OTL: A Burning Question for Each Offensive Position Group

A year ago, the Baltimore Ravens finished dead middle-of-the-pack in offensive yardage, ranking 16th among NFL teams in total offensive yards per game (332.2).

Compared to their top 10 finish in five of the previous seven seasons, last year’s offensive output from the Ravens hung steadily below the franchise’s usual standards.

The team finished with its first losing record in four years and missed the playoffs for the second time since 2017. A series of offseason transactions, however, aim to retool Baltimore’s offensive landscape on their quest to return to the playoffs.

General manager Eric DeCosta added five skill position players in the 2026 NFL Draft in addition to prioritizing the offensive line early in the offseason. It is clear that offense was the focus over the winter and spring.

With that in mind, here are some burning questions for each offensive position group as we inch closer to the Ravens’ 2026 training camp.

Quarterback

How will Lamar Jackson adjust to and perform in Declan Doyle’s offensive system?

The 2025 season was not an ideal one for two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Though he finished the campaign with the third-best single-season passer rating of his eight-year career (103.8), Jackson was absent from four games and was unable to will his squad into the playoffs after clinching a spot in each of the last three seasons.

Last season also marked the first single-season losing record as a starter in his career (6-7). Even when the Ravens fell short of the playoffs in 2021, Jackson still posted a 7-5 record as a starter.

Now, the 29-year-old is set to experience a world of new opportunities.

Baltimore parted ways with long time head coach John Harbaugh, ultimately leading to the team’s former offensive coordinator Todd Monken agreeing to become the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

After hiring Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the next head coach, the Ravens brought in Chicago Bears’ Declan Doyle to manage the offense as the youngest offensive coordinator in NFL history.

At the age of 30, Doyle quickly rose in the coaching world after two seasons as the Denver Broncos tight ends coach and one as the Bears offensive coordinator. The Iowa native helped orchestrate Chicago’s best statistical season since 2018, in which they ranked sixth in total offensive yards per game (369.2).

All eyes now turn to Jackson, who gets an opportunity to flourish in a brand new offensive scheme, spearheaded by one of the league’s youngest and most innovative minds.

Running Back

What will Derrick Henry’s workload look like at age 32?

It is no secret that Derrick Henry is an anomaly. The five-time Pro-Bowler has started in 67 straight games across his last four seasons, accumulating 1,595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in his most recent with Baltimore

In order to continue his otherworldly success, Henry will need to make history.

There have been just six running backs in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in their age 32 season. Two of them (Mike Anderson and Ricky Williams) did so in the 2000s. Nobody has done it since Williams in 2009.

Henry, 32, absolutely possesses the ability to play at a high level despite his age. The former Offensive Player of the Year is averaging 1,758 rushing yards per season since turning 30.

But, with Justice Hill returning to full health and Baltimore selecting Clemson’s Adam Randall in the fifth round of the draft, questions remain about the future Hall of Famer’s workload entering 2026. And it is safe to say that the answers will have a big impact on the team’s overall success.

Wide Receiver

Who will emerge as the top target behind Zay Flowers?

The idea of an elite wide receiver in Baltimore is foreign to the vast majority of Ravens Flock. But, the curse may have been broken after former first-round pick Zay Flowers notched his second career Pro Bowl appearance after a 1,211-yard season with the Ravens in 2025.

Flowers, 25, has been everything the team has asked for, minus his ball security issues. The former Boston College pass catcher notched career-highs in receiving yards, receptions per game, yards per target and passer rating when targeted.

With a clear cut top target in the room, Jackson still awaits the emergence of someone else behind Flowers.

For years, many thought that would be a fellow first-round selection, Rashod Bateman. And, while it still could be, recent inconsistencies, including a season of just 19 receptions for the 26-year-old, have caused many to question the reality of a Bateman breakout.

DeCosta and company added two new sets of hands to the wide receiver core in this year’s draft: Ja’Kobi Lane out of USC and Elijah Sarratt out of Indiana. Both project to be formidable red zone threats with strong hands and impressive physicality.

Baltimore also possesses a speedster in Devontez Walker, who many have speculated could explode in 2026.

Regardless of who it is, Doyle and his offensive staff will have some intriguing chess pieces to move around as they aim to figure out who the team’s number two wide receiver will be this season.

Tight End

Can Mark Andrews return to form in 2026?

Luck has not been on the side of Mark Andrews since the 2025 calendar year began. A crucial game-ending drop in the 2024 AFC Divisional Round followed by what was the worst statistical season of his career have spawned a lot of chatter surrounding the three-time Pro-Bowler.

Andrews, however, was extended on a three-year, $39.27 million contract despite his struggles, with DeCosta and the front office maintaining that the veteran played a major role in the team’s future.

After losing Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to the wrath of free agency, the room’s success hinges upon Andrews’ 2026 performance. So, can he return to form?

In 2024, the former third-round pick tallied a career-best 11 touchdowns while posting his highest single-season yards per reception (12.2) since 2021. The talent and deep familiarity with Jackson still remains. The test, however, will be seeing if he can put aside the noise and execute like Ravens Flock has seen for so many years.

Offensive Line

Will the interior improvements be enough to protect Jackson consistently?

After last year’s catastrophic outcome, bolstering the trenches immediately became a priority for the Ravens. The team finished with the sixth-worst team blocking efficiency (82.8), per Pro Football Focus.

DeCosta wasted no time addressing the issue, adding former New York Jets guard John Simpson within hours of the free agency period opening. Baltimore later snagged Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, finalizing a new offensive guard duo in Charm City.

However, the Ravens lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders, creating a massive hole at the position. After electing to avoid a center in the draft, Minter will have to decide between Danny Pinter, Corey Bullock, Jovaughn Gwyn and others for the team’s next starter.

So, will it be enough?

Despite missing four games, Jackson was still sacked the ninth-most times in the NFL (36). If the Ravens want any shot at righting the ship this season, keeping the two-time MVP’s jersey clean will be one of the most significant factors.

Which of these burning offensive questions do you think is most crucial to the team’s success in 2026?

The post OTL: A Burning Question for Each Offensive Position Group appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/07/06/out-to-lunch/offensive-questions/