The Baltimore Ravens are stepping into a new chapter, and the message is loud and clear: the franchise is ready to shake things up. After parting ways with longtime head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are now under the direction of Jesse Minter, and the early signs point to a team that’s not content with simply being in the mix-they want to contend.
Minter, who cut his teeth as a respected defensive coordinator, wasted no time assembling a staff that reflects his vision. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford are all intriguing hires, each bringing a blend of experience and fresh perspective. But for all the coaching changes, the Ravens still need to make a few key personnel moves to get over the hump.
The biggest question? How do they get Lamar Jackson more help.
Baltimore’s offense has long leaned on Jackson’s dual-threat brilliance, but the supporting cast hasn’t always matched his level. That’s why the recent buzz around A.J.
Brown has Ravens fans perking up. The Eagles wideout has reportedly grown frustrated in Philadelphia, and while there’s no official trade on the table, there’s growing speculation that he could be on the move.
And if he is, the Ravens might just be the perfect landing spot.
One person who’s already campaigning for it? Derrick Henry.
The Ravens’ new star running back appeared on the Up & Adams Show this week and didn’t hold back when asked about the possibility of Brown joining him in Baltimore. Henry and Brown were teammates in Tennessee, and that chemistry clearly left a mark.
“We would gladly love to have him,” Henry said. “A.J. is a dog.
I played with him in Tennessee with [Mike Vrabel]. And [Lamar Jackson] likes playing with guys who got a dog mentality, so he would love A.J.
Come on, come on over!”
When host Kay Adams asked Henry to make his pitch directly to Brown, the running back turned up the charm.
“Please, A.J., come to Baltimore. Let’s go get this ring,” Henry said.
“You got one in Philly, y’all done did that; come to Baltimore. We could add A.J.
Brown? Him and Zay [Flowers]?
That would be crazy. And then [Rashod] Bate[man]?
That’d be crazy. Mark [Andrews], gotta get [Isaiah] Likely back.
Oh, we’re cooking.”
It’s hard to argue with the vision. Pairing Brown with Zay Flowers would give Jackson a dynamic one-two punch on the outside, with Rashod Bateman as a third option and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely working the middle of the field. That’s the kind of firepower that could finally unlock the full potential of this offense.
Of course, there are hurdles. Brown’s contract is no small matter-his cap hits over the next four years are steep: $23.4 million, $22.7 million, $27.6 million, and $29.3 million. That’s a significant financial commitment, and the Ravens aren’t exactly sitting on a pile of cap space.
Still, if Brown’s situation in Philadelphia continues to sour, he could become a legitimate trade candidate this offseason. And if Baltimore wants to go all-in, general manager Eric DeCosta might have to take a page out of the Rams’ playbook-pushing in the chips, sacrificing draft capital, and taking a big swing at a Super Bowl window that won’t stay open forever.
Henry’s already bought in. Now the question is whether the Ravens front office is ready to follow suit.
Because if they are, and if A.J. Brown ends up in purple and black, the AFC might be looking at a very different kind of problem next season.