ExtremeRavens

The Ravens entered this offseason under first-year coach Jesse Minter with more questions than answers. In addition to building an entirely new coaching staff and trying to navigate a path forward following an unsatisfactory 8-9 campaign that resulted in Baltimore failing to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021, the roster is in significant flux. The Ravens have 19 unrestricted free agents, one restricted free agent (running back Keaton Mitchell) and a handful of exclusive rights free agents (players with fewer than three accrued seasons who cannot negotiate with other teams if tendered). Many of them were starters or played significant roles last season, and general manager Eric DeCosta must now decide who Baltimore wants to bring back with several needs across multiple position groups. The NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday at noon, which is when teams can officially meet with representatives of free agents. Though free agents can’t sign with new teams and players can’t officially be traded until the start of the new league year beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m., many deals will already have been agreed upon by then. Here is the latest on the Ravens’ signings, departures and notable moves. March 7: QB Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley returning Veteran Cooper Rush never looked like the right fit for the Ravens’ offense, despite his previous success with the Dallas Cowboys. So it’s of little surprise that Baltimore is bringing back its most familiar backup to Lamar Jackson. Huntley led the Ravens to a pair of crucial wins to temporarily keep their playoff hopes alive last season while Jackson was injured. Now he’s being rewarded with a two-year, $10 million deal that is worth up to $11 million with incentives, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The former undrafted free agent who spent all but one of his six seasons with the Ravens had earned just over $7 million for his career before the new contract. Baltimore can also save $2.1 million by designating Rush as a post-June1 release and save another $700,000 from a roster bonus if they make a move by March 15. As for Huntley, he completed 77.6% of his passes for 426 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for 151 yards on 24 attempts in five games last season. That included a Week 17 must-win matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, where Huntley completed 16 of 20 passes for 107 yards and touchdown and ran for 60 yards on eight carries in the 41-24 victory. “We got all the trust in the world in ‘Snoop,’” center Tyler Linderbaum said after the victory over the Packers. “He got us out of some really critical situations and made a lot of plays. That’s what you need.” Related Articles Ravens’ Maxx Crosby speaks after trade: ‘I know there’s no guarantees’ 5 things you might not know about new Ravens star Maxx Crosby Josh Tolentino: DeCosta’s biggest swing brings Maxx Crosby to Ravens | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens turn weakness into strength with Maxx Crosby trade | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby In his two starts — the other came at home against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 — Huntley completed 33 of 42 passes for 293 yards and two scores while adding another 113 rushing yards on 16 carries. Huntley was Jackson’s primary backup from 2021 to 2023 before signing with the Browns in free agency in 2024. He then rejoined the Ravens’ practice squad after Cleveland released him before the start of the regular season. He was then signed off their practice squad by the Dolphins, going 2-3 as a starter for Miami before returning to Baltimore for his third stint last year. For his career, Huntley, who is close with Jackson and has guided Baltimore to seven wins in 16 starts, has completed 66.2% of his passes for 3,212 yards and 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for 795 yards and five scores on 165 carries. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Maxx Crosby sat under studio lights and delivered a nearly 13-minute monologue that served as his farewell to Las Vegas and hello to Baltimore. The uber-talented edge rusher, who the Ravens traded away two first-round draft picks to acquire on Friday night, said that he’d keep his promise to be a “Raider for life.” Crosby wants to one day retire wearing a silver and black jersey, “but for the time being, it’s a new day. I’m going to Baltimore.” Crosby posted the video to several social channels. He wore a camo hoodie and a backwards black hat, deeply exhaled, and began his goodbye by acknowledging that he couldn’t believe this was real (a sentiment many Ravens fans share). The five-time Pro Bowl selection never thought that he’d leave the Raiders. Winning a championship with the team that took a chance on the kid from Eastern Michigan in the fourth round was always front of mind. Las Vegas never sniffed football in February, reaching only as far as the wild-card round in 2021. Crosby said that it was the most fun he’d ever had playing football. Now, he’ll join a defense in dire need of recapturing lost dominance. He’ll step into a locker room where simply making the playoffs isn’t enough. He’ll help shoulder the burden of championship dreams, which Crosby acknowledged. “I know it’s gonna be very difficult,” he said. “I know there’s no guarantees in this. But I’m gonna give everything in my heart and soul to bring a championship to Baltimore.” The Ravens will have Crosby under team control through 2029. The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension last March with a salary cap hit of $35.8 million for 2026 and $115.8 million in total remaining on his deal. He’s earned every bit, logging 69 1/2 sacks over seven seasons. Crosby said that he’s already spoken with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, general manager Eric DeCosta, first-year coach Jesse Minter and several other coaches. He promised to “lead by action.” “I’m going to be myself fully,” he said. “I’m going to help the organization, help my teammates, help everyone involved, get as close as we possibly can, and get to the pinnacle. And that requires hard work. It’s going to be ups and downs. It’s going to be a roller coaster. But, ultimately, the goal never changes.” The video concluded with a series of thank yous. Crosby was transparent in his intentions: win here, go home, and retire off into the sunset. 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. Related Articles 5 things you might not know about new Ravens star Maxx Crosby Josh Tolentino: DeCosta’s biggest swing brings Maxx Crosby to Ravens | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens turn weakness into strength with Maxx Crosby trade | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby View the full article

Two weeks ago, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged a need to “augment” the team’s pass rush. Each of the past two Super Bowl winners featured a “ferocious pass rush” and, somehow, some way, he wanted that in Baltimore. On Friday, DeCosta took the biggest swing of his front office tenure by trading two first-round draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for superstar Maxx Crosby. Here are five (outside the obvious) things to know about Baltimore’s new pass rusher: He once signed the largest non-QB deal. That lasted less than a week. Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days before he was traded to the Ravens, Las Vegas made Crosby the highest-paid player in the NFL who isn’t a quarterback. It was a three-year, $106.5 million extension. Crosby held that title for all of four days before Cleveland made Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback. But it’s a nod to how valuable the position is and the caliber of player coming to Baltimore. Former Raiders coach Pete Carroll said at the time, “There’s no way we could find anybody that is more focused and directed and committed to giving everything he’s got to every opportunity he is going to get.” That opportunity looks a whole lot different one year later, nearly to the day. He went to rehab after a battle with addiction. Crosby has been sober since March 11, 2020. He’s been fairly transparent about addiction throughout his career. It started in high school and only intensified while playing at Eastern Michigan. There, he was suspended from the team after wrecking his car in a drunk driving accident. Coach Chris Creighton suspended him for two games, but struck a deal before the second: If Crosby stayed sober, took frequent breathalyzer and drug tests, and did community service, he could return after one game. Crosby stayed sober for nine months and made it to the NFL. Then he relapsed. Alcoholism runs in his family, Crosby said in 2021. He finished runner-up for NFL Rookie of the Year with a 10-sack season while battling alcohol dependency. Days before the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, Crosby began a month-long stay in a rehab facility. “It was a big struggle,” he told ESPN in 2021. “But looking back on my journey, I know five years, 10 years down the road, I’ll look back and be like, that was the biggest offseason of my life, even though I was just trying to get my [stuff] together and just trying to stay above water. I know if I can make it through that [stuff] and get sober, I can do anything. It was special, and I met some awesome people along the way.” Related Articles Josh Tolentino: DeCosta’s biggest swing brings Maxx Crosby to Ravens | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens turn weakness into strength with Maxx Crosby trade | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike provides most encouraging update yet He’s known for sacking the quarterback, but he’s also a merciless run defender. The Ravens are no strangers to Crosby’s propensity for dragging down quarterbacks. In two meetings since 2021, the Raiders have twice beaten the Ravens, partially off the strength of multi-sack outings from Crosby. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has four double-digit sack seasons. He logged a career high 14 1/2 in 2023, and he isn’t nicknamed “Mad Maxx” by accident. Those numbers are all reasons to be intrigued by how quickly he’ll upgrade Baltimore’s pass rush. But he can plug the run too. Crosby has three seasons with more than 20 tackles for loss. He led the league in TFLs in 2022 and 2023, with 22 and 23, respectively. He played only 15 games this past season and still managed double-digit sacks to complement a career-high 28 TFLs, second only to Garrett. This past season, Pro Football Focus graded Crosby’s run defense (78.1) a tick higher than his pass rush (77.1). Same with 2024 and every season going back to 2021 — so by that imperfect metric, this past season wasn’t an outlier. In fact, since 2021, Crosby has had the best run defense grade in the NFL. “He’s upfield, he’s underneath, he’s into you, he’s back around the back side, he’s spinning, he’s knocking your hands off, he’s running to the ball,” former Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Crosby last season. “He’s just a game wrecker — to use that word is exactly the right word.” The Ravens could have drafted Crosby seven years ago. To be fair, every team passed over Crosby. He was the 106th pick in the 2019 draft. There were 10 defensive ends selected before him. One of them was third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson out of Louisiana Tech. Ferguson was the all-time sack leader in FBS history, and by coming to Baltimore, he replaced the guy he usurped for the record: Terrell Suggs. Ferguson died three years later. Ferguson was much higher on team draft boards than Crosby coming out of college. But the Colleyville, Texas, native burst onto the scene in his first year at the pro level and never looked back, blossoming into one of the league’s most dominant edge defenders. One AFC team scout told NFL.com in 2019 that “when you watch him on tape, it gives off the same vibe as watching a good player’s old high school tape before he grew into his body.” Crosby proved him wrong. Add Crosby to the list of players with a podcast. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has a podcast. Pass rusher Kyle Van Noy hosted a short show reacting to games. Both are questionable to return in 2026, but either way, there’s new listening material for Ravens fans interested in player podcasts. It’s called “The Rush With Maxx Crosby.” He has 129 episodes and 100,000 subscribers. Former Ravens linebackers coach (among other stops) Rob Ryan, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and ESPN insider Adam Schefter have all appeared on the show. During the season, Crosby reacted to happenings around the NFL and weighed in on some of the league’s preeminent storylines. He was asked on a recent episode if he still had intentions of being a “Raider for life.” Crosby didn’t offer much beyond “Life is good.” He has since been traded from a three-win team to a Super Bowl contender — fair to say life got even better. 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

Just days after he fired his close friend and coach of 18 seasons, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti reaffirmed his trust in another longtime partner, general manager Eric DeCosta. The vote of confidence was understandable given DeCosta’s overall success as the franchise’s top football executive following his predecessor, Ozzie Newsome. But like outgoing coach John Harbaugh, DeCosta endured a miserable 2025 season. If the Ravens’ front office were handed a report card for last year, the general manager probably would’ve received an “F.” Among the lowlights: Nearly every position group regressed during a season that ended with an 8-9 record and the worst home mark in franchise history. A roster once touted as one of the best in the NFL was quickly exposed. DeCosta’s offseason missteps, like signing backup quarterback Cooper Rush, became glaring once Lamar Jackson went down with an injury, and the Ravens neglected to reinforce several weaknesses before the trade deadline. Despite those failures, DeCosta retained the important backing of his boss. “The hits and misses in this business, I think you have to average them out,” Bisciotti said earlier this year. “I think Eric is one of the best GMs in the league, and so I think he’s batting .800. I’m just making up a number for you — but I’m not going to look at Eric’s 200 whiffs. I’ll look at his 800 singles and doubles and home runs. To me, that’s fair.” Late Friday night, DeCosta stepped into the batter’s box and delivered the biggest swing of all. The Ravens stunned the league by acquiring star edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in the most significant trade in franchise history, in which Baltimore parted ways with two first-round picks. Yes, two first-rounders are departing Baltimore, an organization that has historically preferred to build and develop through the draft. Crosby arrives as a five-time Pro Bowl selection who leads the league with 360 quarterback pressures since entering the NFL in 2019. The steep price reflected the magnitude of the moment. To outbid several interested teams, including the pass-rush-needy Dallas Cowboys, the Ravens traded a first-round pick for the first time in franchise history. The move represented a stunning departure from longtime structure, a clear signal that last season’s failures, paired with Harbaugh’s departure, were alarming signs for DeCosta. It could very well end up being what Bisciotti described as a “home run,” if Crosby arrives as advertised. When news of the trade broke late Friday evening, my colleague Matt Weyrich and I were sitting inside a packed bar in Sarasota, Florida, the spring training home of the Orioles. Within minutes, word spread rapidly across the room filled with Baltimore sports fans. Related Articles 5 things you might not know about new Ravens star Maxx Crosby Mike Preston: Ravens turn weakness into strength with Maxx Crosby trade | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike provides most encouraging update yet The reactions ranged from disbelief to pure elation. “There’s no way that’s real, DeCosta would never!” one nearby Howard County native shouted. Traditionally, that fan’s instinct might be accurate. But this is now a whacky and different type of offseason. It sure feels like that for DeCosta and company. The Ravens finished the 2025 campaign with just 30 sacks, the third-fewest in the NFL. Meanwhile, Crosby recorded 10 sacks and two forced fumbles despite missing the final two games. He has also produced 17 multi-sack performances in his career, building a reputation as one of the league’s most relentless defenders. Crosby arrives at a pretty ideal time for first-year coach Jesse Minter, who probably went to bed salivating at the idea of featuring Crosby and fellow star safety Kyle Hamilton in his defense. Looking ahead, there is still plenty of work to accomplish and hurdles to maneuver around for DeCosta and the Ravens. The NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday, and Baltimore must address several other roster holes and Jackson’s looming cap hit if it hopes to return to playoff contention. But there’s little doubt that this move sends a clear message about the urgency at the top of the organization. Bisciotti might insist that DeCosta remains firmly in his good graces. The franchise’s owner has publicly emphasized patience and perspective when evaluating his general manager. But the stakes are high, and DeCosta is operating like his seat is warm, just like how Harbaugh’s seat evolved throughout his forgettable final season in Baltimore. By trading for Crosby, DeCosta made it clear that his urgency is higher than it’s ever been and that he has little intention of being the next one shown the door. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Josh appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

The Ravens just became one of the top contenders to win the Super Bowl again. There had been a lot of talk about restructuring the contract for two-time Most Valuable Player and quarterback Lamar Jackson to free up salary-cap space, which would allow the Ravens to pursue top free agents, but Baltimore filled its most glaring need this offseason by agreeing to a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby on Friday night. This isn’t hype. Regardless of all the other speculation, this was by far the team’s greatest need because they had the 30th-ranked pass defense in the NFL last season and collected only 30 sacks, the third fewest in the league. To reach a deal with Crosby and the Raiders, the Ravens had to surrender first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027, but that’s what contending teams do when they feel that they are in a hunt for a championship. Jackson is 29. Running back Derrick Henry is 32, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley is 32. On the other side, middle linebacker Roquan Smith is 28 and cornerback Marlon Humphrey is 29. The Ravens needed to gamble, and they might have won. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and the modern-day signal caller is quick, fast and mobile. They can run as well as pass, and the league features speedy quarterbacks such as Jackson, New England’s Drake Maye, Denver’s Bo Nix, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. It’s not just about pressure, but having a player who other teams have to focus on. It’s about having an end or an outside linebacker who forces offensive coordinators to stay awake at night, causing them nightmares, or having a player who can run through double or triple teams even in third-and-long situations. Crosby is no slouch against the run, either. Ask the Ravens. Ever since the team moved to Baltimore from Cleveland for the start of the 1996 season, the Ravens have had only a few dynamic pass rushers. There were defensive ends Michael McCrary and Rob Burnett at the turn of the century, and later outside linebackers Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs. Now, they finally got another one in Crosby. No need to talk about him turning 29 in August, or his past two seasons being cut short because of injuries. It’s more about being willing to gamble and taking a shot at acquiring the best pass rusher in the game outside of Cleveland’s Myles Garrett. Since 2020, Crosby has been one of the league’s most durable players and ranks second in pressures and third in quarterback hits during that time. In six seasons, Crosby has 69 1/2 sacks, including 10 last season despite missing the last two games with a meniscus injury. Let’s compare: Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones led the team with five sacks in 2025 while outside linebacker Tavius Robinson had 4 1/2. Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green had 3 1/2. Related Articles 5 things you might not know about new Ravens star Maxx Crosby Josh Tolentino: DeCosta’s biggest swing brings Maxx Crosby to Ravens | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike provides most encouraging update yet Maybe the biggest player to benefit from this trade is Green, because opposing teams now have to focus on Crosby. The 2025 second-round pick will be able to get one-on-one matchups against offensive linemen instead of being the focus. And if the Ravens get Nnamdi Madubuike back from a neck injury, this front four can be almost as good as any in the NFL. They can get pressure from the outside, but also up the middle, which is key for any pass rush. At least now the Ravens might be in the class with the past two Super Bowl winners in Seattle and Philadelphia, teams that didn’t rely on exotic blitzes or crazy schemes but could get pressure with their front four. Maybe, just maybe, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has figured out that regardless of how much the NFL has changed through the years, with a lot of emphasis on the passing game, teams still win by dominating up front in the trenches or the line of scrimmage. It comes back to my favorite subject again: a team needs to have balance in all three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams — to win consistently in the NFL. After 18 seasons, DeCosta no longer has John Harbaugh to push around. He is now the coach of the New York Giants. Maybe the happiest players for the Ravens are those in the secondary, including safeties Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks and cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and Humphrey. Even if a team has Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Mel Blount at corner, they too will get burned on occasion if there isn’t a pass rush. But this is all about the Ravens. They just improved their biggest weakness from a year ago, even though the offensive line still needs to be upgraded. But maybe those answers come in the annual NFL draft in April. For now, though, Baltimore couldn’t get pressure on the quarterback, regardless if he was stationary or mobile. That changed Friday night. The Ravens got Crosby. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens made national headlines Friday night, landing Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby in a blockbuster trade. Baltimore gave up a pair of first-round picks to land the two-time All-Pro defensive game-wrecker. Here’s a sampling of what national analysts had to say on social media in the immediate aftermath of the significant move. Field Yates, ESPN The Ravens had just 30 sacks in 2025. That was their fewest as a team in 15 years. Their team leader had just 4.5 sacks. A desperate pass rush gets fixed in a hurry with Maxx Crosby. Emmanuel Acho The Ravens gotta have the best one of the best on-paper defenses in the history of on-paper defenses. Maxx Crosby Roquan Smith Nate Wiggins Kyle Hamilton Marlon Humphrey Malaki Starks Crosby is a great chess piece for Minter. Benjamin Solak, ESPN Well done by the Raiders man, that’s excellent return. And Crosby is a huge boon for a Ravens team that has needed legit pressure presence off the edge for ages now. And has the run defense Minter’s EDGEs needs. Good fit. Warren Sharp, Sharp Football Analysis Maxx Crosby among all defensive linemen since 2019, when he entered the NFL: #1 in tackles for loss (133) #1 in solo tackles (277) #2 in QB pressures (431) #2 in QB hits (119) #3 in total tackles (437) #4 in batted passes (20) #5 in sacks (69.5) Traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Adam Schefter, ESPN AFC North adds to its pass rusher repertoire: Since 2019, Maxx Crosby has 360 pressures in his career, 29 more than the next closest player, Myles Garrett. Now both are in the same division. Tom Pelissero, NFL Network While the Raiders insisted publicly Maxx Crosby would be on the team in 2026, the reality is it was never going to happen. A trade made sense for both sides, as Las Vegas gets ammo for their rebuild and Crosby gets a fresh start at age 28. Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated Simple, and clean, no givebacks or pick swaps. A win for the Raiders to get that much, for sure. And the Ravens fill a massive need. Bill Barnwell, ESPN No doubting that the Ravens needed serious help on the edge given trading away Oweh and Kyle Van Noy/Dre’Mont Jones hitting free agency. Crosby was the best player available at their biggest position of need. Love that fit. But I wonder whether spending enough to win the [Trey] Hendrickson bidding + holding onto the first-rounders would have been a better way to attack those concerns. Ravens are very top-heavy now between Lamar (likely on a new deal), Crosby, Stanley, Madubuike, and top-of-position deals for Hamilton and Roquan Smith. You can win with that formula, but you need your stars to be healthy and really productive. Sam Monson I get why the Ravens were desperate for pass rush after last season, but I wouldn’t give up 2x 1sts for Maxx Crosby. He’s dropped off after those injuries, is almost 29. You may never be getting peak Maxx Crosby. Lindsay Rhodes, SumerSports I think the Maxx Crosby deal is a good one for both sides. And I think tonight probably sucks for Raiders fans, in spite of that. Pat McAfee, ESPN HOLY [CRAP]! What a play by The Ravens. Related Articles Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike provides most encouraging update yet Ravens agree to trade for All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, dealing 2 1st-round picks Explaining Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s contract situation and its implications READER POLL: Who is on Mount Rushmore of visiting athletes in Baltimore? John Breech, CBS Sports There are only three NFL players who have recorded at least 30 sacks, 70 QB hits and 45 tackles for a loss over the past three seasons combined: Myles Garrett T.J. Watt Maxx Crosby Jordan Schultz The Raiders were very consistent in their desire to land two first-rounders, according to sources. They never wavered. The Ravens were the only team willing to go there for Maxx Crosby. Dianna Russini, The Athletic Both the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys had been working on this for days. They kept communication with the Raiders. The Jacksonville Jaguars were another team trying to put together a big trade package that would get it done. Ravens win. Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens agreed to trade two first-round draft picks for Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby: Brian Wacker, reporter Eric DeCosta is going for it. For a man who values draft picks the way a farmer values good dirt, the Ravens general manager swung for the fences with a blockbuster deal to acquire superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Just how big a deal was it? Never before has Baltimore shipped a first-round pick in exchange for a player. Friday night, they agreed in principle to send two of them (this year’s 14th overall and next year’s first-round pick) for the kind of bona fide, difference-making pass rusher the Ravens haven’t had since Terrell Suggs. But with a draft class lacking elite talent, DeCosta viewed it as a worthy gamble for a player who has 69 1/2 sacks, including four seasons of at least 10, and will turn just 29 in August. That deal, along with more encouraging signs from injured defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, could be a major boost to a defense that often couldn’t find the quarterback with a map last season. Baltimore was once a feared defense and only three years ago became the first team to capture the defensive triple crown of sacks, takeaways and points allowed. Now, perhaps it’s on its way to recapturing its glory days. Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens became serious contenders again. A season ago, they had no pass rush, which made a shaky secondary look even worse. General manager Eric DeCosta made a deal to bring in Maxx Crosby, one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, to a team that only had 30 sacks a year ago. Is it a gamble? Yes, but executives take gambles when they believe they are close to winning a championship. The Ravens have to give up first-round picks in April and next season, but it’s worth the risk. The team has made a coaching change at the top, which was necessary, and the Ravens solved their biggest weakness of the offseason by trading for Crosby. It still seems surreal because this is a team that loves to build through the draft, but it’s time to forget about the storied past, a team that had won two Super Bowl titles in its first 30 years in Baltimore. It’s what has this team done lately, and the Ravens didn’t even make the playoffs last season. The Ravens have a different mindset now, and they were aggressive in agreeing to terms with Crosby. If they get defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike back (if he can remain healthy) and outside linebacker Mike Green gets better because of Crosby, this defense should be much improved for the 2026 season. Josh Tolentino, columnist Turns out, Lamar Jackson knew a big move was indeed coming. The Ravens took a major step toward fixing one of their most glaring issues late Friday evening by acquiring star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Still considered in his prime entering his age-29 season, Crosby immediately elevates a defense that finished with just 30 sacks in 2025, the third fewest in the NFL. Crosby had 10 sacks and two forced fumbles last season despite missing the final two games, and he’s posted 17 career games with multiple sacks. Crosby’s relentless motor and ability to win one-on-one off the edge – he’s also a plus defender in the run game – instantly gives the Ravens a proven difference-maker. Crosby has played in 110 career games, but only one playoff game. Now in Baltimore, the five-time Pro Bowler will aspire to help get the Ravens back to the playoffs after the franchise suffered two years of postseason regression. The jaw-dropping acquisition should also serve as a significant boost for first-year coach Jesse Minter, who now has a premier edge rusher in Crosby to build around as he reshapes the defense. Minter helped engineer a defensive turnaround during his two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, and Crosby provides the type of disruptive presence that can help anchor Minter’s system with fellow star Kyle Hamilton in the secondary. Crosby joins an edge group that features second-year player Mike Green and Tavius Robinson (eight combined sacks in 2025). There is still plenty of work ahead for the Ravens with the NFL’s legal tampering period beginning Monday, but the trade signals urgency from general manager Eric DeCosta after owner Steve Bisciotti fired longtime John Harbaugh at the end of last season. Sam Cohn, reporter This is a night worth rejoicing for those with a vested interest in Baltimore’s immediate Super Bowl aspirations. The loudest portions of the fan base have spent years dreaming — at times, pipe-dreaming — of this deal. And Eric DeCosta finally made his move, sending an unprecedented two first-round picks for an immediate positional fix. The Ravens were among the worst pass-rushing teams in 2025, down from historic runs over the two previous seasons. DeCosta didn’t shy away from that fact, saying at the combine, “We certainly know that we have to augment the pass rush and improve there.” New coach Jesse Minter called it “always a position that you’re looking for more.” Crosby brings the kind of gravitas the Ravens needed on the edge. He’s registered four double-digit sack seasons. Shortly before the deal was announced, a social media post showed All-Pro defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike working out, meaning that the Ravens could be in for a menacing pass-rush duo. It’s not hyperbole to call this the most significant trade in Ravens history — they’ve never dealt a first-round pick in 31 years. They mean business. C.J. Doon, editor If the Ravens end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February, this will be a day to remember. What started with Lamar Jackson’s cryptic “Training Day” post ended with Nnamdi Madubuike sharing a workout video and the earth-shattering news (in NFL circles) that Maxx Crosby was headed to Baltimore. For as good as Crosby is and can still be as he enters his eighth NFL season, it’s still shocking to see Baltimore giving up first-round picks in back-to-back drafts. The Ravens have long prided themselves on being a “draft and develop” operation, which becomes even more important when a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is taking up a significant amount of salary-cap space. But no rookie was going to deliver what Crosby can in 2026, and Jackson isn’t getting any younger. On the other hand, Crosby comes with some risk. He dealt with a knee injury that required surgery last year, and he turns 29 in August. If he’s not his usual Pro Bowl self, this trade will be extremely costly. But the Ravens had to try something to fix their dormant pass rush, and what better time than now with a new coach who’s heralded as a defensive wizard? There are still holes to fix on this roster, namely the three interior spots on the offensive line. This move seems to rule out center Tyler Linderbaum coming back, given how expensive his next deal is expected to be once he hits the open market. Adding another pass catcher should be a priority. Jackson still needs to agree to an extension or a restructure to limit his cap hit. But for now, fans should celebrate. The Ravens are going for it. Bennett Conlin, editor Do you think Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is feeling the pressure to win now? So much for building entirely through the draft, as Baltimore takes a massive swing to improve its mediocre pass rush. Crosby plays with an intensity that fits the franchise’s mold and produces at a level needed for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Jesse Minter’s calling card is defense, and now he has Kyle Hamilton and Crosby as chess pieces. That’ll work. It’s extremely exciting on paper, and the trade should make the Ravens a much better team. Strengthening the offensive line is the next step. Figure out the interior of the offensive front, and fans should expect a Super Bowl. If the Ravens can’t win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson, Hamilton and Crosby, it’d be a crying shame. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Injured Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike provided his most encouraging update so far on Friday night, posting a video of himself working out on his Instagram story. In the video, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle can be seen slamming a medicine ball repeatedly into the ground from over his head on his knees while music blares in the background of the undisclosed gym. It also came shortly before the Ravens agreed to a blockbuster trade for All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, sending this year’s first-round draft pick (14th overall) and next year’s first-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for one of the league’s most elite pass rushers. As for Madubuike, who suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 of this past season, casting doubt over his future, it marked the second promising sign since the end of January when he posted on X, “Good news.” General manager Eric DeCosta did not provide an update on Madubuike two weeks ago at the NFL scouting combine, but things are clearly trending in a positive direction. “A lot of that is things he needs to address with you guys in his time,” then-coach John Harbaugh said in late September when asked if he was worried it could be career threatening. “I really can’t speak for him, wouldn’t want to. Those are questions that would be best answered by him going forward.” Whether Madubuike’s posts mean that he will be able to return for next season remains to be seen, but his potential return, along with Crosby’s addition, would be a massive boost for a defensive that was one of the worst in the NFL last season, particularly in getting to the quarterback. Madubuike, a 2020 third-round pick, did not immediately respond to messages for comment, nor did his agent. “I can’t really discuss that, obviously,” DeCosta said in January when asked about Madubuike’s injury. “I will say, not having Nnamdi this year was a horrible situation for our team. I think it affected us in different ways — in many ways. He is a great player, a great person, a special person. “Still working through a lot of his different ideas and things [so] that we can hopefully get more and more information about his situation. But more than that, I think just — I couldn’t talk about the specifics of him and his situation.” Now, though, new coach Jesse Minter will have Crosby to supercharge a defense that ranked 24th in yards per game (354.5), 28th in pass rush win rate (30%), per ESPN analytics, and produced the third-fewest sacks (30) in the NFL last season. Perhaps more news on Madubuike will come soon as well. Should Madubuike return, Baltimore will have the needed depth and impact up front with the ascending Travis Jones and veteran John Jenkins, each of whom Baltimore signed to extensions during the season. Madubuike also signed a four-year, $98 million extension in 2024. Stay tuned. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta intimated in January that Baltimore could pursue a couple of “big-ticket items” this offseason. They landed one of the biggest on Friday night. The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to trade two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for Baltimore’s first-round draft pick in 2026 and 2027, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The blockbuster deal is easily the most significant trade Baltimore has made in 31 years. That DeCosta, who has been hit-and-miss on drafting pass rushers the past seven years, was willing to part with notable draft capital was also telling — of his conviction that Crosby can immediately help turn around what was one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season and help the Ravens live up to the Super Bowl expectations they fell woefully short of in 2025. “We certainly know that we have to augment the pass rush and improve there, and when we look at the best defenses, we see a ferocious pass rush, and that was lacking this year for different reasons,” DeCosta said at the NFL scouting combine two weeks ago, adding that it’s a position he felt Baltimore could “attack” this offseason. Crosby had reportedly been on his way out of Las Vegas after the Raiders placed him on injured reserve with two games remaining last season because of a knee injury. He was unhappy with that decision and left the building. The Dallas Cowboys reportedly offered a first- and second-round pick for Crosby, but Baltimore came in above them. It also marks the first time that the Ravens have traded a first-round pick for a player, and it gives the Raiders the first and 14th overall picks this April. Baltimore will now have Crosby, who signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension last March, under team control through 2029, with a salary cap hit of $35.8 million for 2026 and $115.8 million in total remaining on his deal. Though the trade, which materialized six days before the start of the new league year, cannot be officially processed until Wednesday, the Ravens can now focus on other needs. Most notable among them is a possible contract extension for quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, who seemed to know something big was coming with a post on X earlier in the day that read “boom.” Indeed. The expectation now for Baltimore is that Crosby, who will turn 29 in August, will help wreak havoc on opposing offenses the way that he has much of his career. It’s also a boon for what was one of the NFL’s worst pass rushes last season. There is ample evidence that he could have a major impact and help return Baltimore to being one of the league’s most feared defenses. Crosby has 69 1/2 sacks across six seasons, racking up at least 10 in four of them, including last season. Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones led the Ravens last year with five sacks, and Baltimore’s 30 tied for the third-fewest in the NFL, with the defense also languishing near the bottom in pressure rate and pass rush win-rate. By contrast, Crosby hit double digits in sacks despite missing the final two games because of a meniscus injury and finished with 73 tackles, two forced fumbles, six pass breakups, and his first career interception. A stout run defender, his 28 tackles for loss also ranked second behind only NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and he has twice led the league in the category. His arrival also gives the Ravens their most forbidding pass rusher since Terrell Suggs and bolsters a group in need of top-tier talent as much as depth, with outside linebackers Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo all due to become free agents. Another encouraging update from injured defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, just before the Crosby news broke, could potentially further solidify the defense. Madubuike, 28 and a two-time Pro Bowl selection, suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 of last season, and at least some doubt had been cast on his future. Second-year edge rusher Mike Green, whom Baltimore selected in the second round of last year’s draft, should benefit from Crosby’s presence as well. He had just 3 1/2 sacks in his first season, but his 34 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, ranked sixth among rookies. Outside of Green and Crosby, the Ravens’ only other outside linebackers are Tavius Robinson, who had 4 1/2 sacks in 10 games last season but is better suited as a dependable edge setter, and Adisa Isaac, who was injured most of his first two seasons. Baltimore also traded Odafe Oweh, who had 10 sacks in 2024 but struggled in Baltimore last season before finishing strong with the Los Angeles Chargers. The trade for Crosby is as well Baltimore’s most notable acquisition since dealing for linebacker Roquan Smith midway through the 2022 season for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, and their most noteworthy for a pass rusher since trading a third- and fifth-round pick for outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue during the 2020 season, a deal that did not pan out well for the Ravens. Landing Crosby, though, is far more momentous. Related Articles NFL pundits react to Ravens trading for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby Instant analysis of Ravens’ trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike provides most encouraging update yet Explaining Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s contract situation and its implications READER POLL: Who is on Mount Rushmore of visiting athletes in Baltimore? The Ravens are well acquainted with his disruptive abilities. After a 2024 Week 2 upset by the Raiders over Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium, Crosby was named AFC Player of the Week for his two sacks, six tackles (including four for loss) and one pass breakup. Despite his past two seasons being cut short by injury and enduring his eighth surgery in seven years, he has also been largely durable. Crosby has played 94 games since 2020 and ranks second in pressures and third in quarterback hits during that span. “I’m getting healthy. I’m in the building every single day,” he told “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” in February. “I’m in this building from 6 a.m. when it’s dark out, and I’m here until almost 2. … That’s all I care about, so all the noise, that’s news to me sometimes.” Crosby isn’t new to first-year Ravens coach Jesse Minter, who was the defensive coordinator of one of the Raiders’ AFC West rivals, the Chargers, the past two seasons. Minter also spoke about the importance of the pass rush two weeks ago. “There’s a lot of factors, I would say, that go into rushing the passer well,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s playing with the lead; sometimes it’s blitzing more. So, I think there’s a variety of ways to affect the pass rush.” Starting with having a highly impactful pass rusher. A 2019 fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan by the Raiders — a franchise whose unofficial motto evoked the idea that the other team’s quarterback needs to go down and go down hard — Crosby ranks third in franchise history in sacks behind Greg Townsend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long. He also has 439 career tackles, including 133 for loss, and 164 quarterback hits. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The bell marking the start of a new NFL year tolls, and with it arrives a pivotal moment in Baltimore. Monday signals the effective beginning of free agency, with the legal tampering period — when teams can contact agents of impending free agents — kicking off at noon. Wednesday at 4 p.m., players can officially put ink to paper with the start of the 2026 league year, though several deals will have long been agreed upon by then. The Ravens enter the fray with 19 unrestricted free agents, meaning that general manager Eric DeCosta and right-hand man and vice president of football administration Nick Matteo have their hands full, especially with the possibility that three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum could be cashing in elsewhere, thus leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the interior of an offensive line that will need to be rebuilt given the struggles of guards Daniel Faalele (also a free agent) and Andrew Vorhees. Baltimore’s most expensive proposition, though, revolves around the fulcrum of its organization, quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, whom the team has been trying to sign to a contract extension to lower his $74.5 million salary-cap hit to no avail. It’s a figure that looms large. The sum represents his value, but also a financial gravity that shapes decisions now and in the future. Restructure From where Jackson, 29, sits, agreeing to a deal later rather than sooner makes at least some financial sense. If Baltimore converts a portion of his $51.25 million salary to a signing bonus and adds void years, he would get a large chunk of money now. He then could wait until next offseason — when quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix are all eligible for what should be top-of-the-market deals — to sign his own extension that would certainly top theirs. Another advantage he would have is seeing how he meshes with first-year coach Jesse Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to determine whether he wanted to remain in Baltimore long-term. The Ravens, meanwhile, would clear up about $37 million of salary cap space, on top of the approximately $9 million to $12 million they are projected to have, to address myriad needs, from edge rusher to offensive line and beyond. The downside for Jackson in this equation, of course, is the risk of injury. A spate of maladies impacted his 2025 season, causing him to miss four games while also enduring, in most respects, the worst campaign of his eight-year career. The downside for Baltimore is also significant. Jackson’s 2027 salary cap hit would soar to $87 million, which would be tops in the NFL. Extension There are advantages to Jackson signing an extension now as well. For the quarterback, the injury risk is mitigated. When he signed his five-year, $260 million deal in 2023, it included $185 million guaranteed, and a similar formula would likely follow now. For the Ravens, signing Jackson to an extension would clear up the same amount of space for 2026, keep his 2027 number at a manageable figure, and, more importantly, keep him in Baltimore for the foreseeable future. This is owner Steve Bisciotti’s preference. As he said in January, simply plug new numbers into the previous contract and away they go. As for what that new number could look like? As previous coach John Harbaugh predicted, Jackson would be the highest-paid player in football, same as last time. That would mean a deal that would leapfrog Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott’s $60 million a year from the four-year, $240 million contract he signed in September 2024. Prescott holds the top mark for the biggest signing bonus at $80 million, while Buffalo Bills quarterback and 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen got the most in guaranteed money at $250 million for the deal he signed last March. For context, Jackson, who has two years and $104 million left on his contract, is currently the 10th highest-paid quarterback in terms of average annual value behind Joe Burrow, Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy and Justin Herbert. Void years What would happen if Jackson doesn’t sign an extension and the Ravens go the void-year route? Aside from his cap hit skyrocketing in 2027, so would the price of an extension, given a robust quarterback market. The Ravens would also risk losing him to free agency the following year since his contract has a no-tag clause and a no-trade clause, the latter meaning that he has final sign-off if Baltimore tried to deal him. Related Articles READER POLL: Who is on Mount Rushmore of visiting athletes in Baltimore? Why this guard prospect has dominated Ravens first-round mock drafts Ravens TE Isaiah Likely discusses potentially leaving team, Lamar Jackson What ‘big ticket’ move will Ravens GM Eric DeCosta make? Sizing up edge rushers. A closer look at Ravens free-agent priorities, including Tyler Linderbaum From the podium at the NFL scouting combine two weeks ago, DeCosta was asked the inevitable question: Is he confident that he will be able to sign Jackson to an extension? He didn’t equivocate. “I am,” he said. “I definitely am.” Then on Friday afternoon, Jackson posted on X an animated image of actor Denzel Washington saying “boom” during the movie “Training Day,” adding a smiley face. Interpreting the meaning is a lot like trying to divine Washington’s character’s initial intent for his partner, played by Ethan Hawke. The question ultimately remains unknown. The Ravens’ situation is not dissimilar: the clock is ticking. But unlike in the film, the answer will arrive any day now. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Lionel Messi, the FIFA World Cup Champion and legendary soccer star, will make an appearance in Baltimore when Inter Miami faces D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Messi, 38, is entering the twilight of his historic career, but remains one of the most popular athletes in the world — just ask his 511 million Instagram followers. His presence in Baltimore has already triggered increased security and will likely generate plenty of buzz inside M&T Bank Stadium in what is slated as a home game for D.C. United. The arrival of Messi in Baltimore spurred a discussion within The Baltimore Sun newsroom: Who are the greatest athletes to visit this city? What sports legends made surprise appearances? We’ve compiled a list of athletes, some among the greatest in their sports’ histories, but we want to hear from you. Who should comprise the Mount Rushmore of athletes to compete in Baltimore, outside of those who played for the city’s two professional teams? If there’s a name you want added, select “other” and list your entry in the comments. We want to know your thoughts. Can’t see the poll? Vote here 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

During the NFL scouting combine, mock drafts fell in love with the idea of Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane falling to the Ravens with the No. 14 pick. ESPN, The Athletic and The Ringer, among others, foresee the marriage of a team in need of blocking help and a 6-foot-4, 320-pound plow. Ioane left quite an impression at the combine. So much so that Ravens fans might soon consider learning how to pronounce his name (oh-lie-vah-VENG-ah yo-AH-nay). He goes by Vega, for short. “I’m a really bad guy,” Ioane told NFL Network’s Stacy Dales, “but in a good way. I want to kill somebody out there.” That’s the kind of energy Baltimore needs in reshaping its porous offensive line, which allowed 45 sacks this past season. The guard play was a particular hitch, and draftniks see Ioane as a Day 1 starter who could replace pending free agent Daniel Faalele or 2023 draft pick Andrew Vorhees on the interior defensive line. Rising sophomore Emery Jones Jr. should compete for the other guard role. In 2025, Ioane played 310 pass blocking snaps. He didn’t allow a single sack and surrendered just three pressures. There were viral moments, too: leveling a UCLA linebacker, driving an Oregon defensive back à la Michael Oher in “The Blind Side” and man-handling other Big Ten pass rushers displaying his brutish side. The other clip the internet ate up was more of a nod to his character. It was during a tumultuous stretch in State College, Pennsylvania, weeks removed from Penn State firing its longtime coach, James Franklin. Ioane and his teammates trudged up a ramp off Ohio State’s field. Buckeye fans heckled relentlessly. Vibes were low. Then the camera caught Ioane’s massive frame leap over a partition to help an equipment manager push a bulky cart — equal parts big-boy athleticism and empathy. It was a small moment, but NFL decision-makers weigh everything when investing capital into a player. He’s one of nine children. Ioane started playing football as a high school sophomore and his parents were woefully unaware for the first three weeks of the season, assuming that he was just hanging with friends on a Friday night. “Now, they love football,” he said at the combine. How exactly the Ravens handle their first-round pick will drive discourse until April 23, when the war room in Owings Mills phones a decision to league officials. Offensive line is a priority. So is the need for edge rushing help. The Ravens might be intrigued by a premier wide receiver, too. They’ll likely address all three through a combination of free agency and the draft. The majority of mock drafts — as of early March — like Ioane to Baltimore. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote, “Ioane is one of the best players in the draft, although his lack of positional versatility could help him land in Baltimore’s lap.” ESPN’s Jordan Reid believes that Ioane has the “feet, strength and base” to protect Lamar Jackson. The Ringer’s Danny Kelly pointed out how if the Ravens go this route, Ioane would “bring some nasty” to a run game that already ranked near the top of the NFL each of the past two seasons. Related Articles Ravens TE Isaiah Likely discusses potentially leaving team, Lamar Jackson What ‘big ticket’ move will Ravens GM Eric DeCosta make? Sizing up edge rushers. A closer look at Ravens free-agent priorities, including Tyler Linderbaum Josh Tolentino: Ravens need to avoid the drama and extend Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? What makes Ioane special is that he’s fundamentally sound, can bully defenders into the second level and is agile for his size. He has exceptional recall as well. When a reporter at the combine asked for a play he could show prospective NFL teams, one that exemplifies who he is as a blocker, Ioane casually rattled off specifics: “Nebraska game, play 28, pin and pull play. Northwestern, play 45, man-on-man block, ran over 15 yards and dumped him.” The Ravens don’t often draft offensive linemen in the first round, but they tend to hit when they do. All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley was selected sixth overall in 2016, and center Tyler Linderbaum went No. 25 in 2022. Before Stanley, they picked Oher in the first round in 2009. If the Ravens go down the offensive lineman path, it’s likely either Ioane or Utah’s Spencer Fano who wind up in Baltimore. Fano played tackle each of the past two seasons but said at the combine he’s willing to change positions if it helps his career trajectory. Of course, all that could change with how the Ravens address concerns in free agency. Perhaps they restructure Jackson’s contract and looming $74.5 million cap hit to spend considerable money on an edge rusher. Perhaps they see value in a free agent offensive lineman and pivot to using the first-round pick on an edge rusher or receiver. What if there’s a defensive back prospect available who excites the war room? At the end of the day, general manager Eric DeCosta’s best-available approach will prevail. “In the first two to three rounds,” he said, “you’re really going to focus on if this is the best player at this pick with the idea of need.” There’s a decent chance that 13 picks go by and Ioane is still available. Plenty of first- and second-iteration mock drafts think it makes sense. 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

Isaiah Likely leaned back in his chair and smiled when asked by “Up and Adams” host Kay Adams if the door is still open for a return to the Ravens. “I tell everybody the door is always open for Baltimore only because that’s family,” the tight end said. “They took a chance on me when all 31 [teams] passed. “But at the end of the day … business is business and I gotta do right by me, right by my family and right by what I feel like I can do in this league. And I feel like I’ve shown enough ability to be able to help any quarterback in any situation to be able to put points on the board and help an offense.” Likely, who will turn just 26 next month, is scheduled to become a free agent next week. His chances of re-signing with the Ravens were also clarified when they signed fellow tight end Mark Andrews, who was also slated to hit the open market, to a three-year, $39 million contract extension in early December. General manager Eric DeCosta didn’t officially rule out being able to bring Likely back, but the tight end’s response all but confirms what has felt obvious. He also has not heard from new coach Jesse Minter or offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. At one point, it was believed that Likely would return and Andrews, who will turn 31 in September, would not. But with Likely’s asking price for a new contract too high, according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, and far exceeding his production and based more on future expected performance, the two sides never got particularly close to getting a deal done. That forced the Ravens’ hand and they opted to go with the more affordable option in Andrews, who holds the franchise record for career receiving yards (5,952), career receptions (484) and career touchdown catches (56). He also holds the record for single-season catches (107) and receiving yards (1,361). Still, given Likely’s age and ascendant ability, along with his close relationship with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and quarterback Lamar Jackson, the thought lingers in some corners that perhaps Jackson might have some sway when it came to keeping one of his favorite targets, particularly when plays break down, and one of the few players on the team with whom he spends time away from the field. Asked by Adams if Jackson tried to persuade the 2022 fourth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina to stay, Likely said that as his “brother” he did, but that Jackson — who is in the midst of his own contract negotiations to lower his $74.5 million salary cap hit — understands the business side of football. “I feel like it won’t hit me until it hits me,” Likely said of parting ways with the only quarterback he’s ever known. “It’s one of those feelings.” Likely also seems to be enjoying, at least a little, being one of the belles of the free agent ball. “It feels like — I was never a five-star recruit in high school, so I guess this is what it feels like to be a highly recruited kid I guess,” he said, again leaning back in his chair, smile stretched across his face. Whether he gets a top-tier contract remains to be seen, however, with most projections in the $9 million to $12 million per year range, the latter placing him 11th among tight ends in terms of average annual value. He will have plenty of pursuers, though. At least seven teams have a major need at tight end, including the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants, now led by Likely’s former coach, John Harbaugh. In any scenario, whoever signs him will be betting a bit more on what he will be than what he has been. Only once in his four seasons has Likely had more than 36 catches in a season. That was in 2024 when he had 42 receptions for 477 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs. Sidelined with a broken foot for the first three games last season, he had just 27 catches on 36 targets for 307 yards and one touchdown — though one in a Week 14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was controversially wiped off the board by replay. Related Articles What ‘big ticket’ move will Ravens GM Eric DeCosta make? Sizing up edge rushers. A closer look at Ravens free-agent priorities, including Tyler Linderbaum Josh Tolentino: Ravens need to avoid the drama and extend Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? From rugby to Ravens: Team hires Nic Gill to newly created fitness role He has also never been a lead tight end and has averaged just over 50% of the offensive snap counts for his career in Baltimore, where he was on the field for 60% of plays in 2024 and 57% last season. He has, however, shown prowess as a run-blocker, with his 84.1 grade in 2024 from Pro Football Focus tops among his peers, though that number dipped to 66.5 last season. Understandably, Likely is also looking to go somewhere where he can break out and likened himself to a knight in chess, “because everybody doesn’t understand quote unquote how dangerous the horse piece can be, being able to only be able to go certain ways. “When you’re a chess piece in the offense, when you’re able to line up anywhere outside, inside, in the backfield, a defense will never be able to sit there and say ‘Hey, I know what he’s doing at this point.’ … It makes a defensive coordinator sit up at night saying, ‘How do we not stop 80 but contain him to the point where he’s not taking over the game and beating us himself?’ and that’s what I feel like the knight does.” Now the only question is which suit of armor he’ll be wearing next season. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday at noon — that two-day vestibule before the new league year when teams are permitted to negotiate with agents of impending unrestricted free agents. This year, the Ravens arrive with a particularly crowded ledger of decisions, most notably at center with Tyler Linderbaum. With each passing day the three-time Pro Bowl selection doesn’t re-sign with Baltimore, another team with a need at the position seems to emerge and the result could be a rising price tag that would diminish the odds that the 2022 first-round draft pick out of Iowa remains in Charm City. At the same time the Ravens are trying to keep some of their own free agents, general manager Eric DeCosta is also working the phones and surveying the league’s landscape. After finishing 8-9 last season and out of the playoffs for the first time since 2021 with a roster that was expected to compete for a Super Bowl, it’s an especially consequential stretch of the calendar. Among the more pressing questions within it is whether DeCosta will deliver on the “couple of big-ticket items” he referenced earlier this offseason. At the nexus of those moves, of course, is quarterback Lamar Jackson, whom Baltimore is eager to sign to an extension to drastically lower his looming $74.5 million salary-cap figure. “I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head,” owner Steve Bisciotti said in January. “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. It was very hard for him to build a roster when that thing is not settled.” Though an extension is the preference, DeCosta doesn’t view Jackson’s contract as an albatross to the rest of his offseason plans – simply tacking on void years can clear up about $38 million in cap space. That would then free up the money needed to address other needs, including pursuing an elite pass rusher. “We do have a nice little nest egg,” DeCosta said. “It’s not as much as we’d like.” But it is enough to be involved in attracting a player who could immediately help a defense that tied for the third-fewest sacks (30) in the NFL last season — also the Ravens’ fewest since 2010 — and finished near the bottom in pressure and pass-rush win-rate. Defensive tackle Travis Jones had a career-high five sacks, but for the first time in franchise history no player recorded at least six. The Ravens also have three free agents at outside linebacker (Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo), and everyone from the owner down understands the pass rush wasn’t where it needed to be. DeCosta has also shown a penchant for pursuing recognizable names. Last March, it was three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal in free agency. In March 2024, it was future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry with a two-year, $16 million contract. In April 2023, it was popular wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a one-year, $15 million deal that also helped push the Jackson contract extension over the finish line after the quarterback had requested that Baltimore sign the veteran. Who will be this offseason’s splashy addition? Here’s a look at some potential pass rushers Baltimore could pursue in free agency or via trade. Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals With the Bengals not using the franchise tag on Hendrickson, the NFL’s 2024 sack leader is expected to hit the open market. He won’t come cheap, though. With Hendrickson projected to get a three-year deal worth at least $99 million, landing the divisional star would be a financial strain on Baltimore. The Ravens already have four players with at least a $26 million cap hit for 2026, and adding to that would eat into other needs, particularly for a 31-year-old coming off an injury-marred season in which he played in just seven games. Still, his elite traits and production are rare: He’s third in the NFL in sacks since 2020 with 74 1/2 and has 15 career forced fumbles. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders Crosby is still in the midst of a $106.5 million deal that has him under contract through 2029, though there have been reports that he isn’t willing to endure another rebuild in the desert and wants out. Like Hendrickson, Crosby is elite. He has 56 1/2 sacks over six seasons, routinely delivers a high pressure rate, is consistently near the league lead in tackles for loss and is a stout run defender. Related Articles A closer look at Ravens free-agent priorities, including Tyler Linderbaum Josh Tolentino: Ravens need to avoid the drama and extend Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? From rugby to Ravens: Team hires Nic Gill to newly created fitness role 5 things we learned about the Ravens and the draft at NFL scouting combine The 28-year-old also had each of his past two seasons cut short by injury. But leaving that aside, there are two problems as far as the Ravens would be concerned: the asking price (likely two first-round draft picks) and a $35.8 million cap hit next season, though the latter could be assuaged by his new team re-doing that deal. Bigger yet, there is also competition to consider, with the Dallas Cowboys having expressed interest as well as owning two first-round picks this year, including No. 12 overall. That would be awfully appealing for a Raiders team with a lot of holes, and DeCosta is not one to part with draft picks. Perhaps if the Ravens sweetened the deal with a player as part of an offer they could make a move, but it’s probably too rich. Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings Greenard, who will turn 29 in May, is another top-tier edge rusher who could be dealt soon given the Vikings’ cap constraints. Though he still has two years left on a four-year, $76 million deal that he signed in March 2024, Minnesota is more than $45 million over the cap. Already, the Vikings will reportedly dump running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to clear space, and dealing Greenard would open up a lot more. With 38 career sacks across six seasons, including 12 1/2 and 12 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, he would add some serious juice to the Ravens’ edge. He would also be more affordable and the Vikings wouldn’t command as much — probably a second-round pick — in return. If there’s a downside, it’s that Greenard had just three sacks last year and missed five games because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, but if healthy he would be an instant upgrade. Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux speaks at a news conference in June. The young edge rusher could fit well with the Ravens, who need pass rush help. (Angelina Katsanis/AP) Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants The fifth overall pick in 2022, Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his contract and hasn’t quite lived up to billing, with 23 1/2 sacks over 53 games during that span. What New York views his value as — and what the rest of the league does — could be a sticking point in whether he gets traded now. If the Giants are insistent on, say, a third-round pick, that would probably make it difficult for a deal to materialize. Perhaps a fourth-round pick and a player could make it happen, but the Ravens probably don’t have a player who would fulfill that scenario, and they could consider that too much anyway. Also: Would coach John Harbaugh be willing to send a player who could help Baltimore win now while he’s still at least a year away from the Giants being a formidable contender? Bradley Chub, free agent Chubb, who will turn 30 in June, was released by the Dolphins in February as expected. Like others on this list, he also comes with injury baggage, having infamously suffered a torn ACL in a Week 17 blowout loss to the Ravens during the 2023 season that wiped out his 2024 campaign. But when healthy he was productive, with a team-high sacks in 2023 and 8 1/2 last season. There’s also familiarity: Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was with him the past two years in Miami. He also wouldn’t be that expensive. Given his injury, Chubb will likely net a short-term deal in the $10 million to $15 million range. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers At 35, Mack is on the back end of his career. He has been productive, though, with 11 1/2 sacks over the past seasons after a career-high 17 in 2023. He’s also a classic example of the wily, aging veteran the Ravens have long had a habit of employing. Mack would not break the bank, either, with a projected one-year deal somewhere around $18 million. Of course, given that he could play just one more year, he might simply choose to stay with the Chargers, who are reportedly making him a priority, making it unlikely then that he would follow new Ravens coach Jesse Minter from Los Angeles. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The clock is ticking for the Ravens. Free agency looms less than a week away, and center Tyler Linderbaum still hasn’t agreed to the “market-setting” extension Baltimore has put on the table. When Eric DeCosta spoke about the negotiations last week at the NFL scouting combine, the usually taciturn general manager’s candor revealed the two sides were not particularly close and that the decision is in the three-time Pro Bowl selection’s hands. It’s also not entirely unlike the scenario that unfolded last offseason with left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who drew interest from teams willing to exceed the roughly $20 million per year he ultimately accepted to stay in Baltimore. The difference this time is age and timing. Linderbaum will turn 26 next month, squarely in his prime, and he is widely viewed not only as the best offensive lineman set to reach free agency but one of the most desirable players available. That could complicate Baltimore’s hopes of keeping him, especially if teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns or Las Vegas Raiders decide to make a serious push. Only the Chargers currently resemble a contender, but the others have connections. Baltimore ties run through those buildings — John Harbaugh in New York, Todd Monken and offensive line coach George Warhop in Cleveland and general manager Joe Hortiz in Los Angeles. The Raiders, meanwhile, have the second-most salary-cap space, making them a plausible wild card if they decide to spend heavily to shore up protection for quarterback and presumptive No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza and second-year running back Ashton Jeanty. Some might wonder why Baltimore declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last offseason, but at $23.4 million it would have cost over $5 million more than the league’s highest paid center, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey, and over $3 million than what Stanley got. DeCosta also said he is unlikely to use a franchise tag or transition tag this year. Because centers are grouped with all offensive linemen, that figure would be $27.9 million. Linderbaum is perhaps not the prototype physically, but his range and ability have long stood out. One agent familiar with the Ravens’ thinking estimated the former Iowa first-round pick could command something in the $22 million to $23 million range on the open market. If that proves accurate, the decision may come down to a familiar equation: a little more money elsewhere, or slightly less to remain in a place where the system and quarterback — Lamar Jackson — are already known quantities. Baltimore’s preference is obvious. “I think he’s the best center in the league,” first-year coach Jesse Minter said last week in Indianapolis. “I think he’s one of the best interior linemen in the league. He’s a major part of the team here, somebody we’d love to have back.” Whether that happens may become clearer quickly. If a deal isn’t reached before the start of the legal tampering period Monday, the Ravens could find themselves in a far more uncertain position. Here is a look at eight other top free agent priorities among the Ravens’ 19 unrestricted free agents and one restricted free agent. Chidobe Awuzie, CB DeCosta said cornerback Marlon Humphrey is expected to remain on the roster despite a difficult 2025 season and one of the league’s largest contracts per year at the position. Bringing Awuzie back would provide stability opposite young starter Nate Wiggins. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Ravens need to avoid the drama and extend Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? From rugby to Ravens: Team hires Nic Gill to newly created fitness role 5 things we learned about the Ravens and the draft at NFL scouting combine Josh Tolentino: Ravens and A.J. Brown? Baltimore better consider it. | COMMENTARY His 75.3 coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus, ranked 15th among all cornerbacks last season. He also had seven pass breakups and 43 tackles. That production suggests he will cost more than the modest deal he signed a year ago, but an incentivized contract could make sense for both sides. Jake Hummel, LB Hummel quietly became a core special-teams presence, leading Baltimore in snaps and ranking second in tackles on the third phase. With fellow inside linebackers Jay Higgins IV and Chandler Martin, along with Teddye Buchanan, all coming off knee injuries he also would provide affordable depth and experience. This feels like an easy decision. Tyler Huntley, QB Given the square-peg-round-hole struggles of Cooper Rush in the Ravens’ offense last season — four interceptions, zero touchdowns, two losses — it’s unlikely the former Dallas Cowboys starter will be back. Baltimore can also save $2.1 million by designating him as a post-June1 release and save another $700,000 from a roster bonus if they make a move by March 15. That could also help clear the way for Huntley to return as Jackson’s backup. Huntley has familiarity with the scheme and with Jackson, and he played well enough in spot duty to suggest a reunion could make sense if the finances align. Dre’Mont Jones, OLB Jones is one of three outside linebackers on the roster (Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo) scheduled to become a free agent. Last season, he had seven sacks (though just 2 1/2 after being traded to Baltimore midway through the season) and 51 pressures, 32 of which came after he got to the Ravens in a mid-season trade. At 29, he’s also the most intriguing edge defender scheduled to hit the market from Baltimore’s roster. On one hand, a deal from another team approaching eight figures annually could push him beyond the Ravens’ comfort zone. The team’s approach could also depend on whether it explores bigger swings at pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby, or a more measured option such as Khalil Mack, who played under Minter last season with the Chargers. Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar, right, celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Bears. Kolar and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely could both leave the franchise in free agency, although Kolar is viewed as a more realistic returner given his lack of career receiving production. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Charlie Kolar, TE With the expectation that fellow tight end Isaiah Likely will depart for greener pastures that could see him potentially land an eight-figure per year deal, bringing back Kolar should be a priority. Baltimore extended Mark Andrews through the 2028 season with a team-friendly deal that includes a reasonable $7 million cap hit for 2026 after it couldn’t reach a deal with Likely, so Kolar returning to a team that figures to use a lot of two-tight end sets would be a boon for the offense, especially given his comfortability with Jackson. It’s possible that some team will offer Kolar around $7 million a year, so that could make things difficult for Baltimore given all the money it needs to spread around but betting on his athleticism, run blocking and ascending skills as a pass catcher would be wise. Keaton Mitchell, RB Mitchell, the team’s lone restricted free agent, is the lightning to Derrick Henry’s thunder. A low tender — a route Baltimore has taken before with players like Ar’Darius Washington — is also the most likely outcome, even if it leaves the door open for another team to test the waters. As an undrafted free agent, the low tender for Mitchell is worth just over $2.5 million but comes with no draft pick compensation should Baltimore choose not to match another team’s offer sheet. A second-round tender would net a second-round pick, but no team would pay that for a boutique player with an injury history and it would cost the Ravens just over $5.7 million. If another team swoops in, so be it. Their decision will also be influenced by how they view Justice Hill, who could be a salary cap casualty that would save just over $3 million. Jordan Stout, P Stout’s breakout year — leading the league in net average and earning All-Pro honors — complicates what once might have been a routine decision. The going rate for top punters exceeds $4 million annually, a meaningful number for a team already balancing several extensions. Still, he’s importantly also the holder on the field goal operation and the Ravens have already signed long snapper Nick Moore to an extension, so it’s seems all but certain they will do the same with Stout. Ravens punter Jordan Stout, shown during a 2025 preseason game, is in line for a lucrative contract after a career season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ar’Darius Washington, S The Ravens issued a low tender to Washington last offseason and when no team signed him to an offer sheet by the mid-April deadline he signed the tender with Baltimore for $3.26 million. That was also coming off a season in which he started 12 games, racked up 64 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. Then he suffered a torn Achilles during offseason workouts, wiping out most of his 2025 season before he worked hard to return late in the year. That should make for an easy decision to bring him back, especially with fellow safety Alohi Gilman, who struggled with his tackling, also slated to become a free agent. Having Washington back, along with Malaki Starks in his second year, would also allow All-Pro Kyle Hamilton to continue to be deployed in a variety of roles, including near the line of scrimmage. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — The Ravens are carrying a $72.5 million question mark into an offseason that could turn chaotic in a matter of days. Lamar Jackson’s scheduled 2026 salary cap hit hovers over the franchise as the legal tampering period opens next Monday and the new league year begins March 11. Around the league, agents are preparing leverage plays and front offices are lining up contingency plans. The Ravens, after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, have no shortage of uncertainty. Owner Steve Bisciotti made his preference clear earlier this offseason when he publicly challenged Jackson to come to the negotiating table, signaling he didn’t want his ballooning cap number to loom over the franchise as free agency approached. Jackson has two years remaining on his deal at $53 million per season, but only $29 million of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. The Ravens could create cap relief without Jackson’s approval by tacking on additional void years beyond the existing ones in 2028 and 2029, which would lower the immediate hit. Restructuring by adding void years would also push more financial strain into future seasons for general manager Eric DeCosta and company. The better solution for competitive balance and short- and long-term flexibility is another extension for the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. With one week left on Bisciotti’s timeline, it doesn’t seem like either side is close. At the NFL scouting combine this past week, DeCosta was asked whether the Ravens needed to reach a restructure or extension with Jackson before free agency to operate. In what came off as a shocking twist, DeCosta suggested the team could conduct business either way. In other words, Jackson doesn’t necessarily need to sign a new deal, as Bisciotti suggested. Huh? DeCosta also said the team’s private communication structure with Jackson “worked well last time.” That’s technically accurate. It also understates how turbulent the last negotiation became. Related Articles A closer look at Ravens free-agent priorities, including Tyler Linderbaum READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? From rugby to Ravens: Team hires Nic Gill to newly created fitness role 5 things we learned about the Ravens and the draft at NFL scouting combine Josh Tolentino: Ravens and A.J. Brown? Baltimore better consider it. | COMMENTARY Jackson, who represents himself, publicly requested a trade on social media in March 2023 before ultimately agreeing to a five-year extension worth $260 million with $185 million guaranteed the following month. It was later revealed that portions of communication between Jackson and the team were disrupted because Jackson claimed his phone microphone wasn’t working. The saga ended with Jackson posting a celebratory video declaring, “The last few months, there’s been a lot of he-said, she-said. Lot of nail-biting, lot of headscratching going on. But for the next five years, it’s a lot of flock going on!” Will there be another announcement video soon? Or another private-turned-public standoff? DeCosta’s lack of visible urgency could signal confidence or difficulty at the current stage of negotiations. That level of tension isn’t confined to just one contract situation. Three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is set to hit free agency, and DeCosta volunteered that the Ravens have presented him a “market-setting deal,” offering language and course of action the typically guarded executive rarely uses publicly. What qualifies as “market-setting?” The current benchmark at the position belongs to Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey ($18 million annual salary). League circles believe Linderbaum could surpass $20 million per year given his credentials, especially with multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders, needing a center. If Linderbaum walks, it only compounds one of Baltimore’s biggest issues — the interior offensive line. About those issues … there was another subtle contrast that emerged from the combine that shouldn’t be ignored. When asked about Jackson’s participation in voluntary organized team activities, DeCosta downplayed the significance. Jackson is a two-time MVP, DeCosta noted, while implying that attendance at voluntary workouts isn’t a referendum on the quarterback’s leadership. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta speaks during a news conference at the NFL scouting combine. DeCosta spoke this past week about Lamar Jackson's contract situation, suggesting it won't inhibit the team's plans in free agency. (Michael Conroy/AP) Like Bisciotti’s earlier sentiment about Jackson’s contract situation, DeCosta’s stance on Jackson’s offseason participation level struck a different tone when viewed alongside comments from new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. During his introductory news conference last month in Owings Mills, Doyle publicly challenged players to show up for voluntary workouts, stressing the importance of early buy-in with a new coaching staff. “Yes, we would expect [the players] to be here and, certainly, it is voluntary,” Doyle said. “But, if you want to say that you’re going to win a championship — [and if] you want to say that you have championship standards, and those are your goals and your expectations — certainly that’s going to take work, that’s going to take collaboration, and that’s going to take the beginning of building the relationship with their coaches, other players starting off this next regime on the right foot. “And so, that would be those guys getting in here, us being able to work with them hands-on to be able to kind of get this thing going in the direction that we want to, making improvements so that we set ourselves up where — when we come back in for training camp — we hit the ground running, and we already have kind of a shared knowledge [and] shared language, and we’re able to go right to work.” Jackson already has forfeited $1.5 million by not participating in the minimum amount of voluntary sessions over the past two offseasons. Will he bother to exercise and cash in his annual $750,000 workout bonus with a new coaching staff in place this time around? “You know what? Those are voluntary,” DeCosta said. “Lamar is a two-time MVP. I think he knows what it takes to get ready for the grind of the NFL season. He’s proven he can do it at a very, very high level, and I have no preference.” Despite Doyle’s aspirations for perfect attendance, it doesn’t sound like there’s much pressure coming from the top. Elsewhere, the Ravens have 24 pending free agents, 19 of whom are unrestricted. The list includes tight end Isaiah Likely, veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, three-time All-Pro fullback Pat Ricard, soon-to-be 35-year-old outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, reigning All-Pro punter Jordan Stout, embattled right guard Daniel Faalele and veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Midseason acquisitions Dre’Mont Jones and Alohi Gilman are also set to hit the open market. Will the Ravens find resolutions with anyone before the legal tampering period opens next Monday? All of this unfolds as first-year coach Jesse Minter attempts to establish his voice inside the Castle. Minter has assembled a largely new coaching staff, including five defensive assistants from the college ranks. Sure, the Ravens can operate without a Jackson extension in the near future. But operating and optimizing the team’s apparent title window are two different objectives. Just ask the team’s owner. There is a path where this all settles quickly. There is another path where important negotiations linger, Linderbaum tests his leverage and finds a new home, and the Ravens enter free agency juggling all of their existing problems. This doesn’t have to become chaotic. But it absolutely could. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Josh appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

The Orioles’ 2025 season was disappointing, as the ballclub missed the postseason after making the playoffs in 2023 and 2024. Despite a subpar 2025, Baltimore’s players enter this season with renewed optimism. The Orioles added sluggers Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward in the offseason to complement a lineup that includes Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo, Jackson Holliday and others. Baltimore’s pitching has upside, with Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz among the headliners. They’ll be led by a new manager in Craig Albernaz, who comes highly acclaimed after a recent stint as an assistant in Cleveland. Can he maximize the team’s potential? Where will Baltimore finish in the American League East this season? 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

The Ravens stepped outside the box of American football to hire the organization’s first health and performance coach. Dr. Nic Gill spent the past 18 years working with the New Zealand All Blacks, among the most famous rugby teams on the planet. He worked his way up from assistant strength coach to head of performance, and New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster credited Gill for the All Blacks being “at the forefront of athlete performance.” Gill first joined the All Blacks for a season in 2004 as assistant strength and conditioning coach. He also worked with the Junior All Blacks from 2005 to 2007, and the Chiefs Super Rugby team from 2004 to 2008, before returning to lead the All Blacks strength and conditioning program in 2008. Gill will bring that expertise to Baltimore. “As an expert in high performance, Gilly’s ability to lead an integrated and collaborative staff and to develop strong lasting relationships with players makes him an ideal fit for this newly-created role,” general manager Eric DeCosta wrote in a team statement. “The health and performance of our players is paramount.” Gill has a PhD in exercise physiology and he’s an associate professor in human performance at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. There, according to the team site, he has supervised applied research in sports science and athlete development. He’s written a book, coached record-breaking rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, and worked closely with New Zealand’s track cycling endurance team leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career, and I don’t take a move like this lightly,” Dr. Gill wrote in a statement. “The Ravens felt right, straight away — the people, the standards and the way they care about their players. I’m excited to get to work, build real relationships and help guys stay healthy, available and playing their best football.” The Ravens could certainly use his help. Five weeks into this past season, Baltimore’s injury woes hit a nadir, showing as many as 14 players on the mid-week injury report. They played the Texans without seven regular starters, including quarterback Lamar Jackson. Five defensive players, most notably All-Pro Nnamdi Madubuike and rookie Teddye Buchanan, suffered season-ending injuries. There were plenty of reasons to fault Baltimore for its disappointing season but injuries were the most glaring. DeCosta sees this hire as a chance to spin the Ravens from a team battered by injuries to an “industry standard” in player in health. Gill’s addition was announced days removed from the 2026 NFL Players Association report cards revealing an overwhelming confidence in the facilities in Owings Mills. The team’s training room, weight room and strength coaches all received ‘A’ grades. “Coming from New Zealand to the NFL is a big move for my family and me, but it’s one we’re genuinely excited about,” Gill wrote in a statement. “The Ravens have a strong reputation for doing things the right way, and I’m grateful for the chance to bring my knowledge and experience here, learn from everyone around me and contribute to something special in Baltimore.” Related Articles READER POLL: Where will the Orioles finish in the AL East? 5 things we learned about the Ravens and the draft at NFL scouting combine Josh Tolentino: Ravens and A.J. Brown? Baltimore better consider it. | COMMENTARY Could Ravens draft a WR in first round? The prospects are tantalizing. Mike Preston: Ravens need to keep Tyler Linderbaum. Wally Williams agrees. | COMMENTARY During his tenure in New Zealand, the All Blacks won two Rugby World Cups (2011 and 2015) and more than 170 matches. Their winning percentage at the international level over the last nearly two decades sits above .800. Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane called Gill “an invaluable part of the All Blacks group.” “Gilly knew when to push you and when to pull back and you always knew he had your best interests at heart,” Cane said in a team statement. “He wanted to help make you the best player you could be. Everyone had complete trust in him.” 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

INDIANAPOLIS — The week at the scouting combine carried a subtly altered rhythm for the Ravens. A franchise that prides itself on continuity arrived this year with a new staff led by first-year coach Jesse Minter. Still, much of what unfolded inside the city’s convention center and at Lucas Oil Stadium felt familiar. Team executives, coaches and scouts moved through the annual rituals of measuring, testing and interviewing prospects and exchanging intelligence the way the organization has long preferred to operate: deliberately and with an eye on value. “We’ve always been a best-player-available team, and that’s important to me,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “That’s in my DNA. “You’ve got to have the roster size, you’ve got to understand positional — how many players in each position — but all things being equal, I think you draft the best available player.” With that as the backdrop — and alongside updates on contract conversations involving quarterback Lamar Jackson and center Tyler Linderbaum — here are five things that emerged from last week. Where will the Ravens find a pass rusher? Baltimore’s offseason priorities are not difficult to identify, with the most urgent being on the edge of the defense. The Ravens finished last season with only 30 sacks, the third-fewest in the league, and ranked near the bottom in pass-rush win rate. After the midseason trade of Odafe Oweh and with three other outside linebackers (Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo) slated for free agency, the cupboard is bare. There is promise in Mike Green, who improved as his rookie season progressed, but Tavius Robinson has shown value more as a run-setting presence than a consistent threat to the quarterback. The draft offers possibilities. However, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah noted that this class lacks the obvious blue-chip edge prospects of recent years, such as Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa. That reality inevitably shifts the conversation toward more expensive avenues. One possibility is Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks in 2024 and could hit free agency if the Cincinnati Bengals choose not to secure him with the franchise tag, though that seems unlikely. “We have resources to attack the offseason in a big way,” Bengals personnel chief Duke Tobin said at the combine, declining to elaborate on the team’s plans. Another name that continues to circulate is Maxx Crosby, though Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek reiterated that he expects Crosby to remain with the team. Even if the Raiders were willing to listen, the price — likely multiple first-round picks — would run counter to DeCosta’s long-standing inclination to collect and protect draft capital. Could Baltimore draft another cornerback in Round 1? Cornerback has become another area worth monitoring. Last season, Marlon Humphrey allowed more receiving yards than any cornerback in the league, according to Next Gen Stats. He will turn 30 this summer and is scheduled to carry a $26.3 million cap hit, which ranks third-highest in the league. Yet both Humphrey and DeCosta have said that the veteran is expected to remain in Baltimore, though perhaps with a reworked contract. His presence, experience and voice in the locker room still matter to a young secondary. Even so, the depth chart thins quickly behind him and Nate Wiggins. Baltimore has long treated cornerback as a position worth stockpiling — DeCosta once likened the position’s durability to that of a finely tuned sports car that is also apt to break down. One potential fit could be LSU’s Mansoor Delane, widely viewed as one of the top players at the position. Delane, a Silver Spring native and Spalding graduate who transferred from Virginia Tech, skipped on-field workouts at the combine, confident that his game tape spoke clearly enough. “You know, if I had a choice, I’d have played middle linebacker in college,” said Delane, who grew up a Ravens fan. “I just love physicality. I love tackling. I love being in the box. … A lot of corners might be scared to tackle, but I love that.” Placed opposite Wiggins, Delane could allow Humphrey to slide inside, where he has previously played at an All-Pro level. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is among a handful of wide receivers seen as first-round talents. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL) Don’t rule out Ravens doing the unexpected History suggests Baltimore will keep its options open. In 2022, when the team last held the 14th overall pick, it selected safety Kyle Hamilton — despite having recently signed Marcus Williams and already employing defensive signal-caller Chuck Clark alongside him. Hamilton has since become one of the league’s premier defenders, a reminder that organizational philosophy often outweighs short-term need. The same dynamic could surface again next month. Baltimore’s draft position places it in a pocket where players sometimes slide unexpectedly. If a top wide receiver were available — even with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman already in place — or if a dominant interior lineman or defender dropped down the board, the Ravens have shown a willingness to pivot. It is, in many ways, a hallmark. Guard draws strong reviews Among offensive linemen, one prospect in particular generated high praise during the week: Penn State guard Vega Ioane. Jeremiah described him as the best offensive lineman in the entire class, naturally leading to speculation about Baltimore’s interest. The Ravens’ starting guards last season, Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, struggled mightily, and the organization has long leaned on drafting and developing linemen rather than paying premium prices across the board — something that could shift somewhat given the extension discussions with Linderbaum. Ioane’s skill set — powerful and well-suited to inside zone or gap concepts — would perhaps raise interesting questions about scheme fit, however. Baltimore is also optimistic about second-year lineman Emery Jones Jr., whose development could influence how aggressively the team addresses the position. Still, the Ravens have a history with Penn State, having selected more players from the school (four) since 2019 than any other in that span. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was one of the most impressive players during the on-field workouts at the NFL scouting combine. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Sonny Styles’ combine moment Every combine produces a player who seems to capture the week’s imagination. This year, that role belonged to Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. At 6 feet 5 and 244 pounds, Styles delivered a performance that quickly turned heads. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash, 43.5-inch vertical jump and 135-inch broad jump were among the most explosive performances of the week. Though it seems unlikely Styles would be available when the Ravens pick, he’s also the kind of best-available player Baltimore would pounce on, even with Roquan Smith still on the team for at least another season. The numbers also inevitably prompted comparisons — particularly with San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner, the gold standard of the position — though Styles emphasized that what he admires most about elite linebackers is not just their physical gifts. He mentioned studying both Warner and Luke Kuechly, whose career with the Carolina Panthers was defined as much by anticipation and intelligence as by speed and will land him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. “He was so smart that people forgot he was such a great athlete,” Styles said of Kuechly. “And that’s kind of what I want for myself. I think I’m a great athlete, but I want my football intelligence to stick out more than my athleticism.” But in a week devoted to measurables, it was a reminder of what teams ultimately search for beyond them, and why Baltimore, even in a year of transition, still looks very much like itself. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL scouting combine looks pretty orderly on television with prospects in matching gear working out in front of cameras and stopwatches. But inside the hotels and convention space surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium, it’s a much more chaotic scene. Over the past week, nearly every important NFL decision-maker and their scouting staffs shuffled between on-field activities and team suites to buzzing restaurants and bars, discussing pertinent topics around roster construction. The scouting combine, leading up to April’s NFL draft, serves as one of the most important weeks on the league calendar, and each offseason forces teams to choose between needs and wants. The Ravens, in particular, need help across the offensive and defensive lines. They also need cornerback depth after a season in which their pass defense dropped to 31st in the NFL. They probably need another pass rusher or two, as well. Those specific position groups tend to surface when discussing needs, but the exact order of the most pressing varies based on your appetite. What Baltimore craves and wants — and what quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson has lacked for much of his career — is a dominant, physically imposing No. 1 wide receiver. On Friday, a report surfaced that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman continues to assess the trade market for three-time All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown, seeking a return in a potential deal that includes both a first- and second-round draft pick, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. The Ravens have 11 selections in April’s draft, including …*checks notes* … picks in the first and second rounds at Nos. 14 and 45. Hmm. General manager Eric DeCosta is famously protective of his draft capital. It serves as the root of the team’s longstanding roster-building model as a “draft and develop” squad. But roster construction is also about windows, and Jackson enters his age-29 season still seeking to bring home and lift his first — and the franchise’s third — Lombardi Trophy. The Ravens certainly could benefit from the addition of a dominant “X” receiver and pairing a playmaker in Brown with back-to-back Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers would leave first-year coordinator Declan Doyle salivating. Baltimore’s passing offense finished 16th in the league last season. Not good enough. Jackson and Flowers need reinforcements after Flowers posted 86 catches for 1,211 yards in 2025. He was the lone receiver to top 40 catches or 330 receiving yards. It’s laughable, really, when you look at the disparity. Rashod Bateman, meanwhile, remains a constant question mark. The former University of Minnesota wide receiver has delivered modest production but is coming off a career-worst campaign in 2025, as he finished with 19 catches, 224 yards and two touchdowns as an ankle sprain limited him to 13 games. Related Articles Could Ravens draft a WR in first round? The prospects are tantalizing. Mike Preston: Ravens need to keep Tyler Linderbaum. Wally Williams agrees. | COMMENTARY 2026 NFLPA team report cards: Ravens improve in several areas Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah sizes up Ravens: ‘Get back to that tenacity’ READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want team to pick linemen in NFL draft Bateman, who signed a three-year, $36.75 million contract extension in June 2025, could serve as a piece in a potential trade. Bateman, like Eagles standout receiver DeVonta Smith, was taken in the first round of the 2021 draft. Their career trajectories, though, have gone in different directions. Bateman turns 27 in November and is still seeking his first 1,000-yard season, while Smith has posted three such campaigns with 5,019 career receiving yards, 385 catches and 31 touchdowns. Bateman has less than half that production with 157 receptions, 2,147 yards and 15 touchdowns. Would Philadelphia value Bateman as part of a larger package for Brown, one that’s expected to include significant draft capital? Bateman has flashed throughout his spotty five seasons in Baltimore. He’s perhaps the team’s best route runner but has struggled to develop a consistent rapport with Jackson and too often appears visibly frustrated during rough patches. Bateman might benefit from a change of scenery, whether it be Philadelphia or elsewhere. It wouldn’t be surprising if Bateman finally posted his first 1,000-yard campaign in Year 1 with a new team. Sometimes, a parting of ways and fresh start can be beneficial for both parties. The Ravens nearly traded Bateman to the Dallas Cowboys last offseason before they reached an agreement on a modest contract that kept him in Baltimore. Of course, the second part of the equation involves DeCosta’s willingness to part ways with his beloved pool of draft picks, along with factoring in the team’s other pressing needs and addressing Jackson’s pending contract situation. The last time Baltimore possessed the No. 14 pick, it selected do-it-all safety Kyle Hamilton. With defensive mind Jesse Minter at the helm, will the Ravens lean toward addressing their broken defense in the early rounds? Imagining an incoming rookie talent such as Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (Spalding) in Minter’s defense appears as tantalizing as adding Brown and reuniting him with future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry. The two offensive stars spent part of Super Bowl week together earlier in the month, and Henry teased his former Tennessee Titans teammate by bringing up the idea of Philadelphia trading Brown to Baltimore. “A.J. to the Ravens, bro, to the flock,” Henry clamored on Plaqueboymax’s Twitch stream. Brown offered a playful stare before he burst in laughter. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, shown at the NFL scouting combine, may try to add a high-level wide receiver to Baltimore's roster in 2026 to complement Zay Flowers. (Michael Conroy/AP) Asked earlier in the week about the ideal skill set of a receiver to complement Flowers, Minter replied: “That’s a great question. Receivers, they’re weapons on offense, and so they come in all different shapes and sizes, so, [we’re looking for] guys that can be impactful with the ball in their hands. Can they get open? Can they separate at the top of routes? Can they make contested catches? How do they play without the ball, as well? What type of teammate are they? How do they play without the ball? “You’re only going to get the ball in a great game eight or nine times. In a normal game, [it’s] four or five times so can they impact the game in other ways?” The Ravens surely wouldn’t be the only bidders for Brown’s services. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke glowingly of his former player earlier this week, and New England, like Baltimore, would benefit from addressing a hole at receiver after its loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Brown might only have a few stellar years remaining as he approaches his age-29 season. But Brown is still among the league’s elite tier even after he labeled his offense a “s—show” this past fall and finished with 78 catches, 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. The term “diva” often is attached to disgruntled receivers like Brown — he arrived in Philadelphia as close friends with quarterback Jalen Hurts, serving as a godparent to Brown’s eldest daughter, but that relationship has apparently fractured. Has it reached the point of no return for Brown in Philadelphia? Also, what standout wide receiver doesn’t ruffle the feathers every now and then? The good ones possess that sense of fire inside and the best address it with elite on-field performance. Brown’s proven to do both at a consistent level. He’s posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with 339 catches, 5,034 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in an Eagles uniform. For perspective, 10 Baltimore wide receivers have combined for 7,227 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns during that span, meaning Brown has amassed nearly 70% of Baltimore’s total production in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by himself. Whew. Brown’s fire to demand the ball and ability to make game-changing plays is exactly the type of playmaker the Ravens’ passing offense needs to reach a championship level. Flowers, who turns 26 in September, already is explosive with his shiftiness in the open field, but he doesn’t win many jump balls and he’s struggled to high-point targeted throws in critical spots, like the back corner of the end zone. Flowers ended a 14-week touchdown drought in a 24-0 win over the Bengals, but he also dropped what should’ve been his second touchdown during that game while struggling to leap and track a ball in the right corner of the end zone. Flowers also has an apparent turnover problem. He logged three lost fumbles, though he contributed to another in the team’s loss to the Rams. Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens had an NFL-worst four fumbles. “You can’t fumble the ball,” former coach John Harbaugh said after Flowers committed a key turnover in a Week 16 loss to the Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium. “You have to protect the football. If you don’t get it done, then you become known as a fumbler.” Don’t get it twisted. Flowers is a dynamic talent. His big-play ability shined and was most evident during the team’s season-ending defeat at Pittsburgh when Jackson connected with Flowers on a pair of downfield dynamite completions. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is the team's most reliable target, but his fellow wide receivers have struggled to put up big numbers in recent seasons. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Still, Flowers (5-foot-9, 183 pounds) would surely benefit from a dominant running mate, and Brown (6-foot-1, 226 pounds) fits the bill. At the very least, DeCosta must explore all options with Brown reportedly on the market. “It depends on what you’re looking for or what you have available at that time,” DeCosta said of his process in evaluating wide receivers. “You’ve got your big guys, you’ve got your small guys, you got your fast guys, and you’ve got possession-catch guys. They have to be able to catch, first and foremost. I think route running is very important as well. Being able to drop your weight, get open and separate versus man [coverage], versus zone [coverage]. I think you’ve got to be intelligent, you’ve got to be competitive, and you’ve got to be tough. I think blocking is definitely a component if you play for a team like the Ravens, that prizes running the football. “And you’ve got to have a flair for making the big play at the right time, being a competitive player who can make a play. I think that’s a really important part of the position as well.” Browns checks just about every one of those boxes and he’d be a welcome addition to the remainder of Jackson’s prime window. Is he worth the price? Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSportsand instagram.com/JCTSports. Josh appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — There is no position on the Ravens’ roster more polarizing than wide receiver. The label is inherent to the job, which is high volume/limited opportunity, high pressure and highly visible. But it has also been a particular issue for Baltimore through the years. Since 2019 — Lamar Jackson’s first year as a full-time starter and second in the NFL — the Ravens have drafted nine receivers, including three in the first round. Only once during that span — in 2022 — did they not use at least one draft pick on the position. So it’s of little surprise that some draftniks have mocked them adding to that total with the 14th overall selection this year. While not the most pressing need, it is a group that will be bolstered given a lack of depth. Two of those previous first-round picks, Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, are expected to occupy the first two spots on the depth chart for the 2026 season — unless Baltimore were to trade the former, something that nearly happened with the Dallas Cowboys last offseason before the two sides reached a stalemate over compensation that included a second-round pick. And now that the Philadelphia Eagles are apparently at least open to the idea of potentially dealing disgruntled star A.J. Brown, it’s at least possible the Ravens could be a willing partner. No matter the scenario, though, the drop is steep for the Ravens beyond their top two receivers, whomever they are. DeAndre Hopkins, who will turn 34 in June, is due to be a free agent and not expected to be back after a middling season of 22 catches on 39 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Tylan Wallace is likewise slated to be a free agent and while a valuable special teams contributor has yet to break through offensively with 22 catches for 305 yards and two scores across five seasons. Devontez Walker, who is going into his third year, is still developing. LaJohntay Wester, who spent his rookie season as the Ravens’ punt returner last year, still has a ways to go to have a role on offense. The Ravens’ only other receivers – veteran Keith Kirkwood and 2024 Los Angeles Chargers seventh-round draft pick Cornelius Johnson – spent last season on the practice squad. Enter this year’s draft class, which is considered to be relatively deep with some strong-if-not-spectacular top-end talent. At the top of that list are Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon. Here’s a closer look at each. Carnell Tate Of that trio, Tate is perhaps the most tantalizing prospect. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he’s primarily an “X” receiver in the mold of New Orleans Saints star Chris Olave with good size but better speed and fluidity on intermediate and deep routes. Last season was his breakout for the Buckeyes with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, and his polish, catch radius and elite hands will be coveted, especially for teams looking for big-play ability. Last season, Tate had 11 catches of at least 30 yards, which ranked sixth in FBS. He also has no shortage of swagger. Asked Friday who the best wide receiver in the draft is, he said, “Me, no question. I bring it all to the table. Whatever you need to do, I got it. “If you want a game-changer, you got one right here.” The Jets, Giants, Browns and Saints were all among the teams he met with this week, though, and all of them pick before the Ravens and likewise have a need at wide receiver. Still, if Tate were somehow still available at No. 14, general manager Eric DeCosta, who said taking the best available player is in his DNA, could be hard-pressed to pass him up. Jordyn Tyson The biggest question over the 6-2, 200-pound Tyson is his checkered injury history. In 2022, he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, causing him to miss 15 combined games across that season and the next for Colorado. In 2024 at Arizona State, he broke his collarbone late in the year and missed the Big 12 title game and College Football Playoff. Last season, a nagging hamstring injury resulted in him missing three games and kept him from participating in on-field drills and workouts at the scouting combine. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens need to keep Tyler Linderbaum. Wally Williams agrees. | COMMENTARY 2026 NFLPA team report cards: Ravens improve in several areas Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah sizes up Ravens: ‘Get back to that tenacity’ READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want team to pick linemen in NFL draft Josh Tolentino: Ravens assistants with no NFL experience tasked with big fix | COMMENTARY “The first two are mechanism injuries, you can’t really help it,” he said Friday. “We play a physical sport.” Tyson added that he’d never had a soft-tissue injury before, so he’s still working through that with his hamstring, but insisted that he has showed an ability to bounce back. When healthy, he was prolific. As a junior at Arizona State in 2024, he had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season, he had 61 catches for 711 yards and eight scores in nine games. Another boundary receiver with a draft comp of Terry McLaurin and under Sun Devils wide receivers coach and former Steelers star Hines Ward, Tyson likewise has a chance to be a mid-to-late first round pick. He also met with the Ravens, among many other teams, this week. “That’d be amazing,” he said of the potential of playing with Lamar Jackson. “I feel like I could help the team for sure.” He also noted that Baltimore, as others did, tried to trip him up with some of their questions to test his knowledge and see how he would respond, but that he didn’t fall for it. Makai Lemon As the 5-11, 195-pound Lemon stepped behind the microphone Friday, he carried an intensity and focus that also spoke to his confidence and determination. Lemon said that he has an “unwavering ability” to “never back down” when things don’t go right. “I’m never gonna tuck my tail,” he said, adding that he wants to dominate because he takes the game very seriously since it’s how he feeds his family. Understandably, his favorite receiver and the player he has drawn comparisons to is Detroit Lions star and USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two are built similarly and both have a certain grit and a willingness to impact the game without the ball in their hands. With the ball, Lemon was electric in college. Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon speaks during a news conference at the NFL scouting combine. Lemon says blocking is one of the strength's of his game. (Julio Cortez/AP) Last season with the Trojans, he had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns as a yards-after-catch monster. He also took home the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver and averaged an impressive 3.13 yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus, along with 6.4 yards after catch per reception. “I can turn a 2-3 yard route into a big gain,” he said when asked his best trait. “And then my blocking, the way I can impact the team without the ball in my hands.” He added that two players he studies closely are Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase and Seattle Seahawks standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He also met with Baltimore and has known new wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, another USC alum, for years. “Lamar is one of the best quarterbacks, he could do many things with the ball in his hands,” said Lemon, who projects as a high-volume slot demon given who could ease that burden on Flowers. “To be in his offense and around that organization would be a blessing.” Now the only question is what will the Ravens do if any of them are available when they pick at No. 14? There are myriad needs, from offensive line to pass rush to cornerback, that they need to bolster in this year’s draft. The Ravens have also largely struggled when it comes to drafting and developing receivers, with only Flowers, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, an exception. But it will be an important position in 2026, too. “Receivers, they’re weapons on offense,” first-year coach Jesse Minter said this week. “They come in all different shapes and sizes, I would say, so [we’re looking for] guys that can be impactful with the ball in their hands. “Can they get open? Can they separate at the top of routes? Can they make contested catches? … and then how do they play without the ball, as well? What type of teammate are they? How do they play without the ball? You’re only going to get the ball in a great game eight or nine times. In a normal game, four or five times, so can they impact the game in other ways?” We’ll find out soon enough. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Whenever there is talk about Tyler Linderbaum, former Ravens center Wally Williams likes to talk about the family tree. Linderbaum played at Iowa, and so did former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda, who will someday be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All three were coached by Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, who mentored Williams for six years in both Cleveland and Baltimore. Williams, 55, has some simple advice for the Ravens: Show Linderbaum the money. “I was with Kirk for the first six years of my career,” said Williams, now the offensive line coach at a high school in Florida. “I give Kirk a lot of credit and the way he taught us to play the game. We can talk about Yanda the same way. You can definitely trust him to hold down that position and he is somebody that can play for a long time. “When I was there, it was nothing for the Ravens to say, ‘Well, we got to pay J.O. [left tackle Jonathan Ogden].’ That was understandable, so I said, ‘Cool, man, then I’m going to New Orleans.’ Back then J.O. was the best lineman in the league, and right now, Tyler is the best lineman they got.” Agreed. General manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this week that the Ravens have offered Linderbaum, 25, a “market-setting” contract that would pay him more than the four-year, $72 million agreement signed by Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey last August. Williams has been through a similar situation before. After two years and starting 23 games, he received the Ravens’ first franchise tag in 1998 and a year later signed with New Orleans. DeCosta has said that the team has no interest in putting a franchise or transition tag on Linderbaum. The projected franchise tag would guarantee him nearly $28 million for the 2026 season. The Ravens need to ante up and award Linderbaum a new contract. All they have to do is go back and look at the 2025 game film. Both guards, Andrew Vorhees on the left and Daniel Faalele on the right, performed poorly and right tackle Roger Rosengarten struggled as well. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, 31, is six seasons removed from being named an All-Pro. The only constant was Linderbaum. “The NFL is a business, and to be honest, the owners are loaded,” Williams said. “It’s just the way the market works out right now, and whatever it is, he needs to get paid. Does it make sense? Hell no, but I can’t figure out why a running back like Derrick Henry (two years, $30 million contract signed last May) make less money than a center. It’s one of those jobs where every year you are going to get a 15 to 20% raise.” Williams has some other arguments that work in Linderbaum’s favor. He equates the quarterback and center positions as being the apex of the offense. If a team can’t run successfully, it will struggle for most of the game. Flexibility has been a major strength for Linderbaum, who can pull and get deep into a secondary, reminiscent of the days when Dermontti Dawson was with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dwight Stephenson was with the Miami Dolphins in the late 1980’s. Centers have to call slide protections in pass plays as well. “Offensive center has always been a position of power,” Williams said. “I might not score on one play, but I tell you what, if we don’t move the damn ball nothing happens. Centers are the start of every big play we possibly have. Then there is the mental IQ, it’s the same operation as the battery between a pitcher and catcher. So if you have that relationship with your quarterback to read plays and to get things done at the line of scrimmage, you can make all the adjustments and figure things out. “This is what the bargaining agreement and the guaranteed contracts; all these things that we have been fighting for the future. Well, these young men are reaping the benefits of that.” Related Articles 2026 NFLPA team report cards: Ravens improve in several areas Draft guru Daniel Jeremiah sizes up Ravens: ‘Get back to that tenacity’ READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want team to pick linemen in NFL draft Josh Tolentino: Ravens assistants with no NFL experience tasked with big fix | COMMENTARY Ravens’ pass rush search is already underway: ‘You’re looking for more’ The word Williams likes to use for Linderbaum is “gritty.” That’s a Ferentz term. When Williams played, offensive linemen were still some of the dirtiest players in the game. The Ravens had their share with Orlando Brown Sr. at right tackle, Jeff Blackshear at right guard, Williams at center and Ogden anchoring the left side. The Ravens would maul the opposition, but they had very little defense until they started adding players like tackle Tony Siragusa and end Michael McCrary as linebackers Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper matured. “It’s kind of hard when you are out there and you have to block two defensive linemen as well as the middle linebacker,” Williams said. Hint, hint. Bring back Linderbaum. Last year, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked 36 times in 12 games. The two past Super Bowl champions, Philadelphia and Seattle, both could get pressure with their front four, and that’s even more of a reason to re-sign Linderbaum. When free agency opens in March, Linderbaum will be one of the most highly sought-after players. “We’ve always been a team that has valued the importance of the trenches,” DeCosta said earlier this week at the NFL scouting combine. Well, be prepared to pay. “It’s probably going to hit $20 (million) to $21 million,” Williams said. “When I played there was more man-to-man blocking, getting a hat on a hat. Now, these guys aren’t as athletic, but you have a center who can do both. Times have changed. Lamar can maneuver to the outside, but you have to protect the middle and protect your quarterback. It’s even more important now than it used to be. Your best offensive lineman is now your center.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — The Ravens received seven grades of at least an A-minus and no grade lower than a B-minus in the annual NFL Players Association report cards, a source with direct knowledge of the survey confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. ESPN obtained the survey results for all 32 NFL teams on Thursday after the league won a grievance to stop the NFLPA from making them public as it had in previous years. The survey was based on responses from 1,759 players. Baltimore ranked 12th overall, one spot higher than last year. The Miami Dolphins ranked first, the Minnesota Vikings second and the Washington Commanders third. The AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, ranked last, per ESPN, for the first time in the four years that the survey has been conducted, while the Cleveland Browns ranked 30th. The Cincinnati Bengals ranked 24th. The NFLPA is not making the report cards public this year after the league claimed that it violated the collective bargaining agreement. Earlier this month, an arbitrator agreed and said in its ruling that the report cards violated the CBA because it disparaged clubs and individuals. The NFLPA continued to collect responses, however, even though it was not allowed to publish them. Neither a spokesperson for the NFL nor for the NFLPA immediately responded to messages seeking comment. A Ravens spokesperson also did not respond. Baltimore did, however, fare well in many areas and improved from last year. Treatment of families climbed from a C-plus to B-plus; the training room, which was overhauled, went from a B-minus to an A; the training staff grade nudged upward from a B-minus to a B; nutritionist/dietician went from a B to an A-minus; the mark for the weight room went from a B-plus to an A, as did the grade for strength coaches; and owner Steve Bisciotti’s grade of an A in last year’s survey improved to an A-plus. The Ravens did noticeably dip in one area, as the grade for team travel went from an A-minus to a B-minus. They also stayed the same in some other categories. Former coach John Harbaugh (now with the New York Giants) got a B, same as food and dining, while the locker room again received a B-minus. In a handful of new categories, Baltimore also fared generally well. General manager Eric DeCosta received an A-minus. Former offensive coordinator Todd Monken (now Browns coach) got a B-minus. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr (Seahawks inside linebackers coach) and special teams coordinator Chris Horton (same role with Giants) each got a B-plus, while position coaches received a B and home game field got an A. M&T Bank Stadium is one of 15 NFL stadiums with a grass field. New Ravens coach Jesse Minter received an A-plus in his previous role as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle earned an A-minus as the Chicago Bears’ OC. New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver got an A working in the same role for the Dolphins. Ravens NFLPA survey report card Treatment of Families: B+ (C+ in 2025) Food/Dining Area: B (B in 2025) Nutritionist/Dietician: A- (B in 2025) Locker Room: B- (B- in 2025) Training Room: A (B- in 2025) Training Staff: B (B- in 2025) Weight Room: A (B+ in 2025) Strength Coaches: A (B+ in 2025) Team Travel: B- (A- in 2025) Head Coach: B (B in 2025) Team Ownership: A+ (A in 2025) Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — Daniel Jeremiah’s career has unfolded with a certain serendipity. A former college quarterback who transferred from Northeast Louisiana to Appalachian State, Jeremiah tore up his knee running an option on the second play of the second half against Wake Forest in 2000. During rehab one afternoon, T.J. McCreight — then a scout for the Ravens and Jeremiah’s brother’s former college roommate — came across him in the training room and they began to chat. The two stayed in touch. A year later, Jeremiah was working a Ravens game as an entry-level production assistant for ESPN when their paths crossed again in Baltimore. McCreight asked whether he had ever considered scouting. The idea stuck. Jeremiah joined Baltimore as a personnel assistant from 2003 to 2004, became the club’s west coast scout in 2005 and later a national scout for the Cleveland Browns in 2007 and then west coast for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 before returning to television, joining NFL Network in 2012. Put another way, Jeremiah arrived at this week’s NFL scouting combine with an intimate knowledge of both the college talent pool and the inner workings of the Ravens’ organization. He worked closely with general manager Eric DeCosta and previous general manager Ozzie Newsome, learning firsthand how Baltimore tends to approach roster building and weeks like this one. The Ravens now have an entirely new coaching staff led by first-year head coach Jesse Minter, but philosophically, the organization has not strayed far from its core principles. So, to borrow from a 1980s advertising slogan, when Jeremiah speaks, people listen — something made clear Wednesday inside the Indianapolis Convention Center, where a gaggle of reporters clustered around the podium as if he were one of the draft prospects himself. In a sense, he is. Jeremiah’s evaluations carry weight, especially when it comes to Baltimore. And as the Ravens enter an offseason filled with questions, he sees a team likely to return to its roots. “There’s such immense pride in that building for how you play defense, and it hasn’t been up to their standard,” Jeremiah said when asked about the need to fortify the lines of scrimmage. “When they’re at their best, they are big — big everywhere. “They want to be kind of a bully, and they got away from that a little bit. There’s some finesse players, some speed players they brought in, and I look for them to get back to that tenacity, that style.” Baltimore has no shortage of decisions ahead and size could be a factor amid several positions. The Ravens have 19 players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents when the legal tampering period begins March 9, with free agency opening two days later. Among the most pressing needs: edge rusher, defensive line, cornerback and wide receiver. In Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft, he projects Baltimore selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the 14th overall pick. Tyson would become the fourth wide receiver the Ravens have drafted in the first round since 2019, joining two-time Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. After a down season from Bateman last year, Jeremiah sees Tyson as the kind of complement Baltimore has been seeking alongside Flowers. “He’s got size, he’s sudden, he’s explosive off the line,” Jeremiah said. “You’ll see him kind of levitate up in the air.” There are, however, durability questions. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Tyson missed 15 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a torn ACL, MCL and PCL, and later additional time in 2025 with a fractured collarbone and a hamstring injury. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens need to keep Tyler Linderbaum. Wally Williams agrees. | COMMENTARY 2026 NFLPA team report cards: Ravens improve in several areas READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want team to pick linemen in NFL draft Josh Tolentino: Ravens assistants with no NFL experience tasked with big fix | COMMENTARY Ravens’ pass rush search is already underway: ‘You’re looking for more’ If Tyson is unavailable or they are uninterested, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who has drawn comparisons to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown, could be another option. However it unfolds, a receiver capable of contributing immediately feels like a priority. DeAndre Hopkins is headed for free agency and unlikely to return, and the depth behind Flowers and Bateman remains thin and largely unproven. Edge rusher is another area to watch. The group in this year’s class, Jeremiah said, may lack elite headliners but offers considerable depth. “I think it’s really deep,” he said, adding he doesn’t think there is a Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa in this class but a pool of players who can still be meaningful contributors. “I think you can get depth all the way into the fourth round where you’ll see guys making an impact next year.” Among the prospects who could percolate higher, though, are Auburn’s Keldrick Faulk and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell. With outside linebackers Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo all scheduled to hit free agency, the position could require a significant infusion of talent. The defensive line likewise looms as an area of uncertainty, particularly following Nnamdi Madubuike’s season-ending neck injury in Week 2 last year and uncertainty over his future. Prospects such as Clemson’s Peter Woods or Florida’s Caleb Banks could help reinforce the front. On the offensive side, Jeremiah singled out Penn State guard Vega Ioane as the top offensive lineman in the class, regardless of position, and described him as a “middle-of-the-fairway” type of selection — the kind of reliable pick that has long appealed to Baltimore. There is also the possibility the Ravens could maneuver on draft night, too, either trading back to accumulate more picks, or, less likely, moving up the board. The latter has rarely been their preference, and this year’s class may not demand that kind of aggression. Moving back, however, would align with a team expected to already hold 11 picks while trying to address multiple needs. No matter what, though, the guiding principle remains largely unchanged inside the Ravens’ building. “I learned under Ozzie Newsome, and we’ve always been a best-player-available team, and that’s important to me,” DeCosta said. “That’s in my DNA. It is something I believe in.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah says this year's draft class is deep at edge rusher, although there might not be an obvious future star from the group. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL) View the full article

We asked readers which position the Ravens should prioritize in the NFL draft. Baltimore has the No. 14 overall pick in this year’s draft, and the Ravens have another 10 projected picks in the event. The franchise looks to retool its roster after a disappointing 8-9 campaign in 2025. Here are the results from our online poll: Offensive line — 43% (149 votes) Edge rusher — 39% (133 votes) Interior defensive line — 8% (29 votes) Other — 6% (19 votes) Wide receiver — 3% (11 votes) Cornerback — 1% (3 votes) Here’s what some fans have said about Baltimore’s roster needs (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): The Ravens, like most teams, need help at many positions. But I think they’re most immediate need is at pass rusher. Although the secondary has been criticized often, when a quarterback has a lot of time to throw, receivers will be open. For whatever reason, we have failed to develop a quality pass rusher recently. Quarterbacks are unable to throw passes while lying on their back. The Ravens failure to draft TJ Watt when they had that chance has haunted them for years, to the benefit of the Steelers. Offensive line is No. 2, and defensive line is No. 3. — Robert The games are won and lost in the trenches. Pass rush win rates lost the Ravens games last year. Offensive line missed blocks and assignments contributed to too many three-and-outs and decreased time of possession as well as short-yardage failures. Interior pressure is greater than edge pressure; Nnamdi Madubuike’s health and return are unknowns. Draft a top three technique player at No. 14 overall. Depending on free agency guards, edge rushers and corners in the subsequent rounds. — Anthony Bivins Draft a general manager. DeCosta has been cashing in on Ozzie Newsome’s reputation long enough. — Ed Priority No. 1 is to trade Lamar Jackson for as many top draft picks as possible and one Pro Bowl player. Lamar’s best years are behind him. He has never been a great passer, and his age and injuries have diminished his running abilities. Couple that with the fact that he has never been a team player, and has no agent to act as a go-between, and you have the nightmare that is the Ravens. The Lamar experiment is done. It had some great peaks and more dismal valleys. Try the home run trade with the Raiders for the No. 1 pick and Maxx Crosby. That’s forward thinking, not wishing upon a star. — SMJ Linemen on both sides. — Peter Davis Can we draft a new general manager? — Tom Jones Always the Ravens way … take the best player available! — Dustin Allen Offensive guard Vega Ioane from Penn State. — Mike Hutchins If we lose Tyler Linderbaum at center, we will have to address offensive line first. I’m hoping he stays but we need better guard play because neither Vorhees nor Falale played well enough for a Super Bowl contending team. Same with Marlon Humphrey, cut him after June 1, and save the cap hit. We desperately need an edge rusher, and I hope Oweh comes back with Minter calling the defensive plays. — Burl Wils Obviously they need in no particular order, edge rusher, offensive and defensive line upgrades and a true reliable WR as Bateman is not the answer. So just make sure the No.14 pick is the best choice, and do not waste it! — William Shinham Edge unless there’s a great offensive lineman. Please no wide receivers or defensive backs. — Miles That’s an easy question to answer. They will draft the best player available on their board like every year and fill needs through free agency. — Robert Kozlowski 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