The Baltimore Ravens hold one of the biggest unknowns in 2026. The fifth-round selection of Adam Randall was already a fun story given owner Steve Bisciotti’s involvement for his first-ever draft pick, but it goes beyond that.
Randall could hold the secret to unlocking improved production in a key area for Baltimore. While he’s new to the running back position and has a very high ceiling, it’s actually as a kicker returner where Randall has the best chance to make an impact. And it’s a golden chance.
In a recent article for BaltimoreRavens.com, Ryan Mink outlined the competition surrounding the Ravens’ special teams unit. His take on the best battle? The kick returner spot. By the sounds of it, that’s wide open for Randall to take advantage of an early opportunity.
“Kick returner is more wide open with Ali, Randall and others in the mix,” Mink wrote. “If Ali or Randall win a spot as a kick returner (the Ravens often sent back two deep last year), that would boost their case. Ali averaged 25.4 yards per kick return last season, while Randall averaged 23.7 yards on nine returns at Clemson.”
Baltimore Ravens have wide-open battle for Adam Randall to seize
The Ravens tried everything to get more production out of their kick returner last season. They really turned over every stone in that room. There were five players to return kicks in 2025, and between Rasheen Ali, Keaton Mitchell, LaJohntay Wester, Justice Hill, and Tylan Wallace, no one truly became a stalwart there.
In 2026, it sounds like they’ll run it back with Ali and maybe Wester getting chances, but it’s hard to ignore Randall. Sure, he’s a rookie fifth-rounder, so the expectations in year one aren’t too high; however, there’s reason to believe he could emerge early on in that battle.
His former coach, Dabo Swinney, praised him as a do-it-all type of player who was just scratching the surface at Clemson, showing the ability to execute in any area you ask him to. If he puts everything into Baltimore’s kick returner competition, there’s a good chance he can take it.
Eric DeCosta has mentioned he believes Randall can act as a potential playmaker in that area, too. That’s already a huge win for him, and we haven’t even hit training camp yet. Yes, there's still a lot for him to learn, but he has some game-changing traits that could force him into the equation.
As Mink noted, Randall averaged 23.7 yards per return in his senior campaign. What makes his potential all the more fascinating, though, is his blend of size and explosiveness. At 6-foot-3, 232 pounds, the 22-year-old possesses the strength to plow through would-be tackles, but he also has the quickness to make cuts and get behind the defense (or in this case, the kick coverage unit).
And with kick returns becoming a bigger and bigger factor in today’s game following the rule changes, the Ravens need to find their go-to guy to not only return kicks, but hit home runs. Randall has everything you could want, and if he can continue building on his Clemson success as a kick returner, Baltimore might have their next great return man.
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