2026 NFL offseason preview: Baltimore Ravens have lots of questions to answer after firing John Harbaugh, losing season
The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Patriots | Jets
AFC North:Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers
AFC South: Texans | Colts | Jaguars | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers
NFC East:Cowboys | Giants | Eagles | Commanders
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South:Falcons | Panthers | Saints | Buccaneers
NFC West:Cardinals | Rams | 49ers | Seahawks
2025 season record: 8-9 (u 11.5 wins), second in AFC North, missed playoffs, 14th in DVOA
OverviewRavens seasons tend to end in devastating fashion. The difference between previous seasons and this one was when it happened. Baltimore had been one of the best teams in the league - the stretch from 2020-2024 was one of the best five-year stretches in DVOA history without winning a Super Bowl - so even the losses came with a general sense that this team would have another shot.
This season felt entirely different. The Ravens struggled from the start. Lamar Jackson battled injuries and illness. The defense never clicked into the same gear that made it one of the league's best units over the second half of last season. Baltimore limped into an AFC North title game in Week 18 and lost on a last-second missed field goal by rookie Tyler Loop.
Many of the bones that made the Ravens a Super Bowl contender are still in place. But Baltimore now has another offseason of figuring out what went wrong. Only this time, it comes much earlier than anticipated with a few more questions that need to be answered - including, for the first time in 18 years, what comes next at head coach after the Ravens fired John Harbaugh.
Cap/cuts outlookPer Over The Cap, the Ravens have just over $12 million in effective salary cap space, the 17th-most in the league. That will increase significantly with a restructure of Lamar Jackson's contract and his $74.5 million cap hit that's currently on the books. A restructure of his $51.25 million base salary could open up as much as $38 million in space this season. A new contract is also a possible option.
Keep an eye on Nnamdi Madubuike's contract situation. Madubuike missed the season with a severe neck injury that could be career-threatening for the 27-year-old. If Madubuike doesn't play again, a post-June 1 move would be necessary, but that would be a net zero on the 2026 cap.
Marlon Humphrey was a first-team All-Pro cornerback in 2024, but a bottom-third corner by adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap in 2025. If the Ravens move on from the soon-to-be 30-year-old, it would open a little over $7 million.
Key pending free agentsC Tyler Linderbaum
S Alohi Gilman
TE Isaiah Likely
Edge Kyle Van Noy
IDL Dre'Mont Jones
FB Patrick Ricard
S Ar'Darius Washington
Linderbaum is here because the Ravens declined his fifth-year option since those figures - and the franchise tag - include all offensive linemen and not just centers. That would make Linderbaum the highest-paid center by a significant margin. But Linderbaum has been one of the league's best centers and integral to Baltimore's offensive success.
Likely is a fascinating name to watch here. It appeared the Ravens would transition from Mark Andrews to Likely as the top tight end going into 2026, but Baltimore surprisingly extended the 30-year-old Andrews this season. Likely had only 37 receptions this season but was third on the team with four receptions of 20 or more yards.
There was a shift in the Baltimore defense once Gilman was acquired via trade. It allowed the Ravens to play how they had hoped if Washington had not injured his Achilles in the offseason.
Positional needsEdge
Cornerback
Baltimore had a serious deficiency on the edge during the 2025 season. The Ravens were 28th in pressure rate and 31st in sack rate. Even in years when the team did not have a standout pass rusher, the Ravens manufactured pressure elsewhere. That was not the case this season.
Making matters harder when not creating pressure, Baltimore did not have enough reliable corners. Nate Wiggins is turning into a star on the outside, but was targeted more often than expected for the quality of play he previously had. On the other side, the Ravens rotated several veteran corners to varying degrees of success. Then there was Humphrey, who did not play up to his previous level. If Gilman or Washington leave in free agency, safety would be a need, too.
2026 NFL Draft picks1st round, pick No. 14
2nd round
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5th round
5th round (LAC)
5th round (projected compensatory)
5th round (projected compensatory)
7th round (projected compensatory)
7th round (projected compensatory)
T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
What Parker lacks in bend he more than makes up for in explosiveness, power and impact defending both the run and pass. He would be a great way to help the Ravens start retooling their defense.
What could move the fantasy needle in 2026?Add more around Lamar Jackson
There will be sensationalist headlines about Lamar Jackson in the coming months regarding his future with the team. My guess is that he'll be back with this team in 2026. With that in mind, I think it's time for the Ravens to get serious about what they're putting around him - especially considering where the soon-to-be 29-year-old quarterback might be at this stage of his career. He's carried a huge burden in the offense as a creator and elevator. Those days might be done, especially coming off several injuries. If I'm Baltimore, I'm going hard this offseason to try and make sure I field an above-average offensive line and pass-catching corps in 2026. I don't think you can say either of those rooms deserved that designation this past season. - Matt Harmon
Betting nuggetThe Ravens were one of four teams with a preseason win total of 11.5, and not only did Baltimore go under that number but the Ravens also failed to make the playoffs as massive -550 favorites. - Ben Fawkes