Three Ravens to Watch As Offseason Workout Program Begins
The Ravens kick off their offseason program today, and there is more anticipation than usual for the first phase of the ramp-up to next month's OTAs.
That's because it's the first opportunity for the new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jesse Minter, to work with the players and establish the tone for the coming season.
"I think since we hired the staff, this April 6th date has kind of been what we've been aiming for to get the guys back in the building and really start to lay the foundation," Minter said last week at the NFL owners meetings. "It starts with the relationships, getting a chance to be around the guys, working together, and them starting to understand my personality and how we want to operate."
Several players showed up to the Under Armour Performance Center Monday morning, including Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Trey Hendrickson.
Participation in the workouts is voluntary, and it's only April, but The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said it's not too early to think about which players would benefit from a strong first impression with the new coaching staff and a productive offseason program.
Zrebiec identified 10 such players. Here's a look at three:
DT Nnamdi Madubuike
"It's been over six months since Madubuike was last on the field with the Ravens before he sustained a season-ending neck injury. There's been no definitive word from Madubuike or the Ravens' decision-makers about his status and whether he has a chance to play in 2026. Madubuike has been at the Ravens' facility this offseason, and his social media posts suggest he's been working out hard. What isn't clear is whether team doctors have cleared him to play football again. If Madubuike gets to that stage, he'll automatically be the biggest addition Baltimore could have made this offseason."
G Emery Jones Jr.
"The Ravens brought in a starting left guard in John Simpson, but they still haven't addressed the other guard spot. The Ravens will presumably draft a guard later this month, yet Jones has an opportunity to solidify himself as the in-house leader in that role. A third-round pick last year, Jones played only 49 offensive snaps in what essentially was a redshirt rookie season as he recovered from shoulder surgery. After a healthy offseason, he should be in a more favorable spot to earn a starting job."
DL Aeneas Peebles
"There was plenty of summer excitement last year for the rookie sixth-round pick, but he got buried in the defensive line rotation and played just 71 defensive snaps. He's become the forgotten man of sorts at a time when the team is lacking in defensive line depth. The Ravens need more of an interior pass rush. Peebles was drafted to provide that. A new coaching staff will now evaluate whether he can be a useful piece."
All-Trades Mock Draft Has Ravens Involved in Two First-Round Proposals
Mock drafts are fun, but none more so than ESPN’s Bill Barnwell’s annual mock that consists entirely of trades in the first round.
Barnwell noted that each trade occurs in its own universe. He has the Ravens involved in two trades, one in which they move up from their No. 14 slot and another in which they move down:
Trade with Washington Commanders
Ravens get: 1-7
Commanders get: 1-14, 3-80, 5-154, 2027 third-round pick
"We saw Baltimore very nearly trade two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby, and though that trade was eventually abandoned for the signing of Trey Hendrickson, General Manager Eric DeCosta suggested afterward that the Ravens were interested in trading for Crosby and signing Hendrickson. That possibility certainly hints toward the Ravens pursuing pass-rush help at the top of this draft. That could be a player such as Rueben Bain Jr. on the edge or Sonny Styles as a dangerous defensive playmaker next to All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith. The Ravens would give up two third-round picks, which isn't typically the way they operate, but neither was trading a first-round pick for a veteran, let alone two for Crosby."
Trade with Miami Dolphins
Ravens get: 1-30, Edge Chop Robinson
Dolphins get: 1-14
"This would be another way for the Ravens to add a potentially impactful young edge rusher, but via moving down as opposed to up. Robinson looked like he was on a superstar track after his rookie season, when he generated quick pressures at the seventh-highest rate of any player in football, let alone among rookies, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He managed a relatively modest six sacks across 565 snaps, but that underlying performance hinted toward a budding star. With high expectations in 2025, Robinson instead endured an utterly anonymous season. … The 23-year-old finished the season with only three sacks and seven knockdowns. His quick pressure rate split in half, dropping from 7.4% to 3.7%, even while running a double-team rate just below league average for edge defenders.
"New Ravens coach Jesse Minter has a recent track record of turning around promising young edge rushers who disappointed with their prior teams, having just unlocked a new level of play from Odafe Oweh after those very same Ravens shipped him off to the Chargers, where Minter was the defensive coordinator. Robinson would step into a rotation with second-year defender Mike Green across from free agent addition Trey Hendrickson. And the Ravens would owe Robinson only about $5 million over the next two years, which would be a very reasonable total for an organization under a serious cap crunch given what they're paying to other stars on their roster."
Jackson 'Definitely' Wants Jadeveon Clowney Back With Ravens
As noted in Late for Work last week, free-agent outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said he would welcome a return to the Ravens and the opportunity to play with Jackson again.
Jackson, who is often a man of few words, needed just one when he was asked on social media if he wanted the three-time Pro Bowler back with the Ravens.
"Definitely," Jackson wrote.
In 2023, Clowney's one season in Baltimore, the Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the AFC and advanced to the conference championship game. Jackson won his second MVP award that season, while Clowney matched his career-high with 9.5 sacks.
"They take pride in their defense," Clowney told KPRC in Houston last week. "I enjoyed the locker room. The guys that was in the locker room [were] an extremely fun group of guys. A lot of leaders was on that team, a lot of guys that respect the game of football.
"They got a lot of good guys that I can relate to in that locker room. I'll definitely be open to going back to Baltimore, playing with Lamar Jackson now. It was a great time for me."
Clowney, 33, spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and had 8.5 sacks in 13 games.
Pundit Says Ravens Should Sign Five-Time All-Pro Guard
If the Ravens are looking to add another veteran guard this offseason, a highly decorated one is still available in free agency.
That would be Joel Bitonio, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Cleveland Browns. CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell said the Ravens would be the best fit for the guard.
"Joel Bitonio may have lost a step, but he can still pass protect, allowing just two sacks in 2025," Podell wrote. "His 75.7 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade was the eighth-best in the NFL among guards this past season. Bitonio would make a lot of sense for a team looking for interior help on the cheap to return to the playoffs. Bitonio could remain in the AFC North and pursue postseason football with the Baltimore Ravens."
Bitonio, who will turn 35 this coming season, has been as durable as they come. He has missed just two games (both in 2023) over the past nine seasons.
