The Baltimore Ravens are viewed as surprise winners this early through the free agency period.
The Baltimore Ravens have had a tough offseason thus far. They've lost a ton of key players in free agency and were at the center of the Maxx Crosby trade saga that ultimately fell apart.
Things haven’t come easy for Baltimore, and as it stands, the outlook for the upcoming season appears uncertain. Still, there’s plenty of time for the Ravens to turn things around.
Despite that, not everyone views the Ravens’ offseason in a negative light. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports surprisingly listed Baltimore among the winners through the first two weeks of free agency.
"They also got both their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks returned, which will be crucial in helping Baltimore build a long-term, sustainable roster around two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Hendrickson also has the personal win of remaining in the AFC North, so he will now get to take out his frustration on the Cincinnati Bengals twice a year after bitter contract negotiations with them failed to yield a long-term contract.
"Signing safety Jaylinn Hawkins was another key victory. He did a little bit of everything for the defending AFC champion New England Patriots with four interceptions, six passes defended, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one-and-a-half sacks in 15 games played, all starts. Pro Football Focus graded Hawkins as its No. 5 overall safety with an 83.3 defensive grade, and he'll pair nicely with All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and former first-round pick Malaki Starks in new head coach Jesse Minter's scheme."
While the Ravens have lost more than they've gained, Podell likes the moves they have made thus far.
The addition of Hawkins could do wonders for the secondary, which found its form at the end of the 2025 season. Last season, he led the Patriots with four interceptions and excelled as a deep safety in zone coverage.
"Jaylinn had a great season this year. He was a starter for the Patriots, who obviously went all the way to the Super Bowl," head coach Jesse Minter said.
"He played really well [as a] deep safety. He does a lot of different things and plays with a lot of versatility. He's a guy that I'm really excited about."
The biggest addition for the Ravens thus far is Trey Hendrickson. Baltimore signed the All-Pro to a massive four-year, $112 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. He is set to bolster the Ravens' pass rush, which was among the worst in the league last season.
The offensive line also remains a question, but the addition of John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, and Danny Pinter may bring some sort of balance to the loss of Tyler Linderbaum.
The good news is the Ravens have 11 picks in the draft, and DeCosta remains a top talent evaluator, so the many roster questions could be answered in part come April.