All articles tagged with #jesse minter
At the Ravens’ first open practice of OTAs under new coach Jesse Minter, receiver Zay Flowers and rising sophomore Tyler Loop drew praise while a second-year cornerback impressed; a brief Derrick Henry injury scare added a note of caution as the team begins to take shape for the season.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter is ending Organized Team Activities with a new closing drill, the 'At our best when our best is needed' period, to foster competition and accountability. OTAs feature fast-paced 11-on-11 drills with no live contact, and a recurring medicine-ball toss where the offense has dominated; earlier sessions included a two-minute plank challenge. The approach signals a new cultural imprint and the expectation that players perform at their best when their number is called, while Minter installs his schemes and maintains the Ravens’ hard-working ethos.
Baltimore opened its OTAs under new coach Jesse Minter with a fast, finish-every-play mindset, a loud, communicative defense led by Roquan Smith, and a quick start into 11-on-11 drills. Center competition began with Danny Pinter impressing on eye test metrics at 6‑4, 306 pounds, while rookie tight end Josh Cuevas stood out with multiple catches, including a diving grab. Devontez Walker hauled in the first OTAs deep ball and Ja’Kobi Lane also made a notable sideline catch, as the offense’s attacking line play and versatility at receiver showed promise ahead of pads.
Baltimore opens 2026 with a favorable early slate to help new coach Jesse Minter gel, including a Week 3 Brazil game against the Cowboys, and avoids last year’s playoff teams until November. The middle of the season features a tougher stretch with five playoff teams (Bills, Jaguars, Chargers, Panthers, Texans) in Weeks 8-12, followed by a Week 13 bye. The Ravens then close with four straight AFC North games (Weeks 15-18) — including a New Year’s Eve showdown with the Bengals and a Week 18 visit to the Steelers — creating a high-stakes finish after a demanding but manageable run to start.
The Baltimore Ravens added former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia as an undrafted free agent and will give him a chance to compete for the third QB spot behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Ravens coach Jesse Minter praised Pavia as a “force multiplier” at Vanderbilt, noting he improved teammates and will enter with a clean slate. Pavia, a four-year starter across two programs, finished his college career with 10,255 passing yards and 88 TDs (27 INTs) and 3,098 rushing yards with 31 rushing TDs over 53 games.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers says John Harbaugh’s heavy, full-pad practices wore players down and contributed to injuries; with former Ravens assistant Jesse Minter taking over, Flowers expects a lighter workload and fresher players, after Minter reassured him that practice will be challenging but easier on the body.
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said the defense has not met the new regime’s standard under head coach Jesse Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, with the offseason program aimed at re-establishing defensive dominance after last season’s struggles; Hamilton is encouraged by the messaging and expects a quicker turnaround for Baltimore’s D.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter says Trey Hendrickson will boost Baltimore’s pass rush and make coverage easier by drawing attention, after the team signed him to a four-year, $112 million deal following a failed trade for Maxx Crosby. The move fills a key need as other offseason pieces depart (e.g., Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely), and Baltimore still has 11 picks in the 2026 draft with multiple avenues to add more through free agency, trades, or the draft.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter says the defense will deploy Trey Hendrickson to disrupt opposing quarterbacks by drawing attention and creating favorable one-on-one matchups, leveraging his proven sack production to wreck the game.
On day one of the 2026 NFL free-agency window, the winners include Ravens head coach Jesse Minter after Baltimore traded for Maxx Crosby, Trent McDuffie moving to the Rams with a four-year, $124 million extension, Brett Veach adding Kenneth Walker III and securing Travis Kelce’s return, Alec Pierce re-signing with the Colts (four years, up to $116 million), and Tyler Linderbaum becoming the highest-paid center with an $81 million deal for the Raiders; losers include Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for missing Crosby, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after Jaelan Phillips left, and Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. whose situation is clouded by injury and a regime change in Atlanta.
Baltimore is leveraging its new coaching staff and the NFL Combine to retool quickly. The Ravens are eyeing Vega Ioane at No. 14 to bolster the interior offensive line, view Akheem Mesidor as a fit to boost the edge, and consider defensive/trench upgrades with prospects like Peter Woods. With Likely and Kolar set to hit free agency, two tight ends could be added, and interior line depth will be crucial if Linderbaum departs; the front office and scouting staff aim to convert change into early returns.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr named Ravens head coach Jesse Minter a winner at the NFL Scouting Combine, praising his public-facing remarks about voluntary workouts and his push to replace banalities with high-level coaching. Orr noted Minter’s approach—focusing on a cerebral, self-sustaining defensive front rooted in strong coaching—that could help Baltimore attract players and set a strong tone for the team’s off-season and future draft strategy.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter said Lamar Jackson shouldn’t necessarily run more, arguing that an offense built around under-center, downhill run game and boot action can help him thrive while staying healthy. He stressed balance between leveraging Jackson’s athleticism and protecting him in key moments. Separately, GM Eric DeCosta revealed Baltimore has offered a market-setting deal to center Tyler Linderbaum and indicated an extension is necessary as the offseason window opens, with chatter connecting the Ravens to potential additions like Trey Hendrickson and DeAndre Hopkins.
New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter announced four assistant coaches—Dwayne Ledford (Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator), Mike Mickens (Pass Game Coordinator/Secondary), Tyler Santucci (Inside Linebackers Coach), and Charlie Gelman (Game Management Coordinator/Defensive Assistant)—as part of a staff also including Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator.
New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter plans to deploy Kyle Hamilton as a 'weapon' near the point of attack, moving the versatile safety from roaming roles to a closer-to-the-action position to anchor a revamped defense and return Baltimore to the top of the NFL, leveraging a roster loaded with talent and a focus on fundamentals.