Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens carry $1616.0M in cap room this season but face the worst cap room in the league next year at $1574.0M (rank 32 of 32), so spending decisions made now carry heavy consequences.

16 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Two starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Baltimore holds five picks including three first-rounders across the next three years, giving the franchise real ammunition to address needs without gutting the competitive roster.

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

The roster's top strength is its defensive interior, headlined by a 90 overall Madubuike, while center is the weakest spot, with both starters on the depth chart sitting at 70 overall.

• Chigh

  The starting center spot ranks 28th in the league at the position, making it the most urgent upgrade on the roster despite the team having five picks this draft.

• LEDGEmedium

  Zion Young starts at left edge but the position ranks 26th leaguewide, and releasing Tavius Robinson would thin depth further without a replacement.

• 71Broderick WashingtonDTReleasing Broderick Washington frees $4.0M against only $1.9M in dead money, and he sits third on the DT depth chart behind two higher-rated teammates.Frees $4.0M · $1.9M dead
• 71Andrew VorheesLGAndrew Vorhees is the second-string left guard at 71 overall, and cutting him frees $3.7M with just $20K in dead money, making it a clean cap move.Frees $3.7M · $20.0K dead
• 66Danny PinterCDanny Pinter sits third at both center and right guard at 66 overall, and releasing him recovers $1.5M while leaving only $1.3M in dead money.Frees $1.5M · $1.3M dead
• 64Skylar ThompsonQBSkylar Thompson is the third-string quarterback at 64 overall, and his release is a free $1.1M with zero dead money on the books.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 72Chris MooreWRChris Moore is 33 and sits third on the wide receiver depth chart at 72 overall, and cutting him frees $1.1M with no dead money penalty.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead

Baltimore enters this franchise window as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, built around Lamar Jackson in his prime and a defense anchored by Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Nnamdi Madubuike. The backfield remains elite while Derrick Henry is healthy, but as one of the oldest backs in the league, a succession plan behind Justice Hill will be necessary within a season or two. Trey Hendrickson brings pass-rush juice off the right edge but is also entering the late stage of his career, making Mike Green's development important. The offensive line is the clearest structural weakness, with the center position ranking near the bottom of the league and an aging situation at left tackle with Ronnie Stanley. Nate Wiggins at 23 with a Star dev trait is the most exciting developmental piece in the secondary, and the young core along the offensive line with Olaivavega Ioane and Roger Rosengarten gives the franchise building blocks for the next phase. Cap commitments rise sharply in year two before easing considerably by years three and four, so disciplined spending now preserves future flexibility. With five draft picks, including three in the first round across the next three years, the Ravens have the resources to address gaps without sacrificing the competitive window.

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.