Jaylinn Hawkins explains why he chose the Ravens in free agency

[Mickey the Mouth]

The Ravens had competition for Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency, but Baltimore's culture, defensive identity, and opportunity to win ultimately helped set them apart from the rest. During an appearance on “The Lounge” podcast with Ravens insiders Ryan Mink and Clifton Brown, Hawkins detailed how quickly things came together once Baltimore entered the picture.

Hawkins explained that several teams showed interest before the Ravens reached out.

“No, I actually didn’t expect. So, like it was Monday… I was in conversation with the Patriots. Monday came… the Cowboys and the Texans reached out… Then Tuesday came and coach Minter and everybody reached out from here and I was like, ‘Okay, cool.’”

As the process continued, Hawkins said Baltimore eventually became the clear choice.

“I mean honestly man just the way this culture is… this team, the history and what we have right now. I believe in the guys that we have on our team and I believe we could do something special.”

Hawkins also pointed directly to Jesse Minter’s defense as part of the attraction.

“I looked at obviously his resume, what he did in LA… good defensive minded coach and it all kind of fit well. I was just like, ‘I want to come here.’ This will fit my vibe and what I’m trying to achieve in my career, that’s to win.”

For a Ravens team with legitimate Super Bowl expectations, Hawkins sounds like a player who intentionally chose the environment he believed would push him forward both personally and professionally. Baltimore continues attracting veterans who prioritize winning, defensive culture, and championship opportunity, and Hawkins already sounds fully bought into everything the Ravens are building entering 2026.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jaylinn Hawkins is embracing Ravens culture during OTA workouts

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