Ravens Reacts: Eight Positions Most at Need with the Draft Tonight!
The eight positions Baltimore needs to prioritize improving in the rest of the offseason!
Welcome back to another edition of ‘Ravens Reacts’, a Cool Sports Newsletter series made by a die hard Ravens fan! The main part of free agency is over, and we are just counting the hours until the NFL draft. But signings and trades along with draft picks can still be used to improve a football team. So instead of looking at who the Ravens can get in the draft, I’d like to rank the eight positions Baltimore can improve this offseason, and where I’d recommend Baltimore should improve that position!
1. Interior Offensive Lineman
Notable Additions: None
Notable Losses: Kevin Zeitler (Lions), John Simpson (Jets), Sam Mustipher (Broncos)
Way to Improve: Early-Round Draft Pick
Just two years ago, Baltimore had one of the better interior O-Lines in the league, with Pro Bowl-caliber guards Ben Powers and Kevin Zeitler, and star rookie center Tyler Linderbaum. Not even a full-two offseasons later, and Baltimore has just Linderbaum of those three, with Powers and Zeitler finding new homes due to contractual reasons. But most positions on this Baltimore team have lost players the past few seasons due to hefty extensions given to Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith and Justin Madubuike. The reason why this group is the position Baltimore needs to improve most is because there is nobody else to step up.
Patrick Mekari—theoretically—could step up as he’s Baltimore’s ‘utility’ lineman, though he’s better at tackle. Ben Cleveland, a former draftee of Baltimore, is yet to develop in three years. Those two will probably be Baltimore’s starters (as of right now) at guard. Then there are unknown players who haven’t seen much playing time. Baltimore’s 7th round pick last season, Andrew Vorhees, did not touch the field; same goes for their 6th round pick Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu. The only other options are undrafted signees on the Ravens practice squad in 2023, Tykeem Doss and Tashawn Manning.
It’s safe to say Baltimore needs to improve the interior of the offensive line. Baltimore has one pick in round one, one pick in round two and one pick in round three. Baltimore would be silly not to use one of those picks on an offensive lineman, more specifically an interior O-Lineman. Baltimore needs to do what they did with Ben Powers; find an O-Lineman and draft him at the right value. It’s what they do all the time, they just need to do it with an interior offensive lineman tonight!
2. Defensive Back
Notable Additions: Arthur Maulet (Returned), Ka’Dar Hollman
Notable Losses: Ronald Darby (Jaguars), Geno Stone (Bengals), Rock Ya-Sin (49ers)
Way to Improve: Mid-Round Draft Pick
While Baltimore has some of the best players in the game at this position—Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Kyle Hamilton, etc.—the group is lacking depth after losing Darby, their interception leader in Stone, and Ya-Sin along with Daryl Worley still sitting in free agency. This group needs to retool. Because one of the key reasons why Baltimore’s secondary was one of the best in the NFL was because they had defenders everywhere. Baltimore will have to rebuild this secondary to sustain a similar level of defensive dominance.
They tried to do that by brining in Ka’Dar Hollman, though he will take Worley’s role as the ‘come-in-when-only-needed’ guy. They have also brought in some small pieces to help like Christian Matthew and Tre Swilling. But they are right now putting a lot of faith in Jayln Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington after they let go of 2023 5th round rookie Kyu Blu Kelly. So the Ravens are looking pretty thin in the secondary.
One way to improve can always be free agency. Baltimore brought in veterans like Darby and Ya-Sin later in free agency to improve the team. We see older, still impactful players find homes late in the offseason and still have great seasons. Baltimore was the KING of that last year, especially at EDGE rusher. However, I think Baltimore needs to spend a third, fourth or fifth round pick on a player in the secondary to find another stable defensive back in this system. Humphrey is getting older, and Stephens and Hamilton will have to be extended in a few years. Finding another long-term option in the secondary is a necessity, not just a one year veteran.
3. Edge Rushers/Outside Linebackers
Notable Additions: Kyle Van Noy (Returned)
Notable Losses: Jadeveon Clowney (Panthers)
Way to Improve: Mid-Round Draft Pick
The Ravens are lucky to have nine draft picks to use or trade for a higher pick or pieces. But if they don’t trade them, Baltimore can use one of their mid-round picks on a pass rusher, edge rusher, outside linebacker; however you define them. I mentioned in a previous article that I wanted Baltimore to retain one of Kyle Van Noy or Jadeveon Clowney, hoping for Van Noy. And that’s exactly what happened. But losing a guy who just had a career year with almost double digit sacks like Clowney puts Baltimore in a weird spot when it comes to their pass rush.
Because unlike some of the other positions we’ve been mentioning, the Ravens have talent to use in this area. It’s just about whether that talent is capable enough to sustain the most effective pass rush in football, or something close to it. The obvious one on the opposite side of Van Noy will be 2021 first round pick Odafe Oweh. He had a great to start to his rookie campaign but then plateaued before eventually regressing in 2022, then he had an okay year last season with 5 sacks and 12 QB hits. But is he ready?
The other premier option would be David Ojabo, a former high-round draft pick of Baltimore’s who has not been able to stay on the field. Out of a possible 34 games, Ojabo has managed to suit up in five games, with just one sack and seven tackles. Another issue is that Oweh could possibly be a free agent next year, and Van Noy is 33 years old. So if I’m Baltimore, I’d spend one of their mid-round draft picks on getting an NFL-ready pass rusher to add to this rotation, and possibly another piece if things don’t work out.
4. Offensive Tackle
Notable Additions: Josh Jones
Notable Losses: Morgan Moses (Jets - Trade)
Way to Improve: Free Agency/Trade
We talked about the interior O-Line and how it needs help. Well so does the tackle position after Baltimore traded away veteran starting right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets for draft capital. Baltimore currently has talent here. They’re paying a ton of money to Ronnie Stanley, who hasn’t been the same player because of serious leg injuries the past few seasons but will still be the starting left tackle. But after him there are no certainties.
The obvious answer would be to put Patrick Mekari at the right tackle position. However, I feel that he should not be ‘penciled-in’ to a position just yet until further notice. So I wouldn’t automatically put him at right tackle in case he’s needed at guard. The other option would be Daniel Faalele. Faalele has been progressing year by year with great power and is one of the more elusive offensive tackles, allowing him to block a larger range of space. Ravens radio Play-By-Play announcer Gerry Sandusky said a few years ago that he was very high on Faalele, and I think he could step in and be productive. But he has no experience as a starter. He’s barley played; only small sample sizes. How are we supposed to judge how good he will be as a primary blocker for the league’s MVP without experience?
So instead of taking someone in the draft—which I wouldn’t be opposed to for the record for a mid-round pick—I would sign or trade for a veteran tackle. What made Morgan Moses so reliable was that he stayed healthy but was also consistent. He was never amazing, but you knew what you were going to get out of him. The same is not said for a guy like Faalele or a guy like Mekari who is always moving positions (he can play all positions on the offensive line). So I’d sign a veteran or trade for one, but it has to be for a cheap price. If Baltimore can’t find one though for the right price/value, I wouldn’t lose sleep over Faalele and possibly Mekari as the other options.
5. Wide Receiver
Notable Additions: Nelson Agholor (Returned), Deonte Hardy
Notable Losses: Odell Beckham Jr. (Unknown)
Way To Improve: Trade/Free Agency
I feel like every year since Jackson joined the team the Ravens have considered adding a wide receiver to the team. And in many offseasons, they have. They’ve spent first round picks on Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown (2019), Rashod Bateman (2021) and Zay Flowers (2023). One of those guys is off the team and with the team that just beat them in the AFC championship, the other is struggling to get targets and the most recent first round wide receiver draftee fumbled the ball at the goal line in the AFC Championship. This is to no surprise. The Ravens been notoriously bad for drafting wide receivers in the first round. Welcome Breshad Perriman to the conversation!
So after Baltimore lost their very replaceable veteran in OBJ, some are acting like Baltimore needs to make major moves at wide receiver. And yes I could 100% agree Baltimore needs to improve their wide receiver room in some capacity, by adding a bigger and more reliable receiver. But if Baltimore drafts a receiver in the first round, it would make it five of the last ten drafts that Baltimore has drafted a WR in Round 1; not a sustainable way to succeed. Plus, Baltimore has two very reliable pass catchers at Tight End in Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, Justice Hill, who’s grown tremendously as a pass catcher, Bateman, and Tylan Wallace along with retaining Nelson Agholor. And then obviously Flowers.
So yes it is important for Baltimore to improve with a big receiver who can catch the ball consistently. However, with all of the talented pass catchers Baltimore has on the roster, I wouldn’t spend too much money/value to try to go out and a get a receiver. But I can assure you drafting one at No. 30 is the wrong move for the team.
6. Middle Linebacker
Notable Additions: Malik Harrison (Returned), Chris Board
Notable Losses: Patrick Queen (Steelers)
Way to Improve: Signing a Veteran
When you’re given a first-team All-Pro linebacker in Roquan Smith, you can’t say the position HAS to improve. However, Baltimore lost one of their other All-Pro’s who really helped out this group last year, Patrick Queen, to the Steelers. Look, they’re not going to find a Queen replacement. But it can’t be all on Smith. They need to find someone who can be reliable, grow, but also has experience and is ready to be on a contending team.
Baltimore already has Trenton Simpson on their roster, who will probably get a starting role as of right now. Last year Baltimore drafted Simpson in the third round with the fear of Queen leaving in free agency, and sure enough he did. However, Simpson didn’t show much in his rookie season. When he started in the final week of the season, he played well totaling seven tackles, six of which solo and two of which for losses, as well as recording a sack. So he has potential. But he has very little experience. Baltimore also has Malik Harrison, who’s not a starter but good in his LB3 role. And Baltimore brought back former Raven Chris Board, but he’s more valuable on special teams.
Baltimore was in a very similar situation with their pass rush last season; a lot of talent but were not sure how they would utilize them or if they were reliable enough to be key pieces on a championship-level team. So Baltimore went out into the market and signed Clowney and Van Noy. I think the Ravens should do the same at middle linebacker, just to get more experience in the rotation and help mentor the younger ones on front-seven.
7. Interior Defensive Lineman
Notable Additions: Just Madubuike (Returned), Brent Urban (Returned)
Notable Losses: None
Way to Improve: Mid-Late Round Draft Pick
This may sound harsh for a crew that helped lead the NFL in sacks last season and retained the same core. But I think Baltimore needs to at least get someone else that can play in this rotation. Because Madubuike is great. He’s the near-$100 million guy. But outside of him, Baltimore’s next best sack-getter on the interior D-Line was Brent Urban with 3 and then Broderick Washington with two. But it’s not just that. Baltimore’s run defense regressed tremendously last season and this group had a lot to do with it.
So something has to happen fast. Either A, Baltimore gives these guys a real chance to improve and they do. Washington was signed to a three year extension last offseason for a reason. He has the talent, but he needs to prove he’ll be consistent enough to find his way into the rotation. Travis Jones (who I met) is a very talented player—third round draftee in 2022—but he has also showed nothing outside of great preseason games. And Michael Pierce, a longtime Raven, has also been great but his age is showing he is not the same player in the interior. So I think Baltimore just needs one more piece here.
Because Baltimore’s B option is to improve ASAP. This is a hopefully Super Bowl-level team, and the inconsistency from this group showed last year and was unacceptable. If I were Baltimore, I would try to get Washington and Jones as many touches as possible to try to develop. They already have veterans Urban and Pierce to pick up the pieces. But I would also draft someone in the fourth or fifth round, where Baltimore has a TON of draft capital, as a backup plan in case Washington and Jones are not ready.
8. Running Backs
Notable Additions: Derrick Henry (YAY!)
Notable Losses: Gus Edwards (Chargers), J.K. Dobbins (Chargers)
Way to Improve: Late-Round Draft Pick
This one may come as shocker. When you add the second leading rusher in the NFL you very rarely think the position has to improve more. The only reason why I say this is because of Henry’s age. Derrick is now 30 years old, and he’s yet to shown signs of regression or fatigue, but you have to think he will not be a high level player after this two-year deal. So the Ravens need to look at other backup or future starting options after losing two of their key runners of the past few years.
They have Justice Hill, a running back I really like. Despite some fumbling issues, Hill has grown tremendously every season and is now a dual-threat running back and the main backup on a contending team. However, is he the answer? Because I also think he’ll be trying to play a ton in the pass catching department. So Baltimore could go towards Keaton Mitchell, that is if he returns next season from a fully-torn ACL, making it very risky to rely on him. So if one of Henry or Hill goes down, Baltimore is doomed.
When the Ravens had a great running game with Jackson, Mark Ingram III and Edwards, they shocked everyone and drafted J.K. Dobbins in the second round. Later that season, Dobbins worked his way into an older and less-speedy rotation and helped lead Baltimore to the divisional round. Injuries since have ruined what could have been an amazing career with Baltimore, but the Ravens can do a similar thing this year. It’s very easy to find running back talent in the NFL draft. De’Von Achane was a third round pick last year! So if I’m Baltimore I’d take a chance on a speedy running back later in the draft and see what he can do.
No matter what though, the draft is tonight and I could not be more excited! Baltimore has nine draft picks and multiple players they could use to trade up or add even more draft capital. I think Baltimore has an opportunity to be a team that makes some surprising moves on night one. Those are the positions Baltimore needs to improve upon, and let’s see if they do so, and how they do so, for the remainder of the offseason!
Chase Coburn
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