Then, 2025’s 8-9 season occurred, and the Ravens modified rather a lot.
Harbaugh was out, changed by former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. There’s a brand new offensive coordinator in former Chicago Bears OC Declan Doyle, and a brand new defensive coordinator in former Miami Dolphins DC (and ex-Ravens assistant head coach and defensive assistant) Anthony Weaver. Minter will name the protection, and given his historical past below Jim Harbaugh as Mike Macdonald’s DC substitute at Michigan in 2022 and 2023, one might be forgiven for pondering that the Ravens are trying with Minter to copy what Macdonald — additionally a former Ravens coach, in fact — has completed in Seattle.
“We spent two weeks; it was a sprint to the finish,” DeCosta stated in February of the Harbaugh substitute course of. “We talked to at least 20 candidates in different formats – Zoom, in person, on the phone. Really, really proud of the process, and it became apparent quickly that Jesse Minter was the right guy to be our next head football coach. Jesse’s smart, he’s a leader, he has great humility, he’s a problem solver, [and] a great tactician. We’ve enjoyed watching his defenses play. He started at the bottom [Minter was on the Ravens’ staff from 2017-2020 as a defensive assistant, assistant defensive backs coach, and finally as defensive backs coach], and now he’s here. I think that’s great.
“I’m so happy to work with him as a partner over the coming months and coming years, and I think this is a great day for the Baltimore Ravens.”
You don’t bear this a lot offseason chair-shifting with out inquiries to reply, and the 2026 Ravens clearly need to claw their means again to the competition standing they’re used to. For that to occur, excellence must come from extra than simply the apparent names — as is the case for any NFL workforce, the entire roster might want to step up.
To that finish, I’ve recognized three Hidden Gems for the 2026 Ravens — one underrated veteran, one underrated free agent, and one underrated draft choose.
Underrated veteran: CB Nate Wiggins
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 16: Nate Wiggins #2 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates an interception with teammates through the third quarter towards the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Financial institution Area on November 16, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Picture by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures by way of Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
The 2025 Ravens ranked seventeenth in Defensive DVOA, down from sixth in 2024, and first in 2023. Which represents a moderately precipitous decline. Accidents performed a component, particularly with Nnamdi Madubuike lacking all however two video games with a critical neck damage, however the secondary was additionally a problem general. Baltimore’s move protection allowed 399 completions in 625 makes an attempt for 4,423 yards, 23 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and an opponent passer ranking of 89.7. Not epically dangerous, however definitely not on the identical degree because the 76.2 opponent passer ranking allowed in 2023, the final yr of the Mike Macdonald period.
Minter is among the sport’s finest defensive minds, so one can count on an uptick in efficiency in 2026, and third-year cornerback Nate Wiggins will likely be a key a part of that. The thirtieth general choose within the 2024 draft has performed effectively in his first two NFL seasons — in 2025, he allowed 61 catches on 102 targets for 656 yards, 188 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, three interceptions, 14 move breakups, and an opponent passer ranking of 73.0. Wiggins was the one Ravens defensive again to permit an opponent passer ranking decrease than 80 final season, and on condition that he allowed a 74.8 passer ranking in his rookie season, the consistency has been there.
Wiggins has change into particularly conversant with press protection — final season, he allowed simply 20 catches on 43 press targets for 213 yards, one landing, two interceptions, and an opponent passer ranking of 49.9.
Wiggins underwent offseason surgical procedure to right an undisclosed concern, and he’s excited concerning the future.
“They’re going to see a big transition this year. How I move, all that,” he just lately stated. “I don’t think [anybody] has seen the full Nate. I’m just so happy going into this year… I know it’s going to be a big year for me, and I just can’t wait.”
The brand new head coach can be desperate to see what Yr 3 will carry for his finest cornerback.
“I’ll keep [the surgery] between Nate, myself and the organization, but he’s a guy that I loved coming out from Clemson in the draft process,” Minter stated of Wiggins on the 2026 scouting mix. “I am very excited to work with him, and I think there’s still a lot of room in his game. I know he knows that. I know he’s excited to work with us, and so I look forward to him having a big year.”
Underrated free agent: DL Calais Campbell
Dec 4, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens defensive finish Calais Campbell (93) enters the sphere previous to the sport towards the Denver Broncos at M&T Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Pictures
When the Arizona Cardinals chosen Miami defensive lineman Calais Campbell within the second spherical of the NFL draft on April 26, 2008, the “Big Short” monetary disaster was simply coming into focus. One thing known as the iPhone was gaining traction. And the Democratic race for President noticed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as its two main battlers.
So yeah… that was a very long time in the past. And right here’s Calais Campbell about to play in his nineteenth NFL season, on a one-year, $5.5 million contract with $4.75 million assured. Campbell beforehand performed for the Ravens from 2020-2022, however this isn’t a type of “veteran depth” signings — the Ravens have purpose to imagine that the 39-year-old Campbell, who will flip 40 on September 1, can add some critical juice to Minter’s protection. Final season for the Cardinals, and with little or no round him on that protection, he put up 6.5 sacks, 33 pressures, 26 solo tackles, 24 stops, and 9 tackles for loss.
Which put him in some pretty historic firm.
“Stoked,” Minter stated in Could of Campbell’s addition. ”We’ve agreed to phrases with Calais. He’ll be right here someday this week to type of finalize issues, and [we’re] actually enthusiastic about it. He’s nonetheless enjoying at such an unbelievable degree. Everyone knows what sort of man and individual and teammate and chief that he’s, however it is because he’s such a very good participant at this age and the place he’s at. He’ll actually assist us. He’ll be nice for the younger guys, in fact, as a result of that’s who Calais is, however I’m trying ahead to seeing what he brings on the sphere [and] in between the strains. And I actually assume he’ll assist us each within the run and move sport.”
Assuming that the extent of play holds up, Campbell wouldn’t be a like-as-like fill-in for Madubuike at this level in his profession, however he’s received sufficient on the ball as a multi-gap disruptor to assist out. And hey — if the Ravens can get Campbell, Madubuike, 2025 Hidden Gem Travis Jones, and Trey Hendrickson on the road on the identical time, wouldn’t that be a spicy meatball?
Underrated draft choose: WR Elijah Sarratt
OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – JUNE 09: Elijah Sarratt #13 of the Baltimore Ravens runs down the sphere throughout Baltimore Ravens Necessary Minicamp at Below Armour Efficiency Middle on June 09, 2026 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Picture by G Fiume/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
The 2025 Ravens had a purple zone downside with their receivers. Zay Flowers, Devontez Walker, DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace mixed for simply 13 touchdowns general, and that’s not going to get the job performed. To place that in perspective, the Los Angeles Rams led the NFL with 29 landing passes to their receivers final season, and that’s with all of the 13 personnel stuff they used with three tight ends on the sphere.
It was clear that Baltimore’s offense would want higher and extra constant threats when the ball was nearer to paydirt, so why not take the FBS chief in landing receptions with the one hundred and fifteenth general choose within the fourth spherical?
That’s precisely what they did with Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt. Final season for the nationwide champs, the 6’2½”, 215-pound Sarratt caught 64 passes on 87 targets for 824 yards and 15 touchdowns. Total, Sarratt proved to be a big-bodied, contested-catch receiver to all ranges of the sphere, however it actually took maintain when it was landing time.
”Nice profession at Indiana,“ DeCosta said of Sarratt. ”[He has a] massive physique, sturdy arms, contested catch, most likely a man that may play outdoors or inside. We predict he’s actually, actually good inside. He has a very a superb back-shoulder-fade sort of receiver, bodily. We simply assume he’s a very good match for what we need to do offensively, and I feel speaks to us.“
Sarratt did not disagree with that particular evaluation.
“My mindset is just that any time the ball is in the air, it’s mine,” he stated. “It doesn’t matter if I’m uncovered, if I have one person on me or two people on me; just as a receiver, if you want to be great, you have to have that mindset. So, whatever pass it is, I feel like I can make it. The back-shoulder throws – they’re something that is a big strength of my game. I’ve been able to do it just about every year in college. Thankfully, I’ve had lots of great quarterbacks. Fernando [Mendoza did] a great job of putting it where I need it to be. My thing with the back-shoulder throws is just, you’re always trying to win over the top. And then if you know it’s a feel thing, and then it’s just a trust between you and the quarterback. That just happens. It doesn’t happen overnight; it just happens with reps throughout camp and practices. That’s all it is.”
Music to Lamar Jackson’s ears, we’re fairly positive.
Sure, Sarratt is nice with back-shoulder fades because the tape verifies, however it’s actually all the short-area route tree that might have him as a man with main snaps on this offense in a short time.
