Feb 24, 2026
3 min read
Mel Kiper Jr. The Ravens selected another wide receiver in their latest mock draft.The athletic director believes Isaiah's catch against the Steelers was a mistake.How does getting the franchise title affect Kyle Pitts
Ian Rapoport provides insight into Tyler Linderbaum's contract negotiations
General manager Eric DeCosta said last week that the Ravens "strongly hope" to sign center Tyler Linderbaum to a contract extension, adding that "we still have some work to do" to finalize the deal.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport provides some insight into the negotiations.
"They tried to negotiate with him," Rapoport said on the "NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal" podcast.
Rapoport noted that the Ravens and left tackle Ronnie Stanley agreed to a three-year contract extension two days before free agency began last year.Stanley was one of the top pending free agents in the league, as Linderbaum is this year.
The statutory free agency solicitation period begins on March 9.
Linderbaum's next contract could reshape the central market.Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract in 2024 ($18 million per year), is the highest-paid position player in the league.
Mel Kiper Jr. had the Ravens select a wide receiver in their latest mock draft
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. He doubles down on the Ravens drafting wide receivers in the first round.
In his second mock draft, Kiper had Arizona wide receiver Jordin Tyson go No. 14 to the Ravens. The original choice of receiver for Baltimore was USC wide receiver Mackay Lemon.
"The Ravens should be back in 2026, but they'll be looking for a true outside receiver with the hands to absorb a ton of Lamar Jackson's targets," Kiper wrote."Going here with Tyson would allow Zay Flowers to live in the slot where he's best and improve the entire offense. Tyson caught eight touchdown passes in 2025 and excels at contested catches with his 6-foot frame and overall strength."
"This will be Baltimore's sixth first-round pick since 2015, but the team clearly needs more options in the passing game."
League executive suggests replay over Isaiah's potentially inaccurate touchdown catch against Steelers
It certainly won't make Ravens fans feel any better, but NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent suggested the replay decision that overturned Isaiah Likely's key catch in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers was a mistake.
Vincent said there were about five plays, including the one involving Likely, that were called for replays or re-assists that the league would likely want to reverse.
"Two games," Vincent said via the Washington Post's Mark Maske."There was a fair game ... [during] the Ravens-Steelers final. And then you had -- there was the Jets game. But it was a fair game -- it was interesting for the third step and they're talking about long-term football. So: What is that third step?"
The likely play occurred with less than three minutes remaining and would have given the Ravens the lead had the touchdown not been ruled out.The Steelers won 27-22 to take control of the AFC North.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote, "If the touchdown had counted, the Ravens probably would have won that game. "Change the outcome of that game, and the Ravens would have won the AFC North, as they would have finished tied with the Steelers in the standings and tied for a better division record.If the Ravens had won the AFC North, John Harbaugh might still be their coach.Someone else would coach the Giants.A lot of things would be different."
How Kyle Pitts gets the franchise tag will likely have an impact
Speaking of prospects, hitting free agency is probably the most important while the Atlanta Falcons are set to use the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts.
Up-and-comers Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and David Njoku have proven marks, but all will be 30 or older at the start of the season.He turns 26 in April and has shown flashes of TE1 potential, which is why his market looks strong.
With the Ravens signing veteran Mark Andrews to a three-year, $39.3 million contract extension in December, and Likely recently saying he wants to play for a team where he "can grow," Likely could play in another city next season.
"Lamar is so close to Jackson that it's hard to completely rule out a return to Baltimore," wrote Jeff Jerebic of The Athletics.However, over the past eight months, the Ravens have made no progress in their efforts to extend the roster, and they paid Andrews.It will be difficult."
Jackson made it known on social media that he hopes he doesn't go anywhere.
Tight end Charlie Kolar, 27, is also pending as a free agent.With Pitts off the market, Pro Football Focus ranked Kolar as the team's third-best tight end in this year's free agent class, behind only Goedert and Likely.
"A lot of people around the league have identified Kolar as a guy who will get paid more in free agency than most people thought," Zerebiec wrote.
Former Raven Bradley Bozeman has announced his retirement
Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman has announced his retirement after eight seasons, the first four with the Ravens.
Bozeman, a fan favorite and two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate during his time in Baltimore, was a sixth-round pick in 2018.He started every game at left guard in 2019 and 2020 before moving to center to start 2021.
Bozeman left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency in 2022 and spent two seasons with them before signing with the Chargers.
