Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is cap-functional today at $18.6M in room, but the franchise is staring at -$38.9M in projected next-year cap space, the worst in the league, making aggressive maneuvering an immediate necessity.

25 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Five starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Baltimore's top strength is a deep, talented defense rated 78 overall, while the offensive line, particularly at center and guard depth, represents the roster's weakest spot.

• LSmedium
• Plow

  Ryan Eckley is the starter but remains a young, unproven option, so monitoring the punter market for an upgrade is a reasonable low-priority move.

• Clow

  Ethan Pocic is the starter but is entering the twilight of his career, and neither Danny Pinter nor Jovaughn Gwyn behind him project as long-term answers, making center a quiet but real concern.

• West Coast SpreadoffensivePassable

  Lamar Jackson's playmaking ability and a receiver corps led by Zay Flowers give the Ravens the tools to run a spread-style passing attack, even if the scheme is only a passable fit for the overall roster construction.

• [EA] 46defensiveGood

  The Ravens' defensive front, anchored by Nnamdi Madubuike, Trey Hendrickson, and Roquan Smith, has the talent density to thrive in a blitz-heavy 46 scheme, earning it a good grade.

• 71Broderick WashingtonDTBroderick Washington is a depth DT buried on the depth chart behind Madubuike, Campbell, and Travis Jones, and releasing him frees $4.0M against $1.9M in dead money, making the net savings meaningful in a tight cap situation.Frees $4.0M · $1.9M dead
• 71Andrew VorheesLGAndrew Vorhees is the second-string LG behind John Simpson with minimal backup value, and releasing him frees $3.7M with virtually no dead money cost at just $20K.Frees $3.7M · $20.0K dead
• 66Danny PinterCDanny Pinter is the second-string center behind Ethan Pocic, is entering the aging phase of his career, and releasing him frees $1.5M against only $1.3M in dead money, a modest but worthwhile cleanup.Frees $1.5M · $1.3M dead
• 64Skylar ThompsonQBSkylar Thompson is the third-string quarterback with no path to the field behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, and releasing him frees $1.1M with zero dead money.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 70Kendall LammLTKendall Lamm is a twilight-stage backup LT behind Ronnie Stanley and Diego Pounds, and releasing him frees $1.1M with zero dead money, making him an easy roster trim.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead

The Ravens enter franchise mode as a legitimate contender built around Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and a deep defensive front. The window is real but requires careful stewardship. Derrick Henry, entering the late stage of his career, can power the run game now but is not a centerpiece to build around beyond the near term. Similarly, Trey Hendrickson and Marlon Humphrey are contributors whose careers are winding down, meaning the edge and cornerback positions need succession investment soon. On the bright side, young talents like Nate Wiggins, Zion Young, and Olaivavega Ioane give the roster a promising developmental core. The financial picture is the biggest obstacle: while Baltimore has $18.6M in cap room today, the team projects to -$38.9M in next year's cap room, ranking last in the league, and $14.9M in dead money is already on the books. Aggressive cuts and restructures will be essential to sustain competitiveness beyond the first season.

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.