The Baltimore Ravens had several preseason darlings last year. They’ve been known for their success in undrafted free agency across their history, and 2025 may have been the pinnacle of that success. They had three undrafted rookies make their initial 53-man roster.
Of the three, two still remain in Charm City. Safety Reuben Lowery III was eventually cut and picked up by the Indianapolis Colts. As for cornerback Keyon Martin and linebacker Jay Higgins, they’re once again battling out to make the active roster.
Martin faces a bit of an uphill climb this time around, but for Higgins? Well, he’s got a golden opportunity to play an even bigger role this year. The Ravens kind of rolled out the red carpet for the 24-year-old to break out at OTAs and training camp.
Baltimore Ravens rolling out the red carpet for preseason standout to emerge
Jay Higgins had the odds stacked against him last year. He broke out in camp and continued that stellar performance in preseason. He showcased great instincts and consistent tackling, all while stuffing the stat sheet with a sack, interception, and forced fumble.
He was flat-out amazing and needed every moment he had to make the active roster as the fifth linebacker. And even after finding himself way behind on the depth chart, the former Iowa standout eventually got some regular-season reps primarily on special teams. He recorded 10 combined tackles and a forced fumble in 11 games.
Now, Higgins begins a pivotal stretch of the offseason as the fourth linebacker on Baltimore’s depth chart. He jumped up a spot after Jake Hummel departed for the Houston Texans, and the Ravens didn’t address the linebacker room in free agency or the draft. It’s a bit of a shallow room, but if Higgins continues to take steps forward, it won’t look shallow for long.
And Higgins has actually done just that. After what appeared to be a quiet first week of OTAs for him, he kicked off the second week on the right foot. He hauled in an interception in 7-on-7 on Tuesday, continuing to flash that playmaking ability that made him so special last year. The defense needs those plays, and clearly, he’s ready to provide them.
If we see a real emergence from Higgins, there’s a chance he has an even bigger role than just a depth option as the fourth linebacker on the team. Maybe he cuts into Trenton Simpson’s rotational snaps. It feels like Simpson has been struggling to earn trust on defense since his rookie year, and on the flip side, Higgins is impressing. A big change could eventually come at backup linebacker.
Sure, Higgins doesn’t really jump off the page in terms of measurables and athleticism. I mean, he’s a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker with limited reach and subpar athleticism. That’s a big reason why he unfortunately went undrafted. But I guess that’s fortunate for the Ravens because he’s proving that he’s a darn good football player. Fans will be eager to see what he has in store for 2026.
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