Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new offseason training method.
High-performance boxing and strength coach Dawson Saint Jour posted social media videos showing Jackson throwing a series of punches into gloves and pads, Jamison Hensley of ESPN reports.
“Had a great time with one of the best athletes out there,” Saint Jour wrote. “He’s getting sharp.”
In 2017, then-Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco added boxing into his workouts to improve his balance and core strength.
Jackson, a two-time MVP, missed four games with a hamstring injury and a back contusion last season, his first time with a losing record (6-7) in his eight-year career. In 13 games, Jackson threw for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while rushing for 349 yards and two scores.
Jackson has given up $1.5 million in workout bonuses by not participating in the minimum number of voluntary practices the past two offseasons. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle recently said he “would expect” players to attend the offseason program despite it being voluntary.
Jackson has another $750,000 available this offseason if he participates in 80 percent of the program.
Free agent tight end David Njoku visited with the Ravens today, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Njoku, 29, spent the past nine seasons with the Browns, who made him a first-round pick in 2017. He had already announced on social media that he would not return to the Browns.
He ranks 76th on PFT’s top-100 free agents list.
Njoku made the Pro Bowl in 2023 with 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns.
He finishes his time in Cleveland with 384 catches for 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns.
The Ravens need help at the position with Mark Andrews the only current tight end on the roster. Isaiah Likely left for the Giants and Charlie Kolar signed with the Chargers.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has shared his memories of how things went down in Baltimore before the Ravens pulled out of a trade for him last week.
On the latest episode of his The Rush podcast, Crosby shared how things got off on the wrong foot with a flight to Washington D.C. followed by a drive to Baltimore ahead of his Tuesday physical and meetings with the Ravens. Crosby said he spent about an hour at the team’s facility before going for scans, but did not meet head coach Jesse Minter or General Manager Eric DeCosta until he returned from meeting with doctors.
Crosby said he had to ask for a meeting with them and the “energy was off” when that finally happened. That meeting was when he was informed of concerns that the Ravens had from his medical tests as well as their desire to get other opinions. Crosby said he was “terrified” to hear that something might be wrong and “freaking out” about what it meant for the trade, but that he calmed down once Dr. Neal ElAttrache told him his knee was “great” after recent meniscus surgery and right where it needs to be at this point in the process.
The Ravens still backed out of the trade, however, and Crosby said he believes everything worked out the way it should in the end.
“Everyone’s got their own theory, conspiracy theory, no one really will ever admit on either side what the real truth is or whatever,” Crosby said. “Ultimately, it doesn’t even matter. I am where I’m supposed to be. I know that. I’ll just say that. . . . S—t happens for a reason. I know exactly who I am. I’m f—ing crushing my rehab. I’m doing what I’m doing. I wasn’t supposed to be in Baltimore and that’s it. You know what I mean? I’m meant to be a Raider. It’s through my damn core. And that’s it. I leave it as simple as that.”
The Raiders made a number of additions to their roster in the wake of agreeing to trade Crosby to Baltimore and Crosby expressed his excitement about what players like Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Eric Stokes, and Tyler Linderbaum will mean to the Raiders’ chances of improving on recent results. Having Crosby should also help on that front, so the strange twists might have worked out for the best in Las Vegas.
The Raiders have a new veteran center and — presumably — will have a quarterback selected at No. 1 overall in this year’s draft next month.
The relationship between free-agent signee Tyler Linderbaum and the assumed No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, will significantly affect the outcome of Las Vegas’ offense and the team as a whole.
Coming from the Ravens, that’s something Linderbaum understands, as he detailed in a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I think the relationship with the quarterback [and] center is really important. Communication, understanding … protections and putting the team in the best position possible on that play — it’s certainly important,” Linderbaum told Jacob Hester and PatKirwan of Movin’ the Chains. “We’ve got to have a relationship. Lamar and I certainly had a relationship and I think it comes down to, it’s very important. And that starts throughout the week with your preparation, game prep. You’ve got to be seeing the same things that the quarterback’s seeing and vice versa. I think that’s what’s going to build a strong unit.”
Linderbaum, 25, was the No. 25 overall pick of the 2022 draft and started 66 games for the Ravens over the last four seasons, including all 17 in each of the last two years. Linderbaum was a Pro Bowler in each of the last three seasons as well.
After losing Tyler Linderbaum as a free agent, the Ravens are bringing in some help at center.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Baltimore has agreed to sign Danny Pitner.
Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com reports the contract is worth $2.25 million for one year with a maximum value of $2.75 million.
Pinter, 29, was a Colts fifth-round pick in 2020 and had spent his entire career with the club. He’s appeared in 77 games with 10 starts in his career.
In 2025, Pinter played all 17 games with one start. He was on the field for 13 percent of offensive snaps and 17 percent of special teams snaps.
Pinter’s contract suggests he’s not necessarily Baltimore’s first choice to start at center. But with his experience, he should at least provide depth and an option if needed.
