After what had to be the wildest start to free agency in Ravens franchise history, it was a quiet week inside the Under Armour Performance Center.
Outside the Ravens' training facility is a different story. The fallout from the nixed Maxx Crosby trade continued, at least in the media. Adding in the loss of Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and the absence of a Lamar Jackson extension, the skeptics are out.
One pundit on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd suggested that the big-spending Raiders, who were tied with the worst record in the NFL last year, might have a better shot of making the 2026 playoffs than the Ravens. Vegas itself strongly disagrees.
Yesterday morning, Sports Illustrated's MMQB included the Ravens among the teams that should be “panicking” after the early part of free agency.
It all reminds me of one of my favorite clips from former Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters: "I think we ain't done yet."
That goes for the Ravens' work in free agency. It goes for the Jackson negotiations. And, more broadly speaking, it goes for the Ravens' 2026 outlook.
Here are my thoughts, all in 50 words or less:
- If the Ravens had never pursued Crosby and landed consensus top free agent Trey Hendrickson, it would be a much different vibe right now. Everyone would be blown away by Baltimore doling out the biggest free agent contract in franchise history and addressing a major pass rushing need.
- The Ravens have already had a dozen exits in free agency. Losing Linderbaum and others hurts, but Baltimore has been down this road before. The Ravens lost 15 players in the 2024 offseason and went 12-5 the following year. They need more young, recently drafted players to keep stepping up.
- The Ravens' 11-member class of 2022 cashed in this offseason, showing just how well Baltimore drafted that year (and developed players). Last year's 2025 class also had 11 players, and the Ravens are slated to make 11 more picks in 2026. Drafting and development remain the crux of prolonged success.
- Want to know another reason why the Ravens will be mighty good in 2026? He wears No. 8. Yes, the Ravens wanted to get a contract extension done with Jackson by this point. That doesn't change the fact that he'll be balling out in Declan Doyle's new offense this year.
- The Ravens and Jackson also tried to get a contract extension done before the 2022 season. They didn't, he played on the fifth-year option, and they hammered out a deal the following year. Will history repeat itself? Jackson still has two years left on his deal.
- The Ravens were reportedly pursuing a reunion with wide receiver Hollywood Brown. They reportedly had tight end David Njoku in for a visit. DeCosta said not to expect the Ravens to "break the bank" again as they did for Hendrickson, but he's still shopping.
- Baltimore has its starting receivers in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, and DeCosta's excitement about Devontez Walker is legit. The Ravens will draft at least one wide receiver, but I could see adding another premier wideout on a shorter-term deal. Flowers' salary is about to escalate sharply.
- Look at the free agent defensive tackles and EDGEs still on the market. There's still a bunch of big (and familiar) names on that list. Those are two positions that seem to move slower than others, especially for players in their early 30s. The Ravens have pounced on that before.
- The Ravens have a lot of belief in new Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Dwayne Ledford, who was at Penn State getting a close look at Vega Ioane's pro day. Ledford will also be challenged with making sure the Ravens don't have a steep drop-off at center after losing Linderbaum.
- I enjoyed seeing that Jackson added boxing to his training regimen this offseason. It's good to keep things fresh, and boxing is a superb workout. Jackson shed weight before the 2024 season, in which he should have won MVP. He knows how to get his body ready.
