Jan. 21, 2026, 12:53 p.m. ET
Baltimore has begun the process of rebuilding its roster after a 26-24 loss in Pittsburgh in Week 18 that set in motion John Harbaugh’s firing, the Steelers’ loss to the Texans, Mike Tomlin’s stepping down, and the former Ravens coach landing with the New York Giants. While the franchise won’t undergo a complete rebuild, there will be overhauls made at key positions, and Eric DeCosta should have plenty of draft capital to help reload. Last spring, Baltimore used all 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, and Eric DeCosta could be loaded for 2026 after losing several key free agents who played elsewhere this season.
For Baltimore, there will be questions about quarterback Lamar Jackson and a defense that melted down late.
The Ravens will initially have 22 unrestricted free agents, according to Over The Cap, with big names like Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Kyle Van Noy, Dre’Mont Jones, Alohi Gilman, Chidobe Awuzie, and Ar’Darius Washington among those Eric DeCosta will have to decide on. Odafe Oweh was one of the biggest names on the list, but he was traded, while Kyle Hamilon and Mark Andrews signed huge contract extensions.
The new league year is fast approaching, and with over one month until the Super Bowl, the NFL released key dates for the calendar year. The most important date after the Super Bowl is the early negotiation window. That’ll open on March 9, giving teams two days to negotiate before free agency and the new league year kicks off on March 11.
With the off-season in full swing, we’re taking an early look at the one player the Baltimore Ravens can’t afford to lose.
C Tyler Linderbaum: UFA
The Harbaugh era is underway in New York, with the Giants’ official press conference on Tuesday announcing that the former Ravens coach, who has the 14th-most wins in NFL history and led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title, has been named the 21st head coach of the New York Football Giants.
Harbaugh, 63, amassed 180 of Baltimore’s 276 regular-season wins in franchise history, with 12 playoff berths in 18 seasons, including six division titles, four AFC Championship Game appearances, and a win in Super Bowl XLVII.
Connor Hughes of SNY reports that Harbaugh is prepared to use some of his former players as culture setters this offseason. The most significant Raven he’ll throw big money at is the Pro Bowl center.
Linderbaum, the team’s top pending free agent, said he “absolutely” wants to return to Baltimore. Still, that was before Harbaugh was fired. The Ravens did not pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, but he still could seek a deal that puts him in the top five highest-paid centers. A 2022 first-round pick out of Iowa (25th overall), Lnderbaum has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, and how he views the Ravens will be something to watch with March 9 approaching.
