The 2025 season ended in disappointment for the Baltimore Ravens, and the fallout was swift. An 8-9 record, capped by a gut-punch loss to the Steelers in a win-and-in season finale, led to the firing of longtime head coach John Harbaugh. Now, with a new era set to begin under Jesse Minter, the Ravens are staring down a pivotal offseason-one that could either reopen their Super Bowl window or push them further into mediocrity.
Let’s break down the five biggest priorities facing Baltimore as they try to bounce back in 2026.
1. Rebuild the Roster, Top to Bottom
The Ravens are walking into the offseason with a long list of free agents and not a ton of financial flexibility. The big reason?
Lamar Jackson’s $74.5 million cap hit. The front office will likely restructure Jackson’s deal to free up space, but even then, the roster needs a serious overhaul.
Key contributors like center Tyler Linderbaum, punter Jordan Stout, safety Alohi Gilman, edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and fullback Patrick Ricard are all pending free agents. Linderbaum, in particular, is a foundational piece-an All-Pro caliber center whose return should be a top priority.
The good news? Baltimore has 10 draft picks to work with. Expect the Ravens to lean on their usual draft-and-develop philosophy, but with more urgency this time around.
2. Find the Right Offensive Coordinator to Elevate Lamar
Lamar Jackson still showed flashes of MVP-level play in 2025, but injuries and inconsistency slowed him down. He missed four games and finished the year with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on a 63.6% completion rate. His 103.8 passer rating shows he was still efficient when healthy, but the Ravens need more than flashes-they need sustained brilliance.
Enter Kliff Kingsbury, reportedly Jackson’s preferred choice for offensive coordinator. Kingsbury helped develop Jayden Daniels into the Offensive Rookie of the Year in Washington, and his pass-heavy, QB-friendly system could be exactly what Jackson needs to take the next step. After all, Jackson is still just 29 and remains one of the most dynamic weapons in the league-he just needs the right support system to maximize that talent.
3. Fix the Interior of the Offensive Line
While the Ravens have solid bookends at tackle and a potential All-Pro in Linderbaum anchoring the middle, the guard play was a major issue in 2025.
Let’s talk numbers:
- Daniel Faalele: 57.2 PFF grade (53rd among guards)
- Andrew Vorhees: 54.6 PFF grade (61st)
- **Emery Jones Jr. **: 50.1 PFF grade
Jones Jr. was a rookie coming off injury, so there’s room for growth. But Faalele and Vorhees were liabilities, plain and simple.
In a division loaded with interior defensive line talent, subpar guard play can derail an entire offense. If Baltimore wants to keep Jackson upright and open lanes for Derrick Henry, revamping the interior line has to be a top priority.
4. Rebuild the Defensive Front
Baltimore’s defense, once the backbone of the franchise, fell apart in 2025. The numbers tell a grim story:
- 24th in total defense
- 30th in passing defense
- 18th in scoring defense
- 30th in sacks (30 total)
- 29th in pressure rate
- 22nd in turnover differential
The Ravens posted just three more sacks than the franchise’s all-time low (27 in 2010), and the lack of pressure was glaring. Without Nnamdi Madubuike, the defensive line struggled to generate any consistent disruption.
One bright spot? Travis Jones, who earned a 79.2 PFF grade-second-best on the defense behind All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.
But one standout isn’t enough. Baltimore needs to reload up front, whether through free agency, the draft, or both. If the pass rush doesn’t improve, it won’t matter who’s playing cornerback-opposing quarterbacks will have all day to throw.
5. Reset the Cornerback Room
The Ravens’ secondary was torched late in the season, and it wasn’t just the rookies. Marlon Humphrey, once a shutdown corner, took a steep step back. After an All-Pro campaign in 2024, he became one of the lowest-graded players at his position in 2025.
Nate Wiggins showed promise, and Chidobe Awuzie held his own, but the unit as a whole couldn’t hold up. Down the stretch, they gave up 300-yard passing games to New England’s Drake Maye, Green Bay’s Malik Willis, and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers-twice. And in the season finale, with DK Metcalf suspended, Rodgers still carved up the defense for 294 yards and a touchdown in a must-win game.
Baltimore has to get younger, faster, and more consistent at cornerback. Whether that means moving on from Humphrey, adding a veteran presence, or drafting another blue-chip prospect, something has to change.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a teardown, but it’s close. The Ravens still have a franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson, a workhorse back in Derrick Henry, and young stars like Zay Flowers and Kyle Hamilton. But the supporting cast needs a serious overhaul, and the front office has to nail this offseason if Baltimore wants to get back into contention.
Jesse Minter steps into a high-pressure situation, but he also inherits a roster with elite talent in key places. The path back to the playoffs is there-it just requires smart decisions, bold moves, and a little bit of that classic Ravens grit.