Baltimore Ravens 2026 Season Preview

The Baltimore Ravens changed the voice at the top without changing their championship expectations.

An 8-9 finish ended John Harbaugh’s 18-season run, but Baltimore did not respond with a teardown. The Ravens hired Jesse Minter, spent heavily on Trey Hendrickson, used their first-round pick on guard Vega Ioane and kept Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and an elite defensive core together.

The result is one of the NFL’s most talented rosters and one of its most fascinating betting profiles.

Baltimore can win the Super Bowl. It can also finish with 10 or 11 victories and leave anyone who laid a premium price on Over 11.5 frustrated. A new coaching staff, a difficult center transition and a closing stretch loaded with AFC North games create real volatility.

This Baltimore Ravens 2026 season preview examines the coaching staff, roster changes, schedule, betting odds, fantasy targets, win-total value and final prediction.

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Baltimore Ravens 2026 Outlook at a Glance

Category	Ravens outlook
2025 record	8-9
2025 finish	Second in AFC North
Playoff result	Missed playoffs
Head coach	Jesse Minter
Offensive coordinator	Declan Doyle
Defensive coordinator	Anthony Weaver
Current win total	11.5 wins
Primary offensive strength	Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the same backfield
Primary defensive strength	Versatile pressure talent at every level
Biggest offensive question	Replacing Tyler Linderbaum at center
Biggest defensive question	Repairing the pass defense without sacrificing run integrity
Early record projection	11-6
Projected division finish	First in AFC North
Preseason betting position	Under lean, but pass at -140

The Ravens are good enough to be the AFC’s top seed. The market is already charging bettors as if that outcome is close to the baseline.

What Happened to the Ravens in 2025?

Baltimore’s 8-9 record was the product of an uneven season rather than a lack of high-end talent.

Jackson missed four games and still threw for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 103.8 passer rating showed that he remained efficient when available, while his 349 rushing yards continued to stress defenses.

Henry carried the offense during stretches of quarterback instability. He rushed for 1,595 yards, and the Ravens finished with 2,662 team rushing yards at 5.2 yards per attempt. Flowers became the clear No. 1 receiver with 1,211 yards.

The defense was far less dependable. Baltimore allowed 4,403 passing yards and 6,027 total yards while producing only 30 sacks. The secondary created some takeaways—Marlon Humphrey had four interceptions and Nate Wiggins added three—but too many opponents found clean pockets and explosive completions.

The larger problem was inconsistency. Baltimore looked like a contender when Jackson was healthy and the run game controlled the pace, yet it repeatedly left itself no margin for error. That failure ultimately led to the most significant organizational change in nearly two decades.

The official Ravens 2025 statistics show the complete team and individual production.

Major Baltimore Ravens Offseason Changes

Baltimore’s offseason combined an aggressive attempt to win now with a clear desire to become more physical.

Important Additions

EDGE Trey Hendrickson
S Jaylinn Hawkins
G John Simpson
TE Durham Smythe
C Danny Pinter
G/C Jovaughn Gwyn
G Vega Ioane
EDGE Zion Young
WR Ja’Kobi Lane
WR Elijah Sarratt

Important Departures

C Tyler Linderbaum
TE Isaiah Likely
S Alohi Gilman
S Ar’Darius Washington
P Jordan Stout
TE Charlie Kolar
RB Keaton Mitchell
Head coach John Harbaugh

Hendrickson is the headline move. Baltimore committed four years and $112 million in base value, with incentives capable of taking the deal to $120 million. He gives Minter a proven edge closer and directly addresses a defense that produced only 30 sacks last season.

The transaction also weakens a division rival. Hendrickson left Cincinnati for Baltimore, creating two high-leverage revenge games and giving the Ravens a pass rusher who already understands AFC North protection plans.

Linderbaum’s departure creates the most important concern. He was the communication hub and best interior lineman on the roster. Pinter and Gwyn provide experience, while Ioane can stabilize one guard spot, but Baltimore did not draft a natural replacement center.

Hawkins helps replenish a safety room that lost Gilman and Washington. Smythe replaces some of the blocking snaps lost when Likely and Kolar departed, but the passing-game depth behind Mark Andrews is thinner.

The official Ravens free-agency tracker provides the complete list of additions, departures and returning players.

Baltimore Ravens 2026 Draft Class

Baltimore selected 11 players:

G Vega Ioane, No. 14 overall
EDGE Zion Young, No. 45
WR Ja’Kobi Lane, No. 80
WR Elijah Sarratt, No. 115
TE Matt Hibner, No. 133
CB Chandler Rivers, No. 162
TE Josh Cuevas, No. 173
RB Adam Randall, No. 174
P Ryan Eckley, No. 211
DE Rayshaun Benny, No. 250
G Evan Beerntsen, No. 253

Ioane is the immediate-impact selection. He brings power, movement skills and the temperament to fit an offense built around Jackson and Henry. His transition matters because Baltimore needs at least one young lineman to become a dependable starter immediately.

Young gives Minter another movable front-seven piece. He can rush outside, reduce into a heavier alignment and contribute against the run. Hendrickson’s presence means Young does not need to become the primary pass rusher as a rookie.

Lane and Sarratt add size to a receiving room led by Flowers. Baltimore has spent years searching for complementary receivers who can punish defenses for loading the box. One of the rookies winning a real outside role would make the offense much harder to structure against.

Eckley has a direct path to the punting job after Stout’s departure. Hibner and Cuevas enter a tight end room that must replace Likely and Kolar.

The official Ravens draft recap includes the complete class and organizational analysis.

Jesse Minter’s Coaching Style

Minter returns to Baltimore with a reputation for aggressive, adaptable defense.

His teams emphasize:

Disguised pressure
Simulated pressure and late movement
Multiplicity without excessive substitution
Tight coverage tied to the pass rush
Flexible fronts
Interior disruption
Situational aggression
Clear answers against mobile quarterbacks

Minter previously worked for the Ravens before coordinating elite defenses at Michigan and with the Chargers. He understands the organization’s language, but this is still his first NFL head-coaching job.

The central question is how he manages the entire game rather than one side of the ball. Timeout usage, fourth-down decisions, staff coordination and late-game offense will test him differently than calling a defense.

The Ravens’ announcement of Minter’s 2026 staff explains the responsibilities assigned to Doyle, Weaver and the other coordinators.

Declan Doyle’s Offensive System

Doyle is a first-time NFL play caller, but he inherits one of football’s most unusual and dangerous personnel groups.

The offense should continue to feature:

Shotgun and pistol runs
Read-option conflicts
Gap-scheme concepts for Henry
Designed quarterback movement
Play action from heavy personnel
Condensed formations
Vertical routes after run action
Quick answers against pressure
Pre-snap motion to identify coverage

The objective should be evolution, not reinvention. Jackson does not need a conventional dropback system that minimizes his legs. He needs a structure that creates easy completions, protects him from unnecessary contact and still forces defenses to devote an extra body to the run game.

Henry remains an ideal partner. Defenders must account for a 250-pound downhill runner and the league’s most dangerous rushing quarterback on the same mesh point. That creates hesitation before the ball reaches the line of scrimmage.

Doyle’s biggest task is solving obvious passing downs. Baltimore cannot rely on quarterback brilliance every time it reaches third-and-long. Flowers’ route development, better pass protection and one rookie receiver earning trust would make the offense less dependent on improvisation.

Lamar Jackson’s 2026 Outlook

Jackson remains the reason Baltimore’s ceiling is a championship.

Reasons for Optimism

He remains an elite processor and runner
Henry forces defenses into difficult box counts
Flowers is coming off a 1,200-yard season
Andrews remains a trusted middle-of-field target
Ioane should improve the interior run game
Doyle can preserve the best concepts from the previous system
A healthier season would naturally raise team efficiency

Reasons for Concern

Jackson missed four games in 2025
Center communication must be rebuilt
Right tackle depth weakened when Kendall Lamm retired
The receiving room still lacks a proven second star
A first-time play caller adds uncertainty
Jackson’s rushing workload always creates additional physical exposure

Fantasy outlook: Jackson belongs in the elite QB1 tier. His rushing gives him one of the highest weekly floors in fantasy, and a healthy 17-game season can put him back at the top of the position.

Betting outlook: Jackson rushing props are opponent-dependent. They are most attractive in games with high leverage or when defenses play extensive man coverage. Passing efficiency markets can be valuable when Baltimore faces aggressive fronts that leave space behind linebackers.

Derrick Henry and the Ravens Backfield

Henry showed no meaningful decline in 2025. His 1,595 rushing yards confirmed that the Ravens’ spacing and option elements remain perfect for his downhill style.

The concern is volume over time. Henry has absorbed enormous career usage, and Baltimore should have postseason ambitions. The staff may be more willing to manage his workload early if Adam Randall or another reserve earns dependable snaps.

Fantasy Approach

Derrick Henry: High-end RB1 with age and workload risk
Adam Randall: Late-round dynasty stash and possible direct backup
Jonathan Ward: Deep-league watch list while the backfield deals with camp injuries

Henry remains especially valuable in standard and half-PPR formats because Baltimore generates goal-line opportunities. In full PPR leagues, his limited receiving ceiling makes price discipline more important.

Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and the Passing Game

Flowers is no longer a projection. His 1,211 receiving yards established him as Baltimore’s top wideout.

He wins with separation, quickness and run-after-catch ability. The next step is improving touchdown production and becoming more consistent against physical coverage near the goal line.

Andrews produced only 422 receiving yards last season, but he remains valuable to Jackson. His fantasy price should reflect a lower yardage floor and the loss of some explosiveness, not erase his touchdown role.

Lane and Sarratt are the most interesting camp competition. Lane offers size and vertical ability; Sarratt brings strong hands and contested-catch skill. Baltimore does not need either rookie to command 100 targets. It needs one to punish single coverage.

Fantasy Rankings

Zay Flowers: Strong WR2 with WR1 spike weeks
Mark Andrews: Touchdown-dependent TE1/TE2
Ja’Kobi Lane: Late-round redraft flier
Elijah Sarratt: Dynasty stash
Durham Smythe: Blocking specialist, not a standard fantasy target

Baltimore Ravens Offensive Line Outlook

The Ravens’ line has high-end talent and a potentially destabilizing hole.

Ioane should help immediately at guard, while Ronnie Stanley remains the veteran anchor at left tackle when healthy. The uncertainty begins at center and extends to right tackle depth.

Linderbaum handled protection calls, reached linebackers and gave the run game rare athleticism in space. Replacing those responsibilities is not simply a matter of snapping the ball accurately.

Pinter has starting experience, but he must prove he can hold up against powerful AFC North interiors. Gwyn provides competition. Baltimore can also adjust by simplifying calls, using more play action and helping the center with guard alignment.

Lamm’s retirement reduces the margin behind the starting tackles. This is a roster worth monitoring through final cuts and early-season trade discussions.

The line does not need to be dominant for Baltimore to score. It must prevent the middle from collapsing before Jackson and Henry can force the defense into conflict.

Anthony Weaver’s Defensive System

Weaver takes over the defense under a head coach whose expertise is on the same side of the ball.

Expect Baltimore to use:

Multiple fronts
Four-man rushes that resemble pressure
Creepers and simulated blitzes
Safeties rotating after the snap
Press-man coverage in selected matchups
Interior stunts built around Justin Madubuike
Hendrickson as the primary edge finisher
Kyle Hamilton in several alignments

The structure should be more coherent than last season. Minter and Weaver can build pressure packages together, but role clarity matters. Defensive staffs can become overly complicated when multiple strong voices contribute to the plan.

Hendrickson is the piece Baltimore lacked. He forces offenses to slide protection, which creates isolated opportunities for Madubuike, Odafe Oweh and Young.

Ravens Defensive Front and Linebackers

Baltimore’s front has the talent to move from 30 sacks into the league’s top tier.

Hendrickson provides the proven production. Madubuike offers interior quickness. Oweh has the athletic traits to benefit from more favorable one-on-one matchups, while Young gives the staff another power option.

Roquan Smith remains the organizer at linebacker. Teddye Buchanan’s August 15 activation from the physically unable to perform list is encouraging after his ACL recovery, though Baltimore can manage his early workload.

The run defense should remain sturdy because Minter values disciplined edges and interior gap control. The pass rush is the swing skill. If the Ravens can create pressure with four, Hamilton becomes more dangerous as a coverage eraser and disguise player.

Ravens Secondary Outlook

The secondary has elite upside but entered the middle of August with an injury concern.

Wiggins injured his left leg on August 11 and left practice on a cart. Initial testing showed no structural damage, an important relief, but his recovery still deserves attention before Week 1.

Humphrey remains a versatile veteran who can play outside or in the slot. Hamilton is one of the NFL’s best multipurpose defenders, and Hawkins adds experience at safety.

The issue is depth. Baltimore lost multiple safeties and cannot afford another significant cornerback injury. The scheme will ask defensive backs to communicate through late rotations, making continuity especially important.

If Wiggins is healthy, this can be a top-five secondary. If he misses time, Minter may need to protect the corners with more split-safety coverage and fewer isolated matchups.

Baltimore Ravens 2026 Schedule

The official Ravens schedule includes an international game in Rio and four AFC North matchups after Thanksgiving.

Week	Opponent	Location / note
1	Indianapolis Colts	Away
2	New Orleans Saints	Home
3	Dallas Cowboys	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4	Tennessee Titans	Home
5	Atlanta Falcons	Away, Sunday Night Football
6	Cleveland Browns	Away
7	Cincinnati Bengals	Home
8	Buffalo Bills	Away
9	Jacksonville Jaguars	Home, Thursday Night Football
10	Los Angeles Chargers	Home, Monday Night Football
11	Carolina Panthers	Away
12	Houston Texans	Away
13	Bye	—
14	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Home
15	Pittsburgh Steelers	Away
16	Cleveland Browns	Home
17	Cincinnati Bengals	Away, Thursday Night Football
18	Pittsburgh Steelers	Home

Schedule Analysis

The opening month is favorable. Indianapolis, New Orleans and Tennessee are all games Baltimore should be favored to win, although the Rio trip against Dallas adds travel and preparation uncertainty.

Weeks 7 through 10 are the most revealing stretch: Cincinnati, Buffalo, Jacksonville and the Chargers. Those games will test the rebuilt pass defense and new offensive operation.

The late bye is valuable. Baltimore rests in Week 13 before playing four division games in the final five weeks. That closing sequence also creates variance for a lofty win total. AFC North games are physical, familiar and rarely automatic.

The schedule contains enough soft opponents for 12 wins, but it also includes elite quarterbacks and multiple standalone games. Baltimore’s health entering December may matter more than its September record.

Baltimore Ravens 2026 Betting Odds

Current market prices:

Market	Odds
Regular-season win total	11.5
Over 11.5	+115
Under 11.5	-140
AFC North winner	-112
AFC champion	+470
Super Bowl champion	+1000

These prices can move. Compare books before placing a wager. The current Ravens futures market provides a useful reference point.

Ravens Win Total: Over or Under 11.5?

Reasons to Bet Over 11.5

Jackson is capable of an MVP season
Henry remains highly productive
Hendrickson directly fixes the greatest defensive weakness
The early schedule creates a path to a fast start
Minter can improve the coverage-pressure relationship
Baltimore has legitimate top-five units on both sides
A late bye supports the difficult closing stretch

Reasons to Bet Under 11.5

Twelve wins are required to cash
Jackson missed four games last season
The center transition affects every offensive snap
Doyle is a first-time NFL play caller
Minter is a first-time NFL head coach
Four division games come in the final five weeks
The secondary has limited injury margin
The market already prices Baltimore as an elite team

The Under is the more defensible side, but -140 is not attractive. It requires bettors to risk too much for a result that could be defeated by a 12-5 season from a loaded roster.

Pappy’s Betting Position

Primary position: Pass Under 11.5 at -140.

The projection is 11-6, which points Under, but the available price removes most of the edge.

Actionable Price Thresholds

Under 11.5: Bet at -125 or better
Over 11.5: Consider only at +140 or better
Over 10.5: Bet at -120 or better
AFC North: Consider Baltimore at plus money; pass at the current favorite price
Super Bowl: +1000 is fair, not a bargain

Automatic Pass Conditions

Jackson suffers a meaningful preseason setback
Wiggins is not ready for Week 1
Hendrickson has a significant injury
The center competition remains unsettled entering the opener
Baltimore loses another starting-caliber tackle

Price matters more than picking a side in isolation. A good team can still be a poor Over bet when the number demands 12 victories.

For weekly sides, totals and player props, visit Pappy’s NFL picks.

AFC North and Super Bowl Outlook

Baltimore is the division’s most complete roster, but Cincinnati owns the better pure passing game when Joe Burrow is healthy. Pittsburgh remains difficult to sweep, and Cleveland’s games can become low-possession contests.

For the other side of the division race, read Pappy’s Cincinnati Bengals 2026 season preview.

The Ravens deserve to be the division favorite. They do not deserve to be treated as inevitable.

At +470 to win the AFC, Baltimore is priced alongside the conference’s elite. The roster justifies the neighborhood, but the bet offers limited protection against a difficult playoff matchup.

The +1000 Super Bowl price is more appealing because it creates a better payoff for the same basic thesis: Jackson stays healthy, the offensive line stabilizes and the new pass rush transforms the defense.

Still, the best time to buy may come after a loss in the middle of the schedule. Buffalo, Jacksonville and the Chargers could create a temporary price increase without changing Baltimore’s postseason ceiling.

Best Weekly Betting Angles

1. Baltimore First-Half Markets Against Weak Run Defenses

The Ravens can script option runs and play action before opponents adjust. Early scoring markets may offer more value than full-game spreads inflated by public confidence.

2. Henry Touchdown Props as Modest Favorites

When Baltimore is projected to play from ahead, Henry’s goal-line role becomes especially valuable. Avoid blindly laying heavy juice.

3. Jackson Rushing Overs in High-Leverage Games

Jackson tends to use his legs more aggressively when the opponent can force Baltimore out of its base script.

4. Opponent Passing Unders When the Front Is Healthy

Hendrickson and Madubuike can shorten the quarterback’s clock. These markets are most attractive against unstable offensive lines.

5. AFC North Unders Late in the Season

Weather, familiarity and playoff urgency can produce conservative, physical games. The market often recognizes that tendency, so shop for the best number.

Ravens Fantasy Football Targets

Priority Targets

Lamar Jackson: Elite QB1
Derrick Henry: High-end RB1
Zay Flowers: Strong WR2

Price-Dependent Targets

Mark Andrews: Buy if his cost falls into the lower TE1 range
Ja’Kobi Lane: Late-round upside bet
Adam Randall: Deep bench or dynasty stash

Players to Avoid at Inflated Cost

Henry if age concerns are not reflected in his first-round price
Andrews if drafted as a locked top-five tight end
Any Baltimore defense drafted several rounds before the final two picks

The Ravens create fantasy value because the offense scores and concentrates touches. The risk is that Jackson and Henry absorb much of the rushing production, leaving secondary receivers with inconsistent volume.

Best-Case and Worst-Case Scenarios

Best Case

Jackson plays 17 games, Ioane becomes an immediate difference-maker and the center transition is smooth. Henry remains explosive, one rookie receiver emerges and the offense finishes in the top three.

Hendrickson produces double-digit sacks, Wiggins stays healthy and Minter’s pressure packages help the defense make the league’s largest pass-defense improvement.

Baltimore goes 13-4, earns the AFC’s No. 1 seed and reaches the Super Bowl.

Worst Case

Jackson misses time, the interior line struggles and the new offense cannot consistently convert long-yardage situations. Henry’s workload begins to show, while the receiving group remains too dependent on Flowers.

The secondary suffers another injury, the coaching transition creates situational mistakes and the brutal late division stretch turns close games into losses.

Baltimore finishes 9-8 and fights for a wild-card spot.

Final Baltimore Ravens 2026 Prediction

The Ravens should rebound sharply from 2025.

Hendrickson solves the roster’s clearest weakness, Minter has enough defensive talent to create a fast improvement and Jackson remains one of the league’s few quarterbacks capable of defining every defensive decision.

The concerns are real. Baltimore lost an elite center, has a first-time head coach and play caller, and must navigate four division games after Thanksgiving. Those factors make a 12-win requirement too aggressive at a heavily juiced Under price.

Final record prediction: 11-6

Projected finish: First in AFC North

Playoff prediction: AFC Divisional Round, with legitimate Super Bowl upside

Best preseason bet: No bet at current prices; Under 11.5 at -125 or better

The Ravens are a stronger championship candidate than regular-season win-total bet. That distinction is the key to evaluating Baltimore in 2026.

Baltimore Ravens 2026 FAQ

What is the Ravens’ 2026 win total?

Baltimore’s current win total is 11.5. The Over is priced at +115 and the Under at -140.

Who is the Ravens’ new head coach?

Jesse Minter replaced John Harbaugh. Minter previously coached in Baltimore and most recently built an elite defense with the Chargers.

Is Lamar Jackson a top fantasy quarterback?

Yes. Jackson belongs in the elite QB1 tier because his rushing creates a high weekly floor and overall QB1 upside.

Is Derrick Henry still a first-round fantasy pick?

Henry remains a high-end RB1, especially in standard and half-PPR formats. His age and career workload should be reflected in the price.

What is Baltimore’s biggest roster concern?

Replacing Tyler Linderbaum at center is the biggest concern. The Ravens must rebuild protection communication and interior movement without one of the NFL’s best centers.

What is Baltimore’s biggest offseason addition?

Trey Hendrickson is the defining addition. He gives the Ravens a proven edge rusher after the defense generated only 30 sacks last season.

Should bettors take Over 11.5 wins?

Not at the current +115 price. Baltimore can win 12 games, but the number leaves little room for injuries or transition problems. The preferred position is Under only at -125 or better, or Over 10.5 at -120 or better.

Can the Ravens win the Super Bowl?

Yes. Baltimore has an elite quarterback, dominant running game and a defense with top-five upside. Offensive-line stability and health will determine whether that ceiling becomes reality.