Jaylinn Hawkins
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The Ravens have been praised for signing Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency
The Baltimore Ravens have had perhaps the most chaotic start to the offseason of any team across the NFL. With their Maxx Crosby trade fiasco and then their decision to turn around and sign Trey Hendrickson in free agency, the Ravens have completely shaken up the league in an attempt to make a Super Bowl run in 2026.
The big moves are obviously going to draw the most attention, but Baltimore has made several under-the-radar additions as well. One of the biggest of the bunch saw them sign former New England Patriots starting safety Jaylinn Hawkins to a two-year, $10 million contract, and that decision recently earned the team some high praise from Bleacher Report.
Ravens Receive High Marks for Jaylinn Hawkins
In recent years, the Ravens have used a pair of first-round picks to address the safety position, as they have brought Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks to town. However, Baltimore loves having three safeties on the field because that allows them to use Hamilton in a Swiss Army knife role all over the field.
Last season, the Ravens didn’t really have any options they could turn to beyond Hamilton and Starks, which limited the overall productivity of their defense. That led to the addition of Hawkins, who is fresh off playing a big role in helping the Patriots make an unexpected run to Super Bowl LX last season.
With Hawkins in tow (on a cheap deal nonetheless), Baltimore now has the ability to play its preferred style of defense. And if you ask Bleacher Report, while the signing of a guy like Hendrickson is going to draw attention, they believe that bringing Hawkins to town could end up being one of their most impactful moves of the offseason.
“Them bringing him in, this alters their defense just like that … They already have Kyle Hamilton, they already have Malaki Starks, but they’re adding a good veteran in Jaylinn Hawkins, somebody who is a certified playmaker, somebody who helped shore up that Patriots defense.”
Ravens Still Have Work to Do After Solidifying Safety Position
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 17: Jaylinn Hawkins #21 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Jaylinn Hawkins #21 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Hawkins enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025, as he racked up 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions, six pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 15 games of action. With Hamilton and Starks playing alongside him now, Hawkins will likely slide into a deeper-lying role, with Hamilton playing in the box more frequently.
While the safety position is solidified, there are still areas of need across the roster. Adding another playmaker or two on offense would certainly be nice, and the offensive line does need to be shored up after Tyler Linderbaum departed in free agency. With the 2026 NFL Draft drawing near, Baltimore will be one of the top teams to keep tabs on, and as the beginning of the offseason indicated, an explosive move could come at any time for this squad.