The Baltimore Ravens could look to take advantage of other teams cutting some of their top players ahead of free agency. Many organizations are entering new eras with new head coaches, including the Ravens, who hired Jesse Minter. As a result, there could be more roster turnover than expected in the coming months.
The Miami Dolphins cleaned house on Monday. They parted ways with a few players, most notably releasing outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. For Chubb, he could be an instant upgrade at Baltimore’s agonizingly lackluster edge rusher spot. As for Hill, interest in him around the Ravens fanbase has been hit and miss.
While Baltimore does need wide receiver help, Hill may not be the right move. The cost may not be worth it, especially given he’s coming off a gruesome knee injury and the Ravens’ need for a more physical weapon rather than another speedy wideout. However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio dropped a bold take surrounding Baltimore’s potential pursuit of Hill, and it has to do with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“Remember 2023, when the Ravens were in that awkward contract status with Lamar Jackson, what did they do? They signed Odell Beckham Jr…It got the deal done with Lamar Jackson,” Florio said. “Maybe adding Tyreek Hill is the thing that gets Lamar Jackson to sign the contract the Ravens would have on the table in lieu of pushing for something more.”
Sure, Hill would more than likely present a massive boost to the Ravens’ offense, but there is simply no need for this kind of move. In this scenario, they may be pressing the wrong buttons in an effort to satisfy their two-time MVP.
Mike Florio’s bold Ravens’ Tyreek Hill take would be a complete misstep in Lamar Jackson talks
Yes, Hill is one of the best receivers in the NFL over the past decade. Yes, he would add a very dangerous dimension to Baltimore’s passing attack. But it’s also true that a deal for Hill would be a complete misstep in their offseason plans.
The Ravens shouldn’t need to sign Hill to satisfy Lamar Jackson and push them in the right direction in contract talks. There hasn’t been much reason to believe that Jackson isn’t happy, and even if he weren’t, it wouldn’t be due to lacking a top-tier weapon. He already has a similar player at his disposal in two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers, who seems to be a better player at this point in his career.
If it’s anything that’s halting the Lamar Jackson contract talks, it’d be the offensive line. The interior was horrific in 2025, and to improve, it starts with ensuring that center Tyler Linderbaum returns on what will be a hefty extension.
After the Linderbaum deal hopefully gets done, general manager Eric DeCosta must find a stable option at right guard. Emery Jones Jr. appears ready to take over the left guard role in his second NFL season, leaving a crucial need for a proven starter opposite him. The front office cannot afford to keep ignoring that spot, especially after Jackson’s injury-riddled 2025 campaign.
There are also more pressing needs on the defensive side of the football. Sure, the team could use more reliable wide receiver depth, especially after Rashod Bateman’s disappointing 2025, which was followed by some offseason drama. But ultimately, that should fall near the lower half of their offseason checklist. A pursuit of Hill feels like it’d be more of an impulsive misfire than a foundation-building decision.