The Baltimore Ravens have a huge offseason ahead. After firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh and hiring Jesse Minter, they’re starting a new era. And with a new era in bound, they should be looking to make a statement.
The Ravens are coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory. They finished with a record of 8-9, missed the playoffs, and let their heated division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, sneak into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. It was a complete disaster.
This team has plenty of questions to answer. Here are three offseason decisions that the Ravens must think long and hard over.
3 impossible decisions Ravens face in 2026 offseason
Who will star on the edge?
The Ravens’ top two needs this offseason are clear: protect Lamar Jackson and rebuild the pass rush unit. The pass rush may be the most pressing need of the two.
Baltimore had just 30 sacks in 2025. That was tied for third-worst in the NFL. Under Minter, that won’t happen again, but they need a complete revamp there to complement outside linebacker Mike Green. They could address that spot in the draft, but what they really need to do is find a star.
The Ravens haven’t really had a star firing off the edge since Terrell Suggs. They’re hoping Green can develop into a top-tier pass rusher, but that’s going to take some time. In the coming months, they need to be on the lookout for an established guy who can consistently provide double-digit sacks.
Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby could be options to bring that juice off the edge. It’d take an aggressive approach, but if either is in the realm of possibilities, general manager Eric DeCosta must attack relentlessly.
What do you do with Rashod Bateman?
After extending Rashod Bateman on a three-year, $36.75 million deal ahead of the 2025 season, the plan was to have the 26-year-old stick around for the foreseeable future. However, after an abysmal year, questions about his future in Charm City are starting to creep up.
Bateman was expected to be a solidified wide receiver two this year. Instead, he put up just 19 receptions, 224 yards, and two touchdowns. The struggles in pass protection didn’t exactly help with Bateman’s playstyle as a deep threat, but he showed concentration issues and also gave up on plays at times.
The Minnesota product has also already caused off-the-field problems this offseason. He caused drama when posts on an Instagram account surfaced, complaining about his usage. He claimed he was hacked, but mentioned he agreed with some of the claims made. Not what you want to see from a recently paid weapon.
Ultimately, it wouldn’t be a shock if Eric DeCosta opts to try to trade Bateman. There were conversations about that last offseason, and after recent issues, trade talks may open up once more.
What position do you prioritize in the NFL Draft?
In most years, the Ravens let the draft come to them. No matter where they’re picking in the NFL Draft, they tend to either sit and pick or trade back to acquire more picks and get the best value. This year feels different, though.
Not only is this year’s draft a bit weaker than most, but they’re also entering a new era. It won’t be John Harbaugh making his voice heard in the war room this year. It will be Jesse Minter. And Minter may have a different approach in this year’s draft, especially with some extremely pressing needs currently on the roster.
Some of those needs will be solved in free agency, but that period likely won’t solve all of them. Baltimore will undoubtedly have some tough decisions to make once the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off. Do they add a pass rusher for Minter’s defense? Do they opt to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson with a stout blocker at offensive guard? Or, do they give Jackson another weapon to pair with wide receiver Zay Flowers?
Free agency acquisitions will obviously reveal more about the team’s draft plans. However, with so many holes, it might not be as easy as picking the best player available like they usually do.