The Baltimore Ravens are heading into one of their most pivotal offseasons in recent memory. After parting ways with longtime head coach John Harbaugh just two days after their season ended, the franchise is now tasked with finding a new voice to lead the locker room for the first time in nearly two decades.
Harbaugh, who spent 18 seasons in Baltimore, is expected to land with the New York Giants. That move kicks off what should be a busy and potentially franchise-defining stretch for the Ravens.
But the coaching search is just the beginning.
Baltimore has a long list of personnel decisions to make, starting with a handful of key free agents. Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum headlines that list, and locking him in with a new deal should be a top priority before the market opens and the bidding wars begin. Beyond Linderbaum, there are several depth players the Ravens will need to evaluate for potential extensions, especially in a year where roster continuity could be key to bouncing back.
And make no mistake - this team needs a bounce back.
After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the cracks in the roster became hard to ignore. One of the most glaring issues?
The pass rush. Baltimore finished tied for third-worst in the NFL with just 30 sacks in the regular season - a number that simply won’t cut it in today’s quarterback-driven league.
Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green showed promise, but he needs help. The Ravens need more juice off the edge, and they’ll likely have to look outside the building to find it.
The 2026 free agent class isn’t stacked with elite edge rushers, but there are a few intriguing names that could help Baltimore retool its front seven. Let’s break down three pass rushers the Ravens could realistically target - each bringing a different value proposition to the table.
Trey Hendrickson: The Splash Signing
If the Ravens want to make a statement and bring in a proven sack artist, Trey Hendrickson is the guy. Over the last five seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson established himself as one of the league’s premier edge threats.
Yes, 2025 was a down year due to injuries - he finished with just four sacks - but don’t forget the back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons before that. When healthy, Hendrickson is a game-changer.
He’s totaled 81 career sacks and brings the kind of relentless motor and edge presence that Baltimore sorely lacked this past season. Pairing him with a young talent like Green would give the Ravens a legitimate one-two punch off the edge - something they haven’t had in years. Hendrickson also brings leadership and playoff experience, which could be invaluable in a locker room undergoing transition.
Of course, he won’t come cheap. Hendrickson is the type of player who commands top dollar, but if the Ravens are serious about fixing their pass rush, he’s worth the investment.
Joey Bosa: The Veteran Stabilizer
If Baltimore wants to add experience without breaking the bank, Joey Bosa could be an ideal fit. While he may no longer be playing at his early-career Pro Bowl level, Bosa showed in 2025 with the Bills that he still has plenty left in the tank. He racked up five sacks and 51 pressures - solid production for a veteran who dealt with injuries in recent years.
Bosa’s value goes beyond just sacks. He’s one of the best in the league at creating turnovers, forcing five fumbles this past season and 22 over his 10-year career.
To put that in perspective, the entire Ravens defense forced just 14 fumbles in 2025. That kind of playmaking ability can shift momentum in a heartbeat.
Bosa wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he could be a stabilizing force for a unit that needs both production and leadership. His presence would also allow the Ravens to be more flexible in the draft and with their younger pass rushers.
Boye Mafe: The Upside Play
If the Ravens decide to go the value route, Boye Mafe could be a smart target. He’s not a bargain-bin signing, but he may be looking for a prove-it deal after a 2025 season in which he saw his snaps reduced in Seattle’s crowded defensive front.
Mafe has been productive since entering the league in 2022. He posted nine sacks in 2023 and six more in 2024, and he still managed 40 pressures this past year despite moving into more of a rotational role midway through the season. That kind of efficiency suggests he could thrive with more opportunity - something Baltimore could offer.
Signing Mafe wouldn’t solve all of the Ravens’ pass rush issues, but it would add a younger, more explosive option to the mix. He could be a high-upside complement to Green, and if he hits, the Ravens would have a core duo to build around for years to come.
This offseason is about more than just replacing a head coach. It’s about reshaping the identity of a Ravens team that underperformed in 2025 and has clear holes to address. The pass rush is at the top of that list, and whether they go big with a splash signing like Hendrickson, steady the ship with a vet like Bosa, or take a calculated swing on Mafe, Baltimore needs to act.
Because in today’s NFL, if you can’t get to the quarterback, you’re not going far.