The Ravens are heading into a new era for the 2026 season with new head coach Jesse Minter who has a defensive background. This Ravens team led by Lamar Jackson was at its best when now Seahawks’ Super Bowl winning head coach Mike MacDonald was the defensive coordinator of the team and the team had arguably the best defense in the NFL. The Ravens’ front office is trying to replicate that formula with the hire of Minter who was the sharpest young defensive mind on the market this offseason. I will analyze the personnel that the team has on the defensive side of the ball starting here with the front seven.
Set to start at the first of the defensive end positions is veteran Nnamdi Madubuike who is very productive and among the better players at his position. Madubuike, the former third rounder, has graded above average among players at his position in every season except one according to Pro Football Focus. Often Madubuike grades in the well above average range but never elite although not being too far on a few occasions.
Former third rounder Travis Jones is set to start at nose tackle and like Madubuike is a very good but not an elite player at the position. Jones in all four seasons that he has played in the NFL has graded in the above average to well above average to elite range. Jones has also consistently improved each and every year he has played in the NFL. Jones’ overall defense grades according to Pro Football Focus in the four seasons he has played in the NFL read as the following in chronological order, (63/142), (31/142), (21/147), (7/147). Jones has gone from a solid player to potentially a star in the NFL and could fully establish himself as a star if he continues his elite play from this past season.
Veteran John Jenkins is set to start at the other edge defender position and is a decent player at the position although he may be better suited as a backup and may transition to being a backup at some point during this upcoming season given the depth that the Ravens have at the position. Jenkins in 13 NFL seasons has graded above average 8 times and below average 5 times, and even when he does grade above average, he is never elite although being well above average on multiple occasions. Jenkins with his age and inconsistencies is likely better suited as a backup and may transition to that at some point in 2026 as stated previously. However, he still remains a decent starter for the Ravens as of now and could be an above average starter if he is on his A game.
Set to start at the first of the linebacker spots at will linebacker is 2023 4th rounder Tavius Robinson who has had his struggles in the NFL thus far and may transition to a reserve role at some point in 2026. Robinson has graded in the below average to well below average range in every season he has played thus far in the NFL. However, Robinson has never had the chance as of yet to put together a full season of starter snaps and has played primarily at the edge defender position and will now transition to linebacker. As Robinson gains more experience and potentially improves in a position change under a brand-new defensive coaching staff, Robinson could become a solid starter. But as of now Robinson is the weak link in Baltimore’s starting front seven and may transition to a reserve role especially given some of the talented backups that Baltimore has in their front seven as of now.
Former first round pick Roquan Smith is set to start at the second linebacker spot and is a strong option for the Ravens although struggling to remain consistent. Smith after being drafted so highly had a disappointing first stint with the Bears where he graded below average in multiple seasons outside of his rookie year and in his final season with the Bears graded as among the worst linebackers in the sport. Smith did show some potential with Chicago however and has since come into his own with the Ravens. In four seasons with the Ravens, Smith has graded above average three times and only barely below average the fourth time. Smith in four seasons with Baltimore has played at an elite to a borderline elite level for stretches and has started to live up to his draft hype. Smith may fully come into his own under the Ravens’ new big name defensive coaching staff.
2025 4th round rookie Teddye Buchanan is set to start at the third starting linebacker spot and had a decent rookie year that he is in line to build off of. Buchanan graded just slightly below average among players at his position as a rookie which is no small feat. He had a solid rookie season that he is in line to build off of and could emerge as a solid starter for the Ravens if not more than that. However, Buchanan also remains a strong option to transition to a reserve role given how unproven he is and some of the noteworthy talent that the Ravens have in their reserve front seven unit.
Newly acquired Trey Hendrickson from the Ravens is set to fill out Baltimore’s current starting front seven and Hendrickson is among the better if not the best defensive players in the sport today. Hendrickson in nine seasons in the NFL has made the pro bowl four times and garnered a first team all-pro selection on one occasion as well. Hendrickson has spent his entire career with the division rival Bengals and is entering his first season with the Ravens. The Bengals have been notorious for having subpar defenses at times while Baltimore is known for the opposite. Hendrickson may find another level to his game now playing for the Ravens’ defensive oriented franchise/culture.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Ravens have multiple notable names that as of now provide the team with some depth and/or could eventually transition to a starting role given some of the question marks in Baltimore’s starting front seven. Veteran Calais Campbell is still producing at a borderline elite rate despite approaching the age of 40. 2023 third round linebacker Trenton Simpson looked very strong taking snaps outside of his essential rookie season during 2025 and is certainly a starting caliber player that the Ravens currently have listed as a reserve. 2024 third round pick Adisa Issac has looked solid in very limited NFL action and could emerge as a strong reserve option given his high draft selection and solid play thus far. A very similar narrative can be written for 2025 6th rounder Aeneas Peebles who has also looked solid in very limited NFL action. The Ravens drafted Mike Green in the 2nd round in 2025 who although is coming off a poor rookie season will be in line to improve off of it and emerge as a strong player given his high draft selection. Baltimore also drafted Zion Young in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft who could also emerge in a big way for the Ravens given how highly he was taken. While veteran interior defensive lineman Broderick Washington has looked very strong at times as well. A breakdown of the Ravens’ front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Ravens’ starting front seven
LDE – Nnamdi Madubuike – B to B+
NT – Travis Jones – B+ to A-
RDE – John Jenkins – C+ to B-
WLB – Tavius Robinson – C
LILB – Roquan Smith – B to B+
RILB – Teddye Buchanan – 2025 4th rounder, C so far as rookie
SLB – Trey Hendrickson – A-
Notable Front Seven Reserves
DL/ED – Calais Campbell – B+ to A-
DL/ED – Broderick Washington – C+
LB – Trenton Simpson – B-
ED/LB – Adisa Isaac – B in 32 rookie snaps as 2024 3rd rounder, DNP in ’25
DL/ED – Aeneas Peebles – 2025 6th rounder, B in very limited rookie snaps
ED/LB – Mike Green – 2025 2nd rounder, looked poor as a rookie, in line to improve
LB/ED – Zion Young – 2026 2nd rounder
As you can see above the Ravens have one of the premier front sevens in the sport as of now. They have a couple of weak links in their starting lineup in Teddye Buchanan and Tavius Robinson. However, both of those players are still improving young players who if they do not improve will likely be replaced by one of the numerous capable reserves that the Ravens currently have. The Ravens also have the high-end caliber players who can produce at an elite level in Trey Hendrickson and Travis Jones in particular. While the Ravens as of now have a very deep front seven that is comprised of multiple capable starters and former high draft picks. The Ravens have a front seven that could be in the discussion for the best in the AFC if young players can come into their own.
