The Baltimore Ravens landed at No. 5 in ESPN’s 2026 NFL roster rankings, and the reason has less to do with the usual headline names than with what they’ve built on the back end.
ESPN pointed to safety as the group that separates Baltimore from almost everyone else in the league. Kyle Hamilton is the centerpiece there, and at just 25, he’s already being treated like one of the NFL’s best defensive players.
Last season, he led all safeties in pass rush attempts and still finished in the top 10 at the position in tackles, passes defended, and tackles for loss. That kind of production gives the Ravens a weapon they can move around and deploy in multiple ways.
Baltimore’s secondary has more than one answer, too. First-round pick Malaki Starks handled his rookie year well and is expected to take on a bigger workload.
Jaylinn Hawkins adds another layer after playing every defensive snap for New England in 2025. Put together, that group gives the Ravens range, experience, and real flexibility.
The other side of the roster looks a lot shakier in one key area. ESPN labeled the interior offensive line the team’s weakest spot for the third year in a row.
Tyler Linderbaum’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders leaves Danny Pinter in line to start at center, even though he has had limited playing time over the last three seasons. John Simpson is set to take over at left guard, and first-round rookie Olaivavega Ioane could end up being the answer on the other side.
There are also some questions in the passing game after Zay Flowers. Rashod Bateman is still projected as the No. 2 receiver, but ESPN singled out a young trio that could change the picture if things click quickly: Devontez Walker, rookie Ja’Kobi Lane, and rookie Elijah Sarratt.
One more name to keep on the radar is Broderick Washington Jr. The defensive lineman missed most of last season with an Achilles injury, and ESPN suggested he could become a bigger factor if Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck injury lingers or if 39-year-old Calais Campbell starts to slow down. Baltimore’s depth, once again, may be asked to carry real weight before the year is done.
In Other News...
Ravens May Already Have Clarity On A Huge Lamar Jackson Concern
As training camp approaches, the Ravens are still sorting out one of the more important jobs on the offensive line, with Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn competing for the starting center spot. ESPN analyst Mike Clay already sees Pinter as the likelier answer, pointing to the kind of experience and steadiness teams tend to value when the quarterback is Lamar Jackson and the margin for error is slim.
Pinters case is not just about familiarity, either. Teammates such as John Simpson and Jackson have already singled out his communication and leadership, two traits that can matter as much as raw blocking ability in the middle of the line. Even so, Baltimore will keep sorting through the matchup once camp and preseason work get going, and the final call is still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Veteran Receiver Just Dropped A Hint Ravens Fans Will Love
DeAndre Hopkins is still a free agent, but his latest comments made clear he is looking for something very specific as he moves deeper into his career. In a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview, the veteran receiver said he is no longer chasing a regular-season spotlight or trying to force his way into a featured role, and instead wants to fit into a competitive team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Hopkins also downplayed the idea of a reunion with Browns head coach Todd Monken, which only sharpened the focus on where he might land next. For Baltimore, the appeal is obvious: Hopkins spent last season with the Ravens, and his willingness to embrace a smaller role on a contender is the kind of hint fans in Baltimore will notice. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Receiver Battle Could Upend The Week 1 Depth Chart
ESPNs early projection for Baltimores receiver group has Rashod Bateman and JaKobi Lane lined up next to Zay Flowers, a reminder that the Ravens still have some sorting to do at the top of the depth chart. Batemans role remains part of the conversation after a modest but useful season, while Lanes presence adds another layer to a room that is still taking shape as camp approaches.
Elijah Sarratt and Devontez Walker have already given the staff reasons to pay attention during offseason work, and Walkers production on limited chances last season only adds to the intrigue. The bigger question now is whether that momentum carries into training camp, because the Ravens receiver competition looks open enough that the pecking order could look different by the time Week 1 arrives. [Read more 🡒]