A lot of eyes are on the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. The head coach swap from firing John Harbaugh to hiring Jesse Minter already caught the attention of the NFL world, and now, they’ve caught even more attention after landing edge rusher Maxx Crosby in a blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.
If that doesn’t scream aggressive, I don’t know what does. They made franchise history in that trade, as it was the first time Baltimore had traded a first-round selection for a veteran player. In this case, they traded two. Times are changing in Charm City.
While they’ll likely continue to be relentless in the coming months, they might be out of big splash upgrades. Outside of some depth additions, they may focus primarily on retaining their guys. With legal tampering starting on March 9, they’re running out of time to freely choose between their safeties Alohi Gilman and Ar’Darius Washington.
Baltimore Ravens must answer who will play the third safety role in 2026 soon
The Ravens already have a ton of talent at safety between Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks. However, Hamilton is more of a defensive all-star than a safety, and with two-safety looks becoming more common in the NFL, the front office will be searching for a partner in crime for Starks.
Reports fully expect Baltimore to turn their attention toward the safety market this offseason. While there’s a change of leadership on the coaching staff, it would still make sense if one of Gilman or Washington were the safety in question. They already have that chemistry with most of the starters on defense.
The Ravens should look to make that decision soon. Would either command a competitive market in free agency? Probably not. But the open market would surely drive up any potential price slightly, and it’d likely be competition that Baltimore would like to avoid, given their tighter cap situation now after the Crosby trade.
If it comes down to Gilman and Washington, as many expect, it’ll ultimately depend on what kind of versatility the Ravens want from their third safety.
In Gilman’s case, he brings a more physical playstyle. He played mostly between free safety and the box, with a little bit of action at the corner, too. He was a game-changing acquisition last year, almost shifting Baltimore’s fortune and propelling them to the playoffs. Gilman also used to play under Minter with the Chargers, and that familiarity could open a path for his return.
On the other hand, Washington is an undersized defensive back, but he plays with a ton of energy. He also brings versatility, but is much of a slot corner and free safety. As Hamilton plays more around the box, it could be beneficial to have a player like Washington rather than Gilman. Corner could also be a massive need still, and Washington’s ability in the slot could pay off in a big way.
The countdown is on for Baltimore to make a call between these two defensive playmakers. There may be a scenario where neither of them returns, but with free agency looming, people will be looking forward to seeing how general manager Eric DeCosta and company put together the rest of the safety room.