After signing Jesse Minter to become the franchise’s next head coach, the Baltimore Ravens can turn their focus toward improving their roster. Sure, they still have the rest of the coaching staff to fill out, but they will finally get an idea of the players they want to target in the coming months with Minter at the helm.
Of course, free agency doesn’t open until March, and countless pending free agents will sign extensions with their current team. However, there will be plenty of players available to fill Baltimore’s needs. Most of those needs will come on the defensive side.
With Conference Championship weekend on Sunday, the Ravens will be keeping a close eye on potential players to target. Here are four players suiting up on Sunday that could be fits in Charm City.
Potential targets for Ravens
Boye Mafe
The Ravens desperately need pass-rush help. There aren’t many players who can completely satisfy this need in the current state of this year’s free agency cycle, but Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe could certainly help.
Mafe got phased out into a rotational role this year. While Seattle’s defense flourished, Mafe had the worst statistical season of his career, tallying just two sacks. However, the 27-year-old was still effective. He had 41 pressures throughout the regular season, despite seeing fewer snaps.
In Baltimore, Mafe would be a desirable rotational option, as they look to reload and help out rookie outside linebacker Mike Green.
John Franklin-Myers
While pass rush help off the edge is the most pressing need, interior defensive line upgrades are also a necessity. That is especially the case if defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck injury threatens his career. Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers would immediately become a centerpiece alongside defensive tackle Travis Jones if he touched down in Baltimore this offseason.
Franklin-Myers has been a respected presence on the interior for years now. He enjoyed a career year with Denver in 2025, recording 7.5 sacks. In seven seasons, he has 34 sacks.
The Ravens have the players on the interior to stop the run. Jones does a terrific job in that area, and they extended veteran nose tackle John Jenkins. If they are able to sign Franklin-Myers, it feels like he would be the final piece to the puzzle on the interior.
Roger McCreary
How about some secondary help? At 29 years old, cornerback Marlon Humphrey had a career-worst season. He is still under a contract in 2026, but there may be questions about his potential regression. If that's the case, Baltimore could use some depth. If he continues to perform well for the Los Angeles Rams, cornerback Roger McCreary could be a target.
McCreary has been a fine corner in his brief NFL career up to this point. He was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Rams this year, and while his playing time has been sporadic in Los Angeles, he’s proven himself when given the chance. He is coming off an exceptional game in the Divisional Round against the Chicago Bears, where he wasn’t targeted a single time on 19 passing attempts.
McCreary is a slot corner, and if Humphrey continues to step back, he would be an ideal rotational option to help get Baltimore’s defense back on its feet in 2026.
K’Lavon Chaisson
Once considered a draft bust after being a non-factor in his tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson is turning his career around with the New England Patriots. Like Mafe, he wouldn’t be a game-changer off the edge, but he possesses talent that the Ravens need to add.
In his sixth season, Chaisson is enjoying somewhat of a breakout. He has a career-high 7.5 sacks and has been leading the Patriots through the postseason with three sacks in two games. Those postseason efforts have also led to turnovers. He forced a fumble in the win against the Los Angeles Chargers, and had a pressure on C.J. Stroud last week against the Houston Texans that led to a pick-six.
Chaisson provides the two things Baltimore’s defense needs more of: sacks and takeaways. If the price is right, the team’s front office needs to find itself in the center of negotiations.