RSS Ravens Team Notes

[Baltimore Ravens]

TE Charlie Kolar signing with Los Angeles Chargers on a 3-year deal

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 4: Charlie Kolar #88 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After Isaiah Likely agreed to terms with the New York Giants earlier in the day, the Ravens have lost their other free agent tight end to another team as well. As first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Charlie Kolar is signing with the Los Angeles Chargers to a three-year, $24.3 million contract.

The Chargers are signing TE Charlie Kolar to a three-year $24.3 million contract that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid blocking tight end, sources tell The Insiders. @SteveCaric of @WassermanNFL negotiated the deal, which includes $17M guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/4Hoi76juRq

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026

Kolar was considered more probable to be re-signed by the Ravens than Likely given his lower market value. He did in fact sign for less than his counterpart but ultimately priced himself out of Baltimore all the same. Kolar’s $17 million guaranteed is a nice payday for the former fourth-round pick who was a solid rotational contributor for the Ravens over the past four seasons.

He’s primarily a blocking tight end but has proven to be a capable receiving threat when targeted. In 47 career games, he totaled 30 receptions for 409 yards and four touchdowns. Kolar posted career-highs in all of these categories in 2025. He should play a prominent role for Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh, where a number of other ex-Ravens players have found their way to in recent years.

With Kolar’s departure, Mark Andrews is the lone tight end remaining on the team’s roster. Expect the Ravens to use at least one, if not multiple draft picks this year to replenish their depth chart at this position.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ng-with-los-angeles-chargers-on-a-3-year-deal

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Roundtable Reactions: Ravens lose Tyler Linderbaum to Raiders in free agency

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 21: Tyler Linderbaum #64 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Much of the Ravens’ offseason discourse this year has centered around center Tyler Linderbaum, and whether the three-time Pro Bowler would re-sign with the team or leave in free agency. We finally got the answer on Monday and it was the latter. Linderbaum agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $81 million record-setting contract. Here are the Baltimore Beatdown staff’s reaction to the news.

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An expected but still brutal blow to the weakest position group of the team. With all that being said, you cannot pay $27 million annually to a center while having a quarterback getting paid top dollar. Center immediately ascends toward the top of Eric DeCosta’s to-do list. With no first round pick and the top options already signed away in free agency, the Ravens may have to lean on a rookie to pair with Lamar Jackson. It has not been a great day for the Ravens. — Mark Myers

It’s a tough pill to swallow seeing Linderbaum leave the Ravens, but for a whopping $27 million per year, there is no world in which I could justify Baltimore matching the Raiders offer. Paying that much for any center is malpractice, let alone one who is not great in pass protection. Linderbaum will be missed but Eric DeCosta made the right decision here, even if it leaves the interior of the offensive line in a dire situation. I would like to see DeCosta address center with a veteran to at least compete with a high draft pick now. — Dustin Cox

It sucks to lose an athletic center who fits what they want to do so well. But this is an A+ non-signing for me. $27 million a year is insane and $9 million more than the next highest paid center Creed Humphrey, who is a better player. You simply can’t pay that amount to a center who has limitations and needs help in the pass game, no matter how good in the run game they are. Onto finding the replacement, which is likely where pick 45 in the draft is heading. — Zach Canter

While we all would have loved to see Linderbaum return to Baltimore, there is zero way to justify that price tag. Linderbaum has been a great player for the Ravens and it immediately leaves them with even more of a void in the interior of their offensive line, but I’m glad they didn’t match this offer. With most of the other notable free agent centers already poached, the Ravens will have to allocate a lot of draft ammo to address the guard and center positions. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens move up in the draft if they find a guard or center they like. — Stephen Bopst

In an ideal world, the Ravens could have retained Linderbaum on a relatively fair contract and not have to overpay massively. Unfortunately, that proved to be unattainable. Linderbaum is certainly one of the better centers in the league and a rightful three-time Pro Bowler. However, while it’s a hurtful loss for the Ravens, paying him a record $60 million guaranteed and $27 million annually was not worth the cost. The former first-round pick is an elite run blocker and has developed a strong rapport with Lamar Jackson, but he has limitations in pass protection as an undersized player. Even so, the Ravens now have a big hole to fill at an important spot and provide Jackson with a lead-man up front on the offensive line. There are still some veteran free agent options available or the team can use their second-round pick to find Linderbaum’s replacement. — Frank Platko

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...se-tyler-linderbaum-to-raiders-in-free-agency

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

BREAKING: Ravens back out of Maxx Crosby trade with Raiders

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Three days after sending two first-round picks to the Raiders in a blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby, the Ravens are backing out of the deal.

pic.twitter.com/zXrNfDhDZV

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 11, 2026

This is a breaking story that will be updated with more information.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ns-back-out-of-maxx-crosby-trade-with-raiders

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Roundtable Reactions: Ravens back out of Maxx Crosby trade with Raiders

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders takes the field prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Ravens stunned the NFL world by backing out of their agreement to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Here are the reactions from Baltimore Beatdown’s staff:

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This is an outright disaster. For the Raiders, for the Ravens, for, well, the entire NFL. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been committed with this deal as an assumed part of the landscape. Now? Who knows? Baltimore has lost a ton of players in the last few days and cannot get any back with their newfound cap room. The only elite edge rusher remaining on the market is Trey Hendrickson, who has his own injury concerns. This is undeniably a bad look and is set to cause a fair amount of chaos in free agency. It’s hard to see, at this point, how the Ravens emerge from this week as victors. – Nikhil Mehta

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I am simply stunned. This flips the offseason completely on its head, as they now have missed out on two days of free agency moves due to the money Crosby would’ve been owed in 2026 and beyond. I don’t even know where they go from here, but I guess the mock drafts are back on. — Mark Myers

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I have no idea. The only thing that comes to mind is the medicals were awful. Maxx Crosby was in Baltimore. The deal was basically done. His knee must truly be wrecked. So I guess it’s good they backed out in that sense if he’s truly not healthy? I don’t know, I’m honestly lost, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this for something this blockbuster. The Ravens offseason is wrecked now. A true disaster. Maxx Crosby was a franchise changing player, a player who could propel a defense to a Super Bowl. Without him and only John Simpson signed, the Ravens have to work fast to get to a level of somewhat acceptable before the draft. I guess Vega to Baltimore at 14 is back on? — Zach Canter

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What a buzz kill. I’m assuming we’ll know more shortly but this just goes to show that Ravens fans will always be in the torture chamber. Crosby was set to change the Ravens and propel them to a Super Bowl and now the Ravens, who have seen a lot of key players leave in free agency, are spiraling down. I have to assume the Ravens didn’t like what they saw on the physical but sheesh. The Ravens are back to having no pass rush, no offensive line, and Lamar Jackson is still not signed. It’s been a rough start to the offseason for the Ravens and Eric DeCosta will need to act quickly to turn things around. — Stephen Bopst

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ns-back-out-of-maxx-crosby-trade-with-raiders

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens free up $40 million in cap space with Lamar Jackson restructure

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 11: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Ravens defeated the Jets 24-9. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Whether the Ravens added Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson (or both?), they needed to do something about Lamar Jackson’s contract and his $72.5 million cap hit this season. The two sides worked on an extension, but Baltimore ultimately had to complete a restructure, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The move is expected to clear $40 million in cap space for the Ravens, which will allow them to sign their new contracts and remain compliant with the 2026 salary cap at the start of the league year at 4:00 p.m. ET.

This story will be updated with more information.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...n-in-cap-space-with-lamar-jackson-restructure

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens to sign tight end Durham Smythe

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Durham Smythe #81 of the Chicago Bears looks on before the NFL 2025 game between Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Ravens lost both of their incumbent tight ends on the first day of free agency, as Isaiah Likely signed with the New York Giants and Charlie Kolar joined the Los Angeles Chargers. General Manager Eric DeCosta moved quickly to start backfilling the depth chart, agreeing to terms with veteran Durham Smythe on Wednesday.

Ravens have agreed to terms with free agent TE Durham Smythe, sources say.
He'll likely be the Charlie Kolar replacement and fill the blocking tight end role in Baltimore.
Smythe, who has 136 career catches, was also with new Ravens OC Declan Doyle in Chicago last year.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 11, 2026

Smythe is a prototypical blocking tight end with eight years of experience under his belt. The 30-year-old is a former 2018 fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame and played seven consecutive years with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Chicago Bears in 2025. Smythe will now reunite with the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who likely advocated for signing the 30-year-old.

Smythe’s career-high in receiving came three years ago with 35 receptions and 366 yards. He started 74 total games during his seven-year stint with the Dolphins but never saw more than 43 targets in a season. For the Bears last season, Smythe was targeted only six times and caught four passes, as he was exclusively in a blocking role behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.

For the Ravens, Smythe is likely to play in a similar role. He’s slot into Kolar’s role as an in-line blocker and will also be vital as a backfield blocker with fullback Pat Ricard gone as well, who also signed with the Giants. Expect the Ravens to fill out their depth chart with another tight end or two, likely via the draft, who has more pass-catching upside. Mark Andrews is the only other tight end on the depth chart currently.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b.../81039/ravens-to-sign-tight-end-durham-smythe