The Baltimore Ravens' most pressing need after acquiring edge rusher Maxx Crosby was offensive guard. Legal tampering kicked off on Monday, and the Ravens wasted no time addressing that spot, agreeing to terms with offensive lineman John Simpson on a three-year, $30 million deal.
The #Ravens have agreed to terms with G John Simpson on a three-year, $30 million deal. Back to Baltimore for Simpson, who spent the last two seasons with the #Jets, in a deal done by @KyleStrongin at @RangeSportsRMP. pic.twitter.com/e3PSjyXerP
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2026
For the past two years, Baltimore has pretty much placed a Band-Aid on the offensive guard spot, investing in other areas. That Band-Aid barely stuck on in 2024, but in 2025, it fell off in the worst way possible.
Last season, the Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs. The inabilities of the interior offensive line were a major reason for that. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was also banged up all season and missed four games. The offensive line was a major reason for that. It was time for the front office to protect their franchise quarterback, and they’re doing just that with the Simpson move.
Baltimore Ravens invest in protection for Lamar Jackson with John Simpson addition
Simpson isn’t a flashy player, but he’s one of the best guards available. Other free agents like Kevin Zeitler and Joel Bitonio could’ve been options, but both are nearing the end of their careers. The Ravens needed a longer-term investment at offensive guard, not another one-year stand-in.
At 28 years old, Simpson is just the long-term solution at offensive guard that Jackson needs. He’ll help keep Jackson off the ground for the next three years, not only bringing stable play but also familiarity with Jackson. Knowing Jackson’s tendencies could be key to Baltimore’s offense bouncing back in 2026.
Assuming he sticks at left guard, Simpson will also be back alongside left tackle Ronnie Stanley, too. The duo on the left side helped produce better offensive fronts for Jackson and company in 2023. With them back together, things should go back to normal with dominance up front.
Of course, the bigger question to answer now becomes the center vacancy. After the Simpson signing, the Ravens lost three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders. Baltimore had a market-setting deal on the table, but the Raiders cashed in all their chips with a three-year, $81 million deal that the Ravens likely weren’t even close to matching.
Regardless, adding Simpson is a very solid move, and is a key improvement as the front office looks to build the trenches this offseason.