4 Ravens Players Poised for Breakout Seasons in 2026

Young stars on both sides of the ball could take big leaps forward under new coaching staff

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:34am

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The Baltimore Ravens have seen a lot of roster turnover this offseason, but several young players on the team are primed for breakout campaigns in 2026. Defensive end Odafe Oweh, safety Kyle Hamilton, linebacker Malik Harrison, and offensive tackle Daniel Faalele are all expected to take major steps forward in their development under the Ravens' new coaching staff.

Why it matters

The Ravens are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season and reclaim their spot atop the AFC North. If these four players can live up to their potential, it would provide a major boost to both the offense and defense, helping Baltimore return to the playoffs.

The details

Owehe, the Ravens' 2nd-round pick in 2025, showed flashes as a rookie but should benefit greatly from playing alongside new free agent acquisition Trey Hendrickson. Hamilton, last year's 1st-round pick, was a full-time starter at free safety as a rookie but struggled with consistency - new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is expected to help him take his game to the next level. Harrison has been a core special teams player for the Ravens the last two seasons and will get an opportunity to earn a starting linebacker job with the departure of veteran Josh Bynes. Faalele, a 4th-round pick in 2025, started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie and has the physical tools to develop into an elite offensive lineman under new OL coach Dwayne Ledford.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away.
  • The Ravens' 2026 season kicks off in September.

The players

Odafe Oweh

A second-round pick in 2025, Oweh showed promise as a pass rusher as a rookie and should benefit from playing alongside new free agent acquisition Trey Hendrickson.

Kyle Hamilton

The Ravens' 1st-round pick in 2025, Hamilton started at free safety as a rookie but struggled with consistency - new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is expected to help him reach his full potential.

Malik Harrison

A core special teams player for the Ravens the last two seasons, Harrison will get an opportunity to earn a starting linebacker job with the departure of veteran Josh Bynes.

Daniel Faalele

A 4th-round pick in 2025, Faalele started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie and has the physical tools to develop into an elite offensive lineman under new OL coach Dwayne Ledford.

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What they’re saying

“Owehe showed a lot of promise as a rookie, and playing alongside Trey Hendrickson is only going to make him better. The sky's the limit for that kid.”

— John Harbaugh, Ravens Head Coach

“Kyle has all the tools to be an All-Pro safety, he just needs to put it all together. With Jesse Minter coaching him up, I expect a big Year 2 leap.”

— Marlon Humphrey, Ravens Cornerback

What’s next

The Ravens will look to address any remaining roster needs through the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place in late April.

The takeaway

The Ravens are banking on several of their young stars to take big steps forward in 2026 as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign. If Owehe, Hamilton, Harrison, and Faalele all live up to their potential, Baltimore's roster could be primed for a deep playoff run.