How John Simpson, Jaylinn Hawkins and Durham Smythe will help the Ravens in 2026

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The Ravens’ first wave of free agency was defined by the players they lost.

They had a deal for Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby, and then they backed out. They’d hoped to re-sign Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, and then they didn’t. Even New York Giants coach John Harbaugh and Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh seemed more interested at times in Ravens free agents than general manager Eric DeCosta.

But not even a week of widespread mudslinging could slow business in Baltimore. “It hasn’t stopped my phone from ringing,” DeCosta said Wednesday.

Less than a day after the deal for Crosby fell through, the Ravens agreed Wednesday morning to a contract with outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson. Sandwiched around that historic four-year deal were a handful of other outside signings. Guard John Simpson, safety Jaylinn Hawkins and tight end Durham Smythe, in particular, could contribute significantly in 2026.

Here’s a look at how they’ll fit in.

John Simpson: Tone-setting guard

On paper, in his 17 games at left guard for the New York Jets last season, Simpson was not a markedly better guard than either Ravens starter. According to Sports Info Solutions, his 2.6% blown-block rate ranked tied for 25th among the 62 guards with at least 500 snaps last season; right guard Daniel Faalele, now a free agent, was tied for 29th (2.7%), and left guard Andrew Vorhees was tied for 45th (3.2%). Simpson was Pro Football Focus’ No. 44 overall guard; Faalele and Vorhees were Nos. 45 and 48, respectively.

But at his best Simpson brings a level of physicality to the run game missing from Faalele and Vorhees’ game tape. He served up several pancake blocks in 2023 for the Ravens, who led the NFL in rushing and ranked third in yards per carry that year. One profane exclamation captured after an emphatic block on a Ravens rushing touchdown even went semi-viral.

Penalties have been Simpson’s undoing — he had a career-high 11 in his one season in Baltimore and 10 last season — and he’s not an ideal fit for the outside-zone run schemes that offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford prioritized in Atlanta. But Simpson can bring the hammer as a run blocker and on drop-backs against unsuspecting pass rushers.

“John Simpson plays with an energy and a passion that I’m really excited about adding into the offensive line room,” new Ravens coach Jesse Minter said Friday. “He had a great season here in one of the most successful seasons in recent memory here in 2023. He is kind of a force multiplier from an energy [standpoint]. It’s very contagious how he operates.”

Jaylinn Hawkins: Two-high safety

Hawkins was almost never picked on as a deep-half defender last season. In the Patriots’ primary split-safety zone coverages (“Cover 2,” “Cover 4” and “Cover 6”), he was targeted just five times over 137 coverage snaps. He had more interceptions (two) than catches allowed (one, for 7 yards) in those looks, according to SIS.

Overall, Hawkins was targeted on just 3.8% of his snaps in zone coverage, the fifth-lowest mark of any player with at least 200 snaps in zone, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. He allowed seven receptions for 62 yards on 16 targets while finishing with four interceptions. His 0.1 yards allowed per snap were the lowest among that group and the second lowest by any regular player in the past four seasons.

“He’s a guy that constantly relays the message throughout the week, 100% bought into the message or the plan, executes to the best of his ability, flies around,” Patriots defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr said in January. “Great communicator. I think he got his opportunity, and he’s like, ‘I’m holding on to this.’ … He treats every snap like it could be his last snap. He treats every play like it’s the most important play of the game, and you love that about him.”

In Baltimore, Hawkins is expected to start alongside Malaki Starks, allowing All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage. But the trio’s versatility — Hawkins and Starks both played over 100 snaps in the slot and over 250 snaps as a box safety last season, according to PFF — should give Minter the flexibility he needs to change the postsnap picture. Hawkins’ revved-up motor and ability to fit the run from depth will also boost the Ravens’ defense.

“He played really well [as a] deep safety,” Minter said. “He does a lot of different things and plays with a lot of versatility. He’s a guy that I’m really excited about.”

Durham Smythe: Go-everywhere blocker

The Ravens lost their best in-line blocker in free agency when tight end Charlie Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million deal with the Chargers. They lost their best lead blocker and second-best in-line blocker when fullback Patrick Ricard signed a two-year, $7.6 million deal with the Giants. They lost their most versatile tight end when Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants.

Smythe, who played 293 snaps for Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle last season, could have a blocking-first role in Baltimore that looks like a mashup of all three. He got 184 snaps last season as in-line tight end, where he was a solid if not overwhelming blocker. He got 73 snaps in the backfield, where he effectively served as a fullback. And he got 34 snaps in the slot and as an outside receiver, where he was deployed against smaller defensive backs and used in motion to stress defenses’ presnap organization.

Over Smythe’s career, his impact as a receiver has been limited. He had just four catches for 25 yards on four targets last season, and he’s never finished with more than 366 yards or two touchdowns in a season. But Smythe’s versatility and experience should help Doyle find more accommodating roles for tight end Mark Andrews, who lined up more often in the slot (354 snaps) and out wide (156) than he did in-line (100) last season.

“Durham, again, has a lot of familiarity with Declan from last year in Chicago,” Minter said. “Man, just a great human being, a great guy that also fits what we were looking for at that tight end position, which we’ll continue to add to as we go.”