2023 NFL Offseason: Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens (Last Year: 10-7)

2023 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
QB Josh Johnson, WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Nelson Agholor, WR Laquon Treadwell, CB Rock Ya-Sin.
Early Draft Picks:
WR Zay Flowers, LB Trenton Simpson, DE Tavius Robinson, CB Kyu Blu Kelly. Ravens Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
RB Kenyan Drake, WR Demarcus Robinson, TE Josh Oliver, OT Ja’Wuan James, G Ben Powers, DE/OLB Justin Houston, DE Steven Means, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Calais Campbell, DE/DT Brent Urban, CB Marcus Peters.

2023 Baltimore Ravens Offense:
There was plenty of drama surrounding Lamar Jackson and his contract negotiation this offseason. At times, it seemed as though Jackson would be traded somewhere, whether that was to the Colts, Falcons, or Jets. However, the Ravens agreed to terms with Jackson mere hours prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, ending all speculation of a potential trade. Jackson was given a 5-year, $260 million contract with $185 million guaranteed.

Based on Jackson’s talent alone, he’s well worth the money. His durability, on the other hand, is a big question mark. Jackson hasn’t been able to finish each of the past two seasons, ultimately missing a total of 10 games in those years combined. The Ravens have a quality backup in Tyler Huntley, but Jackson is a special athlete and can do things most quarterbacks in the NFL cannot. If the Ravens want to make a deep run into the playoffs, they’ll need Jackson to remain healthy for a change.

Jackson’s availability will be possible if the offensive line can keep him upright. The problem there is that Baltimore lost a quality offensive lineman in guard Ben Powers. The Ravens will ask 2021 third-rounder Ben Cleveland to fill his shoes. Cleveland barely played last year, so it remains to be seen how effective he’ll be. Cleveland will join Kevin Zeitler and Tyler Linderbaum, two interior blockers who performed on a high level last year. Linderbaum was especially impressive, given that he was a mere rookie center.

The other issue concerning the Ravens’ offensive line is Ronnie Stanley’s health. Stanley is a premier left tackle when he’s available, but he has a very dubious injury history. Stanley has missed a whopping 32 games in the past three seasons. His ability to remain on the field will have a huge impact with how the Ravens fare in 2023. Meanwhile, right tackle Morgan Moses is coming off a great year, but at 32, there could be some regression in the near future.

Aside from the injuries to Jackson and Stanley, the greatest problem for the Ravens has been their horrible receiving corps. With Marquise Brown gone last year, all the Ravens had was the mediocre Rashod Bateman, and once he and elite tight end Mark Andrews got hurt, the Ravens’ quarterbacks had no viable targets at their disposal. That won’t be the case in 2023. Baltimore signed Odell Beckham and then used its first-round pick on the electric Zay Flowers.

Meanwhile, the running game figures to improve for Baltimore as well. The top two backs, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, were both coming off torn ACLs last year. Now a year removed from those injuries, Dobbins and Edwards figure to revert back to 100 percent.

2023 Baltimore Ravens Defense:
The Ravens had a stout defense last year that surrendered only 18.8 points per game. The unit was at its best stopping the run, ranking fifth in that department. However, things may not go as well on this side of the ball in 2023.

The primary catalyst for a potential decline is the departure of two key veterans. One is on the defensive line, and that would be Calais Campbell. The current Falcon has been dominant in the trenches for Baltimore in recent seasons, so he’ll sorely be missed. A pair of 2020 NFL Draft prospects, Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr., will be asked to fill Campbell’s shoes. Madubuike was a fine performer last year, while Washington looked good in limited snaps. It’s safe to say that Washington will have a much larger role this year. He and Madubuike will sandwich nose tackle Michael Pierce, who missed all but three games last year because of torn biceps. His return to action will help make up for Campbell’s departure.

The second significant Raven to depart is cornerback Marcus Peters. Marlon Humphrey is still on the roster, and the excellent cornerback will continue to lock down one side of the field. Peters’ replacement will be Rock Ya-Sin, who is a talented cornerback but can’t stay healthy. He has yet to play a full season in the pros. The Ravens don’t have much as far as competition is concerned, so if either corner gets hurt, Baltimore will be in trouble at the position.

At the very least, the safety position is a stable element in Baltimore’s secondary. The Ravens have a couple of mega talents there, with Kyle Hamilton thriving as a first-round rookie last year. He and the extremely talented Marcus Williams figure to form one of the NFL’s top safety tandems in the NFL this season.

Hamilton was one of two defensive players the Ravens chose in the first couple of rounds last year. The other was David Ojabo, an extremely gifted edge rusher who fell to the second frame because of medical concerns. However, Ojabo is likely ready to play at 100-percent capacity this season, so he could be a big boost on the edge. He, Tyus Bowser, and Odafe Oweh should be able to generate ample pressure on opposing passers.

The rest of the linebacking corps is comprised of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. Smith was acquired in a trade with the Bears and fundamentally improved the defense. He was then rewarded with a 5-year, $100 million extension. Queen had a rough start to his career as a former first-round pick, but he has made nice improvements to his game recently.

2023 Baltimore Ravens Schedule and Intangibles:
John Harbaugh has done a terrific job of maintaining a dominant home-field advantage during his tenure as Baltimore’s head coach. The Ravens are an outstanding 90-36 as hosts since 2008.

Justin Tucker is the best kicker in the NFL. He whiffed on just 20 of his 253 attempts in the past seven years, drilling a remarkable 39-of-50 tries from 50-plus in that span. Tucker has missed just five extra points in his career. He also nailed an NFL-record 66-yard field goal to beat the Lions a couple of years ago.

Former fourth-round pick Jordan Stout didn’t fare very well as a rookie, ranking near the bottom in net average. However, he did a fine job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

Baltimore has a somewhat tough schedule, taking on the Lions, Chargers, 49ers, and Dolphins in addition to their divisional foes. There are some easy games sprinkled in, however, including the Cardinals, Rams, Texans, Colts, and Titans.

2023 Baltimore Ravens Rookies:
Go here for the Ravens Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.

2023 Baltimore Ravens Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2023 Baltimore Ravens Analysis: It’s all about the team health. The Ravens have suffered so many key injuries over the past several seasons, so it’s fair to wonder if that trend will continue. Baltimore has immense upside if Lamar Jackson, Ronnie Stanley and others can remain on the field, but some depth issues could sabotage the team’s chances if more injuries occur.

Projection: 11-6 (Tied 3rd in AFC North)

2022 Projection: 11-6. 2022 Actual Result: 10-7.
2021 Projection: 11-6. 2021 Actual Result: 8-9.
2020 Projection: 12-4. 2020 Actual Result: 11-5.
2019 Projection: 5-11. 2019 Actual Result: 14-2.
2018 Projection: 6-10. 2018 Actual Result: 10-6.
2017 Projection: 7-9. 2017 Actual Result: 9-7.
2016 Projection: 9-7. 2016 Actual Result: 8-8.

NFL Draft Team Grade: A- Grade

Goals Entering the 2023 NFL Draft: The Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr., but that can’t be the only upgrade they make to their receiving corps this offseason. Fixing that position is the greatest priority, but the Ravens have plenty of other glaring needs, as they’ve lost talent on the offensive line, defensive line and secondary this offseason.

2023 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Baltimore didn’t expect Zay Flowers to drop to them, yet the dynamic receiver was sitting on the board at No. 22. This was a no-brainer pick for the Ravens, who were desperate for receiving help. Flowers has Steve Smith-type upside, so it’s shocking that he slipped into the 20s.

The Ravens were able to secure two other great values: Trenton Simpson in the third round and Andrew Vorhees in the final frame. Both will potentially fill big holes on the roster, so these were tremendous selections. Conversely, the Ravens reached on Tavius Robinson in the fourth round.

Despite the Robinson blunder, the Ravens were able to put together an outstanding draft. I wish they would have traded down because they had just six picks, but they did extremely well with what they had otherwise.

NFL Draft Individual Grades:

22. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College – A+ Grade
Wow, we hit our Zay Flowers under props by the slimmest of margins! I love this pick for the Ravens, but did not think Flowers would be available. Flowers is an explosive receiver who will provide an enormous upgrade for a big area of weakness. Lamar Jackson was already smiling because of his new contract, and he has to be even happier.

86. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson – A Grade
This is a great pick from a value perspective. I thought there was a chance Trenton Simpson would be chosen in the second round. Simpson is a highly athletic and quick linebacker with great upside.

124. Tavius Robinson, DE, Southeastern – D Grade
I didn’t have Tavius Robinson remotely close to any of my mock draft. While Robinson has good athleticism, he is a tweener and needs to add strength. I figured he’d be a UDFA.

157. Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford – B Grade
Baltimore needed cornerback help, so it makes sense that it took a player who fits the range with Kyu Blu Kelly. I had Kelly at No. 167, so the value is fine. Kelly is a tall cornerback with some potential, but he was torched at times last year.

199. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT, Oregon – C- Grade
I didn’t have Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu as a draftable prospect, so the Ravens are now dipping into the UDFA pool. Aumavae-Laulu has plus size and athleticism, but he’s far from a finished product. He needs a lot of work to make the roster.

229. Andrew Vorhees, G/OT, USC – A+ Grade
The Ravens found a gem in the seventh round. Andrew Vorhees is a very versatile and smart offensive lineman whom I expected to be chosen in the third or fourth round. I’m shocked he fell this far, but Baltimore won’t complain.

Season Summary:
Despite Lamar Jackson’s injury, the Ravens were able to reach the playoffs and challenge the Bengals. Had they not allowed a 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Baltimore may have advanced to the second round. Now, the Ravens will need to figure out what to do with Jackson and his quest to be an extremely highly paid quarterback.

Offseason Moves:

Ravens sign WR Laquon Treadwell

Ravens sign QB Josh Johnson

Ravens sign WR Odell Beckham

Ravens sign WR Nelson Agholor

Team Needs:

Two Wide Receivers: Baltimore has a barren receiving corps, save for Rashod Bateman. Two new receivers are desperately needed. Signed Odell Beckham and Nelson Agholor
Quarterback: A Lamar Jackson decision must be made. The Ravens don’t seem likely to re-sign him, but they could apply the franchise tag.
Defensive Lineman: Calais Campbell was released.
Edge Rusher: Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul are set to hit free agency, but the Ravens need a long-term solution at the position.
Cornerback: Aside from Jackson, Baltimore’s top free agent is Marcus Peters. He’ll be sorely missed if he leaves. Signed Rock Ya-Sin
Guard: Ben Powers is an impending free agent, so he must be re-signed.

Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Free Agent Signings:

Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Raiders. Age: 27.
Signed with Ravens (1 year)

Rock Ya-Sin hasn’t played a full season in his career, missing 10 games in the past two years. It’s a shame because he’s a talented cornerback.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Patriots. Age: 30. — Signed with Ravens
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Seahawks. Age: 28. — Signed with Ravens
Josh Johnson, QB, 49ers. Age: 37. — Signed with Ravens
Angelo Blackson, DT, Bears. Age: 30. — Signed with Ravens

Baltimore Ravens Free Agents:

Salary Cap: TBA.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens. Age: 26.
Franchised by Ravens (non-exclusive)

Lamar Jackson is obviously a stellar scrambler, but he’s an underrated passer as well. Some view Jackson as a mediocre or poor thrower, but he has completed between 64 and 66 percent of his passes in most of his seasons. His numbers were down this year, but only because his receiving corps was in shambles.
Marcus Peters, CB, Ravens. Age: 30.
Marcus Peters is a stellar cornerback. He just turned 30, but he should still have one or two more great seasons remaining in the tank.
Calais Campbell, DT, Ravens. Age: 37.
Signed with Falcons (1 year)

Despite turning 37 on Sept. 1, Calais Campbell is still one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL. That said, he’s not the player he once was because he has to play fewer snaps. Still, he would be a great piece to add to any defensive line.
Ben Powers, G, Ravens. Age: 26.
Signed with Broncos (4 years, $52 million)

Ben Powers is a terrific pass protector, though he could get a bit stronger to improve his run blocking. He’s 26, so there’s definitely room for improvement.
Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Ravens. Age: 34.
Justin Houston was a part-time player for the Ravens last year, but made the most of it, logging 9.5 sacks. He’s set to decline now that he’s 34, but he can still be an effective player when used.
Josh Oliver, TE, Ravens. Age: 26.
Signed with Vikings (3 years, $21 million)

Josh Oliver has been buried on the depth chart, but he’s an excellent blocker and can be a decent receiver. At just 26, Oliver has plenty of upside.
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Ravens. Age: 28.
Signed with Rams

Demarcus Robinson was a surprise performer for the Ravens last year, doing well as a possession receiver once Rashod Bateman got hurt.
Ja’Wuan James, OT, Ravens. Age: 31.
Ja’Wuan James is a talented blocker, but has a very difficult time staying healthy.
Kenyan Drake, RB, Ravens. Age: 29.
Kenyan Drake had some quality games last year, including a 119-yard performance against the Giants in Week 6.
Steven Means, DE, Ravens. Age: 33.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Ravens. Age: 34.
Brent Urban, DE/DT, Ravens. Age: 32.
Kyle Fuller, CB, Ravens. Age: 31.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Ravens. Age: 30.
Vince Biegel, DE/OLB, Ravens. Age: 30.