Ravens To Extend LS Nick Moore
This afternoon, Ravens long snapper Nick Moore announced that he had agreed to a four-year extension to stay in Baltimore during an appearance on the Ryan Ripken Show. The contract agreement will be the specialist’s fifth with the team. 
An undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 2019, Moore initially signed with the Saints but failed to make the initial 53-man roster. He found himself in the XFL for a short period of time, but when the league ceased play after only six games and allowed players to seek NFL contracts, Moore landed on Baltimore’s practice squad as a backup to long-time veteran Morgan Cox.
Moore made his NFL debut in the 2020 season, when Cox missed a game due to COVID-19, and signed a reserve/futures contract with the team at the end of the season. A week after he signed, the Ravens announced they would move on from their long snapper of the past 11 years, making Moore their new primary long snapper.
After his first full season in the primary role, Baltimore brought him back as an exclusive rights free agent. Moore earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 and was re-signed to a one-year deal after not being tendered as a restricted free agent. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles tendon knocked him out for the season, so the Ravens gave him a one-year extension so that he could avoid needing to worry about contract discussions after not playing for the year.
Today’s announcement marks the Ravens’ first long-term commitment to Moore after watching him play four of the past six seasons as the team’s primary long snapper. The move cements him in place for the next three years aside rookie kicker Tyler Loop, assuming Loop doesn’t find a way to get waived from his rookie deal.
With Moore and Loop under contract, the Ravens may now turn their attention to former fourth-round punter Jordan Stout. Stout is also facing free agency with the expiration of his rookie contract at the end of the season. Stout is having a career-best campaign this season, averaging 50.3 yards per punt (fourth-best among punters who have played in over six games) and 44.9 net yards per punt (first among punters who have played in over six games). He was recognized with Pro Bowl honors this season to underline that fact.
Ravens Sign NT John Jenkins To Extension
The Ravens have signed veteran nose tackle John Jenkins to a contract extension, per a team announcement.
The deal is worth around $2.1MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, a slight raise over the $1.75MM deal that brought him to Baltimore this past offseason. The 36-year-old has emerged as a key part of the Ravens’ defensive line rotation this season, appearing in every game with 13 starts and a 46% snap share. His contributions have helped keep the unit afloat after losing Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington to injury early in the year.
Jenkins is a 13-year veteran who will be one of the league’s oldest non-quarterback or -specialists next season. Originally a Saints third-round pick in 2013, he earned a starting role by his third year in the NFL but was released before the end of his fourth. He then bounced around the league with one-year stints with the Seahawks, Bears, Giants, and Dolphins. He then returned to Chicago in 2020 before settling in Miami for two seasons. Jenkins then signed with the Raiders in 2023 and started every game over the next two seasons.
Jenkins is the second Ravens nose tackle to receive an extension this winter; Travis Jones was rewarded with a three-year deal last month. Both will return to Baltimore’s defensive line in 2026 alongside current rookie Aeneas Peebles, but the outlooks for Madubuike and Washington are unclear. Madubuike’s season-ending neck injury has stirred significant concern about his future in the NFL, while Washington could be a cap casualty as he enters the last year of his contract. The team will certainly be able to keep C.J. Okoye on an exclusive rights free agent contract, but he has yet to cement himself as a long-term contributor.
Still, it is possible that Jenkins’ abilities fall of a cliff when he enters his 14th NFL season. He has, however, improved over the course of his career and put up his best three seasons in the last three years. This deal could age poorly, but it accordingly comes at a reasonable price tag. Jenkins is an established veteran who will continue to bring leadership and experience to the Ravens’ defensive line room, which could be especially important if they have to remake the unit this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/26
Here’s our first minor NFL transactions of the 2026 calendar year:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Austin Keys
- Placed on IR: S Kitan Crawford
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: DE Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: CB Mike Hughes
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: G Ben Cleveland
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: QB Cam Miller
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kobee Minor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: T Cameron Williams
After suspending him three weeks ago, the Ravens have finally removed Cleveland from the 53-man roster. The former third-round pick out of Georgia has never lived up to his draft stock and, despite struggles with the interior line in Baltimore, failed to ever earn a role on offense. Legal trouble in the offseason didn’t stop the team from re-signing him to a one-year deal, but whatever the cause for the suspension, it seems it was severe enough to end the contract. It’s unclear if they’ll look to retain Cleveland on the practice squad.
After miss two games earlier this year, Hughes has sat out of the Falcons’ last three contests with an ankle injury. The starting cornerback coming back from injury for a meaningless regular season finale doesn’t make much sense, so Atlanta has placed him on injured reserve to free up a spot on the 53-man roster.
Williams, the sixth-round rookie out of Texas, may not make his NFL debut this weekend, unless, maybe, on special teams, but his activation ensures he doesn’t spend nearly his entire rookie year on IR.
Ravens ‘Very Optimistic’ That Lamar Jackson Plays In Week 18
JANUARY 1: Jackson said on Thursday that he will “100%” play in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. He will likely take the field with extra protection for his back.
DECEMBER 31: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 18, an extremely encouraging sign for his availability for Sunday’s win-or-go-home matchup with the Steelers.
Jackson went down in Week 15 with a severe back contusion that held him out of practice last week. He was listed as doubtful and did not play on Saturday night against the Packers. Backup Tyler Huntley filled in and confidently commanded the offense to a 41-24 victory. Most of the credit goes to Derrick Henry, who finished with 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns, but Huntley made plays whenever they needed to be made. He completed 80% of his passes, converted a number of key first downs through the air, and added 60 yards on eight rushing attempts.
Head coach John Harbaugh said that he was “very optimistic” about Jackson’s status, adding that the two-time MVP’s status improved throughout last week. He was seen at Wednesday’s practice wearing some kind of protective equipment, per Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.
Obviously, Jackson taking the field would be a major boost for the Ravens offense. Though they can continue to lean on Henry, Jackson is undoubtedly a better passer than Huntley and his availability would open up the offense to its full complement of plays. The Ravens rushed for 217 yards in their first meeting with the Steelers a few weeks ago, so offensive coordinator Todd Monken should be motivated to stick with the run either way.
Huntley’s success against the Packers on Saturday and the Bears in Week 8 indicates that Baltimore’s offense would still be in good hands if Jackson cannot go. That would be Jackson’s fourth absence of the season and Huntley’s third start.
Ravens Could Consider Coaching Changes This Offseason
The Ravens’ disappointing 2025 season has sparked speculation about the future of their coaching staff, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
While some fans believe that head coach John Harbaugh should be on his way out – especially if the Ravens miss the playoffs with a loss to the Steelers on Sunday night – the team may also consider changing out their coordinators.
Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has come under fire for a second year in a row. At the start of last season, his defense struggled to stop opposing quarterbacks, but bounced back after moving Kyle Hamilton back to a traditional safety role and inserting Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup alongside him. This year, Orr’s unit had a similarly rough start, including on run defense, which was not a problem for the Ravens in 2024 or years past. Injuries to key players like Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, and Nnamdi Madubuike compounded the issues, but the defense improved with better health after their Week 7 bye. The Ravens also acquired safety Alohi Gilman from the Chargers and moved Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage, which tightened their run defense, improved their pass rush, and increased their turnover production. Orr deserves credit for those and other adjustments.
In their last five games, though, Baltimore’s defense has allowed at least 27 points four times with particularly rough showings against quarterbacks Drake Maye and Malik Willis in the last two weeks. Though the secondary deserves their share of the blame for their lapses in coverage, the Ravens’ pass rush has been a problem all year. Trading for Gilman required giving up Odafe Oweh, arguably the team’s best edge rusher, and Madubuike’s season-ending injury deprived the defensive line of its best player.
In the middle of those five games, however, the Ravens pitched a dominant shutout against the Bengals that showed what their defense is capable of at its best. They should be able to contain Rodgers in Week 18, but a loss as the result of a poor defensive performance could raise some tough questions about Orr this offseason.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is in a more complicated situation. He led the offense to very successful seasons in 2023 and 2024, which led to head coaching interviews and a contract extension in Baltimore. This year, his unit has clearly regressed. Lamar Jackson injuries have played a factor, but so have an inconsistent offensive line and some confounding decisions about Derrick Henry‘s usage. If Monken’s offense struggles in Pittsburgh and/or fizzles out in the playoffs, his future could be a topic of discussion in Baltimore as well.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Aside from tonight’s Rams-Falcons game, Week 17 is in the books. Most of the playoff field has been set in both conferences, but there is still plenty to be determined regarding the first-round draft order.
By virtue of their loss on Sunday, the Raiders are now in pole position to secure the No. 1 pick. Vegas sits at 2-14 on the year, with four teams sporting a record of 3-13. Only one of those, however – the Giants – is still in contention to land the top selection. Vegas will play against Kansas City in Week 18, while New York’s season will end against Dallas.
Fernando Mendoza looms as the projected top quarterback option in the 2026 class, with the futures of Dante Moore and Ty Simpson still uncertain. Demand usually outweighs supply at the top of the draft when it comes to signal-callers, and scarcity at the position could very well come into play in April. Mendoza may find himself on the radar of teams not immediately in need of a quarterback depending on how things play out.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)
- New York Giants (3-13)
- New York Jets (3-13)
- Tennessee Titans (3-13)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
- Cleveland Browns (4-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-10)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (7-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
- Detroit Lions (8-8)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-5)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- Denver Broncos (13-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Unlikely To Play Vs. Packers
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is not expected to play in Baltimore’s Week 17 matchup against the Packers. He is officially listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report.
Jackson went down in Sunday night’s loss to the Patriots after taking a knee to the back late in the first half. He did not return to the game, and head coach John Harbaugh has since described the injury as a “serious back contusion.”
Jackson was initially considered day-to-day, but he could not practice at all this week. Harbaugh said that Jackson could play without practicing, which is why he is designated as doubtful instead of being ruled out.
Backup Tyler Huntley will make his second start of the season in Jackson’s stead. He started in Week 8 against the Bears and led the Ravens to a 30-16 victory over the Bears. That game has looked more and more impressive in hindsight with Chicago’s growing success this season. Huntley himself performed well, as he did in relief of Cooper Rush in Week 6 and Jackson against the Patriots. In fact, many wondered why the Ravens signed Rush and installed him as the backup in the first place rather than reuniting with Huntley earlier in the offseason.
The Ravens’ playoff hopes depend on winning in Green Bay on Saturday night. A loss would eliminate them from playoff contention, and Jackson’s absence is obviously a major detriment.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25/25
A few NFL teams made transactions on Christmas. Here are the latest updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return from IR: DT Taven Bryan
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: TE Marcedes Lewis, OL Calvin Throckmorton
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey, WR Michael Bandy
- Waived: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, OL Matt Waletzko
- Placed on IR: WR Nikko Remigio
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Tre Flowers
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)