Ramping up for the Offseason

So here we are, enveloped in the aftermath of the 2024 NFL Season. Thirty-one teams are disappointed, licking their wounds and contemplating offseason needs. Some are hurting more than others, because for a few, the level of expectation was much greater. Only the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans are smiling. They want to bask in the glow and the cascade of confetti that will undoubtedly provide color to the team’s celebratory parade tomorrow.

Remember that feeling? It seems so long ago.

I recall a concert that I attended with my wife back in February of 2013 at The Lyric Baltimore featuring Matchbox Twenty. Robb Thomas, the band’s creative force and lead singer, addressed the crowd after the opening song.

“Hello Baltimore and congratulations to your Ravens! For the next year you’ve earned the opportunity to be d*cks to all other NFL fans!”

Just imagine how Philly fans are going to be…

Be that as it may, we are all on to the offseason. Soon the NFL Scouting Combine will begin (February 27 – March 2) followed by the new league year which begins on March 12 at which time free agency begins. Then on April 24th the NFL Draft commences followed by a series of OTAs that will eventually deliver us to the doorstep of Training Camp when the grind begins all over again.

To take that next step so that a year from now Baltimore is planning a parade, the Ravens need a few things. Here’s my offseason needs shopping list, in no particular order:

• Dominant edge rusher
• Corner
• Rangy safety
• Every down ILB to play beside Roquan Smith
• Offensive line enhancements

If the Ravens check off each item above, they’ll be a threat to win it all. If they remain status quo in all the other areas, that’s quite alright.

* A dominant edge would allow the Ravens to get home with 4 pass rushers. He makes Travis Jones, Nnamdi Madubuike and Odafe Oweh that much better and it gives more defenders at the second and third level a chance to make a play on the ball.

* If you read between the lines during the presser hosted by John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta last month, Brandon Stephens will soon be a former Raven. He’ll need to be replaced and his productivity or lack thereof in 2024, upgraded.

* Zach Orr’s defense needs the kind of player that Marcus Williams was paid to be. A ball hawk on the back end of the defense who might give opposing QBs pause not only improves the defense, it allows Kyle Hamilton to move back into that dangerous Swiss Army Knife role. Adding that rangy safety is like bolstering two positions on the defense.

* The Ravens did a fine job of alternating Malik Harrison and Chris Board at ILB depending upon the down and distance. That’s not exactly ideal. Teams will try and take advantage of mismatches. Asking Harrison to cover a speedy RB on first down is a recipe for failure. The Ravens will need to find Roquan’s “Robin” to his Batman at ILB.

* Across the offensive front, the Ravens will need to secure Ronnie Stanley or find the next Roger Rosengarten so that the real Roger can move to LT while another player capably fills in at RT. The team also has to upgrade at guard if they want to be better in 2025.

The challenge for DeCosta, is to do all these offseason needs with limited financial resources. He does have a nice treasure chest of draft capital (11 picks) and there are some restructure/extension options that he can massage to free up some cap space. I encourage you to read Brian McFarland’s 2025 Ravens Salary Cap Preview. It’s an outstanding glimpse into the challenges facing EDC.

2025 Ravens Salary Cap Preview

We’ll be addressing the team’s offseason needs in future articles and podcasts. Until next time…

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/02/13/tltakes/offseason-needs-ravens/