The 2024 Baltimore Ravens thread

[Wiirdo]

I’ll bring back oweh for the right price but both can walk imo

This. Oweh got double-digit sacks in the end but a few were gimmes. Rarely does he have a big impact play and doesn't really force pressures either. If he doesn't get a sack in a game you might not hear his name once.

He's massively improved from his rookie season but we always seem to take a few developing pass rushers and then let them go in FA anyway

 

[Blessings]

Although I thought last years roster had its flaws because of injuries. Feels like the Ravens might have left back to back Super Bowls on the table. Wasted the best defense last year and wasted the best offense this year. Sad.

We ran the Stanley trick play. He declared eligible on the 2nd and goal + ran a route where Lamar got sacked

Red Zone
We're always playing from behind the sticks—either a stupid, offensive line penalty or getting stuffed on 1st down. At the goal line, I don't mind running the ball twice (on 1st and 2nd down) with Derrick Henry even if he loses yards on 1st down.

Predictable run concepts
Even if we outnumber the opposing defense's running power, it's too obvious which side we're running the ball on, especially when we can't downblock.


Lack of Takeaways
Besides Marlon, we don't have any ballhawks or gamewreckers forcing fumbles. A lot of it has to do with our poor pass rush, not forcing the QB to rush his throws or make poor decisions.

Offensive line is overrated
Bad snaps, getting backed down to the point to trip Lamar

 

[Blessings]

Ravens key free agents​

Ronnie Stanley​

Stanley is a standout left tackle when healthy. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only two sacks in 1,089 snaps. Stanley played in all 17 regular-season games this year, but his durability has been a concern.

Patrick Mekari​

The versatile offensive lineman can play multiple positions across the O-line. He only allowed one sack this year at guard. He’s set to become one of the top free-agent guards.

Patrick Ricard​

Ricard is an integral part of Baltimore’s physical identity. The fullback has been instrumental in the Ravens’ potent rushing attack.

Ravens free agency preview: 3 moves to make​

Upgrade pass rush​

The Ravens ranked 29th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN. Kyle Van Noy (12.5 sacks) and Odafe Oweh (10) each had at least 10 sacks. Yet, the Ravens' front seven struggled to create pressure consistently. Baltimore’s inability to get after the quarterback is a primary reason the team had the NFL’s second-worst pass defense.

Edge rushers Khalil Mack, Haason Reddikk and Josh Sweat are free agents. The Ravens have had success signing veteran pass rushers. Van Noy is an example. Could they shop for one in free agency?

Address offensive line​

The Ravens have two key free agents along their offensive line: Stanley and Mekari. A departure from either of the two linemen would create a void. Stanley’s play warrants an extension. He’s one of the best tackles in the NFL when healthy.

Buccaneers guard Ben Bredeson and Steelers guard Nate Herbig are pending free agents. Both guards are under 27 years old and can be plugged into Baltimore’s O-line.

Cornerback​

Ravens CB Brandon Stephens allowed 906 receiving yards, four touchdowns and a 106.1 passer rating. He was the worst among fellow starters CB Nate Wiggins and nickel corner Marlon Humphrey. Another starting-caliber outside cornerback is needed in Baltimore.

The Ravens used a 2024 first-round pick on Wiggins. Perhaps they address the position in free agency and the draft this offseason. D.J. Reed, Carlton Davis and Charvarius Ward are three top corners set to be available on the open market.

Ravens NFL draft needs​

Depending on what they do in free agency, the Ravens may have some key draft needs. Here's what they are:

• Edge
• Offensive line
• Cornerback

The Ravens have six picks in the 2025 NFL draft:

• Round 1
• Round 2
• Round 3
• Round 4
• Round 6
• Round 6
• Round 7

What's next for the Ravens? Previewing the offseason for Baltimore

The AFC North champions will head into the offseason with questions on both sides of the football.

www.usatoday.com

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[Blessings]

Pending Unrestricted Free Agents​

• WR Nelson Agholor
• LB Chris Board
• OL Ben Cleveland
• LB Malik Harrison
• WR Deonte Harty
• QB Josh Johnson
• OL Josh Jones
• OL Patrick Mekari
• CB Trayvon Mullen
• FB Patrick Ricard
• WR Steven Sims
• CB Brandon Stephens
• IDL Brent Urban
• WR Tylan Wallace
• LB Kristian Welch
• CB Tre'Davious White

Reported Voided Contracts​

• LT Ronnie Stanley
• S Marcus Williams

Restricted Free Agents​

• DB Ar'Darius Washington
• CB Christian Matthew

Salary Cap Outlook​

The Ravens are projected to have $17.1 million in salary-cap space by OvertheCap.com. As always, they could clear more space with contract restructures.

Top Free Agents​

LT Ronnie Stanley
Stanley started every game and returned to being one of the league's best offensive tackles, earning a spot as a Pro Bowl alternate. He'll turn 31 in March, and the question is whether he will repeat that success moving forward. If the Ravens believe he will, they will probably make a strong effort to keep him. Stanley has spent his entire career in Baltimore and loves blocking for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The Ravens stuck with him, even after he suffered a major ankle injury just days after a mega extension. Another new deal could make sense for both sides.

FB Patrick Ricard
Ricard is headed to his fifth Pro Bowl and has proven that, even in Todd Monken's offense, he's a very valuable weapon. Ricard's physicality set the tone and he's a big reason why Henry nearly ran for 2,000 yards this season. He'll turn 31 this offseason, and Ricard said he wants to retire a Raven.

CB Brandon Stephens
Stephens has been a starting corner for the Ravens the past two seasons. He's a hard-nosed player, but no cornerback in the league was targeted more over the past two seasons than Stephens, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Stephens was often sticky in coverage, but he surrendered the fourth-most catches in the NFL this season, again according to PFF. It's hard to say what Stephens' market would be, but it's tough to see how Baltimore would retain both him and White, who they traded for at midseason.

OL Patrick Mekari
Mekari proved himself as a full 17-game starter in his sixth season (three at right tackle, 14 at left guard) and helped the Ravens offense be the best in the league. Baltimore could look to bring him back in that role, but they have also been grooming other younger guards, such as Andrew Vorhees. One of Mekari's greatest strengths is his versatility, as he can play every spot on the offensive line. While that has often made him a super-sub, Mekari may want to be somewhere where he knows he's a starter.

Top Needs​

Left tackle: The Ravens went through Phase 1 of their offensive line rebuild last offseason, letting three veterans walk in free agency and replacing them with Daniel Faalele, rookie Roger Rosengarten, and Mekari/Vorhees. Now Baltimore has to figure out what to do at left tackle with Stanley set for free agency. They could sign him back, but after a strong and healthy campaign, it won't be cheap. If they can, they will probably continue to augment the line via the draft.

Safety: The Ravens will presumably do what it takes to keep Washington as a restricted free agent, but they will probably add more competition for the starting job next to Kyle Hamilton. Washington proved he can be a starting safety, but he could also be a valuable nickel cornerback. Without Williams, the Ravens have shoes to fill.

Cornerback: It depends on what happens with Stephens and White, but the Ravens are always on the hunt for cornerback depth, even after Nate Wiggins' highly successful rookie season. Marlon Humphrey said after the final game that he's not sure what his future holds, as the Ravens could save $12.7 million by releasing him, per OverTheCap.com. However, after an All-Pro campaign and team-high six interceptions, Humphrey would be a big loss.

Ravens 2025 Free Agents List and Look-Ahead

 

[Blessings]

A shut down corner is just as valuable or even more valuable than a so-called defensive playmaker

I mean at the end of the day the best CB on the whole entire league is either Patrick Surtain or Sauce Gardner.

I don’t understand how anybody could think that he wouldn’t take that defense to the next level as a matter of fact, there’s been several rumors about them trading for him already

Jaire Alexander

Ravens Could Fill Glaring Need with Packers Star​

Alexander has a couple of years left on his deal, and while Palacios is suggesting that Baltimore trades for him, he actually could be a potential cut candidate.

The two-time Pro Bowler has played in just 14 games the last two seasons due to injuries, and dating back to 2021, he has appeared in a grand total of 34 contests.

When healthy, Alexander is unquestionably one of the better corners in the NFL, but that's just the problem: he has tremendous difficulty staying on the field.

It seems hard to imagine the Ravens parting with any sort of valuable draft capital to acquire such an injury-prone player, so they may either wait for the Packers to potentially cut him or just try their luck in free agency or the draft.

Ravens Could Fill Glaring Need with Packers Star

The Baltimore Ravens have long been accustomed to regularly having one of the best defenses in the NFL, but things changed this year, particularly in terms of p

www.si.com

 

[its2late2hate]

I like Jaire. He and Lamar were college team mates i believe

 

[STAN JONES]

opinions on oweh and ojabo? @Mantis Toboggan M.D. @BillBanneker @STAN JONES @mr heyzel @xXMASHERXx

I like Oweh but I wouldnt resign him

they should just let him play out his final year then let him walk

Ojabo is mid

he might not make the roster next year depending on who they add and how Adisa Isaac progresses

 

[STAN JONES]

I’ll bring back oweh for the right price but both can walk imo

both are under contract for 1 more year(Van Noy too)

we're probably gonna draft 2 pass rushers this year

 

[BillBanneker]

I’ll bring back oweh for the right price but both can walk imo

This is my opinion as well. Oweh has improved a lot (which is kind of expected since he was raw out of college), so if the price is right for him.

Ojabo is mid to me.