How will Minter go about improving the Ravens defensively?
Baltimore’s defense ranked 6th overall in 2023, 10th in 2024, and fell to 24th this past season. The Ravens expect Minter to stop that decline. He’s considered one of the brightest defensive minds in the NFL, and his reputation only grew as the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator over the past two seasons.
The Chargers had the league’s fifth-ranked defense in 2025 and were No. 1 in red-zone defense in 2024. Minter took full advantage of having versatile safety Derwin James, deploying him in multiple ways as a blitzer, run defender, or in pass coverage.
At Michigan, Minter used now-Washington Commanders defensive back Mikey Sainristil as a versatile nickelback who helped the Wolverines win a national title.
In Baltimore, Minter will have perhaps the game’s ultimate chess piece in All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. Cerebral inside linebacker Roquan Smith is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season. Safety Malaki Starks, linebacker Teddye Buchanan, and pass rusher Mike Green are talented young players just one season into their careers.
Young players have a history of blossoming under Minter, like former Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who had 7.5 sacks in 12 games for the Chargers after being traded midseason. Minter certainly has designs to get Baltimore’s defense back to the level it’s accustomed to.