Following the first month of free agency, the Baltimore Ravens’ roster construction for the upcoming season is becoming clearer. Of course, the NFL Draft will have a significant impact on the franchise, as it always does, but certain players are seeing substantial openings in their 2026 roles.
Under John Harbaugh, there were a lot of players in the doghouse who didn’t see enough playing time. Too many. Thankfully, Harbaugh was fired, and the Ravens hired Jesse Minter. The 42-year-old head coach should be extremely refreshing, and for players who were stuck in the mud under Harbaugh, they could emerge as key contributors.
Here are three players who remain a mystery but could become steady options in Minter’s first year.
3 Ravens who could be on the rise under new coaching leadership following free agency moves
Devontez Walker
If Devontez Walker isn’t given a more substantial opportunity in 2026, Baltimore’s fanbase is going to be angry. It seems he’s done everything right up to this point, but was never given more than a handful of opportunities under Harbaugh. What made the coaching decisions so annoying was that he was dynamite in that small workload. Literal lightning in a bottle.
Through two seasons, Walker has just seven receptions to his name on 11 targets. Six of those have gone for first downs, and a whopping four have gone for touchdowns. That's elite efficiency. Every time he touches the football, it’s a big play waiting to happen. It’s truly shocking that he never carved out a bigger role in 2025.
That should hopefully change under Minter. The Ravens desperately need wide receiver help next to Zay Flowers, and they haven’t made additions at that spot in free agency. While they should draft a wideout early, Walker could emerge as the big-play threat offensive coordinator Declan Doyle needs in his offense. He’s going to hunt explosive plays, and Walker is the exact definition of an explosive weapon.
T.J. Tampa
T.J. Tampa kind of falls into the same boat as Walker. He’s flashed in very limited snaps. The former fourth-round pick hasn’t been exceptional, but for a secondary that was nothing short of embarrassing in 2025, it was criminal that he didn’t get more chances. With a defensive-minded head coach in Minter stepping in, Tampa could see his snap count inflate.
Tampa’s biggest concerns come with his tackling and run defense. It’s safe to say he’s struggled mightily there, posting a 29.6 run defense grade, per Pro Football Focus, in 2025. That’s a recipe that’ll get you in Harbaugh’s doghouse. And although Minter may be more strict on defense, he could (and should) still give Tampa enough of a run to at least see what he’s got. The size and talent in coverage are there.
Baltimore also hasn’t paid too much attention to the cornerback room in free agency. The only move they made there was re-signing Chidobe Awuzie. Adding Jaylinn Hawkins and his versatility could cut into snaps at slot corner, but that’s more of a move to open up Kyle Hamilton than anything else. Tampa could be freed next season.
Aeneas Peebles
Aeneas Peebles brought a ton of excitement heading into his rookie year. Sure, he was just a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the electricity he could bring as a pass rusher from the interior had fans hyped. A strong preseason furthered that hype, but he barely saw the field in the regular season. He didn’t even log 100 defensive snaps.
Harbaugh neglected to try to fix the lack of pass rush last year, an area where Peebles at least could have brought a different edge. Minter will follow a different path, emphasizing the pass rush group as a priority. He formed a fearsome unit in his years with the Los Angeles Chargers, and with Peebles’ pass rush chops, he could see a rotational role under Minter in 2026.
Right now, nothing is guaranteed for Peebles. As a very late draft selection, he’s not necessarily going to walk into a spot on the defensive front. However, if the Ravens don’t bring in any notable additions on the interior, which they haven’t yet, Peebles could be in a prime position for a year-two rise.