Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has $16.1M in current room but faces a projected $27.2M deficit next season, ranking 31st in next-year flexibility, making every contract decision critical.

18 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Five starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Baltimore holds five picks in the current draft cycle, one in each of the first five rounds, and accumulates 19 picks over three years including three first-rounders, giving the rebuild genuine resources.

• Traded away: Round 6 to 49ers, this draft
• Traded away: Round 7 to Eagles, this draft

Baltimore's top strength is a deep and talented defensive unit headlined by elite players at multiple levels, while the left defensive end position stands out as the roster's weakest spot with starter-level production ranked 28th in the league.

• LEDGEhigh

  Baltimore's left defensive end spot ranks 28th in starter quality, with Zion Young (76 overall) currently leading the depth chart ahead of twilight veteran Calais Campbell, making an upgrade here the roster's most urgent priority.

• FSlow

  Malaki Starks (78 overall) starts at free safety and the depth ranks third leaguewide, so this is a low-severity need that can be addressed internally as Starks develops.

• 71Broderick Washington JrDTReleasing Broderick Washington Jr. frees $4.0M against only $1.9M in dead money, and he sits as a backup DT behind a far superior Nnamdi Madubuike, making his roster spot expendable.Frees $4.0M · $1.9M dead
• 71Andrew VorheesLGAndrew Vorhees is a 71-overall backup guard behind John Simpson on the depth chart and cutting him frees $3.7M while leaving just $20K in dead money, making him a low-cost roster trim.Frees $3.7M · $20.0K dead
• 64Nick VannettTENick Vannett is a 64-overall twilight tight end listed third on the FB depth chart and third at TE, and his release frees $800K with zero dead money.Frees $800.0K · $0 dead
• 66Danny PinterCDanny Pinter is a 66-overall center sitting third on the depth chart behind Cam Jurgens and Ethan Pocic, and cutting him recovers $1.5M against only $1.3M in dead money for minimal cost.Frees $1.5M · $1.3M dead
• 64Skylar ThompsonQBSkylar Thompson is a 64-overall third-string quarterback who provides little developmental upside, and his release frees $1.1M with zero dead money.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead

Baltimore enters this cycle with one of the league's most dynamic quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and a defense anchored by Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith, giving the franchise a clear contention window right now. Derrick Henry is in the late stage of his career and must be leaned on heavily in the short term before a succession plan at running back takes shape. Trey Hendrickson and Ronnie Stanley are productive but both entering later chapters of their careers on the offensive and defensive lines, meaning the front office must be proactive about depth and replacements. The wide receiver room beyond Zay Flowers is thin, and the left edge position is a glaring weakness with a 28th-ranked starter. Cap flexibility is tight, with only $16.1M in current room and a projected deficit of $27.2M next season, so every dollar spent must be disciplined. The young core of Kyle Hamilton, Nate Wiggins, Malaki Starks, and Vega Ioane provides reasons for optimism beyond the current window, and the roster has enough star power to compete for a championship if the support pieces are shored up quickly.

The Ravens are technically an NFL expansion franchise born in 1996, though their origin is one of the most contentious relocations in league history. When Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell moved his organization to Baltimore for the 1996 season, the NFL brokered a settlement: the Browns' name, colors, and records stayed in Cleveland (to be revived in 1999), while Modell's players and personnel formed a 'new' Baltimore team officially recognized as an expansion club. Fans chose the name 'Ravens' in a poll of 33,288 voters, honoring Edgar Allan Poe, who lived, worked, and is buried in Baltimore. The franchise's first two draft picks, Jonathan Ogden (No. 4 overall) and Ray Lewis (No. 26) in 1996, both became Hall of Famers. After early growing pains under Ted Marchibroda, the Ravens hired Brian Billick in 1999 and broke through in 2000, when a historically dominant defense, which set a 16-game record for fewest points allowed (165) and pitched four shutouts, carried them to a 34-7 rout of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, with Ray Lewis named MVP. The 2000s featured Jamal Lewis's 2,066-yard rushing season in 2003. John Harbaugh took over in 2008 and, with quarterback Joe Flacco, reached the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, culminating in a 34-31 win over Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII (the 'Harbaugh Bowl,' famous for a 34-minute power outage). The drafting of Lamar Jackson in 2018 launched a new era of MVP-level, run-heavy offense and six AFC North titles, but repeated playoff disappointments and a drama-filled 8-9 2025 season ultimately ended Harbaugh's 18-year tenure in January 2026.