The Baltimore Ravens went into the offseason with holes to fill, limited cap space to spend, and a roster that needed quick fixes on both sides of the ball. Eric DeCosta chose the low-cost route, bringing in veterans and hoping the new coaching staff could squeeze enough value out of the additions to keep the team moving. Five weeks into the regular season, that approach has delivered a mixed bag.
Some of the moves have already looked like smart bets. Others have not.
Trey Hendrickson has been exactly the kind of edge threat Baltimore needed. Even with a finger injury that cost him time and is expected to keep him out until Week 6, he has still been the Ravens’ most productive pressure player with 14 total pressures. That kind of impact makes him the closer this defense was searching for on third down.
Calais Campbell has also held up his end of the bargain. At 40, he is still giving Baltimore real production, even if the sack numbers have not arrived yet.
His best outing came in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he logged six pressures and a run stop. With the Ravens dealing with injuries along the interior defensive line, Campbell has helped keep that group afloat.
The other side of the ledger looks less encouraging.
John Simpson has struggled to justify the deal he signed after Baltimore overhauled its interior offensive line. His work in the run game has been solid enough, but he has not held up in pass protection. Simpson has given up seven pressures, the most of any Ravens interior lineman, and his $30 million contract is looking heavy right now.
Jaylinn Hawkins has also failed to carry over the form that earned him a career year with the New England Patriots in 2025. Baltimore signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal, but the fit has not clicked.
When targeted, Hawkins has allowed a passer rating of 143.9, a number that ranks 83rd out of 93 qualifying safeties. He has been a persistent issue in coverage and a spot that has kept Jesse Minter’s unit from reaching its ceiling.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson May Finally Have The Ravens Help He Needed
For much of Lamar Jacksons run in Baltimore, the conversation around the Ravens passing game has started with what was missing. The team has long searched for a wide receiver group that could match the quarterbacks talent and open up more of the offense, but this season feels different. Zay Flowers has become a key piece, Rashod Bateman has taken a clear step forward, and the collection around Jackson finally looks like it has some real staying power.
The encouraging part for Baltimore is that the room still has room to grow, which is where the intrigue comes in. Rookie JaKobi Lanes emergence adds another layer to a group that is already giving Jackson more reliable options than he has typically had, and that kind of depth can change the way defenses have to play the Ravens. If this keeps going, Baltimore may not just have a better receiving corps than usual. It may have the best one Jackson has worked with so far. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Still Waiting On Cam Jurgens As Center Decision Looms
Cam Jurgens status has become one of the bigger early-week questions as Baltimore sorts through its center picture. Jurgens is still working through concussion protocol after self-reporting symptoms last Monday, and he has been limited in practice while wearing a non-contact jersey rather than taking part in full work.
Assistant coach Jesse Minter said the Ravens will wait to see whether Jurgens clears all required medical steps before knowing if he can go Sunday. In the meantime, Vega Ioane has handled center well enough to stay very much in the mix if Baltimore has to pivot, giving the team at least one credible fallback as the decision comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jackson's Status Suddenly Looms Over A Huge Ravens Browns Week
Lamar Jacksons ankle issue has turned a huge AFC North week into an early guessing game for Baltimore. The Ravens quarterback did not practice Wednesday, and head coach Jesse Minter said Jackson is day-to-day heading into Sundays matchup with the Cleveland Browns. It is the kind of midweek update that immediately changes the feel of a game, especially for a Ravens team trying to keep rolling after Tyler Huntley filled in and helped deliver a win in Jacksons absence last week.
Now the focus shifts to how much Jackson can do as the week goes on and whether Baltimore will have to prepare for another start without its franchise quarterback. The uncertainty has already shown up in the betting market, with sportsbooks adjusting the line as they wait for more clarity, and the next practice reports figures to matter a lot for a matchup that was already carrying plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]