With Jesse Minter now officially installed as the Baltimore Ravens’ next head coach, the franchise can finally pivot from the search for leadership to the real work: building a roster that can take the next step. While Minter still has a coaching staff to assemble, the front office can begin mapping out its offseason strategy with greater clarity-starting with free agency.
Free agency won’t officially open until March, and plenty of names will come off the board before then as teams re-sign their own. But Baltimore is in a position where they’ll need to be active, particularly on defense. That side of the ball carried them for stretches last season, but with some key contributors aging, injured, or potentially on the move, reinforcements are a must.
As the Ravens watch Conference Championship weekend unfold, they’ll be paying close attention to a handful of players who could be wearing purple and black next fall. Here are four names worth circling as potential targets.
Boye Mafe - EDGE, Seattle Seahawks
The Ravens’ pass rush was solid last year, but it lacked the kind of consistent edge pressure that can flip games in January. That’s where Boye Mafe enters the conversation.
Mafe didn’t have the kind of statistical season that jumps off the page-just two sacks-but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He was used in more of a rotational role in Seattle’s defense, yet still managed 41 pressures over the course of the regular season. That’s no small feat given the limited snaps.
At 27, Mafe still has upside, and in Baltimore, he wouldn’t be expected to carry the load. Instead, he could thrive as part of a rotation, especially with rookie Mike Green continuing to develop on the outside.
The Ravens love versatile, high-motor edge players, and Mafe fits that mold. He may not be a splash signing, but he could be a smart one.
John Franklin-Myers - DL, Denver Broncos
While edge help is the headline need, the interior of the defensive line can’t be ignored-particularly with Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck injury clouding his future. That’s where John Franklin-Myers becomes a compelling option.
Franklin-Myers has been a steady force on the interior for years, and in 2025, he put together his most productive season yet with 7.5 sacks. Over his seven-year career, he’s totaled 34 sacks, showing the kind of disruptive ability that Baltimore could use next to Travis Jones.
The Ravens already have a strong run-stuffing core in Jones and veteran nose tackle John Jenkins, who was recently extended. But what they need is someone who can collapse the pocket from the inside-and Franklin-Myers has shown he can do just that. He wouldn’t just fill a need; he could complete a formidable interior trio.
Roger McCreary - CB, Los Angeles Rams
Baltimore’s secondary is in a bit of flux. Marlon Humphrey, once a lockdown presence, is coming off the worst season of his career at age 29. He’s still under contract for 2026, but if there’s concern about regression-or if injuries continue to be an issue-the Ravens will need to bolster their depth at corner.
Roger McCreary could be the answer. The former second-round pick was traded from Tennessee to the Rams this season and has made the most of his opportunities in L.A., even if his playing time has been inconsistent.
In the Divisional Round win over Chicago, McCreary played 19 coverage snaps-and wasn’t targeted once. That’s the kind of performance that gets noticed.
McCreary is primarily a slot corner, which is an area where the Ravens could use more stability. If Humphrey’s play continues to dip, McCreary would be a valuable rotational piece who could step in without the defense missing a beat. He’s young, talented, and trending in the right direction.
K’Lavon Chaisson - EDGE, New England Patriots
At one point, K’Lavon Chaisson looked like a cautionary tale-a former first-round pick who never quite found his footing in Jacksonville. But in New England, he’s rewriting the narrative.
Now in his sixth season, Chaisson is enjoying a breakout campaign, racking up a career-high 7.5 sacks. He’s been even better in the postseason, recording three sacks in two games, including a strip sack against the Chargers and a game-changing pressure that led to a pick-six against the Texans.
Chaisson brings exactly what the Ravens need more of: sacks and takeaways. He’s not a game-wrecker in the mold of a T.J.
Watt or Myles Garrett, but he’s a playmaker-something Baltimore’s defense could use more of, especially in high-leverage moments. If the price tag stays reasonable, this is a player the Ravens should absolutely be in on.
Final Thoughts
With Jesse Minter now steering the ship, the Ravens are entering a new era-but the goals remain the same. This is a franchise built on defense, and if they want to keep that identity intact, smart moves in free agency will be critical.
Whether it’s adding rotational depth on the edge, reinforcing the interior, or shoring up the secondary, Baltimore has options. And if they can land even one or two of these potential targets, they’ll be well on their way to building a defense that can contend deep into January once again.