Pundit Says Mike Green Could Be Next Edge Rusher to Thrive Under Jesse Minter
Bolstering the pass rush is at the top of the Ravens' offseason priorities list, and reinforcements could come via the draft and free agency. There's also the possibility that a player currently on the roster levels up.
Pro Football Focus’ Thomas Valentine identified 10 players who could flourish under their new head coaches, and second-year outside linebacker Mike Green was among them.
Valentine believes Green can make strides both as an edge rusher and a run defender in Head Coach Jesse Minter's scheme based on Minter's two seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers' defensive coordinator.
"Minter's arrival could be Mike Green's (46.3 grade; 113th) gain," Valentine wrote. "The 2025 second-round pick struggled in his rookie season, but still tallied 34 pressures and four sacks off the edge. His ability as a pass-rusher isn't in question. Green's 34 pressures were sixth among rookie defenders, and his 21 stops were fifth. But there's room to improve, especially against the run. His 47.1 PFF run-defense grade was second-last on the defensive line.
"The Chargers' 70.4 PFF run-defense grade was 11th in 2025, and Minter helped his edge defenders to some strong production against both the pass and run. Veteran Khalil Mack (79.2 grade; 16th) earned another strong grade against the run (77.2 grade), while former Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh (75.5 grade; 26th) had an 81.0 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2025, the best of his career. Green could be the next edge rusher to thrive under Minter."
Green isn't the only player who could benefit from playing under Minter. PFF’s Bradley Locker said the defense as a whole is well-positioned to improve after finishing 18th in scoring and 24th in yards.
"The team's new head coach has established his track record over the last two years as Chargers defensive coordinator, propelling the team to sit sixth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate in that span," Locker wrote. "Minter's best ability could be turning unheralded players into standouts, getting tremendous production out of names like Donte Jackson, Teair Tart, Poona Ford and Elijah Molden.
"The Ravens will need to invest more in their defensive line, especially with the futures of Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy uncertain, and the team's secondary also faces questions. But with Minter's arrival and the hire of Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator, Baltimore's defense should ascend in 2026."
Looking at First Two Picks in Jeff Zrebiec's Ravens Mock Draft
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec conducted a Ravens seven-round mock draft. Baltimore is projected to receive four compensatory picks and have 11 picks in total.
Here's a look at how Zrebiec sees the first and second rounds possibly playing out for the Ravens:
Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
"If either Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey slides out of the top 10, the Ravens should make every effort to trade up and get themselves a high-impact pass rusher. However, the bet is that they'll be gone long before Baltimore is on the clock, and that the Ravens will have already added an edge rusher via trade or free agency. That will allow them to stay put and take the best player available.
"Ioane, one of the best offensive linemen in this draft class, could be that guy. In an offseason where the Ravens need to add more talent and physicality in the trenches, Ioane brings both. He's a mauler who moves people in the run game and didn't allow a sack in his final two seasons at Penn State. It wouldn't be a sexy pick, but it would be hard to quibble about getting a plug-and-play guy at a position where they got very poor production last year."
Round 2, No. 45: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
"The Ravens have gotten very little production from their Day 3 cornerbacks in recent years. If they're going to come out of this draft with a guy who can contribute immediately — and they need to with uncertainty about Marlon Humphrey's future and Chidobe Awuzie eligible for free agency — they'll have to take him early.
"Igbinosun was prone to penalties early in his college career, but he has prototypical size (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and speed for an outside corner, and he plays with the type of physicality the Ravens love at the position. His brother, Desmond, was a member of Baltimore's undrafted free-agent class last year."
Ravens Are Non-Playoff Team Most Likely to Rebound in 2026
The Ravens were among the 18 teams that missed the playoffs this past season, but they are the most likely among them to be in the postseason next year in the opinion of The Athletic’s Mike Jones and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
"Of all of the non-playoff teams, Baltimore is the closest to contending," Jones wrote. "If not for a missed field goal, the Ravens would have qualified for the playoffs. Minter, most recently the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, inherits a roster that includes one of the best quarterbacks of this generation in Lamar Jackson, and the two have already begun working on establishing a good rapport.
"Minter also has a roster that features quality pieces in supporting roles on offense, and a defense that has talent, but has underachieved ever since Mike Macdonald's departure in 2024. Yes, Baltimore needs some upgrades at various positions this offseason, but this team has as good a chance as any to return to the playoffs."
Fowler wrote: "The Ravens have a chance in every game with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry leading their offense. New Head Coach Jesse Minter should instantly improve a much-maligned defense."
Rod Woodson Discusses How 2025 Seahawks Defense Compares to 2000 Ravens Defense
The Seattle Seahawks defense's domination of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl has sparked debate about how the unit measures up to some of the all-time great defenses, including the 2000 Ravens.
Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson, a key member of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning team, gave the Seahawks defense its due, but he doesn't think any defense is the equal of the 2000 Ravens.
"We are the best defense in one given year in the history of pro football. That's a fact," Woodson said on ESPN's "The Rich Eisen Show." "The numbers bear it out."
To Woodson's point, the 2000 Ravens, led by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, still hold the record for fewest points allowed (10.3 per game in 16 games). The defense gave up just 16 regular-season touchdowns and allowed only one touchdown and a total of 16 points in four postseason contests.
It still irks Woodson that a kickoff return for a touchdown spoiled the defense's quest for a shutout in the 34-7 rout of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. The unit remains the only defense in Super Bowl history to not give up a point.
Woodson admitted that he was rooting for the Patriots to score against the Seahawks, who took a shutout into the fourth quarter before allowing two touchdowns in the 29-13 win.
Woodson said he was in a group text with Lewis, former cornerback Duane Starks – who had a pick-six in Super Bowl XXXV – and a couple of defensive coaches from the 2000 team while they were watching the game.
"We were texting each other back and forth, and then when [the Patriots] scored we were like, 'Yeah, we're the best!'" Woodson said.
Henry Was NFL's Best Running Back During Second Half of the Season
Henry is known for taking over games in the second half. This past season, the five-time Pro Bowler also got stronger in the second half of the season.
No running back was more productive from Weeks 10-18 than Henry, according to PFF’s Valentine.
"Outside of Week 1, Henry had an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, generating just six missed tackles forced in the first nine weeks of the year," Valentine wrote. "The idea that Father Time, who Henry had evaded over his career, was finally catching up with the future Hall of Famer felt real for the first time.
"However, the veteran running back kicked into gear. From Week 10 onward, he led the NFL in rushing yards (966), rushing touchdowns (10) and yards after contact. He was also tied for the most rushes of 15 yards or more (14). This was Henry at his best, giving the Ravens life in the race for the playoffs."
Henry finished the season with four straight games of at least 100 rushing yards, including a 216-yard, four-touchdown performance in a Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers.
