After hiring Jesse Minter as their fourth head coach in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are looking to make a statement on defense. Everyone knows what that offense can do with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry leading the charge. It’s the defense that’s lost its way recently, and Minter should help change that.
Minter was an extraordinary defensive coordinator. He helped lead the University of Michigan to a National Championship win in 2023, and in two years with the Los Angeles Chargers, he embarrassed opposing offenses. Now, he’ll get to rework a Baltimore defense that has seen significant struggles over the past two seasons.
There’s some talent there already for Minter to utilize, most notably safety Kyle Hamilton, and Minter is expected to take the unit to the next level. To successfully do that, though, he’ll need some improvements along the defensive line. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has the Ravens adding a force there in the form of New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
In a recent article, Barnwell highlighted various trade proposals that could be easy fits this offseason. He predicts that Thibodeaux, who has an uncertain future with the Giants, could be a strong spark for Baltimore’s lackluster pass rush. In his proposal, he has Baltimore trading a 2026 fourth-round pick to New York. Barnwell writes:
“Jesse Minter, who turned around Oweh, is now the head coach in Baltimore. And Minter might fancy his chances of getting more out of Thibodeaux, who came into the league with a top-five-pick toolbox and racked up 11.5 sacks in his second year with the Giants. The Ravens would be taking a targeted swing on a talented player in a contract year who just turned 25 in December.”
Despite a tough stretch over the past two years, Thibodeaux could help ignite a defensive renaissance in Charm City next season.
Ravens predicted to trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux to charge Jesse Minter’s defense
Thibodeaux was once seen as one of the biggest rising stars on the pass rush front. He was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and in his second season in 2023, he tallied 11.5 sacks. Since then, though, he’s struggled a bit.
Between 2024 and 2025, Thibodeaux has played in 22 games. In 2024, he finished with 5.5 sacks, and in 2025, he had just 2.5 sacks. With the likes of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter ready to patrol the outside linebacker spots next season, it could be time for a change of scenery, and a Minter-led defense could be an ideal fit for the 25-year-old.
As Barnwell mentioned, Minter helped turn around Odafe Oweh’s 2025 campaign after tallying zero sacks in the first five games of the season in Baltimore. Oweh was very productive once he was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers. In 12 regular-season games, he had 7.5 sacks, and in the team’s Wild Card loss to the New England Patriots, he feasted with three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Minter also played a huge role in Chargers outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu's development. After 4.5 sacks in his rookie year, Tuipulotu tallied 8.5 sacks in 2024, his first season with Minter, and in 2025, he finished with 13 sacks and earned a Pro Bowl nod. If Thibodeaux could follow a similar script under Minter, it would be the exact boost the Ravens defense desperately needs.
In this trade scenario, Thibodeaux would immediately be thrust into a heavy workload in Charm City. He would get most of the reps opposite of 2025 second-round pick Mike Green, who developed nicely in the second half of his rookie campaign.
If he’s at all available, general manager Eric DeCosta should make a push to get a deal done. Regardless of the lack of production recently, Thibodeaux would be an instant upgrade over veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. The team would still need more help coming off the edge, but a possible trade for Thibodeaux would begin the rebuild of Baltimore’s defense.
Throughout the franchise’s history, the Ravens have been known for relentlessly aggressive defenses. They could put a larger emphasis on reestablishing that in 2026 through trades like the one Bill Barnwell mentioned here.