Getty
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta sent the team a worrying message ahead of 2026 NFL free agency.
Anyone expecting the post-John Harbaugh era to prompt the Baltimore Ravens to become big spenders in 2026 NFL free agency is in for a rude awakening, based on a worrying message sent by general manager Eric DeCosta.
The latter isn’t planning to change the way he approaches the veteran market as he embarks on building the first roster for rookie head coach Jesse Minter. Instead, DeCosta told “The Inner Circle” podcast, featuring Todd France, “I don’t get as involved with free agency so I’m not gonna spend as much time… we don’t spend a lot of money in free agency, as Todd knows, that’s why he always hated the Baltimore Ravens. We’ve never been a free agency team. We’re a draft and develop team.”
These comments ticked a lot of boxes for those football voices and analysts who believe building through the draft has more merit than shelling out cash in free agency. It’s an approach that’s earned the Ravens a lot of plaudits over the years, but DeCosta doubling down on a draft-centric strategy is also confirmation it’s business as usual at M&T Bank Stadium.
More of the same may not be welcome after the team missed the playoffs in 2025 and perennially failed to win the biggest games under Minter’s predecessor Harbaugh.
Eric DeCosta Happy With Status Quo
Team building is going to stay the same in Baltimore, so fans shouldn’t expect obvious team weaknesses to be solved in free agency. It means premium free agents at wide receiver, along the offensive line, in the secondary and from a loaded edge-rusher class won’t rock up in a Ravens uniform this offseason.
So there won’t be any Tyreek Hill or Kyle Pitts for Lamar Jackson to throw to, nor a Rasheed Walker or Braden Smith to better protect the franchise quarterback.
Minter’s expertise is on the defensive side of the ball, but he and his chosen coordinator, Anthony Weaver, shouldn’t expect Jaelan Phillips or Trey Hendrickson to arrive to boost a stale pass rush. There also won’t be a Jamel Dean or Josh Jobe to upgrade an increasingly fragile depth chart at cornerback.
If DeCosta dips his toe into the free-agency pool, he’ll likely continue his usual method. Which is to find ageing names who can provide short-term fixes at problem positions.
The problem is this approach has hardly worked.
Ravens’ Free Agency Policy Hasn’t Worked
Bar the odd success, like bulldozing running back Derrick Henry and versatile outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, the Ravens haven’t had a lot of luck addressing needs with 30-somethings. It hasn’t worked at receiver, where both Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins barely made a dent as go-to targets.
Tackling obvious team weaknesses on the cheap hasn’t made problems go away. Rather, it’s led to roster deficiencies becoming fatal flaws at the business end of seasons.
Like when the Ravens mustered just 30 sacks and grabbed a mere 17 interceptions in the last campaign. A defense lacking big-play potential couldn’t pick off a pass against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the decisive, late-season defeat.
Putting the draft first has kept the Ravens consistent and respected, but getting over the Super Bowl hump may require a change in tact to something bolder than the status quo.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
More Heavy on Ravens
Loading more stories