly. “Oh my god, is that what it’s going to be like? I would have never taken this job if I had known that.” Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh says new Baltimore coach Jesse Minter, shown at his introductory news conference, is a great fit for the franchise. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Jesse Minter’s Ravens As Harbaugh adjusts to life in New York, he’s also watching the Ravens’ new staff take shape. He expects new head coach Jesse Minter to keep Baltimore’s physical and tough football identity the same in the coming seasons. “He’s going to keep Baltimore, Baltimore,” Harbaugh said. “The values, the culture, the worldview, the way they view things will stay the same.” The longtime Ravens coach also praised the hires of his former assistants, including Anthony Weaver. The former Baltimore defensive lineman will be the team’s defensive coordinator under Minter, a hire Harbaugh called “brilliant.” “He complements Jesse so perfectly well,” Harbaugh said. Harbaugh will root on Minter from afar as he turns his attention toward the Giants and their future. “I know Jesse will do an amazing job,” Harbaugh said. “It’s time to move on to the next thing. That’s how life works. I’m excited about that more than anything right now and just looking forward to what’s ahead.” Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Episode 25 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. The hosts are joined by former Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who will coach the New York Giants in 2026. Harbaugh discusses the end of his time in Baltimore and his thoughts on new Ravens coach Jesse Minter. You can watch the podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

It’s hard to tell if the Ravens’ new coaching staff assembled by first-year coach Jesse Minter will perform well, but it’s an interesting mix with five assistants coming from the college ranks. Right now, it’s hard to applaud — or offer condolences — but we’ll find out soon. Maybe it’s all part of the youth movement implemented by owner Steve Bisciotti when he hired Minter last month to become the team’s fourth head coach. Minter is 42 and his defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver, is 45. And then there is Declan Doyle, the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL at the ripe old age of 29. Hmm. He is the same age as star quarterback Lamar Jackson. That will be an interesting pairing. So will pairings with defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens (Notre Dame), defensive line coach Lou Esposito (Michigan), outside linebackers coach Harland Bower (Duke), safeties coach P.J. Volker and assistant defensive backs coach Miles Taylor (Nebraska). Mickens (38), Bower (37) and Taylor (30) have yet to turn 40. They might be good coaches, but the NFL is also a buddy league. Head coaches promise jobs to their friends as they ascend to the top, hoping one day to hire them as assistants. It’s not unusual. Head coaches also hire college assistants because they don’t like to be challenged, and that will happen if a longtime NFL assistant is hired. With Minter, that doesn’t appear to be a concern, not after working with both Jim and John Harbaugh. The problem is the difference in coaching college players, who are 18 to 22 years old, as opposed to a veteran such as cornerback Marlon Humphrey or outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. According to former Baltimore Colts safety Bruce Laird, who played in Baltimore from 1972 through 1981, NFL veterans want to find out if a coach really knows what he is talking about, and that builds respect. It’s different in college because of the youth and how gullible they are. In Lairdism, “they don’t know what they don’t know.” In college, players hit the transfer portal if they have gripes with coaches. In the NFL, it’s either done one way or players hit the unemployment line unless they’re a stud. Plus, NFL play is so much faster. Other differences include offensive linemen learning how to play in a three-point stance instead of being in the usual two point. Look at college cornerbacks, who basically aren’t taught to turn around and look for the ball in deep pass coverage anymore. Differences go on and on, from the various bubble screens run frequently in the college game to the poor tackling technique, which can be traced back to the high school level. Minter made a good move in hiring his dad, Rick, 71, as a senior analyst. As a former head coach at the University of Cincinnati, he led the Bearcats to three consecutive bowl games from 2000 to 2002. He can slow his son down, tell him to take a minute and catch his breath. Related Articles Ravens 2026 offseason guide: Examining free agents, key dates and more Ravens hire Anthony Levine Sr. as new special teams coordinator Ravens 7-round mock draft: Who might be a fit for new coach Jesse Minter? How Ravens’ Jesse Minter hopes to replicate what Mike Macdonald did with Seahawks READER POLL: Which Orioles player has the most to prove this spring? The hiring of Weaver was a good one because he has previously worked as the defensive line coach in Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston and Baltimore, and served as the coordinator in Miami the past two seasons. He played with some of the best and most vocal linebackers in team history, such as Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jarret Johnson. His opinion will be valued. The Ravens reportedly added former Pittsburgh running backs coach Eddie Faulkner, who was well respected by former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, and senior assistant Joe Lombardi, who was the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos until they lost to New England in the AFC championship game. That experience will add to the culture of the locker room, as will the addition of Dwayne Ledford, the former running game coordinator and offensive line coach in Atlanta. The Falcons have had a top 10 running game the past three seasons, but they also had Bijan Robinson, the best runner in the NFL. Who knows if it was Ledford or Robinson who made the difference, or was it both? Minter has put together a solid staff, but there will always be questions about coaches joining a pro staff from the college ranks, especially with so many good pro coaches available. It’s all about building relationships and gaining a player’s respect. We will see. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald will celebrate a Super Bowl title along with the rest of the Seahawks on Wednesday in Seattle, closing a 2025 campaign that was as wild as it was transformative. But in the NFL’s unforgiving calendar, the victory marks less of an end point than a pause. Across Baltimore and for the league’s 31 other teams, the work of building for the 2026 season is already underway. The opener is less than seven months away, and between now and then comes a familiar sequence that quietly shapes contenders: franchise tags, the scouting combine, free agency, the owners meeting, the draft. For Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, general manager Eric DeCosta and first-year coach Jesse Minter, the mandate has been clear: The roster must be good enough to chase the organization’s third championship. The most paramount of those matters is the contract status of two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and quarterback Lamar Jackson. There are still two years remaining on his deal, but Baltimore has been eager to extend (or at least restructure) it to reduce a looming $74.5 million salary cap hit. Even with the league cap expected to rise by roughly $20 million, the Ravens will need every bit of room they can create to address several needs, including some of their own players with the start of free agency only a month away. Here’s a look at which Ravens are free agents, who could be back, who might not be and other important dates to remember: Unrestricted free agents CB Chidobe Awuzie Awuzie, who will turn 31 in May, slipped and fell on a double move by Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III to surrender the game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass in Pittsburgh that sealed Baltimore’s fate in the regular-season finale. But for much of the year, he was a solid contributor in coverage and would be an inexpensive third or fourth option at the position. DT Taven Bryan Bryan is a former first-round draft pick who has now played for five teams over his underwhelming eight-year career after initially signing with Baltimore’s practice squad. He also appeared in just five games and had little impact before suffering a knee injury, so a reunion seems unlikely. G Daniel Faalele No one on the offensive line drew more criticism than the 6-foot-8, 370-pound 2022 fourth-round pick. His size is appealing, and playing guard was a new position the past two seasons for the former tackle, but Ravens brass has made it clear that the offensive line needs to improve. S Alohi Gilman Gilman’s addition via in-season trade helped free up All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. But his tackling was subpar, particularly over the final few games. Still, he played for Minter when the two were with the Los Angeles Chargers, so a return shouldn’t be ruled out. WR DeAndre Hopkins With just 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, the one-year Hopkins experiment didn’t pay dividends the way Baltimore hoped. He’ll also turn 34 in June, and it seems unlikely that the Ravens will bring him back. ILB Jake Hummel Hummel led the team in special teams snaps and was second in special teams tackles. He should also come relatively cheap, so a reunion would make sense. QB Tyler Huntley Huntley isn’t going to cost the bare minimum this time around after leading the Ravens to two wins while Jackson was injured. Still, with a minimal cap hit if the Ravens release the square peg in a round hole that was Cooper Rush post-June 1, bringing back Huntley would be wise. OLB Dre’Mont Jones Jones tallied 2 1/2 sacks in nine games after the Ravens added him at the trade deadline to bring his total to seven for the year. That could also price him out of Baltimore if he wants in the $10 million a year range, especially if DeCosta decides to spend big on a bona fide pass rusher such as Trey Hendrickson. TE Charlie Kolar With Mark Andrews getting a surprise extension after the team and Isaiah Likely couldn’t come to an agreement, it will be interesting to see what happens with Kolar. Four years into his career, he has proved to be a solid player who wouldn’t break the bank, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle comes from a Chicago Bears team that often used two-tight end sets. TE Isaiah Likely See above. The only way Likely sticks around is if he doesn’t get the money he hoped for — which is a possibility after an injury-filled and underperforming season. He is, however, close with Jackson, and that could be a factor. Related Articles Mike Preston: Will Ravens’ coaching youth movement pay off? | COMMENTARY Ravens hire Anthony Levine Sr. as new special teams coordinator Ravens 7-round mock draft: Who might be a fit for new coach Jesse Minter? How Ravens’ Jesse Minter hopes to replicate what Mike Macdonald did with Seahawks READER POLL: Which Orioles player has the most to prove this spring? C Tyler Linderbaum Linderbaum will be among the top available players if he hits the market. He’s also the Ravens’ biggest free agent priority. For a team expected to contend now, letting a three-time Pro Bowl center leave the building would be foolish. OT Joseph Noteboom A swing tackle who was inactive for seven games for an offensive line that was inconsistent at best is telling. Noteboom wouldn’t cost a lot to bring back, but the Ravens could go a different direction. OLB David Ojabo That Ojabo, a 2022 second-round pick out of Michigan who was often injured and didn’t have the kind of impact that was expected when he was healthy, stuck on the roster this long was a circumstantial miracle as much as anything. But at this point, a fresh start somewhere else would do both sides some good. FB Patrick Ricard Even though Ricard doesn’t log a ton of snaps, he has been integral to a highly successful Ravens ground game and running back Derrick Henry. He also turns 32 in May, has a lot of miles and last season missed two months with a calf injury. With only a few teams employing fullbacks, perhaps he’s affordable enough to bring back, though the Bears did not use a fullback when they were in heavy formations. P Jordan Stout Stout was an All-Pro after leading the NFL in net punting. He’s also the holder in the field goal operation. Still, it might cost the Ravens close to $4 million a year to keep him. DE Brent Urban Urban will turn 35 in May, but he still proved a dependable backup this past season amid a string of injuries to the line. He also likes Baltimore, and another cheap deal could spark a return. OLB Kyle Van Noy Van Noy will likewise turn 35 this offseason. He’s also coming off a two-sack season after a career-high 12 1/2 in 2024. It wouldn’t be a shock if his career were over. Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, shown cleaning out his locker after the 2025 season, saw a significant dip in his production this past season. He enters free agency with an uncertain NFL future. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) WR Tylan Wallace A special teams stalwart who is well-liked in the building, Wallace has never really developed a role on offense. Still, he likely wouldn’t cost much to bring back. S Ar’Darius Washington Washington is undersized and has a lengthy injury history. He also worked his way back from a torn Achilles tendon last offseason to make it back on the field for the final four games, and Baltimore needs a third safety to pair with Hamilton and Malaki Starks. His return, though, figures to be driven by what the price would be. Restricted free agents RB Keaton Mitchell How the Ravens handle the former undrafted free agent will be worth watching. If he gets a low tender, that would leave them vulnerable to another team plucking him without losing a draft pick. A second-round tender also seems too expensive for a player who has such an injury history. The best option is probably to sign him to an extension if Mitchell is amenable. Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell rushes for a long gain against the Steelers this past season. When healthy, Mitchell has been a valuable option in Baltimore's backfield. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Exclusive rights free agents C Corey Bullock A former Maryland standout, Bullock is one of a handful of Ravens players who have less than three years of accrued service and can be tendered a contract for the league minimum. If he is, he can’t negotiate with another team. After being active for every game last season, it would be a surprise if the Ravens didn’t bring him back, especially since he can be cut without impacting the salary cap. LB Carl Jones Jones appeared in just four games and only on special teams. Still, he’ll be just 25 in August, so there would be no harm in bringing him back. DT C.J. Okoye At 6-6, 370 pounds, Okoye is a developmental player from the league’s International Pathway Program, which the Ravens like. He also landed on the 53-man roster last season after a spate of injuries, so there are plenty of reasons for a return. WR Dayton Wade A significant rib injury landed Wade on injured reserve for the 2025 season. The Ravens could tender him with no risk, but the 2024 former undrafted free agent didn’t have the kind of training camp last year that he had the year before. Important dates to know Tuesday: Teams can issue a franchise or transition tag for one player. The franchise tag is more expensive (average of top-five salaries) and offers better protection (compensation if the player leaves), while a transition tag is cheaper (top-10 salaries) and offers no draft pick compensation if the player leaves. Feb. 23-March 2: NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. March 3: 4 p.m. deadline for teams to issue a franchise or transition tag. March 9: Beginning at noon through 3:59:59 p.m. on March 11, teams can contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. March 11: The league year and free agency signing period begin at 4 p.m. Trades can also begin. March 29-April 1: Annual owners meeting in Phoenix. April 6: Teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season can begin offseason workout programs. April 15: Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical with a draft-eligible player at its facility. April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets. April 20: Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs. April 22: Deadline for teams to exercise the right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets. Also the deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct physicals with a draft-eligible player at any location. April 23-25: NFL draft in Pittsburgh. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Jesse Minter’s first staff in Baltimore is nearly complete. Anthony Levine Sr., who most recently served as an assistant special teams coach under John Harbaugh, will be promoted to special teams coordinator, the Ravens announced Tuesday night. As a player, Levine spent two seasons in Green Bay and then a decade in Baltimore, earning the nickname “Co-Cap” for his contributions on the third phase. He holds the Ravens’ franchise record for special teams tackles with 62. Levine predominantly starred in a special teams role, but as a safety, he spent a brief period playing under Minter, who coached defensive backs for two of his four seasons during his first Baltimore stint. Levine has a pair of Super Bowl rings too, one while on the Packers’ practice squad in 2010 and another with the Ravens from 2012. After his playing career, Levine spent two seasons as an assistant special teams coach in Tennessee before returning to the Ravens to work under former special teams coach Chris Horton. Former Ravens safety Geno Stone posted on X, “Man so happy for my bro! Showed me everything I needed to know to be a pro in this league!” Tony Jefferson, another former Ravens safety, posted, “you worked yo [butt] off for this moment bro!” Of the four lead voices in Baltimore – Minter, head coach; Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator; Anthony Weaver; defensive coordinator; and Levine, special teams coordinator – three have previous ties to the Ravens. Doyle is the only newcomer. The 38-year-old Levine also interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ special teams coordinator opening. Instead, he’ll inherit a special teams unit that, by and large, proved to be a bright spot for the Ravens this past season. Punter Jordan Stout earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nod. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop had a solid first year, despite its gutting finish. And Horton managed to get the most out of undrafted rookie Keondre Jackson, who, like Levine, started his career on the practice squad. Same with depth defensive back T.J. Tampa, who missed most of his rookie year because of injuries. Those two finished top-three in special teams tackles this past season. As a whole, Baltimore’s special teams unit struggled in 2024. The group bounced back in 2025, jumping from No. 23 in special teams efficiency to No. 12, according to FTN. It will be up to Levine to carry that success into the new regime. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

With a new coach in place, the Ravens enter one of the most fascinating offseasons in team history. Jesse Minter is still rounding out his staff, which includes 29-year-old offensive coordinator and first-time play-caller Declan Doyle, run game coordinator/offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and former Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker. Minter will call the defensive plays after doing so with the Los Angeles Chargers and Michigan, but the 42-year-old brought in former Baltimore assistant Anthony Weaver to be his defensive coordinator. While John Harbaugh is gone, there is still continuity in the front office and the same organizational structure in place. General manager Eric DeCosta, who led the search for Minter, remains in charge of player personnel. While it’s unknown how DeCosta and Minter will approach free agency, which includes several high-profile players from Baltimore and Los Angeles, the draft will be crucial in filling out a roster that aims to contend for a Super Bowl title after a disappointing season that fell short of the playoffs. Contract negotiations with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is set to count $74.5 million against the salary cap next season under the terms of his current five-year, $260 million deal, adds even more urgency to find impact players at positions of need. With the help of Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator, here are The Baltimore Sun’s early projections for the Ravens’ 11 picks, including four projected compensatory selections: Round 1, No. 14 overall: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn The Ravens’ first pick will set the tone for what kind of team they want to build under Minter. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Faulk is an intriguing prospect with a long frame and the versatility to line up across odd or even fronts. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes that Faulk is “a culture player with high character who earns a grade bump based on his age (turns 21 in September), traits and advanced foundation.” Faulk only recorded 10 sacks in three college seasons, but he has the potential to grow into a productive pass rusher for a team that desperately needs one. Also considered: Wisconsin EDGE Mason Reiger, UCLA OT Garrett DiGiorgio, UCF EDGE Nyjalik Kelly Round 7, No. 252 (compensatory): Kaden Wetjen, WR/KR, Iowa There’s room for some competition next to 2025 sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester to be the Ravens’ punt returner. The 5-9, 196-pound Wetjen (pronounced Wee-gin) showed game-breaking ability at Iowa, scoring six career return touchdowns and averaging a nation-best 26.8 yards per punt return this past season. He was the only player in program history to score a rushing, receiving, kickoff return, and punt return touchdown in the same season. Also considered: Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Auburn G Jeremiah Wright, JMU S Jacob Thomas Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The first person Mike Macdonald called after being hired as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach two years ago was Leslie Frazier. They had overlapped for one season in Baltimore in 2016. Macdonald was 36 then, a fast-rising defensive assistant still learning how the league worked. Frazier was 64, a grizzled NFL lifer with nearly two decades of experience who was charged with coaching the Ravens’ safeties. The age gap hardly mattered. There was an immediate connection, Frazier said. His experience also told him that Macdonald had the kind of presence that carries a coach far: a natural way with people, ideas that made sense, and — most importantly — ideas players respected. Sunday night in Santa Clara, California, that promise crystallized. Macdonald, droplets of yellow Gatorade still trickling from the bill of his cap, paused near midfield at Levi’s Stadium. As confetti drifted down and the noise swelled around him, he stared skyward, mouth agape, eyes wide as pie plates, absorbing the moment. At 38, he had just become the third-youngest head coach to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. He is also believed to be the first Super Bowl-winning head coach to call his own defensive plays. That distinction did nothing to diminish Frazier’s role. As an assistant head coach for Seattle, he has been one of Macdonald’s closest collaborators. “He’s just a great complement to my skill set, to my personality,” Macdonald said in his postgame news conference. “He’s such a great connector with the players, such a great communicator. He calls our bluff when we’re full of crap on defense, when we do stupid stuff in game planning. … He’s been tremendous.” In Baltimore, the Ravens are hoping Jesse Minter can be for them what Macdonald has been for Seattle. Minter, 42, a former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator and now the Ravens’ head coach, is tasked with following a familiar blueprint. In two years as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator, Macdonald architected a dominating 2023 defense that became the first to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed. This season in Seattle, he joined Chuck Noll and Bill Belichick as the only coaches to lead the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense both as a coordinator and as a Super Bowl-winning head coach. He also became just the second former Ravens coordinator to win a title, joining Gary Kubiak with the 2015 Denver Broncos. Though Macdonald and Minter narrowly missed overlapping on the Ravens’ staff — Minter coached in Baltimore from 2017 to 2020 — the two know each other well. They come from the same John Harbaugh coaching tree, share much of the same defensive DNA and have become friendly. And as Minter’s father, Rick, a longtime NFL and college coach who will join Baltimore as a senior analyst, said recently, the “blueprint” is already out there in Seattle. Macdonald’s fingerprints were everywhere in Seattle’s 29-13 thumping of the New England Patriots. After the game, Macdonald told ESPN’s Chris Berman that the Lombardi Trophy felt lighter than he expected. What struck him more, though, were the actual fingerprints on the trophy after it had been passed around the locker room. The symbolism wasn’t lost on the former Ravens intern. The Seahawks entered the game with the fifth-lowest blitz rate in the league, according to Next Gen Stats. Against New England, they sent an extra rusher just seven times, but with each featuring a defensive back. No one was more disruptive than three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who rushed six times after recording zero blitzes over the previous four games. The results were decisive: four pressures, three quarterback hits and a sack. None mattered more than Witherspoon’s fourth-quarter blitz, which jarred the ball loose from quarterback Drake Maye — sacked six times on the night — and into the arms of linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who sprinted 45 yards for a punctuating touchdown. It was one of three turnovers forced by Seattle. The design was deliberate. Macdonald anticipated that the Patriots’ running backs would slide in protection, so Seattle often sent multiple defenders and pressure away from the slide. The chaos up front freed the secondary, particularly rookie nickelback Nick Emmanwori. It was the same kind of thinking Macdonald once employed in Baltimore, where Minter will now look to maximize talents like All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon forces Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to fumble. Seattle's defense was dominant in its Super Bowl victory over New England. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL) Minter is likewise assembling his staff in a similar fashion. Like Macdonald, he will call the defensive plays himself. For his defensive coordinator, he will lean on Anthony Weaver — Baltimore’s defensive line coach from 2021 to 2023 — to be a respected voice that can carry a meeting room and hold players accountable. Weaver also brings experience from previous stints with the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. While many of Minter’s other hires skew younger, he has prioritized at least some veteran voices among the group, too. It’s also worth remembering that even Macdonald’s early decisions weren’t flawless. His first offensive coordinator hire, Ryan Grubb from the University of Washington, proved to be the wrong fit, a realization that quickly led him to Klint Kubiak this season. How the roster was pieced together by Macdonald and general manger John Schneider mattered as well. The Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith and signed Sam Darnold. They dealt enigmatic DK Metcalf and instead built their receiving game around young star Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They drafted Emmanwori to be Macdonald’s version of Hamilton. Related Articles READER POLL: Which Orioles player has the most to prove this spring? Ravens among way-too-early Super Bowl LXI favorites How Ravens offseason moves will depend on Lamar Jackson’s contract status Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2026 Hall of Fame class Ravens could play in NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro next season All of it was done with an eye toward cohesiveness. “This team is one of one as far as the players and the relationships,” Emmanwori told reporters. “I promise you. I wish they would record all the behind-the-scenes [stuff], because they would have really seen how tight this was. But we know how tight this was, so this team is one of one. It’ll be hard to recreate this.” How Minter’s choices unfold and what roster decisions general manager Eric DeCosta makes remains to be seen. Unsurprisingly, though, they are searching for the same traits that define Macdonald and the culture he created in Seattle. They are, after all, the same ones borne out of his time in Baltimore. “I’m looking for leaders and connectors and relationship builders and schematic expertise,” Minter said last month. “But most importantly, guys that the players believe in. Coaches who are willing to dive deep and build really strong relationships. When it feels collaborative — when it feels like it’s ours — that’s when we’ll be at our best.” The fingerprints on the Vince Lombardi Trophy say the rest. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baseball season is around the corner. The Orioles this week report for spring training, beginning a season with high hopes after they signed Pete Alonso to a massive free agent contract and traded for Taylor Ward and Shane Baz. Which Orioles player has the most to prove this spring? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Within an hour of blue and green confetti raining over the newly crowned Seattle Seahawks, sportsbooks everywhere raced to project which team might be next. To preface: Super Bowl odds created in early February rarely hold through the offseason. So expect some movement on these numbers. Seattle emerges as the way-too-early Super Bowl LXI favorite, according to the two major sportsbook sites. FanDuel projects the Seahawks at +750, just ahead of the Rams (+800), while DraftKings gave similar +950 odds to both Seattle and Los Angeles at the top of the pack. Those two duked it out in the NFC championship game and have good reason to believe they might be back. The Ravens are next in line. Baltimore was a preseason Super Bowl favorite last year before unraveling early, crawling back then missing the playoffs altogether. Sportsbooks foresee redemption: FanDuel says the Ravens have 12-1 odds to win the Super Bowl (tied with Buffalo) in Inglewood, California, and DraftKings lists their odds at 13-1 (behind the Bills, tied with New England and Philadelphia). Of the six teams leading the pack, the Ravens (Jesse Minter) and Bills (Joe Brady) will enter 2026 with first-time coaches. Each returns centerpieces of a talented roster, so those in charge of manufacturing odds don’t see a new coach as much of a hurdle in their championship quest. Plus, Mike Vrabel led the Patriots to the big game in his first season, and Mike Macdonald won the whole thing in Year 2. According to ESPN research, if the current odds hold until August, the Seahawks and Rams would own the longest shot for a preseason favorite since at least 1977. At the start of this past season, the Seahawks and Patriots were both long shots to play football in February. Seattle had 60-1 odds and the Patriots were 80-1 to win it all, according to DraftKings. John Harbaugh’s Giants are right in that ballpark. As are the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers. These numbers are fun now because football is a year-round sport, but the months of Sundays without games can feel empty. So sportsbooks keep fans thinking about what’s next. The primary source of toggling odds begins next month, when free agency begins. The NFL free agency window opens at 4 p.m. on March 11. If the Ravens play their cards right and general manager Eric DeCosta fulfills his promise to be an active participant, they could leapfrog to the top of the Super Bowl odds board. Related Articles READER POLL: Which Orioles player has the most to prove this spring? How Ravens offseason moves will depend on Lamar Jackson’s contract status Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2026 Hall of Fame class Ravens could play in NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro next season READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans confident in new coach Jesse Minter It’s an all-important time to set the tone for a Super Bowl contender. Last year, the Patriots and Seahawks were among the biggest spenders in free agency. The Ravens finished in the bottom two. And yet, as several Ravens — and fans — reminded themselves throughout this most recent, trying season, as long as Lamar Jackson is their quarterback, they’ll always have a chance. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Eric DeCosta had hoped to be adding to Baltimore’s own display case. But with that dream long ago dashed by an ignominious season and a missed playoff berth that led to the firing of the NFL’s second-longest-tenured and the franchise’s winningest coach, the clock has already been ticking on Baltimore’s most pressing problem as it relates to trying to achieve that goal. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is under contract for each of the next two seasons, is due to make $74.5 million in 2026 and 2027, a massive increase from the $43.5 million salary cap number he played on in 2025. With such a prohibitive figure — only Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes are slated to have bigger cap hits — and the start of the new league year on March 11 looming, the coming days and weeks will be paramount to the Ravens’ plans. Simply put, Baltimore is like a large luxury home that has been around a long time — it has a lot of needs and requires a lot of money to address them. Even with an influx of salary cap space as the league’s limit is set to jump from $279.2 million to somewhere between $301.2 million and $305.7 million, DeCosta will have to be judicious with his spending when it comes to addressing needs for pass rush upgrades, offensive line improvements and help at cornerback and wide receiver, among other positions. All of it, of course, starts with Jackson. Like any star quarterback, the 29-year-old two-time NFL Most Valuable Player will command the highest chunk of cap space on the roster — roughly 25% under the terms of his five-year, $260 million extension that he signed in 2023. With Jackson set to enter his ninth season and using history as a guide, there are perhaps only a few more seasons left in which he will be an elite and dynamic runner. That doesn’t mean he can’t still be a top-tier operator — Randall Cunningham and Steve Young are two examples of mobile quarterbacks who continued to play at a high level into their mid-30s — but his success at some point in the near future will be much more connected to his passing than his running. For now, his superpower as a runner remains, which is why Bisciotti says that he’d like “another window” with Jackson and his contract. The good news for Baltimore — aside from more wiggle room with a new financial ceiling — is that there are myriad ways to make Jackson’s contract more palatable and roster-friendly. Extension or restructure? The most straightforward and preferred way? Sign him to an extension. What would that look like and what could it result in? Signing Jackson to a deal that would extend beyond 2028 would create somewhere around $25 million to $35 million in room, depending on how the contract is structured. That wouldn’t necessarily result in the biggest savings, though. Restructuring his 2026 salary, as Russell Street Report cap guru Brian MacFarland notes, would open up just over $38 million in savings. The downside, however, is that it doesn’t secure Jackson for the long-term and it pushes another $38 million onto both the 2027 and 2028 cap. It does, at least, make those problems for another day. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement on either scenario, the Ravens will have to find other ways to shed money while carrying such a large cap hit for Jackson. Whatever happens with Jackson’s contract, though, Baltimore is inclined to make some moves this offseason that will free up some money to increase its spending power on some potential “big ticket” items, as DeCosta called them. With the new cap, the Ravens are currently projected to have about $22 million (which includes roughly $10 million of carryover from 2025) in salary cap space — though that number accounts for only the 48 players currently under contract and the amount of space would shrink when the Rule of 51 is applied. With 19 of its own unrestricted free agents, including Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, All-Pro punter Jordan Stout, Pro Bowl fullback Pat Ricard, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, and tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, Baltimore will have to carve out some money for some of its own players. Linderbaum would far and away be the priciest, with the 2021 first-round draft pick and three-time Pro Bowl selection expected to fetch around $17 million a year on the open market. That also doesn’t account for any outside additions the Ravens make. A top-tier pass rusher such as Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks in 2024, would be even more expensive at around $25 million. The uncertainty around Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and his neck injury also could make things complicated, though perhaps there is positive news on that front given his recent social media post. Still, there are other ways to clear up cap space. Roster ripple effects The two most obvious salary cap casualties on the roster are defensive tackle Broderick Washington and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Jettisoning them immediately would clear up about $11 million, or roughly $23 million if done with a post-June 1 designation, with Humphrey accounting for $19.25 million in savings post-June 1 and just $7 million in dead money for 2026. With Humphrey turning 30 in July and his play dipping this past season, parting ways now would be the classic example of moving on a year early rather than a year too late. Washington, who will turn 30 in early December and appeared in just three games because of an Achilles tendon injury in 2025, simply hasn’t been productive enough since the Ravens signed him to a three-year, $17.5 million extension in 2023. Beyond them, there aren’t a lot of logical releases that would clear up chunks of space, though. Releasing running back Justice Hill would save $3.15 million, as one example. But he’s been a versatile and dependable player who is vital in pass protection. Important in that equation, though, is former undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell, who is Baltimore’s lone restricted free agent. Even before Hill went on injured reserve with a neck injury this past season, Mitchell’s usage had started to increase. That will make for an interesting decision for the Ravens. There are a few options, including a first-, second-, or right-of-first-refusal tender. Forget the first one, because at roughly $7.8 million, that’s too much for a boutique player with an injury history. A second-round tender, though, will cost about $5.8 million, while the low tender would be about $3.5 million. Importantly, though, because Mitchell was undrafted, the low tender would not net Baltimore a draft pick should it decline to match another team’s offer. That means a second-round tender could be an option, or Baltimore could sign him to a short extension, which would also provide a lower salary cap hit than a second-round tender and keep him in the fold longer. If Mitchell is not tendered, he would become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to test his market value. How the Ravens handle Mitchell could be an indicator of what they plan to do with Hill, especially if there are any lingering concerns over his neck injury and if the feeling is that Mitchell or fellow back Rasheen Ali can develop into serviceable pass blockers. Star running back Derrick Henry, coming off two highly productive seasons in Baltimore, is set to count $16.2 million against the cap entering his age-33 season. But nothing is more significant than what happens with Jackson, and the Ravens would like to get something done sooner rather than later. “We want another window, and Lamar knows that,” Bisciotti said. “I think he is amenable to doing something that mirrors the last deal that he did, although the annual number will be a little higher. But I’m hoping that it’s plug in your number in the same contract he signed [in 2023] and move on. “The urgency of that matters to me because we’ve got free agents, and I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head. I made that clear to Lamar, and I think he was very appreciative of my stance, and hopefully, willing to work with Eric and not get this thing dragged out into April like it was the last time.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Former Ravens Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda long ago secured their legacies in franchise lore as two of the best to play for any team at their respective positions. When it comes to football’s highest individual honor, though, they will once again have to wait until next year. Though both were among this year’s 15 finalists for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, neither was selected for enshrinement Thursday night. It marks the second straight year that neither received the requisite minimum 40 out of 50 votes after they were both finalists in their first time on the ballot last year. Instead, quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri and running back Roger Craig, the lone pick among seniors, coaches and contributors, were chosen to be enshrined. They will be inducted this August in Canton, Ohio. That neither Suggs nor Yanda got in for a second straight year was at least somewhat surprising. Of course, neither did former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick nor owner Robert Kraft, both of whom were on the ballot for the first time and whose achievements long ago were worthy of being immortalized. Suggs and Yanda have strong cases, too. Eighth all-time in total sacks, Suggs was also the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year, an All-Pro in 2011 and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection during his 17-year career as an outside linebacker. The seven men ahead of him in sacks — Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Julius Peppers, Chris Doleman, Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor — are also already in. Of that group, Taylor had just a half-sack more than Suggs across 15 seasons and was enshrined in his first year of eligibility in 2017. Four of the five players behind Suggs in career sacks — DeMarcus Ware, Richard Dent, John Randle, Jared Allen — are also in. In addition to getting to the quarterback, Suggs was a strong run defender, recorded 39 forced fumbles, made seven interceptions and won two Super Bowls, including one with Baltimore. In seven of his seasons, he also had at least 10 sacks. Yanda’s resume isn’t as dazzling — typical for an offensive lineman and especially a guard — but he had received strong support the past two years. He was twice voted first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in eight of his final nine seasons in what was a 15-year career. He was also a unanimous choice for the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s and proved versatile, moving from right guard to left guard after hurting his lead shoulder during the 2016 season. Like Suggs, Yanda was a key member of the Ravens’ 2013 championship team. Guards are also not prevalent in the Hall, with only 17 enshrined. Alan Faneca, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, was the most recent to be inducted in 2021. Whether Suggs or Yanda gets the nod next year also remains to be seen, with quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton and running back Adrian Peterson among those eligible in 2027. Suggs and Yanda will, however, be automatic modern era finalists as they were in the final seven this year but fell short of getting 80% of the vote. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens could play in NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro next season READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans confident in new coach Jesse Minter Joe Flacco on NFL physicality, penalties: ‘We signed up to get concussions’ What can the Ravens learn from this season’s Super Bowl teams? Recent mock drafts give Ravens additional offensive firepower in 1st round View the full article

Could the Ravens be headed to Rio de Janeiro later this year? The NFL announced Thursday that the Dallas Cowboys will play the league’s first regular-season game in the former capital city of Brazil in 2026. It marks the third straight year that the NFL will play in the country after games in Sao Paulo each of the past two seasons. It will be the Cowboys’ first international game as the home team and first international game overall since 2014, when they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London. Baltimore is also one of the teams on Dallas’ home schedule for next season, setting up the possibility for the Ravens’ first game in South America in the franchise’s 31-year history. The other teams the Cowboys are scheduled to play at home include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. But with the 49ers slated to play the Los Angeles Rams in Australia in 2026, they would not be in consideration for Brazil. Dallas will also play its three NFC East rivals, the Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, at home, though it’s rare for the NFL to pit divisional opponents as part of its International Series, with the 49ers and Rams an exception. The Eagles also just played in Brazil to open the 2024 season. Of the remaining opponents, the Ravens would be the most appealing given the significant popularity of quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson in Brazil and the matchup being a compelling opening weekend showdown. Though no date for the game has been announced, each of the league’s past two games in South America took place on the Friday of Week 1. If history holds, that would mean a Sept. 11 contest at Maracana Stadium, a historic 70,000-seat venue that was the site of the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals in soccer as well as the opening ceremony for the 2016 Olympics. “Introducing one of the league’s most iconic teams to the Maracanã Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide,” NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez said in a statement. “Bringing a regular-season game to Rio strengthens our connection to a vibrant and passionate football community and underscores our long-term commitment to the market.” Aside from the Cowboys, the Ravens, who will only play eight home games at recently renovated M&T Bank Stadium, are also slated to play a road game against the Atlanta Falcons, another team that has been designated to host an international game, though a location has yet to be announced. The Ravens have played just two international games previously, both in London. They lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 44-7, at Wembley Stadium in 2017 and beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-16, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023. “Lamar and the growth internationally is something that we embrace fully,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said during last spring’s league meeting when asked about the potential for Baltimore to play more international games. Related Articles Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2026 Hall of Fame class READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans confident in new coach Jesse Minter Joe Flacco on NFL physicality, penalties: ‘We signed up to get concussions’ What can the Ravens learn from this season’s Super Bowl teams? Recent mock drafts give Ravens additional offensive firepower in 1st round The Cowboys, meanwhile, are no strangers to playing abroad, though most have taken place in the preseason with jaunts to Tokyo, Toronto, Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones previously previously said that his preference was to play a regular-season game in Mexico City in 2026. Dallas was also a possibility to play the Rams in Melbourne, but Los Angeles protected that game for SoFi Stadium. There will be a record total nine international games in 2026. Other locales include Paris, Munich, Madrid and London, which will host three games. The NFL’s full schedule will be announced in May. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

We asked readers their confidence level in new Ravens coach Jesse Minter. The former Chargers defensive coordinator will be a first-time NFL head coach in 2026. Here are the results from our online poll: Very high — 36.9% (188 votes) High — 36.9% (188 votes) Somewhat high — 18.2% (55 votes) Low — 5% (15 votes) Very low — 3% (9 votes) Here’s what some fans have said about their confidence level in Baltimore’s new coach (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): He’ll only be as good as the team general manager Eric DeCosta provides him with. — Robert Moore I think fans will have to be patient with Jesse Minter as he, his coordinators, and coaches will have to grow into their positions. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, in particular, will have to fast track his development as he will call plays for an offense and quarterback with the most unique skill set in the league. But it helps that Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver have a history, and a good one, with the organization. I am very confident Minter will consistently lead the Ravens into the playoffs. — Fran V. This looks like a very good hire by the Ravens’ organization. With that said, unless management and ownership get Lamar Jackson back in line, it won’t matter who the head coach of this team is no matter what John Harbaugh, DeCosta and even the owner has stated in the past, Lamar Jackson is a cancer in this locker room. Now even Minter is saying the right things by indicating that relationships take time to develop. This organization has a major problem with Lamar that everybody keeps avoiding and it better be dealt with urgency or Minter doesn’t have a chance. Harbaugh couldn’t be any happier that he got fired and away from this inner turmoil. — Bob Lancione It could not get higher! It’s the job he always dreamed of! He’s brilliant and a great listener and will and has proven himself over and over again. — Penny O’Connell Same as I had with Harbaugh, none. — Phil Hartman Confidence level is high. He has a vision, a plan I can see and is hiring staff strategically. — Peter Davis Great. He’s building a superior coaching staff. The Ravens are the only team in the AFC North that’s ready to move into the future. The Steelers went with an old school coach; no new wrinkles there. The Browns took the Ravens scraps; already been figured out and the Bengals stood still. I believe the Ravens will be the team to beat. — Jeff King Optimism? High. Confidence? Er … he’s a newbie HC who by all accounts is ready. I’m sure there will be a learning curve. — Will Hicklen ANYTHING IS AN IMPROVEMENT! — Scott Frank Pity is my thought. … He has been left with a mess. … Taking back power from Lamar won’t be easy and will take a long time before he can actually do his job. — Barbara Woolard Related Articles Joe Flacco on NFL physicality, penalties: ‘We signed up to get concussions’ What can the Ravens learn from this season’s Super Bowl teams? Recent mock drafts give Ravens additional offensive firepower in 1st round P.J. Volker had to choose between best friends in leaving Navy for Ravens Watch Episode 24 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law I don’t predict the NFL anymore. When the season started, the Ravens were the favorites, and now the Super Bowl is between New England and Seattle. Never saw that happening. — Kwaku Elliott Bennett The Ravens are going to be horrible for the next couple of years. — Frank Vincent I like the direction we’re going. It was time for a change. — Stephan Daskal Very high. — Chip Rosenberg The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Joe Flacco didn’t explicitly use the “S” word. But in a 150-second clip from an interview he gave on Super Bowl 60’s Radio Row, he accused the NFL of going soft. “The guys that are coming into the league nowadays, they’d look at me like I’m crazy,” he told ESPN’s Kevin Clark. “Like, what do you mean you want receivers to get laid out over the middle and you want guys to be able to land on you? I’m like, yeah, guys, that’s football.” At 41, Flacco is the second-oldest quarterback in the NFL, behind only Aaron Rodgers. He played 11 years in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl alongside one of the most physical linebackers in league history, Ray Lewis. For the first two months of the season, Flacco shared a quarterback room in Cleveland with two rookies, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, then was traded to Cincinnati to back up the ultra-competitive Joe Burrow. “I don’t think anybody coming into the league these days is quite as battle-tested as guys that came into the league 15 years ago,” Flacco said. “I think our generation does benefit from, you know, dealing with a little bit of tougher time, just like the generation 20 years before me benefited over us.” It was part of an impassioned diatribe. At one point, he referred to CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head, as a “thing these days.” Flacco raised two fingers for air quotes. “But it’s football,” he said. “We signed up to play it.” He later said, “Listen, we signed up to get concussions. We signed up to get hurt. It is what it is. You might not like that, but that’s kind of what we did.” The crux of Flacco’s argument is that ticky-tack penalties can change the outcome of a game. Although he’s often a beneficiary, defenders shouldn’t be flagged 15 yards for slapping or landing on quarterbacks, he said. “It honestly annoys me because it affects games in a negative way at random times and they can call it or not call it,” Flacco said. “It needs to get out of the game.” Flacco went on to assert that tighter officiating on personal foul penalties has caused defenders to not play so aggressively for fear of ramifications. There were 25 roughing the passer penalties levied this past season, according to Spotrac, amounting to $334,134 in fines. That’s roughly half the amount of penalties and subsequent money owed in 2024. Kyle Van Noy was the only Raven charged this year. After Week 2, the NFL fined Van Noy $17,389 for landing his body weight on top of — you guessed it — Flacco. Van Noy, however, was not flagged in real time. In November, Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt was flagged (but not fined) for roughing the passer after burying Flacco. The old-school quarterback had the same thought process then as he does now: “That’s football.” The play flipped a third-and-8 at Cincinnati’s own 26-yard line to a first down close to midfield. Related Articles What can the Ravens learn from this season’s Super Bowl teams? Recent mock drafts give Ravens additional offensive firepower in 1st round P.J. Volker had to choose between best friends in leaving Navy for Ravens Watch Episode 24 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens’ Jesse Minter tested schemes on Madden. Now he’s an NFL head coach. Clark asked Flacco if any specific instances came to mind in which a player was penalized and Flacco benefited but thought, “Really? They threw a flag on that?” He didn’t have a specific example to share but let out an exasperated, “Yes.” During Flacco’s self-described rant, he also said that a good high school recruit can “kinda ride your way through college” knowing NFL teams will take a chance on potential. That wasn’t so prevalent when Flacco was drafted out of Delaware in 2008, he said. “I kinda came in as it was transitioning, so I still have that mindset,” he said. Penalties on what he deems “normal hits” have “changed the game a lot.” Some NFL fans on social media seemed to agree wholeheartedly. So did future Hall of Fame defensive end J.J. Watt and Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. Flacco knows the NFL isn’t likely to agree or make changes based on his Radio Row interview. But as a longtime fan and veteran at the position, he was feeling a bit nostalgic for the sport’s brutality this week. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article