Ravens Named Best Landing Spot for Trey Hendrickson
The Ravens are in need of a game-wrecking edge rusher. General Manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this month that he hopes to have the salary cap flexibility to "potentially go after a couple of big-ticket items" in free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson would qualify as both of those things.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles said the Ravens are the ideal landing spot for Hendrickson, who is No. 2 in CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell’s top 50 free agents rankings.
"The Ravens finished 31st in sack rate, and they could lose [several] edge defenders in free agency," Pereles wrote. "There's a clear need here, and Hendrickson fits the Ravens' win-now window."
Hendrickson, 31, averaged 14 sacks per season from 2020-2024. He had four sacks in seven games in 2025 after suffering a hip/pelvis injury that required core muscle surgery.
"Hendrickson could land a multiyear deal with an average per year salary around $30 million over the next two or three seasons," Podell wrote.
For the Ravens, defensive end Dre'Mont Jones and outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo are pending free agents.
Who Are the Top Remaining Candidates for Ravens' Offensive Coordinator?
Before Joe Brady was promoted by the Buffalo Bills from offensive coordinator to head coach on Tuesday, he was reportedly a strong candidate for the Ravens' offensive coordinator opening.
With Brady off the board, The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker identified the top remaining candidates to fill the important job of running the Lamar Jackson-led offense.
Here's a look at three, all of whom interviewed with the Ravens for their head coach opening before they hired Jesse Minter, and Wacker's comments on each.
Kliff Kingsbury
"The former Commanders offensive coordinator is reportedly the coach Jackson would like to see hired, per The Athletic. A source with direct knowledge of the situation also told The Baltimore Sun that Kingsbury was not high on Minter's initial list of candidates. But with the ever-shifting landscape of a cycle that included 10 head coach openings, that perhaps has elevated the former Arizona Cardinals coach near or to the top of the list."
Nathan Scheelhaase
"Scheelhaase, 35, is young and inexperienced, but he has received a lot of kudos around the NFL for his behind-the-scenes role as the Los Angeles Rams' pass game coordinator. So much so that he drew head coaching interest from several teams. The downside for Baltimore, though, is that current Rams Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur could become the Cardinals' head coach. If that happens, it seems likely that Scheelhaase would be promoted to L.A.'s offensive coordinator."
Davis Webb
"Webb, 31, is another young coach who people around the NFL have raved about. Currently the Denver Broncos' offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he is viewed as highly intelligent, detailed and an excellent communicator who played a significant role in second-year quarterback Bo Nix's development. The Broncos also just fired their offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, clearing the way for Webb, who is also in the running for the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach opening."
Malaki Starks Is Tabbed Ravens' Top Breakout Candidate
First-round safety Malaki Starks had a solid rookie season, and Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman expects him to level up in Year 2.
Wasserman named Starks the Ravens' top breakout candidate for 2026.
"Starks served as a respectable understudy to veterans Kyle Hamilton and Alohi Gilman in Baltimore's secondary this season," Wasserman wrote. "He earned a solid 68.9 PFF overall grade across more than 1,000 snaps in his rookie season. Starks' 79.9 PFF run-defense grade was a top-20 mark among qualified safeties, and he should continue to improve in coverage with more experience."
Another Accolade for Hamilton
In an up and down season for the Ravens defense, Hamilton was consistently outstanding. He was named Baltimore's MVP by CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan.
"While the Ravens are entering a new era with Jesse Minter as head coach, the former Chargers DC will love what he's getting in Hamilton," Sullivan wrote. "The safety was a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his young career, and continues to stuff the stat sheet. According to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Hamilton was the best coverage defender in the NFL in 2025, ranking first in lockdown rate."
Hamilton continues to accumulate accolades. He was named both the Ravens’ MVP and Media Good Guy in voting by local reporters. Hamilton also made his third consecutive Pro Bowl.
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Late for Work: Because of Tom Brady, Raiders Reportedly Were in the Mix for Jesse Minter
- Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano revealed Nos. 100-51 in his projection of the top 100 players for 2026. Running back Derrick Henry (No. 67) was the only Raven to make it.
