The old cliche — pressure makes diamonds — might also be the perfect cliche for the Baltimore Ravens in 2026.
The pressure is ratcheted up after an offseason in which the Ravens have seemed to alienate almost the entire NFL after the botched Maxx Crosby trade, and no one will feel that pressure more than general manager Eric DeCosta.
It wasn’t just Crosby, either. There was also the firing of Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh and a mass exodus of starters in free agency.
DeCosta’s personnel moves put the Ravens at the top of a list of teams feeling the most pressure to “Crush It” in the 2026 NFL draft from Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport.
“After an 8-9 season in which the Ravens failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2021, long-time head coach John Harbaugh was shown the door, replaced by first-time head coach Jesse Minter,” Davenport wrote. “DeCosta kept his job, but the word from on high was clear — eight wins and no playoffs isn’t good enough.”
The Ravens have the No. 14 overall pick in the 1st round — a pick that would have gone to the Las Vegas Raiders if the Crosby trade had gone through.
Ravens Predictions Lean Toward Interior OL
The majority of mock drafts seem to have the Ravens taking an interior offensive lineman in the 1st round — but maybe that’s a little presumptive. Mainly because the Ravens need help in a lot of different places.
“Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane is accordingly the chalk pick at No. 14, and deservedly so,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote. “But if the Ravens get beat there, I’d imagine they’re interested in Keldric Faulk (Auburn) along the edge, as new coach Jesse Minter likes strong run defenders at his edge spots. Don’t sleep on a first-round receiver such as Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) or Makai Lemon (USC), either.”
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter went with 6-foot-6, 327-pound Florida defensive tackle as the Ravens’ 1st round pick in his latest mock draft.
“Even if Nnamdi Madubuike returns from a serious neck injury that cost him most of 2025, the Ravens could use another athletic big man on the interior,” Reuter wrote. “Banks’ injury history could give some teams pause, but his combination of size (6-foot-6, 327 pounds) and agility are rare, so taking him in the top 20 is a reasonable risk.”
Ravens Made $112 Million Investment at Edge Rusher
The Ravens made 1 of the biggest free-agent splashes in NFL history when they signed NFL All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million contract — a deal made less than 24 hours after they cut bait on the Crosby trade.
It could end up being the move that lifts the franchise into the Super Bowl in 2026 after missing the playoffs in 2025.
“The Ravens were lucky that Hendrickson was still available because he was clearly the best option after the team moved on from Crosby,” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote. “Since 2020, Hendrickson’s 74.5 sacks rank only behind Myles Garrett (95) and T.J. Watt (80.5). His 28% pass win rate on third and fourth downs since 2021 trails only Micah Parsons (31%).”
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta Receives Critical Warning Before NFL Draft