Baltimore Ravens News

After back-to-back first-team All-Pro selections in 2023 and 2024, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled through an injury-marred down year in 2025. The 29-year-old missed four games due to back and hamstring injuries and finished the year with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Perhaps due to his injury issues, Jackson also had the least productive rushing season of his career, totaling 349 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 67 attempts. However, Jackson should be fully healthy heading into 2026. When he's on the field, the two-time MVP remains perhaps the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. Across 17 games in 2024, Jackson threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns while rushing for 915 yards and four scores. Jackson still profiles as an elite quarterback option in dynasty formats heading into 2026.

There has been "growing optimism" that Baltimore Ravens two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) will return to the NFL, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Madubuike suffered what was believed to be a career-threatening neck injury last year and only appeared in two games in 2025 before being placed on Injured Reserve. The 28-year-old former third-rounder (71st overall) in 2020 out of Texas A&M was a Pro Bowler in both 2023 and 2024, combining for 99 tackles (59 solo), 19.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 34 starts. It's unclear exactly when Madubuike will be able to return to the football field, but if he's available to play in 2026, it would be a big boost for the Ravens' defensive line. Baltimore's pass rush was poor last season, as they were tied with the Cardinals and Panthers for the third-fewest sacks (30) in the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens are making a contract extension for wide receiver Zay Flowers a top priority this offseason, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Flowers has made two Pro Bowls in three years, something no other homegrown Ravens receiver has done, and he's also gone over 1,000 receiving yards twice. His 3,128 receiving yards since 2023 rank 10th-most among NFL receivers during that span, and his 237 catches rank 13th. It's a pretty impressive feat, considering the team's run-first offensive philosophy. The 25-year-old pass-catcher may not be a prototypical No. 1 NFL wideout, but the Ravens love that he's a legitimate playmaker, a major threat with the ball in his hands, and that he's hard to cover by cornerbacks. In addition to Flowers' skills on the field, he's been durable, missing just one game in three seasons. He's also a close friend of quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens fully intend to keep him after he signed a four-year, $14.04 million contract back in June of 2023. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that the Ravens would like to reach a deal "sooner rather than later." They have until May 1 to pick up his fifth-year option and keep him under contract through at least 2027, but that's viewed as a formality.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry isn't getting any younger, but his lead-back role appears to be safe, given that he faces minimal competition in the Baltimore backfield. The Ravens allowed Keaton Mitchell to depart in free agency, leaving Rasheen Ali and Justice Hill as the lone ball-carriers behind Henry. Hill has flashed flex appeal in PPR leagues from time to time, and the team still has faith that Ali can be a contributor. However, this is clearly still Henry's backfield, even at 32 years old. He was the overall RB8 last year, finishing inside the top eight for the fourth year in a row. He had 1,595 rushing yards, and he scored 16 rushing touchdowns for the second year in a row. The most underrated concern in Henry's game had nothing to do with his efficiency or role, but rather, his ball security. After fumbling just once between 2023 and 2024, he coughed up the football three times in 2025. Ball security issues won't cost him his job, but they could cost him some touches from time to time. Still, we're not overly concerned about Henry's outlook for 2026, as he remains a low-end RB1 option with such a clearly defined role. Managers in dynasty leagues could try to sell high on Henry before he becomes too old to trade, but they shouldn't settle for a discount simply because he's aging.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman had a career year in 2024 in his fourth year in the league, catching 45 of his 72 targets for 756 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. The Ravens were saying last offseason that they were hoping to get Bateman more involved. It didn't happen, as the 26-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2021 out of Minnesota caught just 19 passes on 38 targets for 224 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. Bateman didn't have much of a chance with quarterback Lamar Jackson struggling with efficiency and multiple lower-body injuries throughout the year. As he looks to bounce back in 2026, Bateman and the rest of Baltimore's offensive skill players will be learning a new offense under a new coaching staff and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The Ravens haven't made any additions to their WR room this offseason, but they could look to add some pass-catchers in the upcoming NFL draft. Even without much added competition, Bateman is a tough sell as a buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues, and it's looking like his 2024 campaign will be an outlier.

Free-agent tight end David Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former Cleveland Browns tight end has been greeted with a cold free-agent market after the Browns cut him following the 2025 season. The Ravens let Isaiah Likely walk in free agency and could use some more depth at the position behind veteran Mark Andrews. Baltimore signed Durham Smythe, but he's more of a blocking TE. The 29-year-old Njoku fell into a backup role in Cleveland last year due to the swift emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr. The former first-rounder in 2017 out of the University of Miami regressed with 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets in 12 games played. Injuries didn't help, but it was clear that Fannin is the future in Cleveland at tight end. If Njoku were to land with the Ravens, he'd probably be in a similar role as the TE2 behind Andrews, limiting his bounce-back potential in fantasy football.

The Baltimore Ravens and free-agent center Danny Pinter agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It's much-needed help for the Ravens at the center position after Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency. Pinter was selected 149th overall in the fifth round in the 2020 draft out of Ball State by the Indianapolis Colts, and he spent the first five seasons of his career in Indy. The 29-year-old center has started just 10 of the 77 games he's appeared in with the Colts, but with Linderbaum now in Vegas, the expectation is that Pinter will have an opportunity to prove that he deserves to start under center in 2026 for the Ravens. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Pinter's deal is worth $2.25 million with a maximum of $2.75 million via incentives.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers quietly finished 2025 with a career-high 1,211 receiving yards, largely on the strength of three monster 120+ yard performances littered throughout the season. Now, with the Ravens welcoming a new coaching staff for 2026, Flowers is in a position to become the clear focal point of Baltimore's passing offense. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle arrived in Baltimore from Ben Johnson's coaching tree, noting the importance of explosive plays, and then in the opening week of free agency, the team said goodbye to two of its more explosive playmakers in Isaiah Likely and Keaton Mitchell. Heading into the NFL draft, Flowers' biggest competition for targets is the soon-to-be-31-year-old Mark Andrews and sixth-year wideout Rashod Bateman, who has yet to top the 46 receptions from his rookie year.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews could be headed for a bounce-back campaign in 2026 after the departure of two teammates. Baltimore watched Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar walk in free agency, leaving no doubt that Andrews is the Ravens' No. 1 tight end going forward. That's potentially good news for his fantasy outlook, as managers will be looking for him to bounce back from a subpar 2025 season in which he caught 48 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He has ranked outside the top 14 fantasy tight ends (full-PPR) in two of the last three years. Dynasty managers should feel encouraged that he might reverse course and get back on track next season. Even though he's in his thirties, Andrews can be an encouraging buy-low in dynasty leagues this offseason since many of his fantasy managers are likely discouraged by recent results.

The Baltimore Ravens released quarterback Cooper Rush on Thursday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Rush signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with Baltimore last offseason, but he'll be looking for work this offseason after one year with the Ravens. The 32-year-old veteran signal-caller appeared in four games for the Ravens last year and started two games with Lamar Jackson injured, going 34-for-52 passing for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. The former undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan debuted in the NFL in 2017 with the Dallas Cowboys and has completed 61.1% of his passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his eight-year career. Rush was expendable in Baltimore with Tyler Huntley returning to back up Jackson for the 2026 season.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that they and quarterback Lamar Jackson ran out of time to get a long-term extension done, but he added that the Ravens are "still hopeful to reach an agreement," according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The 29-year-old two-time MVP serves as his own agent, which makes things more difficult for the organization. Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract with Baltimore in April of 2023 and restructured his contract on Wednesday to give the Ravens some extra salary cap space to make moves this offseason. Without an extension, Jackson can be an unrestricted free agent after the 2027 season. He battled through injuries and was a disappointment for fantasy managers last year who took him as a high-end QB1, but Jackson is still one of the most dynamic dual-threat QBs in the game and is tied with Aaron Rodgers for the best passer rating (102.2) in NFL history. He also has the record for most career rushing yards (6,522) by a QB.

The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms on an undisclosed deal with free-agent tight end Durham Smythe on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Smythe will likely be the blocking replacement at the position for Charlie Kolar, who left in free agency this week to join the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old veteran will reunite with new Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle after being coached by him with the Chicago Bears in 2025. The former fourth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 out of Notre Dame won't be anywhere near the fantasy radar in any format going into next season. Smythe had a career-low four catches on six targets for 25 yards in 17 regular-season games with the Bears last year, and he has a measly 136 receptions for 1,253 yards and three touchdowns in his eight-year NFL career.

Free-agent safety Jaylinn Hawkins plans to sign with the Baltimore Ravens for two years and $10 million, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Hawkins will head to Baltimore for his seventh year in the NFL after having one of the best years of his career with the New England Patriots in 2025. The 28-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 out of Cal totaled 71 tackles (45 solo), a career-high 1.5 sacks, five QB hits, a career-high four interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 15 regular-season starts in his second year with the Patriots. The 836 defensive snaps he played were the second-highest total of his career. He was a key part of the team's secondary, but now he'll head to the AFC North and try to help the Ravens get back to the postseason. There's a good chance Hawkins will be in more of a rotational role at safety in Baltimore.

The Baltimore Ravens reworked quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract on Wednesday to create around $40 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's a similar restructure to what Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have done for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, respectively. It's a move to give Baltimore more financial flexibility, with some of the extra space immediately helping the Ravens bring in All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year deal on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Jackson will head into the 2026 season looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued and disappointing 2025 campaign in which the Ravens didn't qualify for the postseason. The two-time MVP didn't run the ball as much because of his lower-body injuries and finished with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 13 starts. With better health, one of the best dual-threat QBs in the game could easily bounce back in 2026.

The Baltimore Ravens and star defensive end Trey Hendrickson have reached an agreement on a four-year, $112 million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 31-year-old Hendrickson has spent the last five years with the Cincinnati Bengals and will remain in the AFC North. Baltimore's pivot to Hendrickson comes on the heels of the team's decision to back out of their agreement to acquire edge rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) from the Las Vegas Raiders after reviewing Crosby's medical information. In Hendrickson, the Ravens are acquiring one of the few available pass rushers who may be able to provide similar production to what they would have gotten out of Crosby. Hip and back injuries limited Hendrickson to just seven games in 2025, but he recorded back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024.

The Baltimore Ravens are not tendering an offer sheet to running back Keaton Mitchell, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. He will hit free agency and is free to sign anywhere, with Fowler identifying the New York Giants as a potential landing spot. Mitchell was one of the hottest dynasty buys as a rookie in 2023, when he tallied 489 scrimmage yards across eight games. He continues to flash upside, but injuries have limited him from reaching his full potential. He tore his ACL in December 2023, and he dealt with a knee strain in December 2025. The 24-year-old will now bring his talent and speed elsewhere for the 2026 campaign. It's interesting that Fowler singled out the Giants as a potential landing spot, especially since New York has Cam Skattebo (ankle), Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary under contract. Mitchell would remain a hold in most dynasty leagues if he does put pen to paper with the Giants, where his old Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, is calling most of the shots.

The Los Angeles Chargers have signed free-agent tight end Charlie Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million deal that includes $17 million guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. While Pelissero notes that this is the largest deal ever for a blocking tight end, we wouldn't be surprised to see Kolar step into more of a receiving role in Los Angeles. He showed flashes of pass-catching potential in Baltimore -- as much as he could while buried in the No. 3 tight end role behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. He had a career-high 10 catches for 142 yards in 2025, headlined by a two-game touchdown streak during the first half of the season. With the Bolts, he'll presumably operate as the No. 2 tight end behind Oronde Gadsden. Despite the new contract and bump up the depth chart, Kolar likely still faces an uphill battle to fantasy relevance in a Mike McDaniel system that hasn't leaned super heavily on its No. 2 tight end in the past.

The New York Giants are signing former Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million deal on Monday with a maximum value of $47.5 million, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The deal makes Likely the third-highest paid tight end in the NFL and will pair him with young quarterback Jaxson Dart and receiver Malik Nabers. The 25-year-old will finally get out of the shadow of veteran Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The move to the Big Apple will make Likely a popular sleeper pick in 2026 fantasy football drafts with clear TE1 upside, although the Giants still have a very capable pass-catching TE in Theo Johnson. The money the Giants are giving Likely suggests he'll be the primary TE1 in New York next year, giving him the most fantasy upside he's had yet in his career. A foot injury caused Likely to get a late start in 2025, and he never recovered, finishing with a career-low 307 yards and only one touchdown on 27 catches through 14 games.

Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely is among the players that the New York Giants are targeting in free agency, with the legal tampering period starting on Monday, March 9, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The obvious connection here is that new Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached Likely in Baltimore. The 25-year-old had 1,568 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns on 135 catches in his four seasons with the Ravens, but he suffered a foot injury in training camp that caused him to miss the start of the 2025 season, and he never really recovered. Likely finished with a 27-307-1 line in 14 games (seven starts). Ultimately, he just hasn't been able to get out of the shadow of Mark Andrews, which is why it would be smart for him to sign elsewhere this offseason. A move to New York might not be the ideal fit, however, with rising TE Theo Johnson already on the roster.

If free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum doesn't re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, there is a belief among NFL teams that the Washington Commanders will "heavily pursue" him, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The Commanders are looking for a new center after releasing starting center Tyler Biadasz, who quickly latched on with the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Linderbaum will be "tough to keep" if he makes it to the legal tampering date on Monday. In addition to Washington, the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans could be involved in the Linderbaum market. The 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler should easily surpass $20 million per year on his next contract. Landing Linderbaum would be a huge score for a Commanders franchise that dealt with injuries at key positions to miss the postseason after being on the doorstep of a Super Bowl appearance the year before.