As the Baltimore Ravens enter a new era with head coach Jesse Minter, it shouldn’t come as a shock to see so many departures in free agency. That doesn’t change the fact that some of their losses have hurt a ton, but there’s clearly different plans for the Ravens in 2026.
One of the bigger changes that fans will have to get used to is the departure of fullback Patrick Ricard. After a successful nine-year career in Charm City, Ricard will be suiting up for the New York Giants next season. The 31-year-old agreed to a two-year, $7.63 million contract to join John Harbaugh in New York.
As a result, Baltimore is expected to move forward without a fullback being a key part of the offense. With Minter taking Harbaugh’s job, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle calling the plays, fullback will likely not be a priority. On Thursday, general manager Eric DeCosta confirmed that in an interview with Cordell Woodland and Ben Hall on 105.7 The Fan.
“In the past, we’ve used a fullback, and we’re probably gonna segue to more of a tight end look than a traditional fullback look,” DeCosta said.
Eric DeCosta confirms Baltimore Ravens won’t prioritize fullback in 2026
The fullback usage was not just a driving force of the John Harbaugh era; it’s been a part of the operations for pretty much the franchise’s entire history. Utilizing those types of players is considered old-school football, but the Ravens have helped the position survive into the 2020s. It’s been one of their calling cards.
When you think about the best fullbacks over the last two decades, a lot of them have played for Baltimore. Along with Ricard, they’ve had Kyle Juszczyk, Vonta Leach, Le’Ron McClain, and Lorenzo Neal. You cannot talk about the history of that spot without mentioning those names. Now, that impressive brand of Ravens football appears to be coming to an end.
As DeCosta mentioned, they’ll shift their focus on fullback to a larger focus on tight ends. They already value tight ends more than any other team in the NFL, and that’s one thing that won’t change with Doyle’s arrival in Charm City.
Tight ends will continue to be asked to lean into versatile roles by producing as both receiving threats and sound blockers. Mark Andrews will continue to lead the way at that spot. After losing Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency, the front office has started to replace them. That's began with the addition of a sturdy blocking tight end in Durham Smythe.
While most will see this as a slight shift, this will pretty much be a completely new ballgame for Baltimore. It’s certainly going to be weird to not see a fullback on the field.