Diego Pavia, whose future was up in the air, went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Ravens “rescued” him by offering a three-year deal, the structure of the agreement may not be as favorable as it appears.

As noted by NFL analyst Ari Meirov, all undrafted rookies sign standard three-year deals. The Ravens initially intended to bring Pavia in for a tryout, but they opted to give him a contract instead to secure him for the summer.

Diego Pavia’s contract with the Ravens puts extra pressure on him

On Monday, reports emerged that the Ravens would bring Diego Pavia in for a tryout. Nevertheless, just a day later, they signed him to a three-year deal in a move that many considered unusual.

The decision reportedly came after other teams showed interest in Pavia. For that reason, the Ravens decided to lock him into a rookie contract; yet, this may not be the best outcome for the quarterback.

Under an undrafted rookie contract, Pavia does not have a secured spot on the final 53-man roster, and the Ravens could release him with a minimal impact on their dead cap.

Can Diego Pavia make it to the final 53-man roster of the Ravens?

Pavia will now compete against Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano (out of UConn), who also signed an undrafted free agent contract earlier on Tuesday, to be Lamar Jackson‘s backup in 2026.

According to scouts, Pavia’s size (5’10”) is one of the main reasons he was not drafted. As a 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist, the former Vanderbilt standout now needs to showcase his talent and prove that his skill is more important than his stature.

Flowers’ appeared on the 4th and South podcast and said that John Harbaugh‘s practices were “full pads all the time… Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going.” Flowers also stated, “That’s why we had a lot of injuries.”

Flowers spoke to Minter and stated that the new Ravens coach assured him that now the practices will be a little easier on your body for players to be fresher in games. Minter was on the Ravens roster as an assistant back in 2017.

Flowers has been quite healthy despite complaints

Flowers said Harbaugh’s regime caused plenty of injuries, however, he has missed just one game in his whole career. The two-time Pro Bowl has been as consistent as a player can be. Having said that, the Ravens as a whole have been quite injured for the last couple of years.

The fact is football is a contact sport, so injuries are bound to happen. However, going full pads, full force every single time will wear on the players, but apparently that was a risk Harbaugh was willing to take.

The Ravens need to bounce back

Last season, the Ravens ended 8-9, missed the playoffs, and had to restructure the whole staff. Harbaugh is gone, offensive coordinator Todd Monken is gone, and defensive coordinator Zach Orr is also gone.

This is a team with a generational quarterback, so expectations are always to win the Super Bowl. Not going to the playoffs is not an acceptable outcome, regardless of injuries. Hence, it’s bounce back season for them.

DeCosta spoke to the press and he was clear on it. “I would say that Nnamdi’s status doesn’t really affect us that much in terms of like what we’re going to do in the draft at the defensive tackle position,” he said.

DeCosta recently said that there is a talent drop-off in the 2026 NFL Draft. Hence, the Ravens must be cautious in what they do. The Ravens have 11 picks in this year’s draft, but it’s not like they’re in love with the prospects coming up.

Madubuike back would be massive for Baltimore

Madubuike is an elite interior defensive lineman. He is a rare, interior-pass-rusher that wrecks gameplans. He can get double teams and still create problems. Also, by having him, teams focus on stopping him, leaving the edge rushers in great position to get one on one matchups.

It took some time for Madubuike to flourish, but once he did, he had two straight Pro Bowl selections. In 2023 and 2024, he combined for 19.5 sacks and 50 QB hits. That to join his run-stopping ability.

The Ravens defense is in a lot of pressure

While usually the team’s success is tied to quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson has plenty of leeway. It’s the defense the one with plenty of pressure. First, new head coach Jesse Minter is catalogued as a “defensive guru.” Then, they had the whole Maxx Crosby situation, only to back out from a trade and bring Trey Hendrickson instead.

So, if the defense doesn’t work out, the coach, the front office, and the players will be heavily criticized. Of course, that’s not the best of looks. Hence, Madubuike coming back is crucial to avoid all these bad possible narratives.

DeCosta spoke to the press ahead of the NFL Draft, and he was thankful he has a first-half pick because, in his own words, “there’s definitely a drop off probably midway through the round in terms of talent.”

Not content with slamming the prospects enough, he then flat out said the talent level in 2026 is “a little less than last year.” He even said that if the board goes exactly as they have it, they would have to improvise in later rounds as they don’t see much draftable players.

The Ravens should get Lamar Jackson a weapon

While Zay Flowers stated he wants to remain on the Ravens, Baltimore should really look into the wideouts this year. At their spot, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, Jordyn Tyson, and Denzel Boston should all be available.

Lamar Jackson has never had a top-tier, upper-echelon wide receiver. His best has been Flowers, who is regarded as a very good, yet not excellent wideout. However, pairing him with one of the top prospects in the draft might change the outlook of this offense.

The Ravens have a lot to prove this year

With 2026 bringing many changes to the franchise, plenty of eyeballs are looking into what the Ravens need to do. New manager in Jesse Minter, new star pass-rusher in Trey Hendrickson, and a whole new culture is in place.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media confirmed that Denzel Boston met with the Ravens on Friday. He visited Baltimore after meeting with the Carolina Panthers earlier this week, who are also reportedly interested in acquiring his services. The Ravens also received news on WR Jordyn Tyson’s scouting, so Boston’s visit makes a lot of sense.

Boston is generating substantial interest across the league. The Steelers, Raiders, Browns, and Dolphins are among the clubs that have already met with the former Washington standout during the pre-draft process.

Can the Ravens land Denzel Boston?

It appears that Denzel Boston will be a highly sought-after prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. His red-zone production is particularly attractive to teams, as he recorded 11 receiving touchdowns during the 2025 season with Washington, tying for ninth in the FBS.

With a “big-bodied” archetype (6’4″, 212 lbs), Boston could be the perfect complement to Zay Flowers’ elite speed. According to scouts, he is a “pro-ready” target whose elite ball skills and contested-catch ability could be a crucial addition to any offense.

Baltimore currently holds the No. 14 overall pick in the draft. While Boston is widely considered a top-30 prospect, he could be available when the Ravens are on the clock, though they face stiff competition from other wide receiver-needy teams picking late in the first round.

An offense that may need a new top wide receiver

With Zay Flowers established as a cornerstone, the Ravens are looking to add depth to create a more formidable wide receiver duo. As of today, the future of Rashod Bateman remains uncertain, with trade rumors linking him to the New York Giants and New York Jets as potential landing spots.

The Ravens have remained focused on bolstering Lamar Jackson’s offense in recent years. With a veteran presence in Derrick Henry and an outstanding tight end in Mark Andrews, a dominant boundary receiver like Boston could be the final piece required to achieve a championship.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jordyn Tyson will hold his own individual workout on Friday, April 17 at Arizona State, his alma matter. Tyson, who could be the New York Jets pick, is a very intriguing prospect.

In fact, if AJ Brown gets traded, the Eagles could see Tyson as a replacement, and the Baltimore Ravens are still looking for that top-tier wide receiver to give to Lamar Jackson, amid Zay Flowers’ contract situation.

Why is Jordyn Tyson so controversial?

Tyson is an elite route-runner, has incredible body control and brings a big contested-catch radius. His technique is pure, has an inside-outside versatility, and underrated blocking prowess. However, there are some doubts over him.

He’s had knee, collarbone, and hamstring injuries during his college days, so his availability is quite a worry for NFL teams. Also, he can lose his temper if things aren’t going his way. Physically speaking, his biggest weakness is that he is not the fastest wideout, but his routes and releases are so good that it doesn’t matter.

Jordyn Tyson’s 2026 Draft Projection

The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching. Tyson is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick. Now, the Jets could look at Tyson at the picks 33 or 44, though 44 is a stretch. As for the Eagles, they have the pick 23 and the 54th one, but again, if they want him, 23 is the one.

As for Ravens, they have either the 14th pick, and the 45th one. This is a weird situation for Baltimore, as 14th would be a reach, while 45th might not be high enough. It will be intriguing to see how the Jordyn Tyson’s sweepstakes evolve from here.

As reported by Ian Rapoport, the Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with Faalele, who is coming off a rocky year in Baltimore. Throughout the 2025 NFL season, the 6’8″ guard made a couple of plays that left fans scratching their heads.

His struggles in Baltimore raise concerns in New York, where Jaxson Dart is set to be the starting quarterback. After an injury-filled rookie year, the Giants must keep Dart safe. In only one NFL season, Dart’s has been in more concussion protocols than the G-Men would like for any player, especially at the most important position.

The Giants acknowledge just how crucial Dart is to their aspirations. That was made clear as new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy opened up on what he sees in the second-year quarterback. Nagy knows Dart has something special, and as a result, New York has something valuable in its hands. Still, Dart is of no use in the blue medical tent. There’s no other way around it, the Giants must keep him out of danger.

Faalele struggled on the Ravens in 2025

According to a report from Marshall Green, Jackson and the Ravens didn’t trust Faalele last season, and many inside the locker room blame him for the offensive inconsistencies in 2025. Whether that’s fair or not is a different story. The facts remain.

Jackson was pressured on 23.6% of his dropbacks—the ninth-most in the NFL last season. According to Pro Football Reference, Jackson was blitzed 125 times, hurried 28 times, hit 23 times, and sacked 36 times. Sometimes, Jackson gets himself into trouble due to his tendency to hold on to the football, and that may inflate his numbers.

However, his numbers could also be rougher—and as a result look worse on his offensive linemen—if it wasn’t for his elusiveness and ability to scramble out of trouble.

Harbaugh still believes in Faalele

Regardless of his stats in Baltimore, it sure looks like Harbaugh believes in Faalele. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be entering his first season with a new organization with him.

A lot is on the line for Harbaugh as he settles in at MetLife Stadium. If he wasn’t confident that Faalele can turn it around and find his footing, he wouldn’t be behind the offensive lineman’s one-year contract in East Rutherford. Still, the University of Minnesota alum must change the tune. He has all the tools to be successful in the league—it’s all about putting it together.

Harbaugh definitely thinks so. Far from giving up on him, the Super Bowl-winning head coach has brought Faalele with him to New York. After all, they will be just minutes away from the concrete jungle where dreams are made.

“Congrats to him. He did that one,” he said via the team’s website. “I ain’t really paying attention to [my contract], if I’m being honest. I go train every day. I let my agents handle that. I don’t want to go nowhere else.”

Flowers, along with Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker, will be the main passing weapons for Lamar Jackson. Can the Ravens keep him for the near future?

What is Flowers’ contract situation?

Zay Flowers is currently entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, which will pay him a base salary of approximately $2.66 million for the 2026 season. As a former first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, his situation is stabilized by the Ravens’ reported decision to exercise his fifth-year option, locking him in for the 2027 season at a fully guaranteed salary of $27.3 million.

While other receivers from his draft class have begun signing record-breaking extensions this offseason, Flowers has expressed his desire to remain in Baltimore long-term, though the team appears content to utilize the fifth-year option before committing to a massive multi-year extension.

Flowers’ 2025 season

In 2025, Zay Flowers solidified his role as the Ravens‘ primary deep threat, finishing the regular season with a career-high 1,211 receiving yards and 86 receptions across 17 games. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch and hauled in 5 touchdowns, including a dominant 138-yard, 2-TD performance in the season finale. Additionally, Flowers contributed 62 rushing yards and one score on the ground, proving to be one of the most versatile playmakers in the league.

Recently, Trey Hendrickson joined Jackson, providing a luxury reinforcement at that position on the field. The impact of Clowney’s potential arrival to the Ravens Flock could further boost the roster.

Last seen with the Dallas Cowboys, Jadeveon Clowney is also on the radar of two NFC North contenders: the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. Where will he ultimately land for the upcoming NFL season?

Clowney’s 2025 season

During the 2025 NFL season, Jadeveon Clowney proved to be a vital mid-season addition for the Dallas Cowboys after signing with the team in September. Despite appearing in only 13 games, the veteran edge rusher remained highly productive, recording 8.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles (24 solo), and 4 passes defended.

Clowney’s impact was particularly felt in the pass rush, where he generated 40 total pressures and forced one fumble. His season was highlighted by a dominant performance in the final week against the Giants, where he racked up 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble, solidifying his status as a top-tier defender even at 33 years old.

His stint in Baltimore

Appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2023, Clowney matched his career-high with 9.5 sacks and recorded 43 combined tackles, proving to be one of the most efficient veteran signings in the league. His disruptive presence was further highlighted by 19 quarterback hits, 5 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles, providing the elite edge pressure necessary for Baltimore and Lamar Jackson to secure the AFC’s top seed.

Elite pass rushers for Lamar

Despite missing out on Maxx Crosby, the Baltimore Ravens have solidified their defensive front for the 2026 season. The pass rush is now spearheaded by elite veteran Trey Hendrickson, who serves as the primary edge threat alongside the interior dominance of Nnamdi Madubuike.

This new-look unit will also rely on the continued growth of young talent like Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, ensuring that Lamar Jackson is supported by a relentless and hungry group of rushers as they chase a championship.

“I took a lot of pride in what we did,” he said on Pardon My Take. “I took a lot of pride in this season. I thought, honestly, as a coaching staff, it might have been our best job this year coaching this team. I thought we did a great job. But it wasn’t good enough in terms of getting us where we needed to get for whatever reason.”

Harbaugh’s last campaign with the Ravens ended with a record of 8 wins and 9 losses, far from the initial aspirations. Now, a new challenge awaits him with the Giants, where he will seek to get back to the Super Bowl.

No regrets over the firing

Harbaugh’s tenure with the Baltimore Ravens was highly successful. Despite this, his final season sealed what seemed like an endpoint for the relationship, leading to the head coach’s dismissal at the end of the campaign.

“If the job’s not getting done, it’s not good enough, they’ll make a change,” Harbaugh said. “I really wasn’t worried about it ever, keeping the job. I felt like at some point in time if they felt like I wasn’t the best guy for the job to do the job then they’re going to put me out of a job, and that’s what they should do if they feel that way.”

Harbaugh’s numbers with the Ravens

John Harbaugh led the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons until his departure in early 2026. He compiled a regular-season record of 180 wins, 113 losses, and 0 ties.

His postseason success was equally notable, totaling 13 wins and 11 losses in the playoffs. The pinnacle of his tenure came in 2012, when he guided the franchise to a victory in Super Bowl XLVII, defeating the San Francisco 49ers with a 34–31 score. He also finished his time in Baltimore as the winningest coach in the team’s history.

Can he lead the Giants to the Super Bowl?

The New York Giants are officially entering a new era with John Harbaugh as head coach and Jaxson Dart leading the offense. Harbaugh has taken the reins in East Rutherford with the clear goal of returning the G-Men to the Super Bowl for the first time since February 2012.

Throughout its storied history, the franchise has secured four Super Bowl titles (1986, 1990, 2007, and 2011). Now, the focus is on building around Dart’s dual-threat talent to bring a fifth Lombardi Trophy to New York and end the team’s long championship drought.

Less than 24 hours after the Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, they announced the signing of Trey Hendrickson. This move shocked many across the league, including Hendrickson himself.

The Ravens signing Hendrickson was a logical pivot after passing on Crosby. However, few believed it would have been financially or logistically possible for Baltimore to land both of them at once.

“I was looking forward to rushing with him,” Trey Hendrickson said on Terron Armstead’s The Set podcast. “Like what an incredible opportunity that would have been to have a bookends like that terrorizing quarterbacks, getting running backs to the ground. That’s what got me excited.”

Hendrickson and Crosby would have been a menace together

The mere idea of pairing Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby is enough to chill any offense. As two elite pass rushers, they would have created a massive threat from both sides of the defensive line.

As of today, it appears Maxx Crosby will remain with the Las Vegas Raiders. He is currently recovering from knee surgery, which was reportedly the reason the Ravens chose not to move forward with the trade.

As for Hendrickson, injuries sidelined him for half of the 2025 season. If he remains healthy, he could significantly bolster the Ravens’ defense and finally provide Lamar Jackson with the elite support needed to contend for a Super Bowl.