The Baltimore Ravens are set to kick off their 2026 season this coming Sunday, with a trip to Indianapolis for a showdown with the Colts. After a long offseason and summer period, a much-anticipated season is now within days of commencing.
Many predictions and projections have been made about what will transpire for the Ravens this coming season, a lot of which are realistic. Let’s go a bit further and run through some bolder predictions that, while maybe less realistic, are still possible. Here are five bold predictions for the Ravens in 2026.
The starting center competition was finally settled earlier this week, at least for now, when head coach Jesse Minter named Gwyn the team’s starter. Minter was clear that this was a decision for Week 1 and Ethan Pocic is still working his way back into form from injury, which suggests Gwyn’s leash as the starter will be short. This is plenty fair given the 27-year-old has never started an NFL game, whereas Pocic is much more proven and experienced.
However, Gwyn has shown a lot of promise in training camp and the preseason. He possesses good athletic traits and is a seamless scheme fit with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, whom he spent time with in Atlanta. The Ravens signed Gwyn shortly after hiring Ledford. Can Gwyn fully fill the shoes of Tyler Linderbaum as a perennial Pro Bowler? Most likely not, but the stage is set for him to play well enough to maintain a grip on the starting job for the full season. To go a step a further, if he performs adequately, the Ravens could pursue signing him to an affordable multi-year contract extension, ensuring continuity at the position and eliminating the need to find another starter again next year.
The Ravens have high hopes for each of their rookie tight ends to contribute right away. Frankly, they need at least one of Hibner or Josh Cuevas to develop into at least a complimentary receiving role to help fill the absences of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. Between the two, Hibner projects to be a more likely instant producer given his athletic profile and yards-after-catch ability.
While Mark Andrews has long been the team’s leading receiver at the position, the veteran has seen a decline in production and athleticism in recent years. 2025 was Andrews’ least productive statistical season since his rookie campaign. He can still be of value to the Ravens’ offense as a security blanket and chain-mover on third downs, but incorporating Hibner in a larger capacity as the season progresses makes sense. Andrews averaged only 24.8 receiving yards per game last year. Hibner has the upside to receive a handful of catches per game if he develops in the offensive attack, and the downfield yards-after-catch skills to turn his receptions into solid yardage.
After quickly developing into a surefire starter in his rookie season, Wiggins’ 2025 campaign was more up and down than many anticipated. Wiggins allowed almost 800 receiving yards but was targeted more than any other cornerback (112 times) and was in a defensive ecosystem that was in-flux many times, particularly in the secondary. Under Minter and new specialization coaches, Wiggins is in position to have a standout season.
The 23-year-old is the team’s best coverage corner and thrives as a sticky press man defender. His athletic traits and ball skills have been on display frequently during his two career seasons, it’s just a matter of playing more consistently and putting it all together. Many other cornerbacks in recent years have made a jump to stardom in the middle of their rookie contract, such as Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon. Wiggins may not instantly become one of the few best corners in the league, but if he’s a starring presence on one of the top defensive units in the league this coming season, All-Pro recognition is within reach.
The last time a safety won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award was in 2010, when Troy Polamalu earned the trophy for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before that, it was Ravens’ legend Ed Reed in 2004, and only two other instances ever since the award commenced. So, it’s very rare for a safety to win DPOY, but Kyle Hamilton is also rare talent who’s capable of breaking the norm.
Hamilton’s reputation precedes him now through four career seasons, as a perennial All-Pro and widely recognized as the top overall safety in the league. Even so, it’s still plenty possible that there are heights he’s yet to reach as a player. Hamilton is primed to thrive in Minter’s defensive scheme, where defensive backs are put in the best position to succeed and maximize their talents. Minter got the best out of veteran Derwin James, who is similar to Hamilton in terms of versatility and skill set, but the latter is younger and more in his prime.
In order to actually win the DPOY award, Hamilton would need to rack up notable counting stats like forced turnovers and sacks, while coming up with highlight-reel plays in big moments. If he does this and is again the defensive leader for a top-ranked defensive unit, and hopefully one of the league’s best teams, Hamilton’s national recognition could apex to another level.
The Coach of the Year (COTY) award is often a narrative-driven award, where the winner is the head coach of a team that fits one or more of the following criteria: exceeded expectations in a big way, experienced a significant turnaround from the season prior, or finished atop or near the top of the NFL standings. If all goes according to plan for the Ravens in 2026, Minter may perfectly fit the bill for all of these.
It’s not an extremely bold prediction to say Minter will win COTY, given he’s one of the betting favorites. However, given the unpredictable nature of NFL season year-to-year, there’s no telling what unforeseen coaches can emerge as COTY candidates. Minter profiles as a real potential winner given the Ravens underwhelmed and missed the playoffs last season, setting the stage for a turnaround season where the head coach is a leading factor. If the Ravens have an elite defense, in particular, that will bode well for Minter’s chances as well.
Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle would be just how good the Ravens are in the regular season. If they can win the division and have one of the best records in the conference, which are achievable feats, Minter’s case to be named Coach of the Year will only become stronger.
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