The Ravens are still a few weeks from their first full-squad training camp practice, but there’s already plenty to chew on as 2026 starts to take shape. From the offensive line to Lamar Jackson’s usage to a defense that should be carrying real expectations, Baltimore enters camp with more questions than usual - and a few spots that could define the season.
The biggest concern, at least from here, sits in the middle of the offensive line. The hire of Dwayne Ledford as offensive line coach makes sense, and the guard spots should be better.
But center remains the glaring issue. That’s the hinge point for the whole unit, and if it doesn’t hold up, it could wipe out some of the gains elsewhere.
That’s part of why this feels like a season where the veteran core has to set the tone. This coaching staff has a lot of new pieces to sort through, and if John Harbaugh and the old staff were truly holding the team back as much as some have argued, then the players need to prove it now.
There’s also a real curiosity around Declan Doyle’s offense and what it means for Lamar Jackson. Jackson turns 30 in a few months, and the question is how much he’ll be asked to run in this system. He has said for years that he wants to run less, but that part of his game is still his superpower, and Baltimore clearly missed it last season.
The contract situation doesn’t feel like something that will spill onto the field, but it’s still part of the backdrop. With Week 1 two months away, practical negotiating time seems to be running short. And while there are plenty of ways a season can unfold for a player or a team, the kind of 2027 offseason that becomes uncomfortable is easy enough to imagine.
On defense, the Ravens should be able to lean into expectations, especially with so much turnover on offense. That side of the ball is Jesse Minter’s specialty anyway. The uncertainty around Marlon Humphrey makes Nate Wiggins even more important, and Baltimore needs Wiggins to take a real step.
Wiggins has said he’s finally fully healthy, after feeling like he played at only 60-70% throughout his career going back to high school. If that’s true, the Ravens may be looking at a much bigger year from him than they got before.
Baltimore’s cap situation also leaves room for a move or two, with roughly $17 million available according to OverTheCap.com. Another edge rusher like Jadeveon Clowney would make sense, and so would a veteran receiver such as Keenan Allen. There’s something to be said for forcing younger players to earn their snaps.
Tight end is another spot where the Ravens are asking for trust, and they’ve earned some of it based on their history there. Still, this group looks different, and a 31-year-old Mark Andrews is coming off a down season. One of Matt Hibner or Josh Cuevas needs to be ready sooner rather than later.
Preseason usage should also look familiar. Jim Harbaugh played most starters very sparingly in exhibition games over the last couple of years, and there’s no reason to expect Minter’s approach to be wildly different from John Harbaugh’s recent summers. The joint practices with Minnesota and Washington should matter more, especially for the veterans.
Around the division, the Bengals look like the real threat. Cincinnati has the only returning head coach in the AFC North and has revamped its defense with Dexter Lawrence and others.
Pittsburgh’s ceiling with Mike McCarthy doesn’t feel any different, and Cleveland traded away Myles Garrett. That still leaves Baltimore as the favorite, but not by a mile.
There’s also a much more human note in camp, and it centers on Calais Campbell. He said last month that this would very likely be his last NFL season, but football takes a back seat to everything else at a time like this for the soon-to-be 40-year-old. The Ravens should give him whatever support and space he needs.
Looking ahead to 2027, Baltimore’s free-agent list is pretty thin outside of Humphrey. That could be a good thing if Jackson’s contract situation is still hanging around seven months from now, though it’s notable either way.
And after another rough stretch for local fans, the Ravens open camp with a chance to reset the mood. The Orioles are staring at another lost summer despite a new manager, which is a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. That’s why Baltimore needs to look energized from the jump in 2026.
In Other News...
Jesse Minter Could Be Hiding The Ravens Next Secondary Surprise
Jesse Minters arrival in Baltimore has already shifted the conversation around the secondary, because his defensive background tends to put a premium on corners who can handle multiple jobs. One name drawing attention is Keyon Martin, whose fit in Minters system has made him a legitimate breakout candidate for 2026, according to ESPN analyst Ben Solak.
Martins path is especially interesting because the Ravens have veteran options in the mix, including Chidobe Awuzie, who logged a steady role in his first season with the team. If Martin keeps building on the promise he showed in limited work last year, Baltimore could soon have a tougher decision on its hands about how the cornerback rotation should be ordered. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Sees One Reason Ravens Gamble Could Actually Work
Declan Doyle arrives in Baltimore with the kind of background that naturally invites comparison, even if the Ravens are trying to avoid turning him into a carbon copy of Sean Payton. The 29-year-old rookie offensive coordinator comes from Paytons coaching tree, and that lineage has not exactly been a factory for polished play callers, but Payton pointed to one thing young assistants often get wrong: they chase the mentors personality instead of carrying over the habits that matter.
For the Ravens, the more relevant test is how Doyle fits in with a locker room that has already shown a willingness to respond to him. After working through Greg Roman and Todd Monken in recent years, Baltimore players have reportedly taken to Doyles leadership, and Lamar Jackson has already embraced him even after being pushed on the practice field. The bigger question now is whether Doyle can keep that early trust while making the offense his own. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Still Face One Big Lamar Jackson Question This Offseason
A new coaching staff usually brings a fresh offensive identity, and Baltimores version appears headed toward a more aggressive passing approach under coordinator Declan Doyle. That matters for Lamar Jackson, because the Ravens have long been at their best when the offense can create pressure in the air as well as on the ground, and the hope is that a more explosive passing game can help unlock another level for the quarterback and the unit around him.
The catch is that the supporting cast still looks unfinished in a few important spots, especially up front and at receiver, where the depth chart beyond Zay Flowers remains a real question. Baltimore can still do enough in the regular season to keep stacking wins, but the bigger issue is whether these unresolved offensive concerns will hold up when the games tighten and the stakes rise in January. [Read more 🡒]