OTL: Top 10 Most Important Ravens Headed Into 2026 Season

A season ago, the Ravens’ season was derailed by a host of injuries, and a general lack of production from what was seemingly a very talented roster.

After a 1-5 start, the Ravens closed the season 7-4, but came up just short in Pittsburgh in what was an epic Week 18 matchup.

So as we continue into a new era, who are the most important guys on the roster based on its construction, and benefit to the team?

1. QB Lamar Jackson

There’s no arguing this one. With Lamar Jackson on the field, the offense has an extraordinary ceiling. Since Jackson took over as the starter in Baltimore, the Ravens are 6-12 in his absence. Tyler Huntley had two extremely impressive performances in 2025, but with Jackson back at the helm in 2026, the sky may truly be the limit with a bolstered receiving corps from the Draft and some work done on the o-line.

2. S Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton is like the queen in chess. He can move in any direction and has the ability to do anything needed. Hamilton makes every single component of the defense around him better, and his versatility will open up many new opportunities for Jesse Minter and the defensive staff. Hamilton has always been good in sim pressures, and I believe Minter will truly lead a dangerous defense with Hamilton at the helm.

3. RB Derrick Henry

Like Hamilton, Derrick Henry’s mere presence on the field terrifies the opponent. Whenever Henry is out there, the defense needs to stack bodies in the box to offset the run. On Zay Flowers’ second touchdown against Pittsburgh late in the fourth quarter, the fake pitch to Henry created such a pull that Flowers was able to streak wide open deep over the middle of the field. Truly nobody wants to tackle him, and after he had his most efficient season on the ground in 2024, he had his third best YPC season in 2025.

4. ILB Roquan Smith

It seems like Roquan Smith has regressed from the linebacker he was back in 2022 when he was first acquired via trade from Chicago. Over the last few seasons he’s put on some performances that wow you, but never stacked great games. Coverage has never been Ro’s calling card, but it seems like even his run defense, which has always been his strong suit, took a hit. Smith was the anchor of an elite 2023 unit, and if Baltimore wants to return to the top ranks, Smith needs to gain consistency.

5. WR Zay Flowers

Flowers was 7th in the NFL in receiving yards a season ago, and has become Jackson’s clear cut No. 1 target in the passing game. The negative? He lost the most fumbles of any receiver in the NFL a season ago, with three. Ball security has always been an issue for Flowers, and it’s something that needs to be fixed. Every year it seems like the only thing that can stop the Ravens is themselves, and Flowers’ fumbles have been an example. Nonetheless, I’m a believer that Flowers is a true WR1, and behind him on the depth chart it gets pretty dicey. There’s plenty of potential, but no proven talent outside of Rashod Bateman’s 2024 season.

6. LT Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley has been outstanding the last two seasons, and more importantly, he’s been mighty durable since the major ankle injury he suffered in 2020, and the host of lower body injuries in ‘23 and ‘24. Over the past two seasons, he’s started 33 of 35 regular season games and has anchored the o-line from the exterior. Protecting Lamar’s blindside will always be an ultra-important job, and Stanley has excelled after many doubts were cast in the seasons following his 2020 injury.

7. CB Nate Wiggins

The third-year corner needs a bounce-back season after he struggled mightily in 2025. Part of the problem seemed to be the cushion Nate Wiggins was giving opposing receivers. He’s a physical corner who can press despite his frame, and his speed allows him to recover if he’s beat initially. His rookie campaign was outstanding, but his sophomore season was disappointing. It’s hard to beat up on the secondary too much considering Baltimore ranked T-28th in sacks per game, and it seemed like opposing QBs had all day to throw, but an elite secondary needs a true lockdown corner.

8. DL Nnamdi Madubuike

Nnamdi Madubuike is versatile along the defensive front, and provides an interior rush that you really don’t see a ton across the league. It’s no coincidence that the pass rush was atrocious last year after Beeks went down early. He had 13.0 sacks in 2023 and 6.5 in 2024, and although I have a feeling Madubuike may miss some time to start the season, getting him back in the mix near the midpoint should bring a huge impact. Madubuike is also a big help to Travis Jones. Jones does his best work when he isn’t double-teamed, and you can’t double up on both of ’em.

9. CB Marlon Humphrey

In a 2025 season where it seemed like every Ravens defender took a hit, Marlon Humphrey may have seen the worst of it. It seemed like countless coverage lapses came with Humphrey as the primary defender, and frankly he was a shell of what he was during the peak of his career. He had four interceptions, but two of them were right-place/right-time, and one was a J.J. McCarthy heave that he could have fair caught. There’s some new competition in the slot with the exciting Chandler Rivers coming into town, and hopefully that can light a fire under Marlo.

10. TE Mark Andrews

2025 was by far Mark Andrews‘ least efficient season by yards per reception (8.8). For reference, his previous lowest was 11.6 in 2022. Now, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are gone and it’ll be a trio of newcomers behind Mark in Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner, and Josh Cuevas. Andrews doesn’t need to be a 1,000-yard receiver, or even a 750-yard guy. The Ravens need him as the guy who caught 11 touchdowns in 2024, and took care of the football. I have no doubt Mark can still get back to that, and hopefully he can create more big plays in 2026.

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