The extent of the Baltimore Ravens’ roster activity since their season-ending playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills is signing a dozen players, most of whom spent the 2024 season on their practice squad, to reserve/futures contracts.
There have been no releases or re-signings. There have been no extensions. There have been no reports of pending trades that will become official at the onset of the new league year.
The lack of activity is not a big surprise. The Ravens are a deadline team, which means they’re nearing some decisions that could shape their offseason. Eighteen Ravens unrestricted free agents can officially sign elsewhere starting on Wednesday.
Who will stay, who will go among Ravens' 18 unrestricted free agents?
General manager Eric DeCosta always prioritizes signing his own players before diving into the free-agent market. Next week, he can do both — and he’ll have to because a Ravens team that fell two wins short of playing in the Super Bowl has several needs at key positions.
With only three picks over the first two days of the draft — eight of their projected 11 selections will be in the fourth round or later — Baltimore will only be able to depend on the draft so much to plug holes.
Depending on their free-agent activity and gains and losses, the Ravens’ needs could be drastically different now than they are as we get closer to April’s draft. For now, this is an attempt at ranking arguably their 10 needs, from biggest to smallest.
If the Ravens can’t re-sign Stanley, one of the league’s top pending free agents, they could move Rosengarten to left tackle after he started on the right side as a rookie. But who then plays right tackle? With Patrick Mekari also hitting free agency, who is Baltimore’s swing tackle? The only other tackle under contract is Bullock, an undrafted free agent who spent his rookie season on the practice squad.
The Ravens’ lack of options at the position is why re-signing Stanley, even if they have to get out of their comfort zone to do it, feels imperative. They probably will draft at least one tackle next month, even if Stanley re-ups. If they have to replace Stanley and get a plug-and-play guy, they’d essentially be forced to use a first- or second-round pick on the position. Baltimore simply can’t afford to have major concerns about the blocking on Lamar Jackson’s blindside.
Humphrey, a four-time Pro Bowler, and Wiggins, who had a strong rookie year, are a nice duo, but the Ravens need another potential starter on the outside to replace Stephens and more depth in the slot. As it is, Tampa, a fourth-round pick last year who played sparingly as a rookie because of injuries, should get an opportunity to seize a bigger role. Armour-Davis might be counted on as well if he can stay healthy.
Ravens decision-makers are fond of saying you can never have enough corners. Right now, they don’t have anywhere close to enough. Re-signing a veteran like White would be a step in the right direction. Baltimore will also need to address the position relatively early in the draft.
Van Noy and Oweh are double-digit-sack guys. Robinson made some strides in his second season. There’s still potential with Ojabo and Isaac. On paper, this has the makings of a solid group, particularly if Ojabo or Isaac gives them consistent play. However, it’s a bit of a volatile mix that feels short term.
Van Noy, Oweh and Ojabo are all in the final year of their deals. The soon-to-be 34-year-old Van Noy brought up his contract on a few occasions this offseason after he thoroughly outperformed it last season. Will the Ravens sweeten the pot to make sure he returns? Barring a contract extension in the coming months, Oweh will be playing for his next contract as well. Ojabo, who has four sacks in three seasons, will likely start training camp on the roster bubble. The Ravens have both present and future considerations here.
This picture will become clearer if the Ravens retain Washington, which they are hopeful to do. Their options are extending him the second-round tender, rolling the dice and placing the cheaper original-round tender on him while hoping no other team signs him to an offer sheet, or signing him to an extension with a smaller 2025 salary-cap number. Only the second-round tender would guarantee them compensation if Washington departs.
Even with a Washington return, the Ravens still need to find a No. 3 safety, a key piece in Zach Orr’s defense. The Ravens use three-safety looks often. Baltimore probably will be in the low-cost veteran safety market again this offseason and also target one in the draft.
The Ravens haven’t had to worry about their kicker since the summer of 2012 when Tucker, then an undrafted rookie, beat out veteran Billy Cundiff for the job. Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but his future with the team is now in doubt as the NFL investigates claims from 16 massage therapists who accused the longtime Raven of sexual misconduct as part of an investigation by The Baltimore Banner.
Ravens officials say they are awaiting more information and the results of the NFL’s investigation before making a decision on Tucker’s future. However, they have no choice but to make contingency plans. That could include drafting a kicker for the first time in team history.
This isn’t a bigger concern because the Ravens have Vorhees, who entered the 2024 season as the starting left guard, as an option to replace Mekari if he leaves. They seem highly unlikely to re-sign both Stanley and Mekari, and Stanley is seemingly the priority.
Vorhees struggled in his first two starts, but he looked like a different player when filling in for a sick Mekari in Week 18. Still, the Ravens need more options at both guard spots with Faalele coming off an uneven 2024 in his first year as a starter.
The Ravens essentially had the same interior defensive line personnel the past two seasons, so there is room for some new blood. Depth could also become a problem if Urban and Pierce don’t return. Pierce is under contract, but the Ravens owe the nose tackle a $2 million option bonus by March 16. It’s also not clear how much longer the 32-year-old, who has battled injuries throughout his career, wants to play.
Fortunately for the Ravens, this draft is loaded with talented defensive linemen. It doesn’t need to be a top priority because Madubuike and Travis Jones are still in place. Broderick Washington is a serviceable player, but there’s room for another addition or two.
If the Ravens are comfortable having Simpson back as the starter alongside Smith after he was benched in December, then the only need would be adding depth. That could be accomplished by re-signing Harrison and Board, two reserves last year who led the team in special teams snaps.
Simpson, though, is a wild card. He struggled in his first season as the starter, and it seemed to impact Smith, who wasn’t himself in the first half of the year. At the very least, the Ravens probably need to bring in a veteran contingency plan for Simpson. With as many as 11 picks, there’s room to draft a developmental inside linebacker, too.
With Agholor and Wallace heading to the open market, the Ravens have to add another starting-caliber receiver either in free agency or the draft. Walker, a fourth-round pick last year who didn’t play much as a rookie, should get a longer look, but the Ravens have snaps and opportunities available for others, too.
Re-signing Wallace is an option and there are a number of accomplished veteran receivers available on the free-agent market or via trades. It would be a moderate surprise if Baltimore used prime draft capital and/or significant cap space on a receiver given its other needs, but DeCosta has used assets on the position before.
The Ravens historically don’t spend notable money on the backup quarterback position. With how Jackson-centric the offense is, there’s certainly merit to the idea that if he went down for an extended period, they’d be sunk, regardless of who the No. 2 is. Thus, why spend a chunk of money on one of the top backups?
Still, there was a lot of buzz in Indianapolis that the Ravens would be aggressive in the backup quarterback market. The list of veterans available includes Daniel Jones, Gardner Minshew, Jameis Winston, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota and old friend Joe Flacco. It would be quite a story if Flacco finished his career where it all started. Adding another veteran wouldn’t necessarily preclude Johnson’s return. Leary will presumably be battling for a spot on the practice squad.
CONTINUE READING
There have been no releases or re-signings. There have been no extensions. There have been no reports of pending trades that will become official at the onset of the new league year.
The lack of activity is not a big surprise. The Ravens are a deadline team, which means they’re nearing some decisions that could shape their offseason. Eighteen Ravens unrestricted free agents can officially sign elsewhere starting on Wednesday.
Who will stay, who will go among Ravens' 18 unrestricted free agents?
General manager Eric DeCosta always prioritizes signing his own players before diving into the free-agent market. Next week, he can do both — and he’ll have to because a Ravens team that fell two wins short of playing in the Super Bowl has several needs at key positions.
With only three picks over the first two days of the draft — eight of their projected 11 selections will be in the fourth round or later — Baltimore will only be able to depend on the draft so much to plug holes.
Depending on their free-agent activity and gains and losses, the Ravens’ needs could be drastically different now than they are as we get closer to April’s draft. For now, this is an attempt at ranking arguably their 10 needs, from biggest to smallest.
1. Offensive tackle
If the Ravens can’t re-sign Stanley, one of the league’s top pending free agents, they could move Rosengarten to left tackle after he started on the right side as a rookie. But who then plays right tackle? With Patrick Mekari also hitting free agency, who is Baltimore’s swing tackle? The only other tackle under contract is Bullock, an undrafted free agent who spent his rookie season on the practice squad.
The Ravens’ lack of options at the position is why re-signing Stanley, even if they have to get out of their comfort zone to do it, feels imperative. They probably will draft at least one tackle next month, even if Stanley re-ups. If they have to replace Stanley and get a plug-and-play guy, they’d essentially be forced to use a first- or second-round pick on the position. Baltimore simply can’t afford to have major concerns about the blocking on Lamar Jackson’s blindside.
2. Cornerback
Humphrey, a four-time Pro Bowler, and Wiggins, who had a strong rookie year, are a nice duo, but the Ravens need another potential starter on the outside to replace Stephens and more depth in the slot. As it is, Tampa, a fourth-round pick last year who played sparingly as a rookie because of injuries, should get an opportunity to seize a bigger role. Armour-Davis might be counted on as well if he can stay healthy.
Ravens decision-makers are fond of saying you can never have enough corners. Right now, they don’t have anywhere close to enough. Re-signing a veteran like White would be a step in the right direction. Baltimore will also need to address the position relatively early in the draft.
3. Edge rusher
Van Noy and Oweh are double-digit-sack guys. Robinson made some strides in his second season. There’s still potential with Ojabo and Isaac. On paper, this has the makings of a solid group, particularly if Ojabo or Isaac gives them consistent play. However, it’s a bit of a volatile mix that feels short term.
Van Noy, Oweh and Ojabo are all in the final year of their deals. The soon-to-be 34-year-old Van Noy brought up his contract on a few occasions this offseason after he thoroughly outperformed it last season. Will the Ravens sweeten the pot to make sure he returns? Barring a contract extension in the coming months, Oweh will be playing for his next contract as well. Ojabo, who has four sacks in three seasons, will likely start training camp on the roster bubble. The Ravens have both present and future considerations here.
4. Safety
This picture will become clearer if the Ravens retain Washington, which they are hopeful to do. Their options are extending him the second-round tender, rolling the dice and placing the cheaper original-round tender on him while hoping no other team signs him to an offer sheet, or signing him to an extension with a smaller 2025 salary-cap number. Only the second-round tender would guarantee them compensation if Washington departs.
Even with a Washington return, the Ravens still need to find a No. 3 safety, a key piece in Zach Orr’s defense. The Ravens use three-safety looks often. Baltimore probably will be in the low-cost veteran safety market again this offseason and also target one in the draft.
5. Kicker
The Ravens haven’t had to worry about their kicker since the summer of 2012 when Tucker, then an undrafted rookie, beat out veteran Billy Cundiff for the job. Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but his future with the team is now in doubt as the NFL investigates claims from 16 massage therapists who accused the longtime Raven of sexual misconduct as part of an investigation by The Baltimore Banner.
Ravens officials say they are awaiting more information and the results of the NFL’s investigation before making a decision on Tucker’s future. However, they have no choice but to make contingency plans. That could include drafting a kicker for the first time in team history.
6. Offensive guard
This isn’t a bigger concern because the Ravens have Vorhees, who entered the 2024 season as the starting left guard, as an option to replace Mekari if he leaves. They seem highly unlikely to re-sign both Stanley and Mekari, and Stanley is seemingly the priority.
Vorhees struggled in his first two starts, but he looked like a different player when filling in for a sick Mekari in Week 18. Still, the Ravens need more options at both guard spots with Faalele coming off an uneven 2024 in his first year as a starter.
7. Interior defensive line
The Ravens essentially had the same interior defensive line personnel the past two seasons, so there is room for some new blood. Depth could also become a problem if Urban and Pierce don’t return. Pierce is under contract, but the Ravens owe the nose tackle a $2 million option bonus by March 16. It’s also not clear how much longer the 32-year-old, who has battled injuries throughout his career, wants to play.
Fortunately for the Ravens, this draft is loaded with talented defensive linemen. It doesn’t need to be a top priority because Madubuike and Travis Jones are still in place. Broderick Washington is a serviceable player, but there’s room for another addition or two.
8. Inside linebacker
If the Ravens are comfortable having Simpson back as the starter alongside Smith after he was benched in December, then the only need would be adding depth. That could be accomplished by re-signing Harrison and Board, two reserves last year who led the team in special teams snaps.
Simpson, though, is a wild card. He struggled in his first season as the starter, and it seemed to impact Smith, who wasn’t himself in the first half of the year. At the very least, the Ravens probably need to bring in a veteran contingency plan for Simpson. With as many as 11 picks, there’s room to draft a developmental inside linebacker, too.
9. Wide receiver
With Agholor and Wallace heading to the open market, the Ravens have to add another starting-caliber receiver either in free agency or the draft. Walker, a fourth-round pick last year who didn’t play much as a rookie, should get a longer look, but the Ravens have snaps and opportunities available for others, too.
Re-signing Wallace is an option and there are a number of accomplished veteran receivers available on the free-agent market or via trades. It would be a moderate surprise if Baltimore used prime draft capital and/or significant cap space on a receiver given its other needs, but DeCosta has used assets on the position before.
10. Backup quarterback
The Ravens historically don’t spend notable money on the backup quarterback position. With how Jackson-centric the offense is, there’s certainly merit to the idea that if he went down for an extended period, they’d be sunk, regardless of who the No. 2 is. Thus, why spend a chunk of money on one of the top backups?
Still, there was a lot of buzz in Indianapolis that the Ravens would be aggressive in the backup quarterback market. The list of veterans available includes Daniel Jones, Gardner Minshew, Jameis Winston, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota and old friend Joe Flacco. It would be quite a story if Flacco finished his career where it all started. Adding another veteran wouldn’t necessarily preclude Johnson’s return. Leary will presumably be battling for a spot on the practice squad.
