Pundit Says Instead of Asking 'What if' With Mike Macdonald, Focus on 'What Can Be' With Jesse Minter
Watching Mike Macdonald hoist the Lombardi Trophy after the Seattle Seahawks' dominant 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl was probably bittersweet for a lot of Ravens fans.
While the soft-spoken former Ravens defensive coordinator is easy to root for and Flock Nation can take pride in his achievements, there is another world where Macdonald could still be in Baltimore.
"By achieving championship success just two seasons removed from his time in Baltimore, Macdonald might forever loom as one of the Ravens' greatest what-ifs," The Baltimore Banner’s Kyle Goon wrote. "What if Mike Macdonald had never gotten away? If he had never left, would it be the Ravens up on that stage, celebrating the franchise's third Super Bowl win right now?
"It's a question that has no satisfying answer, in part because back in 2024 there were no real grounds to keep him in Baltimore. To relitigate the past, you have to live in the conditions of the time. Macdonald was the hottest candidate of the cycle, and he was going to get a head coaching job after leading an elite unit."
Goon said that rather than lamenting losing Macdonald to the Seahawks, Ravens fans should find hope in his success as a new era in Baltimore is underway with Jesse Minter at the helm.
The similarities between Minter and Macdonald are impossible to ignore. They spent four seasons together in Baltimore and helped evolve the Ravens' defensive scheme – the same scheme Macdonald deployed to smother the Patriots' No. 2 scoring offense and MVP runner-up Drake Maye.
"Like Macdonald, Minter is a creative young defensive mind who has leapfrogged up the coaching ladder extraordinarily quickly," Goon wrote. "Like Macdonald, Minter has drawn rave reviews from the players and coaches he's worked with in the past — very nearly all of the Chargers' roster made sentimental social media shoutouts when he left for Baltimore, something not every coach inspires.
"Like Macdonald, Minter plans on calling his own defensive plays. According to The Athletic, Macdonald is the first head coach to win the Super Bowl while calling his own defense — an increasingly popular style for defensive head coaches. … Macdonald's success is evidence that you can win as a head coach while calling a defense, two time-consuming roles."
Early Super Bowl Predictions Have Ravens Getting Over the Hump
Three Andscape writers made their Super Bowl predictions for next season, and two of them have the Ravens making it.
Martenzie Johnson forecasted a meeting between the Ravens and Bears.
"The last time we saw Lamar Jackson in the playoffs, he played exceptionally well. The only problem is the last time we saw him in the playoffs was over a year ago," Johnson wrote. "If Jackson has finally overcome those playoff demons, and the Ravens' defense can [take a leap forward] next season, I could see Baltimore making a run. On the other side, another year of experience for Caleb Williams could make Chicago dangerous."
New Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle, who was the Bears' OC last season, facing his former team on the biggest stage would add another layer to the matchup.
Justin Tinsley went with the Ravens versus the Rams.
"I halfway agree with Martenzie. We both refuse to believe that someone with the otherworldly talent of Jackson (and don't forget Derrick Henry, an all-time great running back) will not make a Super Bowl," Tinsley wrote. "Failing to do so would be one of the great 'what ifs' in football history. Thankfully, we won't ever have to live in a world like that because next year is the year, people! I hope.
"The Ravens have 10 picks in April's draft. With that capital and addressing pass-rush needs, I'm expecting a major rebound in 2026. Again, I hope. As for the Rams, I fully expect quarterback Matthew Stafford to be back now that Head Coach Sean McVay (and General Manager Les Snead) signed multi-year extensions. Because of that, Puka Nacua only getting better and a defense that will remain physical, Davante Adams' NFC Championship Game goose egg in the win column finally comes to an end. Plus, the last time the Super Bowl was in Inglewood (2022), that worked out pretty well for the Rams, I'd say."
Clinton Yates predicted a Jaguars-Bears Super Bowl.
Three-Round Mock Draft Has Ravens Taking a Wide Receiver at No. 14
Edge rusher and interior offensive line are regarded as the Ravens' biggest draft needs, but NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter had Baltimore selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the 14th-overall pick in his three-round mock draft.
"It seems like Baltimore always finds value in the middle or later parts of Round 1," Reuter wrote. "In this case, the Ravens scoop up Tate, whose profile is appealing enough that he could go in the top 10; with his strong hands and crisp route-running, he seriously boosts the potency of Lamar Jackson's arsenal."
Zay Flowers made his second consecutive Pro Bowl this season, but there was a significant drop-off in production at wide receiver behind him.
Reuter mocked Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas to the Ravens in the second round and Auburn center Connor Lew in the third. Three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is a pending free agent, although General Manager Eric DeCosta has said that the goal is to sign him to an extension.
