The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2026 season as one of the NFL's biggest question marks. With Jesse Minter taking the reins from longtime head coach John Harbaugh, the team faces a new era filled with both promise and uncertainty.

This offseason, the Ravens saw key players like Tyler Linderbaum and Isaiah Likely depart without direct replacements. Meanwhile, the addition of star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson adds a fascinating new dimension. At the heart of it all remains Lamar Jackson, but the question lingers: Are the Ravens still contenders?

According to NFL.com's Eric Edholm, the answer is a resounding yes. He ranks Baltimore's roster as the fourth-best in the entire league. "The Ravens fell off last season, and longtime head coach John Harbaugh is gone, but there’s still a deep well of talent in Baltimore for new skipper Jesse Minter," Edholm wrote. "Lamar Jackson has endured ups and downs in his play, and injuries bit him a year ago, but he remains the centerpiece of a talented and still-dangerous team."

On paper, the argument is compelling. The Ravens boast a core of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Kyle Hamilton, and newly acquired Trey Hendrickson—a lineup that would make any defensive coordinator nervous.

However, there are cracks in the armor. Currently, Corey Bullock is penciled in as the starting center, and Mark Andrews stands as the only proven tight end on the roster. That's a thin margin for error in a division as competitive as the AFC North. If Nnamdi Madubuike can return to full health, he could be a game-changer up front, but as of now, calling this the fourth-best roster in football feels like a stretch.

Time remains for Baltimore to add more pieces, but for now, the Ravens are a team with star power and significant question marks—a combination that makes them one of the most intriguing stories to watch in 2026.