Lamar Jackson
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The Baltimore Ravens are urged to reunite star QB Lamar Jackson with a "low-buy" Super Bowl winner in free agency.
Keeping Lamar Jackson upright and healthy remain the priorities for the Baltimore Ravens, even after changing from John Harbaugh to rookie head coach Jesse Minter, and the new regime can further safeguard their franchise quarterback by reuniting him with a “low-buy” Super Bowl winner still available in 2026 NFL free agency.
It’s an idea put forward by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who believes Mekhi Becton represents “a nice buy-low candidate. He struggled with the Los Angeles Chargers last year, but he played really good football in 2024 and resurrected his career.”
The “really good football” Zrebiec referenced was produced by Becton as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles team that won Super Bowl LIX. Most of that success was made possible by a massive and physical offensive line powered by big-bodied maulers like Becton.
Putting a similarly formidable group in front of Jackson should be the Ravens’ aim this offseason, and Becton is a logical fit because of his familiarity with the two-time NFL MVP. As Zrebiec pointed out, “Baltimore would presumably provide a comfortable environment for him. At Louisville, he played under Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and blocked for Lamar Jackson.”
Putting a college teammate in front of Jackson can move the Ravens one step closer to completing a necessary overhaul of the interior of the O-line. The process has already started with a similar reunion earlier in free agency, but doubts persist about the other guard spot.
Mekhi Becton an Ideal Fit in Front of Lamar Jackson
Becton can answer those questions, even though “the Ravens say they are comfortable with the idea of either Emery Jones Jr. or Andrew Vorhees starting,” according to Zrebiec. Vorhees just got paid, but neither he nor Jones, who struggled to shake off a troubling shoulder injury after being drafted in the third-round last year, offer the same potential to dominate as Becton.
The latter is a 6-foot-7, 363-pound left tackle who played with Jackson and Louisville in 2017, but has produced best football in the pros on the inside. Becton’s fit fot the Ravens would depend largely on where the returning John Simpson will be deployed.
Simpson has “played LG almost exclusively in his career, so Emery Jones Jr. could be heading to RG. Jones played RT at LSU,” according to The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer.
Simpson allowed a career-high 5 sacks and 29 pressures last year, per PFF.
He's played LG almost exclusively in his career, so Emery Jones Jr. could be heading to RG. Jones played RT at LSU.
Not the first domino I expected. https://t.co/MSF6xh9NX6
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) March 9, 2026
This use of personnel makes sense on the surface, but Becton offers a greater pedigree and more physical dominance than Jones. If those things can be acquired at the “low-buy” rate Zrebiec anticipates, the Ravens would be smart to put a familiar face among Jackson’s blockers.
Some familiarity would be welcome when the star QB1 is still waiting for his former center to replaced.
Ravens Still Need Tyler Linderbaum Replacement
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta took an obvious risk when he opted against meeting a key contract demand of three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum. The 2022 first-round draft pick had matured into one of the more consistent forces over the ball in the entire league.
Jackson, in particular, had come to trust and rely on Linderbaum’s competency. The center and quarterback relationship is a key one, and the Ravens need a clear plan for restoring a union that works for Jackson.
Perhaps that strategy will include revisiting the veteran market, although options have thinned. Maybe DeCosta will instead turn his focus to the 2026 NFL draft class and hope to find another Linderbaum, with prospects like Sam Hecht of Kansas State or Iowa’s Logan Jones fitting the bill.
Whichever route the Ravens take, Linderbaum’s replacement will have an easier time with a proven guard either side of him.