BSL Ravens Analysts’ Kyle Andrews, Mike Fast, Matt Jergensen, and Jamie Sieck come together to give their thoughts on a number of topics.
Harbaugh out, Minter in… thoughts on the change?
KA: It was about timing, messaging getting stale and the game plan not being up to snuff. Harbaugh was at the end of his rope as a head coach of the Baltimore Ravens and all things must eventually come to an end. His tenure included a Super Bowl, a 180-113 overall record and 13-11 playoff record. There were a ton of coordinators, assistant coaches and vast amount of players that walked through the doors in Harbaugh’s tenure and he’s now taking many of them to the New York Giants. With all of this being said, Minter should bring a fresh and hopefully fair (for the organization’s sake) assessment of what the Ravens have missed out on the past few years. Defensively, it’s obvious that the team missed out on having a dominate pass rush. The development of talent in the front seven will become a key talking point during Minter’s tenure. Also, figuring out the defensive backfield, depth to surround Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks and Nate Wiggins with quality players will be at a premium.
MF: Before Minter was chosen, I said I thought it was a mistake. I think change needed to happen, but changing a head coach is code for restarting an entire franchise. I don’t think Harbaugh was nearly as much to blame as many think. He’s likely going to the Hall of Fame, but that said, I do like Minter. I actually met him once when I shadowed some defensive meetings in 2019. It was just a matter of time before he became a head coach in this league. He will do just fine, but the issue now seems to be all the players he’s losing in free agency. Perhaps that’s a good thing? We’ll see.
MJ: It isn’t hyperbole to say that John Harbaugh is a Hall of Fame Coach. His accomplishments speak for themselves. He’s 14 th on the all-time list with regular season wins (180-113), 12 playoff
appearances, 6 Division titles, Named Coach of the Year in 2019, and won a Super Bowl in 2012. However, after 18 seasons at the helm it was time for a change. While successful in the regular
season, Harbaugh’s teams struggled to advance in the post-season with Lamar Jackson as quarterback with only 3 post-season wins in 8 years. Harbaugh’s teams also blew 17 double digit second half leads, which is the highest of any NFL coach since 1991. Many factors contributed to those losses, but I’d cite his game management over the years and in game decisions over this past season that sealed his fate.
Harbaugh may continue to have a great career at his next stop in New York. But if he does well maybe he needed a change too. Jesse Minter becomes the franchise’s fourth head coach, and his appointment follows the league wide pattern of hiring young football minds who have proven to have expertise on one side of the football. His ties to the franchise run deep and his familiarity with the front office made him a
front runner early in the hiring process. The Ravens have been defined by defense for decades, so it was no surprise that they wanted to re-establish that by hiring Minter. He also needs to connect with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson who is coming off an injury riddled year and get the most out of him as he sits squarely in his prime.
JS: I wrote back in December that the Patriots game and the mismanagement of the 4th quarter, along with another blown lead would be the end of the Harbaugh era. Apparently, Steve Bisciotti agreed with me and expressed a similar sentiment. After 18 years, it was time for Harbaugh and the Ravens to go their separate ways as the team had become somewhat stagnant under his leadership.
Minter’s staff
|
Teams |
10 Personnel |
11 Personnel |
12 Personnel |
13 Personnel |
21 Personnel |
22 Personnel |
01 Personnel |
02 Personnel |
03 Personnel |
|
Ravens |
N/A |
29.88% (No. 32) |
35.93% (No. 3) |
5.34% (No. 13) |
18.58% (No. 3) |
8.32% (No. 4) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Bears |
N/A |
51.59% (No. 23) |
32.64% (No. 6) |
8.52% (No. 5) |
N/A |
N/A |
1.72% (No. 2) |
0.91% (No. 4) |
0.09% (No. 5) |
Another wonder is about Baltimore’s defense, that added Anthony Weaver as the defensive coordinator. He won’t be in control of the play-calling, but his experience working in Baltimore with the defensive line will be important.
MF: Unfamiliarity tends to breed doubt in life, but if I had to describe Coach Minter throughout this process, I’d use the words steadfast. I think he’s made solid addition after solid addition. It’s apparent he’s been preparing for this opportunity by presumably networking and keeping tabs on who he’d like to add when this opportunity came about. My favorite hire is running backs coach Eddie Faulkner. Not only does it feel good to grab a good coach from the Steelers, but Faulker’s experience in special teams, running backs, tight ends, and full backs is exactly what this offense will need under Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle. Similar to the Harbaugh/Minter situation, I didn’t like seeing Willie Taggart go, but it’s nice to get Faulkner in the fold, especially when Derrick Henry is showing no signs of slowing down.
MJ: Minter’s staff are characterized by youth and close ties to the organization as well. Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle (29) was a fast-rising strategist with the Bears who spent time in New
Orleans with Sean Payton. It will be interesting to see how he modernizes the offense with Jackson under center. Former Raven Anthony Weaver returns to Charm City for the third time as
Defensive Coordinator and even though Minter will call the plays he will certainly have a large role. Anthony Levine Sr. (Co-Cap) is elevated to position as Special Teams Coordinator that he
knew a lot about as a player. While some may be worried about an overall lack of experience Minter has balanced that out with other additions that lean heavy in that direction. Notably, his father, Rick Minter has
coached for over 40 years, and Joe Lombardi with be Senior Offensive Assistant who has a wealth of knowledge he can impart to the young group.
JS: My biggest concern with the new crop of assistant coaches is offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. While he’s received high praise for his offensive prowess from his previous bosses like Sean Payton and Ben Johnson, he’s yet to call plays on gameday. Not only will Doyle have to go through the growing pains and learning curve of being an autonomous OC for the first time but he also has to connect with quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens go as Lamar goes and there’s arguably nothing more important than Jackson thriving in Doyle’s system. How the new OC and former MVP QB work together will be watched closely throughout the spring and summer.
Losses in Free Agency… Linderbaum, Likely, Gilman not a surprise… did you expect anyone else (Jones, Kolar, Ricard, Washington, Stroud, etc) to be back?
KA: I personally expected Jordan Stout to be back, but he is a special teamer and that’s Harbaugh’s forte. Other than that, Baltimore had a lot to lose, but the price being paid was too high for the team and it became more cost-effective to address these positions through the draft and potentially any cuts coming down the line.
MF: I had a feeling Likely, Linderbaum, and Kolar would go. I did not expect Keaton Mitchell, Jordan Stout, or Pat Ricard to depart, but I can’t blame them. Fortunately, there seems to be a plan in place (formation adjustments, depth, draft capital) to dress these new needs, but there are a lot of new needs. Lamar Jackson deserves the money he’s getting, but I’m sure that when that contract was offered, Eric DeCosta was assembling a subsequent plan for this batch of free agent departures.
MJ: I wasn’t really surprised with any of the players the Ravens lost. Linderbaum got overpaid by a lot and truly re-set the market. Likely was expected to be gone once they re-signed Mark
Andrews. Stoudt became the league’s highest paid punter. The only mild surprise was not tendering Keaton Mitchell. Though it seems like his whole time here he’s been odd man out There are concerns over his blocking but that speed is hard to have on the bench. This happens all the time to the Ravens and it is a testament to their player development that so many players they draft or trade for are seen as valuable around the league.
JS: Running the risk of being a little bit boring here, virtually nothing has surprised me about free agency; outside of Jordan Stout. While he had a great season, most fans were ready to run him out of town prior to 2025. Harbs and the Giants made him the highest paid punter in the game, god bless. Linderbaum has had 1 foot out the door for quite a while. Once Eric Decosta told the media that they made a “market setting offer” to Linderbaum, I knew his other foot was out the door. Likely’s and Kolar’s tickets were punched when Andrews was extended late last year. I can’t quite understand why the organization went that way (most expensive, lowest upside option) but it is what it is at this point. Ricard’s departure wasn’t a surprise either, as Doyle’s offense wasn’t going to use a fullback. As for the remaining departures, they’re mostly role players, that could’ve come back if the price and circumstances were right but it didn’t work out. Keaton Mitchell staying would’ve been a nice bonus but with the money tied up in Henry, you couldn’t pay a back-up 4-5 million.
Crosby deal falls apart, Hendrickson signed…
KA: This situation was the best case scenario for the Ravens following the debacle that came with Tuesday evening’s news that the Crosby trade fell through. At the same time, the Ravens still ended up with Hendrickson, who has had 61 sacks in five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. You’re killing two birds with one stone here – stealing away a productive member of a rival and getting a win-now pass rusher that addresses a position of need. You can’t fault the Ravens for a lack of trying to fix the front seven because according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team wanted both players.
“They actually had conversations with Trey Hendrickson about teaming him with Maxx Crosby,” Schefter said on last Wednesday’s edition of Get Up. “And when the conversations first started, Trey Hendrickson was of the mind that he would be in Baltimore with Maxx Crosby. But alas, that didn’t happen.”
MF: Raiders fans complaining about something they were not privy to. Shocker. I’d consider a healthy Crosby an A, and a healthy Hendrickson an A-. Getting Hendrickson, from a division rival no less, and maintaining your 1st-round picks for the next two years while not having to allocate as much money to him as you would have to allocate to Crosby is a no-brainer.
MJ: The cost of two number one draft picks is pretty steep and you need to be certain about what you’re getting when you pay that price. The Ravens were not comfortable with what they found and backed out of the deal. League-wide people are upset as well as media pundits but as we know these deals aren’t final until pen is put to paper. The team quickly pivoted to Hendrickson who has injury concerns of his own coming off of hip surgery. Hendrickson was the route I figured they’d take and they got their man. They need to keep draft picks to replenish from all the losses to free agency.
JS: I was ready to take the leap with Crosby, he’s an every down game wrecker. Whether the Ravens really got scared off by the medicals or something else went sideways, we’ll never know. Either way, the Ravens quickly pivoted to Hendrickson. While we may need to reflect on this moment 5 years from now to see the overall impact of the organization’s choice, they still filled their need at edge but at a lower cost in both salary and resources.
Organization is still in win now mode… but the roster needs help. Another Center (and maybe Guard if you don’t want to project to start Jones). A TE opposite of Andrews. Punter. FB (Ricard, Leach, Juszcyzk, McClain, Gash, Mughelli, Neal… it’s in their DNA… Max Bredeson, Michigan?) Secondary depth. Another WR?
KA: Add everything. Address every need. Do not wait for other teams to continue to poach players in order for more needs to have to be addressed. Baltimore can draft another fullback, tight end and center. Jake Slaughter from Florida at 6-5, 303 pounds is a player that could be in play in later rounds at center. Tight ends are aplenty in this draft. Kevin Zeitler is available at guard to usher Emery Jones if needed. Baltimore needs another safety – I’m personally a little biased in a few players that I’d draft including former Archbishop Spalding safety Zakee Wheatley (Penn State) and Quince Orchard safety Jalen Huskey (Maryland). Baltimore can still add more edge rushers – Dani Dennis-Sutton is right there for the taking, a former McDonogh School prospect and Penn State standout that stands in at 6-6, 256 pounds and had 23.5 sacks in 55 collegiate games.
MF: In order, here’s how I would use the Ravens’ 11 draft picks:
-Starting wide receiver
-Starting right guard
-Starting center
-Backup cornerback
-Backup edge rusher
-Swing tackle
-Backup Inside LB
-Backup tight end/full back
-Backup running back
-Backup defensive lineman
-Starting punter
MJ: If Jackson is on the roster and healthy the Ravens have a chance to win. The question is how far away are they from being a playoff team/Super Bowl contender. They just lost several pieces from a team that was a missed Field Goal away from another playoff berth. They need to upgrade the trenches on both sides of the ball. Hendrickson and John Simpson are a step in that direction and we should see draft capital put towards that as well as a free agent addition or two. As it stands now this team needs a lot of retooling of the roster before we can talk about their prospects for 2026.
JS: Rebuilding the offensive line is still job one. Bringing John Simpson back is a move that I would put in the “fine” category. He’s better than our incumbents and the departing Faalele but he’s not a needle mover. The team has also brought in depth on the line (Gwyn and Pinter) but still need a starting center. TE David Njoku was in for a visit and he would make an intriguing veteran pairing with Andrews. I’m not as concerned with WR as most. I’m still a believer in Rashod Bateman. He just needs health and opportunities. The DeAndre Hopkins signing last year cut into Bateman’s snaps and targets. That, along with poor health prevented him from building on his solid 2024 campaign.
The Ravens 10 Best Players Currently
KA: 1. Lamar Jackson, 2. Kyle Hamilton, 3. Derrick Henry, 4. Trey Hendrickson, 5. Zay Flowers, 6. Mark Andrews, 7. Nate Wiggins, 8. Marlon Humphrey, 9. Roger Rosengarten and 10. Justin Madubuike (who would be ranked higher if he weren’t injured) in that order.
MF: 1. Kyle Hamilton, 2. Lamar Jackson, 3. Derrick Henry, 4. Trey Hendrickson, 5. Mark Andrews, 6. Nnamdi Madubuike, 7. Nate Wiggins, 8. Teddye Buchanan, 9. Zay Flowers, 10. Ronnie Stanley
JS: 1. Lamar Jackson, 2. Kyle Hamilton, 3. Derrick Henry, 4. Trey Hendrickson, 5. Zay Flowers, 6. Nnamdi Madubuike, 7. Chidobe Awuzie, 8. Nate Wiggins, 9. Mark Andrews, 10. Ronnie Stanley
The Ravens have to achieve what in the draft, and the remainder of FA for you to believe in them as a legitimate contender?
KA: Baltimore has to rebuild its offensive line. That means getting a center, a second guard after the John Simpson signing and potentially drafting an heir apparent to Ronnie Stanley. Other offensive needs include addressing the lack of depth at tight end, running back and receiver positions. The Ravens additionally need to keep hammering home the importance of pass rushers in free agency and the draft. They began this with signing Hendrickson and attempted to reportedly double dip with Crosby, but the draft may have to suffice. If Madubuike returns, the 3-technique defensive tackle will have assistance, but signing Sebastian Joseph-Day would add to this position with a grizzled veteran. Humphrey’s deal could be restructured to pave over various potholes that the defense has as well. Baltimore also needs an outside linebacker to replace Kyle Van Noy and an inside linebacker or two because of Teddye Buchanan’s injury.
MF: Solidifying the offensive line is by far the top priority. Ideally, they add multiple players at the position in the draft and at least one in free agency. From there, I’d like to see them bolster their defensive backfield and their defensive front. Besides that, they’re in pretty good shape!
JS: As I mentioned previously, rebuilding the offensive line is the most important thing, with defensive line depth not far behind. In the draft and what remains of free agency, the club needs to find a starting center and additional guard help. Maybe Emery Jones is the answer but he should, at a minimum, be in a competition. Along the defensive front, Travis Jones stepped forward last year and John Jenkins pushed back the hands of time and earned an extension. Hopes are high for Nnamdi Madubuike’s return but where is he with his health? I’d like to see some interior DLine depth acquired. Perhaps there’s room for some veteran edge help as well (Van Noy return?) Beyond the trenches, we need to address back-up RB, WR depth and find a young TE. Last but not least, a reliable punter and holder.
Not to sound like a broken record but this team will contend if Lamar Jackson is healthy and productive. Build a line that can keep him upright and the Ravens will be amongst the AFC’s best.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.