A 10-year NFL veteran, Ismail played for the Ravens from 1999 to 2001 and started all four playoff games during Baltimore’s first title run, including the 34-7 win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV ― recording a 44-yard catch that set up a field goal from 47 yards out to extend the Ravens’ lead to 10-0 before halftime.

“The Missile” enjoyed the most productive years of his NFL career in Baltimore, recording 191 catches for 2,819 yards and 18 touchdowns in 47 appearances (44 starts). Now an analyst covering his former team, Ismail speaks with Bolavip about the Ravens‘ moves ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Ismail analyzes the Ravens’ 2025 season

Bolavip: Before we get into the upcoming season, I would like to know your thoughts about last year. What do you think went wrong for the Ravens?

Qadry Ismail: Boy, where do I begin? I think the year started off with extremely high expectations. A lot of the pundits in the media were saying that the Ravens were built to win a Super Bowl. They drafted some really good quality players. They had a ton of guys returning and basically they went into the year with the idea of “this is a Super Bowl or bust” proposition. At the owners’ meeting, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was like, “Hey, Super Bowl or bust, let’s go. I’m ready.”

Whereas, I think John Harbaugh, who was in his 18th season as the Ravens head coach, he kind of tempered it a little bit. And I think that tempering mindset, in my opinion, when you’re talking about a highly competitive, win-at-all-cost type of league and situations that you present yourself and you present your players with for him to temper it… I think it kind of set the tone for what would transpire once the regular season started.

And so regular season starts and I think the offense looks good, strong, and sound, but there was some chinks in the armor of the offense. Lamar Jackson clearly being the star player that he is, he was amazing and did some amazing things, but I could see where when it was crunch time and time for them to be at their best, his offensive line failed him.

And because of that failure, the Buffalo Bills got the better of the team. The defense that no longer had Mike Macdonald as their defensive coordinator, they just didn’t look the part. And I think the dysfunction on the defensive side of the football, coupled with the fact that you had an offensive line that just couldn’t get into a strong solid rhythm against an upper tier defense, it just led to a 1-5 start. And that 1-5 start led into a year where Lamar Jackson was in and out of the lineup because of injuries.

I think the way in which their general manager Eric DeCosta did his free agency with certain players, primarily Jaire Alexander, from a cornerback aspect of things who you thought he was going to be really a strong piece to the puzzle for the defense, that didn’t work out.

Cooper Rush, who was Lamar Jackson’s backup, that turned into a very poor move and decision. Tyler Huntley comes in and really sparks the team to a couple victories before Lamar Jackson does get back into the fold.

But the failure for John Harbaugh and his staff, offensively and defensively, to, number one, say the elephant in the room: You just don’t have the right combination at offensive guard on both sides of the ball. You then defensively you can’t make your decision on what you really want to be as a defense. They had a major injury in (Nnamdi) Madubuike with his cervical spine injury and not really sure whether or not he was even going to play again.

I think all of that amounted to an opportunity to still go to the playoffs in Pittsburgh and you miss a 44-yard field goal because you didn’t have pretty much the right management of game play. And what I mean by that is, that shouldn’t have been a 44 yarder. It should not have been over on the, I believe it was the left hash, and I think that they were supposed to kick it on the right hash.

You pretty much put the season in the hands of a, I don’t know how much he was making, $800,000 kicker compared to a 36 and 60 some odd million dollar Hall of Fame running back and quarterback.

I think that there was an abject failure on the coaching and yeah, I think it led to the dismissal of John Harbaugh. Steve Bisciotti was very clear that he didn’t want to have another disappointing year and that empty feeling and so he decided to make a change and now you have Jesse Minter. Hope springs eternal, “The King is dead. Long live the King.”

All right, here we go, Jesse Minter! He’s touted as being a guy who understands defense, but more importantly, he understands relationships, building those relationships and making sure guys understand their expectations. As a team and as an individual, as a unit and as an individual, as a collective group and as an individual.

So whether you’re receiving group, an offensive line group, D-line group, defensive back group, linebacker group, you guys are a collective of individuals that need to understand one another. Whether you’re a unit, defensive side of the ball, offensive side of the ball, special teams side of the ball, you got to understand your assignments and your roles. So collectively, that forms that team and hopefully Jesse Minter can get it done.

John Harbaugh’s firing and eventual move to New York

BV: And how did you feel when John Harbaugh was fired and immediately found a new home on the New York Giants?

Ismail: I think when you have a resume like John Harbaugh, a Super Bowl winning coach, a coach that has sustained excellence in the playoffs ― up until last season, really had a good strong track record of being competitive, and his teams typically are well prepared and all that ― you’re going to gain and garner the interest of other teams.

And obviously with the Giants, their failures to get a head coach to sustain their level of excellence when it comes to their organization and when it comes to how they like to do things, I think it was a no-brainer for them to figure out that John Harbaugh would be a good fit for them.

I think for the Ravens and my personal opinion and feelings, yeah, he was a good dude and I think that there’s nothing that I can say that he did bad to me or anything personal or anything along those lines. But I think that at some point in time, your message gets stale. And as the message gets stale, you’ve got to reinvent yourself. He did it, but I think that in his reinvention he missed the mark, and it showed up in so many ways, in season as well as in the offseason.

The expectations on Jesse Minter and the new coaching staff

BV: Like you said, he spent many years at the helm and before him there was Brian (Billick), who also spent a very long time at the helm of the Ravens. How confident are you in Jesse Minter now to have another long tenure as head coach?

Ismail: Well, Martin, the times that I’ve spent with him, it seems like he’s got it all together. And again, when I say all together, sure, he’s had his growing pains, his ability to kind of go through the fire, and that refiner’s fire, you get some impurities that come to the top, it gets wiped away and then you have a better person, better product.

I think for Jesse right now, it looks like, yeah, he’s able to navigate, if you will, some of the things that are going to be coming his way. And his staff, it looks like his staff is a really cool staff that he put together.

But I would say he’s like a new battleship. You know, when an admiral commissions a battleship and now it’s no longer on a dock and they send it into the water and there’s the buoyancy of it all and it’s like, “All right, that’s great.” Then the captain of the ship is in charge of it.

You got your first mate and you got all your officers and you got your different people who are in charge of the different things of running the ship. That’s great. But you’re not seaworthy until you really put yourself under the test. And whether it be some sort of conflict that you have to deal with or if it’s some sort of issue at sea with regards to weather, regardless, you’re not seaworthy yet until you’ve gone through those experiences and really tested it.

So right now, yeah, the honeymoon is great. I could say a whole bunch of great things about Jesse Minter, but until he goes into Pittsburgh and experiences that, or plays against Cincinnati and experiences that. The NFC South is the main core of their schedule that they’re going to be playing.

And so with that, okay, how are you going to do when you’re playing against those guys? What does it look like when you’re playing on prime time? What’s going to happen when you have your first critical decision to make and all those things with both him as well as his offensive coordinator and Declan Doyle. We’ll see.

BV: Apart from Harbaugh’s exit and Jesse Minter’s arrival, the Ravens now have Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and Keary Colbert as the new wide receivers’ coach. How do you think these changes will affect Lamar Jackson this year?

Ismail: I’m curious to see how the Ben Johnson-Sean Payton molding will bring Declan into the conversation of working with Lamar Jackson. And what I saw last year with Caleb Williams and the way the Chicago Bears formulated their offense, it looked great, and he made some incredible plays. I loved the mixture of run and pass. I loved all of it. Declan had a huge hand in preparing the offense throughout the week. It was Ben who called the plays, but now Declan gets an opportunity to be the guy.

And so with the experiences of two strongminded offensive people in Sean Payton and in Ben Johnson in the back of his mind, I think that he’s going to serve the next iteration of the Lamar Jackson era really well.

And then yeah, his assistant coaches on his staff, the Keary Colberts of the world, I know they have their responsibilities of articulating his vision to, in this particular case, the receiving core. They’ve got a really good receiving core led by Zay Flowers.

Again, if you’re looking at Chicago’s offense, if I’m a receiver, I’m drooling, because I’m like, “All right. We’re gonna have some plays that are going to be pushing the ball down the football field.” We’ll have some quick game, but I like how we can run some routes and get an opportunity to make some big plays.

The lack of playoff success with Lamar Jackson

BV: And why do you think Lamar and the Ravens couldn’t succeed in the playoffs yet? What do you think they need to get over the hump once and for all?

Ismail: I think the elephant in the room… There has to be an unwillingness to waver off of what you do best. And I think in the playoffs, whatever the reason, coaching as well as execution, they seem to waver off of what they do best. And teams in the playoffs, they try to take away your strength.

Teams that win in the playoffs, literally, they’re the ones dictating their strength to you. Period. End of discussion. “Oh, you’re going to try to take this away. That’s great. Well, here we go. We’re about to show you why you cannot.”

And I think that’s something that the Ravens, in the Lamar Jackson era, have done at times. They have Tennessee at home, they don’t play well, Tennessee beats them. They go to Tennessee, they whoop up on Tennessee. Buffalo seems to be in an enigma, where you think that they’re going to play extremely well, but they make these critical mistakes and then in the end they don’t execute to win the game.

But they got there because why? They got past the divisional round or the wild card round by whooping up on the Pittsburgh Steelers. You’re a number one seed going up against the Kansas City Chiefs at home. You have an opportunity to just be you. You got a defense that is incredible. You got the number one ranked offense, number one ranked defense, and for the first time in history, the team that failed to get to the Super Bowl, let alone even winning it, you now have to hang that hat on you.

And so with Jesse Minter’s new offense, new defense, new way of doing things, yeah, I think he has to have a resolve that says “whatever we are, we’re going to be that when we get into the playoffs and we’re going to impose our will on the other team.“

Expectations for 2026

BV: The AFC has been very challenging for the Ravens all these years. How far do you think the Ravens will go this year considering all the changes in the conference?

Ismail: The AFC, yes, had been ruled by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. I think the shift overall, globally in the league, has been an interesting one where you’re seeing a kind of tipping back towards the defense. And Mike Macdonald is certainly one of the teams that you would say is ahead of the class. Obviously, what the Philadelphia Eagles did the year prior and whooping up on the Andy Reid-led Kansas City Chiefs certainly made the blueprint be evident.

I think bigger picture-wise, when you look at all those teams, whether it be the Broncos, whether it be the Patriots, whether it be, even the Bills to a certain degree, the Texans, they all have a defensive front that if you don’t run the football or if you don’t control the line of scrimmage with your upfront five and the pass protection ability of it and be accurate with the football, you’re going to have a long day. That’s just how it is.

And so I think for Jesse Minter, he’s going to implement some of those philosophies that we see across the AFC and across the NFC. I think that’s going to be great for this defense and I believe they’re going to give the offense an opportunity to have short fields. As opposed to always having to, you know, relinquish the ball and now you’ve got to go 70-80 yards. I think this team will be opportunistic. I think this team will be giving the Ravens offense a lot of short fields which is going to be advantageous to the team as a whole.

BV: Rushing was very important the year you won the Super Bowl. How important do you think that Derrick Henry will be, or that at least he should be this year for the Ravens?

Ismail: I think the running game and what Derrick Henry presents is just incredible. Top-notch. Unbelievable. And I say it because of this: Anytime you’re an offensive line and you’re having trouble when the wind blows and you’re trying to block air and you’re missing, that’s a problem. Let that sink in a little bit.

So I think this year with Declan Doyle, I think what he has is Dwayne Ledford, their offensive line coach, and I think Eric DeCosta by drafting Vega Ioane as a right guard, bringing in John Simpson as the left guard, still up for debate what it’s going to look like at center, but for running game purposes, if I am Derrick Henry, I’m like, “All right, bet. Here we go. We’re going to do some things.”

Now, they don’t have the traditional pullback any longer. They have let Pancake Pat Ricard go and they’re going to bring in a multi-look uh tight end group. But besides that, I think that yeah, it’s imperative that they run the football, run it effectively, and I think that they will.

The Lamar Jackson – Michael Jordan analogy

BV: And what do you think of Lamar running with the ball? Do you think that he should do it less, just to protect himself, or do you like when he suddenly scrambles and gains yards on his own?

Ismail: He’s the greatest dual-threat quarterback to ever play the game. So, why would I want to take a strength away from the greatest to ever do it? Did Michael Jordan set the tone early in his career by dominating at the rim? Yes. Did he change up from a longevity aspect of things and do his fadeaway jumper? Yes. Did he come back to dominating at the rim when he needed to? Absolutely.

My point in that analogy is this: Lamar Jackson early in his career did what he needed to do for his strength and for what the team needed. He has certainly evolved into the player that he is today. And I think the next phase of his game is to be like Jordan in that fadeaway jumper. What does that look like? Because you also need to have that dominant go to the rim style of play, too. That’s where I think I’m excited to see what it’ll look like in Declan Doyle’s offense.

BV: Would you have liked to play with Lamar?

Ismail: God, yes! Absolutely. In my career, I played with Warren Moon, Hall of Fame quarterback who in my mind I don’t ever remember him throwing a bad ball ever. I played the latter part of my career with Peyton Manning and that was an awesome thing as well from a pure, just let’s take advantage of the defense, period. Now, well, let’s go to the line of scrimmage and let’s have the entire playbook at our disposal and we’ll change the play so the defense can’t hone in on us. Those two quarterbacks were just incredible, incredible, incredible.

Now, if I were playing with Lamar, my goodness. I would absolutely love it. I think it would be amazing. I think the early iteration of Lamar where he was more leaning towards running the football rather than throwing it, I probably would pass on that.

But the Lamar Jackson that has, I don’t know how many perfect passer rating games he has, but I know he’s like, if not number one or at least top two of all time, I want to be a part of that. That guy who, man, he slings it, and he will find you.

I want to be a part of that guy and yeah, I want it where teams are so nervous that he’s going to run that you’re in man-to-man situations and let’s eat! As a receiver, you should be drooling because you know all you need to do is make one guy miss to have a big play on your hands.

Ismail’s experience playing with great QBs

BV: You recently mentioned Peyton Manning, you also overlapped with Brian Johnson and even Dan Marino during your stint with the Dolphins. What was your experience with them, and who was the one who impressed you the most?

Ismail: Hall of Fame wise, Warren Moon, I had a good amount of success with. Dan Marino, I wasn’t nowhere near in the conversation of playing on the team with him, he and my good friend OJ McDuffie had a really awesome connection. I mean, that was his guy and OJ was on point with it.

Dan was just incredible arm talent. I mean, say what you want about today’s quarterbacks, but Dan was doing it back in the day where you had to take some vicious hits as well as your receivers weren’t just running free wide open across the middle, because you had guys that were able to take your head off, and it was just a different game back then, but he thrived in it. So that to me says an awful lot.

I loved playing with Peyton. You can put yourself in a position where if it’s cover two and you got a man route, I mean, it’s easy to change it, but not many quarterbacks have the IQ to change it. Payton had the IQ to change it at a moment’s notice. So, I loved that about him. And it was just fun playing with him. Again, like I said with Warren, you just never had a bad ball and he was just fun. That was amazing, playing with him.

But you’re going to think, this is where my success was with two quarterbacks. One was Elvis Grbac and the other was Tony Banks. And both of those guys, while not Hall of Famers, like it felt great to have the moniker of being their go-to receiver, to being the number one threat and that playmaker for those guys. That to me was amazing. So yeah, I would say in my time, those people really stood out to me.

Analyzing the current game

BV: You recently mentioned some changes in regard to today’s quarterbacks. How much do you think the game has changed from your era to today? Not only at quarterback, but also at wide receiver.

Ismail: Quarterback, I mean, well, the rules are now where you just have so much more protection. You know, it used to be like a badge of honor to go across the middle, and you just get hit by the safety, and you kind of get up and brush yourself off, and your body is like, “Oh my goodness, I just got lit up. But I’m not going to let him know that.” And you just sit there and you try to be tough and you just got hit. Now you can go across the middle and you’re not going to get laid out and leveled like you did back in the day.

So yeah, I think the game has certainly changed. The press coverage, man-to-man coverage, the way it used to be compared to now, the defense will be defensive holding or defensive pass and interference. Although they have strengthened the pass interference as well, nowadays, oh man, I feel like this era of football resonates with me more than my era of football. I respect it.

I respect those guys, the numbers that they put up, you know, the Marvin Harrisons, the Chris Carters, the Jerry Rices, the Randy Mosses, the Isaac Bruces of the world. I mean, I’m naming some dudes right there. You know, those were my vintage of guys. And man, the numbers they put up were just incredible. The Michael Irvins of the world, they were ballers and just tough, tough, tough receivers, great route runners, smart players. For me, I felt like I would have played so much better and more aggressive in this style of football, in this era.

BV: And who are your favorite wide receivers today?

Ismail: I would say Jaxon Smith-Njigba just jumps off the page at me. I mean, he kind of has that old school style to him, you know? He just reminds me of some of those route runners that I just mentioned. He has a flair for the dramatic. He can just make catches, you know, kind of Larry Fitzgerald back in the day made catches for the Arizona Cardinals. You know, Jaxon Smith kind of looks like that guy who can do that.

I like Zay Flowers here at the Ravens. I think he’s a dynamic playmaking kind of a guy. The guys that came before this current group were the Julio Jones of the world, the Odell Beckham Jrs, the Andre Johnsons, the Reggie Waynes. I mean those dudes, I appreciate their game too. Those some big boy receivers that commanded the presence on the field, commanded the attention of the defense.

I think a guy who had a brief moment of fun in the sun if you will was AJ Brown for the Philadelphia Eagles. I appreciate his game. I kind of like DeVonta Smith, Smitty, as they like to call him up in Philadelphia. To me, the way he plays, with his stature and size, but his toughness and his just his smart football IQ and his ability to make catches. Like goodness, I really appreciate his game as well.

So yeah, there are some guys there that came before this era and then this current group of dudes, the Mike Evans of the world, the big, tall receiver that just year in and year out just shows up. I’m curious to see what he’s going to do with the 49ers, but he continually shows up. I like this group of receivers and what they bring to the table.

Ismail’s memories from Super Bowl XXXV

BV: What do you remember about Super Bowl 35? What did it mean to you, and how much did it forge your bond with the Ravens?

Ismail: That entire year was interesting. Interesting in this regard: it was one of the greatest years of my career, but it was the most challenging of my career.

I had the best teammates ever assembled on a team and it was led by Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe, and Ray Lewis. We had a mixed bag of just funny, eclectic, crazy dudes from the Tony Siragusa, the Sam Adams, offensively, Shannon Sharpe, we had just like a weird mix of dudes and it worked, and we had a coaching staff that just blended all of us together.

I think it was challenging for me as an individual because I came off of my first 1,000-yard receiving year. I was ready to do it again. We had to change at quarterback. Trent was a guy who was just going to manage the game. He wasn’t going to do anything outside of the game that was going to put the team in harm’s way, which is what we needed. Once Jamal Lewis got going, it was like, “yo, here’s our formula. Here’s what we’re going to do.”

But selfishly, I had a high grade two MCL sprain that really set me back as far as just my play, the ability for me to be a speedster and make big plays. While I did make plays, while I was the team’s leading receiver and all those things, my numbers weren’t where I wanted them to be and just my play overall, like I knew that, “man, I’m not at 100 because of this knee injury.” And I knew it, and it was frustrating, and it was tough, and it was hard, like recovery and everything. That year challenged me so much mentally. Yeah, it was the hardest year ever.

Yet there was something to say about going each and every game and just winning, and winning, and winning, and winning, and winning. And getting into the playoffs and winning, and winning, and winning, and hoisting up the AFC Championship Trophy out in Oakland and you’re looking around like, “Wait a minute. What’s next?” Oh, oh, we’re going to Tampa. We’re going down and we’re gonna be playing against the New York Giants. “Oh, wait a minute. They’re going to the Super Bowl?” Like I thought we were gonna play the Minnesota Vikings.

The jersey behind me is the jersey that I wore in the Super Bowl with the grass stains on it and all that. And I got the Wheaties box over here. You ain’t getting a Wheaties box as a runner up. You only get a Wheaties box if you win. So to be on it, to be a part of it, it was amazing. And yeah, got the hardware to show it. So fun, fun, fun, awesome group of men to win a championship with.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH QADRY ISMAIL ON BOLAVIP US:

“Lamar has been one of the leaders of the offseason program. A couple things going on yesterday and today. I do expect him to be back soon. We’ve had some great conversations. [I] know when he’s going to be back, and I’ll probably leave that between me and Lamar,” Minter said during his press conference.

The lack of clarity surrounding the quarterback’s absence created quite a bit of uncertainty. However, there was also no indication of a potential injury to the signal-caller, which certainly would not have been a positive development for the team.

The Ravens fell short of reaching the playoffs last season, and they have taken matters into their own hands to change the course of the franchise. Despite having one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL, the organization continues to place its trust in Jackson to finally deliver the long-awaited Super Bowl title.

Jesse Minter’s options in the QB room

Under new head coach Jesse Minter, the Baltimore Ravens are currently carrying an unusually crowded five-man quarterback room, anchored by superstar Lamar Jackson and locked-in veteran backup Tyler Huntley. With depth charting tightly behind the top two, the real battle lies at the bottom of the roster, where Skylar Thompson, acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, undrafted Heisman finalist Diego Pavia, and Joe Fagnano are competing for a depth spot.

Carrying five quarterbacks through the summer is highly impractical for practice reps, meaning at least two of them will certainly be cut before the regular season, with the survivors likely fighting for a single No. 3 spot on the practice squad.

First challenges for the Ravens

The Ravens will wrap up their offseason with OTAs on June 1, 2, and 4, followed by Mandatory Minicamp on June 9–10, before rookies report to Training Camp in mid-July and veterans arrive on July 21.

From there, Baltimore transitions straight into a demanding opening stretch of the regular season, starting with a road opener at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 13 (Week 1), followed by their home opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 20 (Week 2), and culminating in a historic international matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, September 27 (Week 3).

According to Ian Rapoport, the Ravens are signing Thompson, meaning they will boast a five-man quarterback room. At least for the time being. Roster cuts could—and likely will—be made as the year progresses. Lamar Jackson will command the huddle, with Tyler Huntley expected to be the second-string quarterback.

The third and emergency quarterback throughout the 2026 NFL season will most likely be decided throughout rookie camp, minicamp, and training camp between Joe Fagnano, Diego Pavia, and Skylar Thompson. Both Fagnano and Pavia were signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA) by Baltimore.

Ravens’ QB situation

Although Jackson is the franchise’s solution at quarterback, Baltimore knows better than to leave the position unattended. Jackson is under contract through the 2027 NFL season thanks to the five-year, $260 million extension he signed back in 2023. However, his contract includes a potential out next offseason, per Spotrac, and the Ravens are searching for other answers in case Jackson shocks the world and leaves Charm City.

The signings of UDFAs Pavia and Fagnano serve that purpose. Though his off-the-field issues concern several teams, Pavia was a Heisman Trophy runner-up for a reason, and he might prove to be a reliable quarterback in the NFL. Pavia isn’t the tallest, biggest, or fastest prospect, but he plays with the heart of a lion. One would be amazed to realize how often that proves to be a difference-maker in the league.

If neither UDFA experiment (Pavia and Fagnano) works out, the Ravens can resort to Huntley. Obviously, keeping Jackson in town is priority number one, but Baltimore is still weighing all its options. With a stacked QB class coming up in 2027, the Ravens may have a Plan B to a potential departure from Lamar after all.

More about Skylar Thompson

Thompson was a seventh-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in 2022. Although he signed with the Steelers in 2025, Thompson’s last career appearance came in 2024. So far, he’s played 10 career games, with only 721 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and three interceptions to show for it.

Despite his limited playing time, Thompson has playoff experience under his belt. With Tua Tagovailoa injured, Thompson was named the starting QB for the Dolphins in their Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills in the 2022 postseason. Despite the high-stakes scenario, that was arguably his best game of his career. Thompson threw for 220 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

“So now he’s in the door, and it’s like, ‘Show us what you can do,’” the head coach said Saturday, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “And just like all the undrafted rookies, that’s what I would say.”

The Ravens’ new head coach sees tremendous potential in Pavia, so he will be given the necessary opportunities to prove it. “For us, we see it as an opportunity to bring a player in that could potentially be something, and that’s really what this is for us.”

It is clear that the former Heisman Trophy finalist is coming in to compete for a spot with Joe Fagnano as the second backup behind Lamar Jackson. The primary backup will be the experienced Tyler Huntley.

Minter and Pavia share Vanderbilt connection

Diego Pavia was one of the standout players for the Commodores last season. Jesse Minter previously served as defensive coordinator for the program back in 2021 and is also a well-known friend of Clark Lea. Eventually, their reunion in Baltimore makes sense.

“[Pavia has] had some experiences that are learning experiences that he could learn from and be better from. I don’t think anybody would dispute that,” Minter said. “But when you talk to the people inside that building [at Vanderbilt] and what he’s about as a player, he is showing up early every day and working really hard.”

What Pavia can learn from Lamar Jackson?

After signing a three-year deal with the Ravens, Diego Pavia is poised to compete for the third quarterback spot on the depth chart. Given his dynamic playmaking ability and dual-threat style, Pavia finds himself in the ideal environment to develop his game.

By studying under Lamar Jackson, he can learn how to effectively translate his mobility to the professional level and refine his pocket presence while observing the habits of a two-time league MVP.

Pavia aims to make history as an undrafted rookie

The NFL has a storied history of undrafted players becoming legends, headlined by Kurt Warner, who went from stocking grocery shelves to winning a Super Bowl and two MVP awards. Defensively, Dick “Night Train” Lane set a league record with 14 interceptions in his 1952 rookie season, a mark that still stands today.

Additionally, Warren Moon overcame initial rejection to become the first undrafted quarterback inducted into the Hall of Fame, proving that elite talent can emerge from outside the Draft. Can Pavia join this list and make history in his new chapter with the Ravens?

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.

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.

In fact, the message is loud and clear, the reason Hendrickson joined the team is because he wants to win the Super Bowl right now. “The standard is high here and I’m excited for that challenge,” Hendrickson said. “Incredible defense, incredible people, and looking forward to this season.”

Hendrickson has 31 years of age, so he knows it’s not like he has forever to wait for that all-elusive Super Bowl ring to come by. Instead, he is chasing the championship, and that’s his main goal before calling it a career. Hendrickson is still a high-impact player.

Hendrickson is not Crosby for one main reason

As a pass-rusher, Hendrickson has nothing to envy from Crosby. The fact is the main and key difference relies on the rushing defense aspect of the game. Crosby is miles better defending the run. That’s the main difference. Now, when you also have linebacker Roquan Smith on the roster, maybe you just want the pass-rusher side of things.

Hendrickson’s 2025 season got cut short due to injury. However, he is a more prolific pass-rusher. Still, the fact is Crosby is just a much more dangerous presence to deal with. The fact is the Ravens are now getting an elite pass-rush, and the run defense will have to be a problem that someone else solves.

The Ravens are a promising defense

The last two years, the Ravens have been a bipolar defensive unit. They usually stink at first, and then turn elite in the second half. The hope is all that changes now that Jesse Minter is the head coach.

Minter is a defensive-minded coach, and he also comes from the Harbaugh coaching tree. He has all the bases to make this unit one of the best in football. Then, let Lamar Jackson and company take the reins on offense.

Hendrickson got quite the deal by the Ravens. Now, the Ravens have released quarterback Cooper Rush, per NBC Sports. The Ravens also re-signed Snoop Huntley to become Lamar Jackson’s backup. Rush had signed a two-year deal, but after just one, his time in Baltimore is up.

Huntley played for the Ravens from his rookie year in 2020 to 2023. He played six games in 2022, starting four of them and that earned him a Pro Bowl selection. After spending the 2024 season in Miami, he went back to Baltimore last year, and it seems like he beat Rush in the QB2 competition.

Huntley had a massive advantage over Rush

Rush is years older than Huntley, but the real disadvantage he faced is his style compared to Huntley’s. Being the backup of Lamar Jackson is no easy feat. He is the fastest, must mobile QB in the NFL. Rush is a pure pocket passer, not that mobile, so when he steps in, the playbook must dramatically change.

As for, Huntley, he is like a mini version of Jackson. He is mobile, he runs quite a lot and the playbook can remain almost exactly the same. Hence, it’s an easier transition. After all, Lamar has missed games in all but one season. Usually, the backup will need to step up for a couple of games.

Baltimore has plenty of cap space to work

After restructuring Lamar Jackson’s contract, signing Trey Hendrickson, and ditching the Crosby trade, Baltimore is in quite a great position. On the Lamar Jackson side of things, that freed up nearly $40 million in cap space. And without the Crosby trade, they kept this year’s and next year’s first round picks.

Hence, now the Ravens have plenty of room to move and keep building their roster. The Ravens are in prime position to continue bringing big-time names as they hope to go on a Super Bowl trip for once in Jackson’s career.

The report came from Adam Schefter on X (@adamschefter): “Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley is signing a two-year deal worth up to $11 million to return to the Baltimore Ravens, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus.” The news did not come as much of a surprise, but it was widely expected following John Harbaugh’s departure.

Last season, Huntley had to step in for Jackson while he recovered, once again, from an injury. He appeared in five games, winning two of them. Huntley threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, finishing with a total of 462 passing yards.

Jackson will have all the help he needs

Not only will Jackson have Huntley for longer as his backup quarterback, but the team could also bring in another backup. It’s still unclear whether that will be Cooper Rush or another player. There has been no confirmation yet on whether Rush could return or be released, but at least one reliable arm is already secured.

“Can confirm. Smart move. Huntley played well last year in leading Ravens to wins over Bears and Packers. In a league where demand for quality backup QBs far exceeds the supply, Huntley would probably have had a decent market,” Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic wrote about the backup’s extension.

Huntley has spent five years in the Ravens’ system and has been there primarily to step in for Jackson when needed. However, if he is asked to take on a larger role during the upcoming season, he would likely do so if new head coach Jesse Minter calls on him.

Lamar Jackson is the tenth-highest-paid quarterback in football and he’s been wanting to adjust his contract for months. Owner Steve Bisciotti wants a new deal for Lamar Jackson too, and he wants to do it before the league year begins to avoid a massive cap hit. Without an extension, Jackson’s cost jumps from $43.5 million to $74.5 million.

If no deal is reached, the Ravens will likely restructure his contract to save money now, but that would only make his 2027 cap hit—the final year of his deal—even more expensive. Hence, the team would face massive problems to make deals.

Who are ahead of Lamar?

While there are some names that one can understand being ahead of Jackson, like Josh Allen or Joe Burrow, the fact is there are other names that are just outrageous. For instance, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Tua Tagovailoa earning more than Jackson must really stink for the Ravens QB. This is the list of highest-paid QBs in the NFL according to Spotrac.

Jackson has the leverage here. No one would want to lose a top-tier QB in the middle of his prime, and Jackson can look at that list and say “I have two MVPs, the other nine have one MVP combined.” How much of an adjustment will be done remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking.

It’s deserved, but is it wise?

No one will deny Lamar Jackson should always be in the higher half of that list. However, is it wise? Notice, there is no Patrick Mahomes there. Why? He prioritized winning more than getting paid. Mahomes has three rings already, the whole top 10 list has zero. In fact, only three of those have even played in a Super Bowl (Purdy, Goff, and Burrow).

Tom Brady was never one of the highest-paid QBs. He earned his good money, but he wanted to keep team-friendly deals in place so the roster could be as good as possible to compete for Super Bowls. So, yes, Lamar is in his right to look for more money, but is it in his best interest regarding winning in the NFL? Remember, the Ravens just traded for Maxx Crosby, so the pressure is on.

Tight end Isaiah Likely is pretty much gone from the Baltimore Ravens. After passing catches from Lamar Jackson but living under the shadow of veteran Mark Andrews, Likely wants the chance to shine.

Speaking to Jon Gruden, Likely said, “With my agent, what I told him was I just want to be able to blossom. The last couple years, I’ve had a great vet in Mark Andrews, where he taught me everything to be a star-caliber tight end to the point where it’s like now I just want to be on a team where I can get out there and help a quarterback, help a team be able to put as much points on the board as possible.”

Likely is very talented, but has been limited by Andrews

Many could argue that Likely is already better than Andrews, however, the veteran is held in very high regard by the Ravens. Likely had 27 catches for 307 yards and just one touchdown in 2025. In all fairness, it was a down year for all the Ravens’ roster.

Likely has some suitors already. Reports state that the Commanders could be the frontrunners to land Likely. The Commanders had the always reliable Zach Ertz as tight end. However, Ertz suffered a gruesome knee injury that might end his playing career. Hence, Likely would be really tempting.

The Commanders might be tempting for Likely

Likely wants the chance to blossom, the Commanders need a tight end. It has a very good chance of actually happening. The Commanders are likely to lose wideout Deebo Samuel, don’t have Ertz, and WR1 Terry McLaurin is aging and has suffered injuries in the last season. Hence, Likely would have the chance to actually become the best weapon on the roster.

Jayden Daniels needs to bounce back from an under-par, injury-filled season too. Hence, having a reliable weapon in Likely would certainly give him plenty of motivation. Also, it would give him a massive red zone threat.