The Baltimore Ravens spent their offseason trying to put some life back into a defense that had gone flat over the last two years. Eric DeCosta made that mission a priority, and the biggest change comes with Jesse Minter taking over the unit. The 42-year-old head coach will handle the defensive play-calling himself, and the expectation is that his reputation as one of the game’s best defensive minds will show up fast.
That matters for young players, especially the ones who can absorb a system quickly and earn trust early. One name that has flown under the radar is seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny, who could end up being more than just a late-round flyer.
Baltimore added plenty around him, which is part of why Benny hasn’t gotten much attention. The Ravens brought in Trey Hendrickson in a blockbuster signing, used a second-round pick on Zion Young, and also added Calais Campbell late in free agency. With that kind of firepower entering the room, it’s easy for a No. 250 overall pick to get buried.
Still, Benny has drawn real praise since the draft. Jason La Canfora of Sports Illustrated went as far as to suggest he could help right away in 2026. La Canfora wrote:
“We still have no idea when Nnamdi Madubuike will be back and be fully back and how much he can play after having neck surgery not that long ago. Every time I bring this kid up to an evaluator I trust they can’t stop gushing. And the Ravens have a strong track record with this kind of kid and I believe he will be a very interesting rotation piece this season with a chance to be more than that in the future.”
Of course, if Nnamdi Madubuike is healthy - and recent optimism suggests that could happen - Benny’s path to snaps gets a lot tougher. But the rookie does have one major advantage: he already knows Minter.
The two overlapped at Michigan from 2022 to 2023, when the Wolverines went undefeated and won the National Championship in 2023. Benny kept growing into a bigger role on that defense after that, and the time he spent working and training under Minter should make the transition to Baltimore a lot smoother than it is for most rookies.
As for what Benny actually brings, the role looks pretty straightforward. He’s built to help against the run, using solid instincts to clog rushing lanes and make things uncomfortable inside. There’s some quickness there that could show up in the pass rush, but his main value should come on early downs.
The climb is still steep. Benny is starting from the bottom of a deep interior defensive line chart, and nothing is guaranteed. But the Ravens have put him in a system he knows, under a coach he already trusts, and that gives him a real shot to push his way into the rotation sooner than expected.
In Other News...
Ravens Earn Major Honor That Says Everything About Baltimore
The Ravens added another line to their reputation off the field, earning ESPNs Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year at the 2026 Sports Humanitarian Awards for work that has stretched well beyond the sideline. Baltimores community footprint has been built around youth development, education and service across Maryland, with the franchise helping distribute more than 1.3 million books and hundreds of thousands of meals along the way.
What makes the honor resonate is how closely it fits the way the organization has operated for years, leaning into local programs and college access efforts while trying to deepen its impact in the city. As the Ravens turn toward the 2026 NFL season under new head coach Jesse Minter, with key players back and defensive help added, this is a reminder that the franchises biggest wins in Baltimore are not always measured on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]
Why A Ravens Playoff Miss Suddenly Feels More Real
A new season usually brings a clean slate in Baltimore, but this one comes with more uncertainty than the Ravens are used to carrying into September. A rookie head coach and a rookie offensive coordinator mean fresh ideas and a fresh learning curve, and that can be a tricky mix for a team that has spent years expecting to play deep into January. There are questions all over the roster, from how smoothly the offense settles into a new system to whether the defense can keep its usual standard when the margins get tight.
The concerns get sharper when you look at the details. The center spot could be stressed by the tempo of the new approach, and outside of Zay Flowers, there is not an obvious downfield target the Ravens can bank on every week. On defense, age and durability also hang over the picture, with Nnamdi Madubuike and Calais Campbell part of the worst-case conversation. If Baltimore stumbles in the division, especially against the Steelers or Browns, the path back to the playoffs could get a lot narrower than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]
Roquan Smith Faces A Defining Ravens Question After 2025 Collapse
Roquan Smiths 2025 season was a rough one by his standards, and it came against the backdrop of a Ravens defense that never really found its footing. The veteran linebacker looked a step slower at times and was part of a unit that struggled to stop opposing passing games, even as some of the blame landed on Zach Orrs scheme and the way the defense was being asked to function.
The bigger question for Baltimore now is whether the reset around him can bring Smith back to the level the Ravens expected when they built this defense. With coaching changes and roster additions aimed at stabilizing the unit in 2026, there is still a path for Smith to answer the doubts and reestablish himself as one of the leagues best linebackers, but the pressure to prove it is real. [Read more 🡒]