ExtremeRavens Posted 7 hours ago Posted 7 hours ago Jesse Minter’s hiring answered the Ravens’ biggest question of the offseason. It also started the clock on everything that comes next. Over the coming weeks, Minter will be tasked with assembling his coaching staff, shaping an offense around quarterback Lamar Jackson and navigating a pivotal offseason that includes free agency, the NFL draft and several major personnel decisions. “I am truly honored to serve as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens,” Minter said in a news release. “This is an organization whose values, culture and tradition of excellence reflect everything I believe about the game of football and how it should be played.” Minter, 42, takes over after coach John Harbaugh was fired Jan. 6 following 18 years with the organization. As is often the case with a head coaching change, much of the staff around Minter is expected to turn over. While Minter’s background is on defense, his most pressing early decision will come on the offensive side of the ball — one that will be heavily scrutinized. The Ravens could look to candidates they already vetted during this hiring cycle. Among them are Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who helped Josh Allen win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award last season; Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb, praised for his work developing quarterback Bo Nix; Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase; and Kliff Kingsbury, who called plays for Washington during its run to the NFC championship game in 2024. All four interviewed for the Ravens’ head coaching vacancy. They also could be hired by another team. Current quarterbacks coach Tee Martin might be the in-house option, but he was also fired at USC after serving as offensive coordinator. It is still too early to know whether Minter will call defensive plays himself. But the path taken by former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald could offer a clue. Macdonald, now the Seahawks’ head coach, continues to call defensive plays. Minter and Macdonald worked together on Baltimore’s defensive staff from 2017 to 2020 and share a Michigan and Jim Harbaugh coaching lineage. The Ravens want to win now, and Macdonald’s Seahawks are playing in the NFC championship game on Sunday night in just his second season as coach. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that the Ravens conducted their first interview for defensive coordinator with Joe Cullen, the Chiefs’ defensive line coach. The move would make sense given Baltimore finished tied for the third-fewest sacks in the league last season. Cullen also previously spent five seasons coaching with the Ravens. Coordinator hires typically come in waves, with defensive roles often filled more quickly, but both should be finalized by Feb. 26, ahead of the NFL scouting combine. Reshaping the roster Baltimore’s offensive priorities are clear: stabilize the interior offensive line to protect Lamar Jackson. That likely means finding a long-term answer at guard and deciding whether to pay the premium to keep Tyler Linderbaum at center or risk a significant step back in the middle of the line. There’s also the need for a premier edge rusher. The Ravens currently hold 10 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, including the No. 14 overall selection, with four additional projected compensatory picks bolstering their mid-to-late rounds. The draft, beginning April 23, will offer the clearest glimpse into how Minter plans to build the Ravens in his image. Working alongside general manager Eric DeCosta, Minter will help determine whether Baltimore leans toward defensive reinforcements, offensive weapons or long-term development projects. Alohi Gilman, who played under Jesse Minter with the Chargers before being traded to Baltimore, is entering free agency. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens’ key pending free agents include Linderbaum, punter Jordan Stout, safety Alohi Gilman (who played under Minter with the Chargers before being traded to Baltimore), edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and fullback Patrick Ricard. Baltimore has limited cap flexibility because of Lamar Jackson’s $74.5 million cap hit ($5.4 million in effective cap space, per Over The Cap), meaning that re-signing its own talent will likely take priority over major external spending, even with 10 draft picks (including yet-to-be-awarded compensatory selections) in hand. On Jan. 13, DeCosta signaled the Ravens could be more aggressive than they’ve typically been, but he tied that directly to Jackson’s contract. He said that an extension would create “more flexibility” to re-sign Baltimore’s own free agents and potentially pursue “a couple big-ticket items.” Building through the draft remains the organization’s preferred model, with free agency, which begins March 11, and trades used when the “right player, right price” aligns. “We’ve been more reserved when it comes to free agency,” DeCosta said. “We like the amount of draft picks we have this year. We do have money to go out and re-sign guys, free agents that we have right now — some good players. But having more money would be helpful for sure.” There’s good reason to be optimistic and excited about the new era in Baltimore. The roster could look a little different, the sideline for sure. But these next few weeks will show the direction Minter wants to take the franchise. “He clearly understands the values, high expectations and history of the Ravens,” owner Steve Bisciotti said. “He has a great vision for the future.” Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article Quote
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