Despite the overhaul of game-changing improvements the Baltimore Ravens made this offseason, 2026 could be all about potential bounce-backs from returning contributors. Almost everyone imaginable struggled. That included their 2025 draft class.
Mike Green might be the most important name of that bunch in need of turnarounds. He tallied just 3.5 sacks in 17 games, and if Baltimore is going to return to a dominant force this upcoming season, they need Green to show more life.
It sounds like Green is in a great spot to enjoy that much-needed breakout. He’s already had a stellar offseason, and recently, he took part in an intriguing, yet unusual workout to sharpen his skills.
On Saturday, Green posted a video of himself battling a sumo wrestler on his Instagram.
It may be a stretch, but it could actually help answer questions that have followed him through his career.
Baltimore Ravens may see Mike Green breakthrough partially in thanks to sumo wrestling
For the most part, Green’s sumo wrestling experience is likely just fun and games. We’re in the midst of summer break, and there’s almost an entire month before training camp kicks off. However, there’s a clear competitive nature in that clip, and there may be some underlying benefits to Green learning the ropes of sumo.
In college, Green was tirelessly questioned about his ability, or really inability, to be an edge setter. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds with short arms, it just seems like his frame will hold him back in that area. His play strength and contact balance were also flaws in his scouting reports coming out of Marshall. Some even believed they were so bad that he could only be utilized as a pass rusher in the pros.
Maybe it’s too far to say that sumo wrestling techniques will fix those flaws. They almost definitely won’t entirely. But there might be a world where they could put Green on track to develop those concerns into formidable areas of his game. The way you have to control your body and hold your ground in sumo wrestling can certainly translate to setting the edge and winning with brute force in football. At least in some capacity. And it could really boost Green's game.
Regardless, even if the unorthodox workout doesn’t help him on the field, he could still develop into a star pass rusher this year. His blend of burst, bend, and motor can be out of this world. They’re golden-ticket-type traits. And now, in 2026, the opportunity to work under Jesse Minter and alongside a talented pass rush group might put him on a fast track for success.
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