While the Ravens are currently consumed with finding just the fourth head coach over their three-decade existence, the start of free agency is less than two months away as Baltimore will look to rebound from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Teams are still waiting for the NFL to set the 2026 salary cap, which could exceed $300 million after it sat at $279.2 million this past season. For what it’s worth, OverTheCap.com projects Baltimore to have just over $20 million in cap space based on a estimated $295.5 million cap for the 2026 campaign. That includes 46 players currently under contract for 2026 with two others — wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Tylan Wallace — sporting deals that are set to void before the open of free agency.
In other words, general manager Eric DeCosta will need to create more cap flexibility by extending, restructuring, or terminating the contracts of select veterans. It’s no secret that the biggest way to do that will be extending or restructuring the contract of two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is currently scheduled to carry a $74.5 million cap number in 2026. Teams must be in compliance with the salary cap by the start of the new league year on March 11.
A look back at last year reminds that most of the Ravens’ 2025 free-agent class did not return, which is just the nature of business in the NFL.
Below is a look at Baltimore’s 2026 class of free agents:
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
The Ravens will have the opportunity to extend any of the following unrestricted free agents before they’re permitted to officially sign with other teams beginning March 11 at 4 p.m.
8
CB Chidobe Awuzie — Jaire Alexander received more money and fanfare, but Awuzie was easily the better signing as he played at a starting-caliber level. While he slipped in coverage on Pittsburgh’s game-winning score in Week 18, the Ravens could do worse than Awuzie as the No. 3 or No. 4 corner.
DT Taven Bryan — The former first-round pick signed to the practice squad in September and saw action in five games before a knee injury landed him on injured reserve in late November. You’d expect the Ravens to try to do better as upgrading the defensive line will be a top offseason priority.
G Daniel Faalele — Few Ravens players have been more of a lightning rod for criticism than the 6-foot-8, 370-pound right guard, who started every game over the last two seasons. Perhaps a new offensive line coach would pay dividends, but a fresh start is probably best for both Faalele and the Ravens.
S Alohi Gilman — His arrival in the Odafe Oweh trade helped free up Kyle Hamilton and stabilize the defense after a horrendous start to 2025, but he missed quite a few tackles and lacks speed. Baltimore will need a third safety to go with Hamilton and Malaki Starks, so a cheap deal shouldn’t be ruled out.
*WR DeAndre Hopkins (void) — It’s fair to say Baltimore missed the mark trying to balance the 33-year-old’s workload to keep him fresh and optimize his production, which was a common theme for this passing attack. The new coaching staff will likely factor heavily in determining whether Hopkins returns.
ILB Jake Hummel — It’ll be interesting to see how the Ravens approach special teams after John Harbaugh’s dismissal, but Hummel led the team in special-teams snaps and was second in special-teams tackles. Given Baltimore’s salary cap picture, he’ll need to sign on the cheap to make it work.
QB Tyler Huntley — Huntley won’t be the top priority at the position with Jackson’s contract needing to be addressed, but one would assume the Ravens have learned their lesson trying to “upgrade” for the better part of the last few years. That said, you’re not getting Huntley at the veteran minimum this time.
8OLB Dre’Mont Jones — The 29-year-old was a solid deadline pickup and registered a career-high seven sacks in 2025, but Jones may command the kind of middle-class contract that’s tough to take on with limited cap dollars and bigger fish to fry. DeCosta needs to aim higher to truly boost this pass rush.
TE Charlie Kolar — The Mark Andrews extension took many by surprise, so it’s difficult to project what the Ravens will do at the position. While many are bracing for Isaiah Likely to depart, another team could make a strong offer for Kolar like how Minnesota signed away Josh Oliver a few offseasons ago.
TE Isaiah Likely — A disappointing 2025 ended on a high note for Likely with his fourth-and-7 highlight catch on the final drive of the season. Given Jackson’s organizational influence and friendship with Likely, a return can’t be ruled out entirely, but signing Andrews seemed like a clear choice at the time.
C Tyler Linderbaum — One of the NFL’s elite pending free agents, Linderbaum figures to be Baltimore’s top priority to re-sign. That may take making the three-time Pro Bowl selection the league’s highest-paid center, but can the Ravens afford to open another massive hole on their offensive line?
OT Joseph Noteboom — After beginning the season as the swing tackle, Noteboom was a healthy scratch in favor of fifth-round rookie Carson Vinson down the stretch. That makes his return unlikely, but you’d hope that change was more about Vinson’s development than Noteboom’s weaknesses.
OLB David Ojabo — Health concerns and roster shuffling preserved Ojabo’s roster spot whenever it looked like he’d be in danger of being cut, but the 2022 second-round pick never took advantage of opportunities. Injuries derailed Ojabo’s early development, but it’s time for both sides to move on.
FB Patrick Ricard — A calf injury cost the 31-year-old nearly two months, but Ricard reminded in the Week 17 win in Green Bay that he’s still an asset blocking for Derrick Henry. Ricard’s status will be determined by cost and how the new coaching staff views his place in the offense.
8P Jordan Stout — After an underwhelming first three seasons that left many questioning why Baltimore used a fourth-round pick on the Penn State product, Stout led the league in net punting and was a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection. Will Baltimore spend upwards of $4 million per year to keep him?
DE Brent Urban — Injuries on the defensive line led to the 34-year-old seeing his highest snap count since 2022. With Broderick Washington perceived to be a potential cap casualty, Urban returning for another season shouldn’t be ruled out, especially if he’s willing to play at the veteran minimum.
OLB Kyle Van Noy — Considering the 34-year-old wasn’t thrilled about playing out his two-year, $9 million contract after registering a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in 2024, you’d expect him to depart after a disappointing 2025. Still, Van Noy will go down as one of the better value signings in team history.
*WR Tylan Wallace (void) — One of Baltimore’s better special-teams players in recent years, Wallace saw his limited offensive role diminish and was a healthy scratch several times down the stretch. That usually doesn’t bode well for the future, but there are other questions at wide receiver to short through.
S Ar’Darius Washington — A torn Achilles cost Washington most of a contract year, but he was able to return for the final four games. Considering the way the undersized defensive back played in 2024, retaining him as the No. 3 safety over Gilman could be the preference, but that will depend on cost.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
The following players have accrued three years of service and have expiring contracts. The Ravens can tender each with a restricted free-agent offer, but other teams may then sign that player to an offer sheet. If that occurs, Baltimore has the right to match the offer and keep the aforementioned player. If the Ravens elect not to match, they would receive compensation based on which restricted tender they offered that player.
8There are three different tenders that can be made: a first-round tender (a projected $7.893 million in 2026) would award the competing team’s first-round selection, a second-round tender (a projected $5.658 million in 2026) would fetch the competing team’s second-round pick, and a low tender (a projected $3.453 million in 2026) would bring the competing team’s draft choice equal to the round in which the player was originally drafted. For example, a restricted free agent selected in the fifth round would be worth a fifth-round pick if given the low tender. If a player originally went undrafted and is given the low tender, the Ravens would simply hold the right to match the competing offer sheet and would not receive draft compensation if they declined.
With less heralded restricted free agents, the Ravens typically forgo a tender and instead attempt to re-sign them at cheaper rates.
The original round in which each restricted free agent was drafted is noted in parentheses:
RB Keaton Mitchell (undrafted) — This will be one of DeCosta’s more interesting calls as you wonder if other teams would try to sign Mitchell if he only gets the low tender. That said, the second-round tender would be pricey for a backup running back, which makes a reasonable extension the preference.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
These players have less than three years of accrued service and can be tendered a contract for the league minimum based on their length of service in the league. If tendered, these players are not free to negotiate with other teams. The Ravens tender most exclusive-rights free agents with the idea that there’s nothing promised beyond the opportunity to compete for a roster spot. Exclusive-rights tenders are not guaranteed, meaning a player can be cut at any point without consequence to the salary cap.
C Corey Bullock — Active for all 17 games, the former Maryland product was a good preseason story making the 53-man roster as a former practice-squad member, but it would be a major stretch to assume he’s any kind of a viable starting option if the Ravens are unable to re-sign Linderbaum.
8LB Carl Jones — After seeing special-teams action in four games, the 24-year-old Jones would have to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster if he’s tendered.
DT C.J. Okoye — Injuries created opportunities as well as a spot on the 53-man roster, so you’d expect Baltimore to want to continue developing the 6-foot-6, 370-pound defensive lineman from Nigeria who’s still relatively new to the game of football. Okoye will be interesting to watch this coming summer.
WR Dayton Wade — After spending the 2024 campaign on the practice squad, Wade was injured late last summer and spent the entire season on IR. Tendering him guarantees nothing, but Wade was less impressive in his second year than his first, making one wonder if Baltimore simply elects to move on.
