ESPN’s latest positional rankings and a fresh analytics hire gave the Ravens a little bit of everything this week, but the most interesting note may be the one that came with the longest odds: second-year cornerback Keyon Martin as a 2026 breakout candidate.
That was Ben Solak’s pick, and he didn’t exactly pretend it was the obvious choice. Solak called Martin “perhaps the deepest cut of this entire list” before pointing to the traits that could make the Ravens pay attention.
Martin is “undersized for an NFL corner (5-foot-9, 170 pounds), but new coach Jesse Minter was comfortable playing smaller corners during his time as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. Quick eyes and even quicker feet in zone coverage are Minter’s preferred traits, and Martin has those.”
The fit is clear enough. Martin probably isn’t lining up everywhere; at that size, his path is almost certainly in the slot.
Baltimore likes its three-safety looks with Kyle Hamilton in the nickel, but there could be a role for Martin if the Ravens want a quicker cover man on the field. In that setup, he’d have a chance to push Chidobe Awuzie for the third corner spot and keep Marlon Humphrey outside.
Martin’s case starts with what he showed as an undrafted rookie last year, and it could get a boost from the Ravens’ upgraded secondary staff, which now includes Minter and defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens. Still, the room around him is crowded. Baltimore added fifth-round pick Chandler Rivers, got a strong spring from 2025 UDFA Marquise Robinson, and expects returns from injury for 2025 Day 3 picks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam.
That means Martin is not just trying to climb the depth chart - he’s trying to stay on it. Humphrey, Awuzie, Nate Wiggins, and T.J.
Tampa look set as the top four corners, and Rivers brings a similar body type at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds along with slot ability that could make this a real battle. Awuzie, for his part, was quietly excellent last season and may not be easy to move aside.
Elsewhere, the Ravens are adding more brains to the operation. Omarion Bitting is joining the organization as an Analytics Player Personnel - Football Systems Developer, according to his LinkedIn. Bitting is finishing a Master’s degree in Data Science and Business Analytics at UNC Charlotte, where he has worked with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Most of Bitting’s public work has been centered on basketball, but he also has football experience as a data scout for Sports Info Solutions. He is expected to come aboard after graduating later this year.
And in ESPN’s ongoing top-10 positional lists, Baltimore has landed two names so far. Mark Andrews checked in as the ninth-best tight end, while Derrick Henry was ranked sixth among running backs.
Both were placed a few spots higher a year ago, with age and statistical regression - more for Andrews than Henry - helping explain the slide. Trey Hendrickson also received an honorable mention after being ranked sixth among edge rushers in the 2025 rankings.
In Other News...
Maxx Crosby Just Said What Ravens Fans Already Knew About Lamar
Lamar Jacksons 2025 season never really looked like the version Ravens fans have come to expect, as injuries kept interrupting his rhythm and cut into the rushing element that makes Baltimores offense so difficult to defend. Even so, the league still treats him like one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in football, the kind of player who can change a game with one broken play and force defenses to account for every inch of the field.
Maxx Crosbys public respect only reinforced that reality for Baltimore supporters, because it came from one of the leagues most relentless defenders and from a player who knows how hard it is to track down elite quarterbacks in space. With Jackson heading into 2026, the bigger question is not whether opponents still fear his ability, but how much of that burst and unpredictability he can get back after a season defined by lingering setbacks. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Fans Are Sending A Loud Message About This Season
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Still, there are real questions tucked underneath the enthusiasm. Declan Doyle is stepping in as the new offensive play-caller, and the biggest issue is whether he is ready for that responsibility right away. Baltimore also has a few key personnel situations to sort through, including the status of Nnamdi Madubuike, so the ceiling looks high but the path to getting there is not entirely settled yet. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Are Asking Ronnie Stanley To Fix A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Ravens spent the offseason reshaping an offensive line that needed a reset, bringing in John Simpson and Vega Ioane while also asking the unit to absorb some familiar turnover. Even with the new faces, the group still enters 2026 with questions attached, and Sharp Football Analysis has Baltimores line sitting 24th in its preseason ranking.
That leaves Ronnie Stanley in a familiar spot as one of the biggest swing pieces on the roster. The veteran tackle, a former Pro Bowler, is being counted on to steady Lamar Jacksons protection after an injury-marred 2025 slowed his play, and the Ravens need a cleaner, more dependable version of Stanley if the offense is going to look like itself again. [Read more 🡒]