Baltimore Ravens 2026 Preview

WRITTEN BY: HILOW

Coaching/Philosophy/Scheme Changes ::

• Longtime HC John Harbaugh was let go following another disappointing end to their season, failing to make the playoffs after a loss to the Steelers in a winner-take-all, Week 18 game. It was the first time they missed the playoffs since 2021, and only the second time since Lamar Jackson entered the league in 2018.
• Offense: Also new to the franchise is OC Declan Doyle. Doyle served as the OC for the Bears in 2025, making him the youngest OC in the league at that time (28). That said, it was HC Ben Johnson that called the offense, making this Doyle’s first opportunity to call an offense.
• Defense: Former Chargers DC Jesse Minter was hired as the new HC in Baltimore, joined by former Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver as the new DC. Weaver coached with the Ravens from 2021 to 2023. Minter announced in his introductory press conference that he will be calling defensive plays in 2026.

Personnel Changes ::

• The Ravens were involved in the biggest story of the offseason with the handling of the trade with the Raiders. Star DE Maxx Crosby was on his way to the Ravens before they backed out with the classic “failed physical” excuse. More interesting was the fact that they hastily swooped in and signed FA OLB Trey Hendrickson, the timing of which raised some serious questions around the league. The fallout is easy to digest—Hendrickson is a Raven.
• The biggest offseason departures for the Ravens were C Tyler Linderbaum, EDGE Dre’mont Jones, TE Isaiah Likely, TE Charlie Kolar, EDGE Odafe Oweh, S Alohi Gilman, and FB Patrick Ricard.
• OG John Simpson was the most impactful free agent brought in. Others include C Jovaughn Gwyn, C Danny Printer, TE Dyrham Smythe, and S Jaylinn Hawkins, none of whom is expected to immediately enter the starting lineup (save Hawkins, who should see the field regularly from three-safety formations).
• The Ravens spent the No. 14 overall pick on OG Olaivavega Ioane, who should immediately start. EDGE Zion Young joined the franchise in the second while WR Ja’Kobi Lane was added in the third. WR Elijah Sarratt, TE Matthew Hibner, TE Josh Cuevas, CB Chandler Rivers, RB Adam Randall, P Ryan Eckley, DL Rayshaun Benny, and OG Evan Beerntsen rounded out their 11 picks in this year’s draft.

Schedule ::

• Divisional Games (6):
  • Bengals x 2, Browns x 2, Steelers x 2
• AFC South (4):
  • Jaguars, Titans, @Texans, @Colts
• NFC South (4):
  • @Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, @Panthers
• Chargers, @Bills, @Cowboys

Bull Case ::

Todd Monken brought former OC Greg Roman’s offense into the 21st Century in his three seasons with the team, immediately making an impact, as evidenced by Lamar Jackson’s MVP season in 2023. Monken departed to take the HC position for the Browns, leaving the Ravens with a complete overhaul amongst their coaching ranks after the team decided to move on from the then-second-longest-tenured HC John Harbaugh. In comes the youngest OC in the league in Declan Doyle, who had his come-up coaching under Sean Payton and Ben Johnson, both of whom have long been considered two of the top offensive minds in the league. Their offense remains anchored by Jackson and RB Derrick Henry, creating one of the scarier backfield duos in the league for opposing defenses to prepare for. That, alone, keeps the bull case high for the Ravens heading into 2026, particularly from a fantasy perspective for those two key players.

The continued presence of one of the most dynamic defenders in the league in Kyle Hamilton gives the defense a solid outlook for 2026. On top of that, the introduction of Trey Hendrickson should help the defense create more pressure than the middling numbers they were able to generate in recent history, giving Minter solid athleticism to scheme around. It’s not often we see first-time head coaches and offensive coordinators make an immediate impact for new teams, but this is a storied franchise with elite talent on both sides of the ball, playing in a division where three of four teams have completely new coaching ranks (only the Bengals have coaching continuity). The Ravens should once again challenge for the division come December and January.