The Ravens are heading into an offseason that promises to reshape the roster-and maybe even the identity-of the team. With Jesse Minter stepping in as the new head coach, there’s no shortage of decisions looming for GM Eric DeCosta. Baltimore has 22 unrestricted free agents, and the list isn’t short on impact names: Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Kyle Van Noy, Dre’Mont Jones, Alohi Gilman, Chidobe Awuzie, and Ar’Darius Washington are all up for evaluation.
This isn’t a teardown. The Ravens aren’t rebuilding from scratch.
But there’s no question that critical pieces are in flux, and DeCosta has the draft capital to reload where needed. As we approach the new league year, let’s take a position-by-position look at the biggest questions facing Baltimore this offseason.
Quarterback: What’s Next for Lamar Jackson?
Lamar Jackson is once again at the center of a contract conversation, and this one could reset the quarterback market-again. With two MVPs under his belt and no agent in his corner (unless you count his mother, Felicia Jones, who continues to represent him), Jackson is negotiating his own future. His current deal carries a massive $74.5 million cap hit across 2026 and 2027, and he could be in line for a new extension that pushes his annual earnings north of $65 million.
Jackson also holds a no-trade clause, which gives him final say in any potential move. But make no mistake-this is still Jackson’s team. And unless something seismic happens, Baltimore will be building around their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Running Back: Is There Still Room for Justice Hill?
Justice Hill’s season was cut short by a neck injury in November, and now the Ravens have to decide whether there’s still a place for him in the backfield rotation. Before the injury, Hill had 21 catches on 27 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown, plus 18 carries and two rushing scores. While not a featured back, he carved out a role as a reliable change-of-pace option.
But with his release freeing up over $3.1 million in cap space, Baltimore has to weigh his production against the financial flexibility his departure would offer.
Wide Receiver: Can Declan Doyle Reignite Rashod Bateman?
Rashod Bateman’s 2025 campaign fell flat. After a breakout year in 2024, expectations were high-but Bateman never found his rhythm. He missed the AFC North title game due to illness and finished the season with just 19 catches on 38 targets for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
Enter Declan Doyle, the new wide receivers coach. His challenge?
Helping Bateman rediscover the form that once made him a focal point in Baltimore’s passing game. The talent is there.
The question is whether the coaching change can unlock it.
Tight End: What’s the Plan for Isaiah Likely?
Isaiah Likely’s season never really got off the ground. A broken foot during training camp set him back, and he never found his stride after returning. His numbers-27 catches for 307 yards-were all career lows, and his PFF grade dropped from 72.3 in 2024 (14th among tight ends) to 56.4 in 2025 (61st).
With Mark Andrews re-signed and locked in as the TE1, the Ravens have to decide whether Likely still fits into their long-term plans. Minter’s arrival could signal a fresh start-or a clean break.
Offensive Line: Guarding the Future
The offensive line had its ups and downs, but the guard spot was a consistent weak link. Daniel Faalele is a free agent and likely on his way out, while Andrew Vorhees is a potential cap casualty. Vorhees gave up three sacks on 969 snaps and earned a 54.6 PFF grade-60th among 81 guards.
Rookie Emery Jones Jr. spent most of the season rehabbing a shoulder injury and only appeared in three games, with modest results. Baltimore needs to find stability at guard, whether through the draft, free agency, or internal development.
Defensive Line: Is It Time to Move On from Broderick Washington?
Broderick Washington has been a fixture on the Ravens’ defensive front for six seasons, but his 2025 campaign was derailed by injury. He made just one start and recorded four tackles before undergoing ankle surgery and landing on IR.
Financially, a post-June 1 release would save the Ravens just over $4 million, though it would come with nearly $2 million in dead cap. The decision boils down to whether Baltimore believes Washington can return to form-or if it’s time to move on.
Edge Rusher: Can Jesse Minter Unlock Mike Green?
Mike Green’s season was a tale of two halves. He started slow but showed flashes late, finishing with 3.5 sacks, 19 pressures, and 14 QB hits on 713 snaps. His overall PFF grade (46.3) suggests there’s still work to be done, but the raw tools are there.
Now it’s up to Jesse Minter to tap into that potential. If Minter can scheme Green into more favorable matchups and unleash his athleticism, the Ravens might have something brewing on the edge.
Linebacker: Who Lines Up Next to Roquan Smith?
Roquan Smith remains the anchor in the middle, but the spot next to him is wide open. Teddye Buchanan tore his ACL and may not return until mid-October. That leaves Baltimore with a group of young linebackers-Jay Higgins, Carl Jones, Jake Hummel, and Trenton Simpson-all vying for a starting role.
Simpson, entering his fourth year, has flashed potential, but consistency remains the issue. This will be one of the most competitive position battles in camp.
Cornerback: What’s the Future of Marlon Humphrey?
Few players in the league experienced a drop-off as steep as Marlon Humphrey. After earning All-Pro honors in 2024 with a PFF grade of 79.0 (6th among CBs), he plummeted to a 49.9 grade in 2025-ranking 104th.
Baltimore now faces a tough call. Cutting Humphrey would free up over $19 million in cap space for 2026, though it would also come with more than $7 million in dead money. Whether via trade or release, the expectation is that Humphrey’s time in Baltimore could be nearing its end.
Safety: How Will Jesse Minter Use Kyle Hamilton?
Kyle Hamilton has been called a lot of things-safety, slot corner, linebacker-but Jesse Minter has a different label: “weapon.” And Minter plans to deploy him accordingly.
Hamilton started last season at free safety but thrived after moving closer to the line of scrimmage in Week 6, especially after the arrival of Alohi Gilman. With his versatility and physicality, Hamilton is the kind of player who can change the complexion of a defense-if used correctly.
“As much as you can do to get a guy like Kyle near the point of attack, I think, is what you try to do as a designer [or] play-caller,” Minter said.
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a blueprint for unleashing one of the league’s most dynamic defensive playmakers.
Final Thought
This offseason isn’t about blowing it up-it’s about recalibrating. The Ravens have their cornerstone in Lamar Jackson, a defense with elite pieces, and a front office that knows how to build. But with 22 free agents and a new head coach at the helm, the next few months will be critical in shaping what this team looks like in 2026 and beyond.