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Baltimore ended its head coaching search by bringing Jesse Minter back to Charm City on a five-year deal, making him the fourth head coach in franchise history. Minter isn't a name that moves the needle for casual fans, but inside the building — and around the league — his defensive credentials are the real deal. For a fanbase still stinging over losing Mike MacDonald two years ago, this hire should go a long way toward easing those wounds.
Now the real work begins.
With Minter in place, the Ravens can turn their full attention to locking up Lamar Jackson on a new deal — and they're doing it with fresh ammunition. Baltimore pulled off a blockbuster Friday night, landing pass rusher Maxx Crosby in a trade. Pair an MVP quarterback with one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the game, and suddenly the Ravens' ceiling looks very, very high.
The new league year is less than 48 hours away. Before the market opens, here are 10 street free agents — players released as salary-cap casualties — who make sense for Baltimore to target.
Before his 2025 injury, Vera-Tucker earned three straight seasons of 70.0-plus PFF overall grades and allowed the fourth-lowest pressure rate (2.8 percent) among guards in 2024.
Diggs was released by the Packers in January after playing two games in Green Bay. Diggs, who was waived by the Cowboys on December 30, started in the Packers' season finale against the Vikings and played one snap in their Wild Card matchup against the Bears. With no guaranteed money remaining on the five-year, $97 million extension he signed with Dallas in 2023, Green Bay freed up the roughly $15 million Diggs would've counted for against the cap in 2026. Entering the seventh year of his NFL career in 2026, Diggs hasn't played a full 17-game season since 2022, and just 22 games since signing the extension in 2023.
A player who performs best in press coverage, Washington released Lattimore, saving $18.5 million on the salary cap for 2026. A former Pro Bowl cornerback, Lattimore joined the Commanders in a 2024 midseason trade, but was limited to two appearances due to a hamstring injury, and nine games in 2025 before tearing his ACL in early November.
A veteran linebacker with over 900 career tackles, Edmunds was released by the Bears in a move that creates $15 million in cap space for the Bears days ahead of free agency. Edmunds led the Bears with 112 tackles last season to go along with nine passes defensed, four interceptions, one sack, and a fumble recovery despite missing four games with a groin injury.
On Wednesday, the Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry due to a failed physical examination. Over the past two seasons, Cushenberry played in 23 games for the Titans, including 15 games in 2025. He joined the team after spending four seasons with the Denver Broncos. Cushenberry's 2024 season was cut short because of an Achilles injury.
Smith was acquired by the Steelers last year in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. In 2025, Smith had 38 receptions for 222 yards, a 5.8-yard average, and two touchdowns.
Moving on from Johnson marks one of the first significant changes as the Bills transition to a new defensive philosophy—switching from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 scheme under new coordinator Jim Leonhard. In 2025, Johnson completed his eighth year with the Bills, participating in 13 games and making eight starts. He recorded 57 tackles, four passes defended, and one tackle for loss. Throughout his eight-season career in Buffalo, Johnson accumulated 572 tackles, 48 passes defended, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, six interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He developed into one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
Becton faced challenges last season after signing a two-year, $20 million contract with the Chargers last March. The six-year veteran struggled with injuries throughout the season and expressed frustration with the Chargers at one point last November.
Last season, Daniels signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Dolphins, who hoped he would solidify their right guard position. In Week 1, Daniels suffered a pec injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Cappa signed with the Raiders in 2025 after spending three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was originally selected in the third round as the 94th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and spent his first four seasons with the team. In his sole season with the Raiders, Cappa appeared in 17 games, starting eight of them as a right guard and center.
Dissly's departure signals a potential overhaul of the tight end room under new Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel, as Oronde Gadsden is now the only player under contract in that room. Dissly's best season came in 2024, when he set career highs with 50 catches for 481 yards, making him one of Justin Herbert's favorite targets. He battled injuries in both seasons, including in 2025, when he had only 11 receptions for 97 yards across just nine games.
Rapp joined in 2023 and played well enough in his first two seasons, when he started 18 of 30 games.
Taylor appeared in 12 regular-season games but again battled injuries in 2025, missing multiple weeks with a severe elbow/triceps injury. Taylor is already a possible candidate to be cut this offseason for financial reasons, and 2026 will be year three of a four-year, $80 million contract he signed in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 10 available veterans Ravens could sign ahead of free agency
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Now the real work begins.
With Minter in place, the Ravens can turn their full attention to locking up Lamar Jackson on a new deal — and they're doing it with fresh ammunition. Baltimore pulled off a blockbuster Friday night, landing pass rusher Maxx Crosby in a trade. Pair an MVP quarterback with one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the game, and suddenly the Ravens' ceiling looks very, very high.
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The new league year is less than 48 hours away. Before the market opens, here are 10 street free agents — players released as salary-cap casualties — who make sense for Baltimore to target.
New York Jets: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Before his 2025 injury, Vera-Tucker earned three straight seasons of 70.0-plus PFF overall grades and allowed the fourth-lowest pressure rate (2.8 percent) among guards in 2024.
CB Trevon Diggs
Diggs was released by the Packers in January after playing two games in Green Bay. Diggs, who was waived by the Cowboys on December 30, started in the Packers' season finale against the Vikings and played one snap in their Wild Card matchup against the Bears. With no guaranteed money remaining on the five-year, $97 million extension he signed with Dallas in 2023, Green Bay freed up the roughly $15 million Diggs would've counted for against the cap in 2026. Entering the seventh year of his NFL career in 2026, Diggs hasn't played a full 17-game season since 2022, and just 22 games since signing the extension in 2023.
CB Marshon Lattimore
A player who performs best in press coverage, Washington released Lattimore, saving $18.5 million on the salary cap for 2026. A former Pro Bowl cornerback, Lattimore joined the Commanders in a 2024 midseason trade, but was limited to two appearances due to a hamstring injury, and nine games in 2025 before tearing his ACL in early November.
LB Tremaine Edmunds
A veteran linebacker with over 900 career tackles, Edmunds was released by the Bears in a move that creates $15 million in cap space for the Bears days ahead of free agency. Edmunds led the Bears with 112 tackles last season to go along with nine passes defensed, four interceptions, one sack, and a fumble recovery despite missing four games with a groin injury.
OL Lloyd Cushenberry
On Wednesday, the Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry due to a failed physical examination. Over the past two seasons, Cushenberry played in 23 games for the Titans, including 15 games in 2025. He joined the team after spending four seasons with the Denver Broncos. Cushenberry's 2024 season was cut short because of an Achilles injury.
TE Jonnu Smith
Smith was acquired by the Steelers last year in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. In 2025, Smith had 38 receptions for 222 yards, a 5.8-yard average, and two touchdowns.
CB Taron Johnson
Moving on from Johnson marks one of the first significant changes as the Bills transition to a new defensive philosophy—switching from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 scheme under new coordinator Jim Leonhard. In 2025, Johnson completed his eighth year with the Bills, participating in 13 games and making eight starts. He recorded 57 tackles, four passes defended, and one tackle for loss. Throughout his eight-season career in Buffalo, Johnson accumulated 572 tackles, 48 passes defended, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, six interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He developed into one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
OL Mekhi Becton
Becton faced challenges last season after signing a two-year, $20 million contract with the Chargers last March. The six-year veteran struggled with injuries throughout the season and expressed frustration with the Chargers at one point last November.
OL James Daniels
Last season, Daniels signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Dolphins, who hoped he would solidify their right guard position. In Week 1, Daniels suffered a pec injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
OL Alex Cappa
Cappa signed with the Raiders in 2025 after spending three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was originally selected in the third round as the 94th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and spent his first four seasons with the team. In his sole season with the Raiders, Cappa appeared in 17 games, starting eight of them as a right guard and center.
TE Will Dissly
Dissly's departure signals a potential overhaul of the tight end room under new Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel, as Oronde Gadsden is now the only player under contract in that room. Dissly's best season came in 2024, when he set career highs with 50 catches for 481 yards, making him one of Justin Herbert's favorite targets. He battled injuries in both seasons, including in 2025, when he had only 11 receptions for 97 yards across just nine games.
DB Taylor Rapp
Rapp joined in 2023 and played well enough in his first two seasons, when he started 18 of 30 games.
Jawaan Taylor, RT, Chiefs
Taylor appeared in 12 regular-season games but again battled injuries in 2025, missing multiple weeks with a severe elbow/triceps injury. Taylor is already a possible candidate to be cut this offseason for financial reasons, and 2026 will be year three of a four-year, $80 million contract he signed in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 10 available veterans Ravens could sign ahead of free agency
Continue reading...
