Why Ravens Have a 'Great Chance' of Returning to the Playoffs in 2026
After missing the playoffs for just the second time in the past eight seasons, the Ravens are poised for a return to the postseason in 2026, according to Pro Football Focus’ Zoltan Buday.
Buday said the Ravens have a "great chance" of getting back to the playoffs because he expects an improved defense under Jesse Minter and a fully healthy Lamar Jackson.
"The hiring of new head coach Jesse Minter should aid the Ravens with their biggest weakness from 2025," Buday wrote. "Minter, a defensive-minded coach, will aim to shore up a unit that didn't look like a typical Baltimore defense this past season
"Minter comes from the Chargers, whose defense allowed a 41.3% success rate in 2025 — sixth best in the league. The Ravens' unit ranked 14th (43.4%). Baltimore's defense struggled with an inability to generate pressure, doing so on just 32.1% of plays, which ranked 29th in the league. Minter's Chargers defense ranked 14th, with a 38.2% pressure rate."
Buday expressed concern about the Ravens' pass-catching depth behind two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers, but said Jackson's presence alleviates it.
"The Ravens still have a two-time NFL MVP under center in Lamar Jackson, who was presumably hindered by injuries during the 2025 season," Buday wrote. "Once he puts that behind him and is back to his electric self, Baltimore's offense should be just as dangerous as it was in prior seasons."
Ravens Don't Get Malaki Starks or Mike Green in 2025 Redraft
ESPN’s NFL Nation staff redrafted the first two rounds of the 2025 Draft with the benefit of hindsight, and safety Malaki Starks and outside linebacker Mike Green were off the board in the first and second rounds, respectively, before the Ravens could select them.
Starks, who was taken by the Ravens at No. 27, went to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17 in the redraft.
"Starks would have been an immediate starter for Cincinnati," Ben Baby wrote. "The free safety out of Georgia had two interceptions and four pass deflections as the nearest defender in 2025, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He could have been a young replacement for Geno Stone, who is set to enter free agency."
With Starks gone, the Ravens took edge rusher Jalon Walker, who originally was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 15.
"The Ravens desperately lacked a pass rush this season, recording their fewest sacks (30) in 15 seasons," Jamison Hensley wrote. "Walker proved to be one of the best edge rushers in this class with his speed and explosiveness. His 5.5 sacks were the second most by a rookie this season."
In the second round, the Carolina Panthers selected Green at No. 57, two spots before the Ravens got him in the real draft.
"He showed flashes in Baltimore's pass rush this season, finishing with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 run stuffs," David Newton wrote.
The Ravens picked defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, who was selected No. 13 by the Miami Dolphins in the real draft.
"The Ravens' interior defensive line is a major concern because of the uncertainty surrounding Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed the final 15 games with a neck injury," Hensley wrote. "Grant struggled early in the season before showing why he was the No. 13 pick. Over the last 13 games, he was one of two rookie defensive tackles to record over 20 tackles and multiple sacks. (Pittsburgh's Derrick Harmon was the other.)"
One Roster Move Ravens Should Make This Offseason
NFL.com writer Kevin Patra identified one roster move each team should make this offseason. Unsurprisingly, Patra's suggestion for the Ravens is to add to the pass rush.
"Hiring Jesse Minter immediately upgrades the Baltimore defense. The secondary has pieces to play Minter's match coverages, but the pass rush needs help," Patra wrote. "The Ravens didn't have a single player with more than 30 QB pressures in 2025, per Next Gen Stats, and defensive tackle Travis Jones led the club with five sacks. That won't do.
"Minter doesn't often bring extra rushers, with the Chargers blitzing at just a 20.4% rate last season, third-lowest in the NFL. Adding multiple edge rushers is a must to get the most out of Minter's scheme."
With 11 draft picks, including the 14th-overall selection, and more salary cap space than in years past, the Ravens have the resources to bolster the pass rush.
Dominance of 2000 Ravens Defense Reflected in Super Bowl Quarterback Performance Rankings
The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz ranked all 50 Super Bowl quarterback performances of the 21st century, and the dominance of the 2000 Ravens defense is reflected in the rankings.
Kerry Collins, whose New York Giants were trounced by the Ravens, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV, was dead last.
"Rewatching this game was a surprisingly enjoyable experience," Ruiz wrote. "There's just something about seeing a powerhouse defense flatten an opposing quarterback. The Ravens made Kerry Collins look as if he had never played the position before. He ended the game with four interceptions, but that number could have been so much worse. Baltimore had its hands on three of Collins's passes in the opening minutes of the game but couldn't finish off the plays.
"When Collins wasn't throwing it directly to Ravens defenders, he was missing his receivers high and lobbing hospital balls into the teeth of Baltimore's unforgiving defense – all while a young Sean Payton, then the Giants offensive coordinator, looked on helplessly."
Collins went 15-for-39 for 112 yards, with no touchdowns, and a 7.1 passer rating. He ranked 50th out of 50 in EPA per dropback (–0.74), success rate (18.6%), and yards per dropback (2.0).
Collins was coming off a strong performance in the Giants' 41-0 rout of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, where he went 28-for-39 for 381 yards, with five touchdown passes, two interceptions, and a 120.8 passer rating.
Joe Flacco, the MVP of the Ravens' 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, was No. 16.
"It was the culmination of the single greatest playoff run we've ever seen from a quarterback," Ruiz wrote. "Flacco's three touchdown passes against an elite 49ers defense helped him finish the 2012 postseason with a perfect 11-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he outplayed both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady (on the road!) en route to the Super Bowl, where he took home MVP honors.
"Flacco's performance would have ranked higher if it had more memorable moments, but the post-halftime blackout at the Superdome and Jacoby Jones's kickoff return that broke the game open have largely overshadowed Flacco's big game."
Trent Dilfer, the winning quarterback of Super Bowl XXV, was No. 41.
"Dilfer didn't have to do too much with the Ravens defense ragdolling Kerry Collins and the Giants offense," Ruiz wrote. "As you can see, 153 yards passing and no turnovers was enough for Baltimore to blow out New York.
"Still, Dilfer did chip in with two legitimately impressive throws. He hit Brandon Stokley up the seam for a deep touchdown that opened up the scoring and connected with Qadry Ismail on a tight-window throw down the sideline to spark the Ravens' second scoring drive. Those two plays accounted for more than half of Dilfer's passing yards on the day."
