With the Ravens beginning the voluntary offseason program in Owings Mills earlier this week, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Kyle Hamilton and Zay Flowers mentioned “shock” reflecting on John Harbaugh’s firing. Mark Andrews said he’ll “forever have love and respect” for his former coach. But Flowers said it best describing the “new energy” coming from Jesse Minter and his staff. Time will tell whether that leads to greater success.
2. Asked what’ll be different under Minter, the sensibly honest Hamilton said, “I don’t think we’re reinventing the wheel or anything” while acknowledging needing to “reestablish dominance” on defense. Considering his roots with the Ravens and both Harbaugh brothers, Minter “seemed like a shoe-in” to be hired in Hamilton’s words.
3. It was fair to wonder how extension talks that proved unsuccessful before the new league year might impact the attendance of Lamar Jackson for the offseason program, so his presence on the first day was encouraging. You always want your quarterback in the building, especially with a new coaching staff.
4. That said, some nuance is appropriate. Missing the first day doesn’t mean a player will be absent until mandatory minicamp, and showing up at the start doesn’t ensure he’ll be there all spring. Generally speaking, I’m more interested in full-team OTA practices that won’t begin until next month.
5. Director of strength and conditioning Scott Elliott noted that he communicates with personal strength coaches and trainers of players who may not be in attendance. Whatever you can do to keep all parties on the same page will only benefit players when training camp begins.
6. The gambling world is again high on the Ravens with the schedule being a reason why. Still, I’m having a tough time putting Baltimore that high with a first-year head coach, an offensive coordinator who’s never called plays, and an offensive line currently worse than it was in 2025.
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7. I wouldn’t have paid Tyler Linderbaum anywhere near $27 million per year, but fiscal responsibility can’t play center this fall. There are some solid draft prospects, but there’s no slam-dunk first-round guy. If this draft doesn’t go perfectly, Eric DeCosta is asking a ton from offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford.
8. For the latest Nnamdi Madubuike update, Elliott declined to comment on his attendance, but he assured the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle is “working his tail off” and “in great shape.” At the very least, Madubuike doesn’t appear to be proceeding like someone who believes his career is over.
9. Flowers deferred to his agents when asked about the possibility signing a contract extension this offseason while reiterating he’d “absolutely” prefer to remain in Baltimore. As an aside, has a player on a rookie contract ever really stated otherwise?
10. “The more you go through in life and football, whatever it may be, the urgency has to pick up. We haven’t gotten to our end goal.” Andrews summed it up as it’s time for this era of Ravens players to break through after a sharp reset on the coaching front.
11. Speaking on the brutality of the game and how critical recovery is, Hamilton said, “I just turned 25 going on 50. Football ages you like dog years.” The All-Pro safety referenced taking more body-care cues from the 32-year-old Derrick Henry, which sounds like a smart idea.
12. The Ravens will unveil “a new uniform collection” next week, which would represent the most significant changes they’ve made since the 1990s. I’m rooting for more subtle changes and a number font that’s still easy to read. Bringing back the original “flying B” logo in some capacity would be fun.
