May is ending. We're still months from Week 1 of the NFL season and an AFC Divisional Round rematch featuring the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Fans on both sides are entertaining something familiar: expectations.
After seeing the Kansas City Chiefs get throttled during the most recent Super Bowl, the three-time AFC champions seem more vulnerable than they have been. Don't expect them to roll over and play dead, though. They beat Baltimore at home in the title game almost two years ago. Then, they extinguished the Bills last season.
The flock has a chance as long as Lamar Jackson leads the charge. Championship windows close quickly in the NFL, though. The coming campaign adds pressure because several vital cogs in the Ravens' machine may be enjoying swan songs.
The following Ravens could be auditioning for other teams this season.
On May 14, Derrick Henry agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with the Ravens worth $30 million, with $25 million guaranteed. Thirty-five members of Baltimore's current 90-man roster are signed to deals that expire after the coming season.
Kyle Van Noy is a proven veteran and one such member. Tyler Linderbaum is a priority and a former first-round draftee. That gives the Ravens a fifth-year option they can exercise on him in 2026, but the conversation won't be as easy for some other familiar faces. Might the players on the following list be entering their final seasons with the only team they have ever played for?
Mark Andrews, tight end
Seven seasons in Baltimore have established Mark Andrews as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He has started 55 of his 104 in-game regular-season appearances. He has started four of the eight postseason games he has appeared in. He has hauled in 465 receptions for 5,845 yards and reached the end zone 51 times.
Baltimore has drafted well. They added two tight ends during the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That could make an aging Andrews the odd man out, but believe it or not, the youngsters are in just as much danger of the Ravens moving on as the established veteran is.
Charlie Kolar, tight end
The following statement could apply to Charlie Kolar or the guy the Ravens selected 11 spots later, Isaiah Likely. Baltimore could give up one for the other.
Kolar is the better blocker and has no issues with doing the dirty work. Likely is the better receiving threat. Might that be enough motivation for the Ravens to keep the latter? Is it possible the only team they have ever known might move off Andrews and hang on to both of them with team-friendly deals?
Odafe Oweh, EDGE
Baltimore drafted Mike Green during Round 2 of the most recent NFL Draft. The 2025-26 season doubles as Oweh's contract season, which the Ravens used to exercise his fifth-year option. Stay tuned.
Working in Oweh's favor is that he's coming off a ten-sack season during the most recent campaign. If he duplicates that production level, it will be hard for the Ravens to let him walk. Keep an eye on that storyline. It will be discussed all season.
Ar'Darius Washington, safety
After three forgettable seasons to begin his career, Ar'Darius Washington appeared in all 17 games with ten starts last season. He racked up 64 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.
Then, he started both of the Ravens' postseason games and added 11 tackles. It seemed like the light bulb had finally come on before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.. There are two issues if you're a former undrafted rookie free agent.
This is a contract season, and Baltimore drafted Malaki Starks in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. What are the chances they'll offer a significant extension to the third safety on their depth chart when other extensions seem more pressing?
No one should be shocked if Washington returns. No one should be surprised if he doesn't.
