Steelers Warned To Keep Close Eye On Rival Ravens As Baltimore Still Could Make Significant Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers just barely won the AFC North in 2025. In the NFL's final regular-season matchup, the Baltimore Ravens traveled to the Steel City and would have made the postseason if Tyler Loop had been able to successfully make a game-winning field goal. That didn't happen, which led to the Black and Gold hosting a home playoff game for the first time since the 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, it ended with a loss to the Houston Texans. Now, Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy are tasked with not just getting into the tournament, but becoming victorious in January as well.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be viewed as contenders in 2026; however, it's always hard to predict how anything will turn out for them because of Joe Burrow's injury history. The Cleveland Browns seem to be destined for the bottom of the division again, so the Steelers and Ravens have their respective sights set on the AFC North crown once again.

Pittsburgh was incredibly active during the 2026 offseason, and not just because a new coach came to town. The trade and free agency markets were generous, and there is not much necessity in terms of adding depth as training camp nears. Injuries could certainly change that, but, for now, everything seems to be going smoothly for the Steelers.

The Ravens have had a rollercoaster of a spring and early summer as well. Most notably, the front office traded for Maxx Crosby only for him to fail a physical. Immediately after, Trey Hendrickson was acquired in a rare in-division deal. Despite this, Baltimore insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing of the team's official website think there is still more on the horizon.

"I have a hard time believing, Garrett, that the 90-man roster as we see it today is gonna be, you know, what they go into cutdown day [with] when they go to 53," Mink said. "I have a hard time believing there's not going to be somebody else added on this team that could be an impact player."

This reporting is coming from two individuals that are relatively close to the franchise, so it's fair to note that the Ravens may be quietly lurking waiting to make one final big move. General Manager Eric DeCosta had done it before, and Downing is on board with Mink's analysis. He doubled-down and said something could be coming very soon.

"I am not ruling out bringing in, like, a big name, making a trade, free agent. Like, all of those things, I think, are on the table," Downing noted.

It's difficult to predict what kind of playmaker the Ravens might end up targeting if they do want to add another significant contributor to the roster. Free agency isn't very deep as July begins, so making some calls to acquire someone could be what DeCosta has to end up doing.

Pittsburgh has to play both Cincinnati and Cleveland twice as well, but the pair of matchups versus the Ravens are always some of the more anticipated games on the league's calendar year-in and year-out.

The decision to trade for Hendrickson already made a big splash within the AFC North race and, if DeCosta has another trick up his sleeve, it could seriously impact the other three teams' abilities to come out on top of the division. Rodgers and co. might be in for a relatively surprising news break at some point in the next couple of weeks if the Ravens are secretly planning a move.

Steelers Are Calmly Getting Ready For Training Camp

For the first year essentially since the 2021 offseason, Pittsburgh has no questions at the starting quarterback position. There might be a new head coach in town, but that could actually lead to better results depending on who you ask. The defensive depth was bolstered and offense finally seems to have few questions at the wide receiver spot. Now, it will be about staying healthy and getting ready to combat whatever potential addition the Ravens decide to bring in.

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