Disappointingly ending the 2020 season yet again, the Baltimore Ravens face another offseason full of questions. Do they bring in a veteran at receiver? Should they address the offensive line during the draft or swing a trade, especially after the recent trade request by starting right tackle Orlando Brown? The Ravens have three of their pass rush specialists entering NFL Free Agency and a few needs around the team.
Let’s dive into how the 2020 season ended and some possible Baltimore Ravens offseason moves and needs.
Ravens 2020 Season
The Ravens season ended with a 17-3 loss in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. All respect to the Buffalo Bills, who won that game, but for roster analysis purposes we’re going to highlight a few reasons things got out of hand for Baltimore.
MVP QB Lamar Jackson did not have a very good game, but that is in part of having a few TERRIBLE snaps and inconsistent protection, resulting in four sacks. One of those bad snaps went over the head of Jackson, which resulted in him getting a concussion at the end of the play while trying to secure the football. The errant snaps should not come as a surprise to Baltimore, as there have been starting center problems for the past few seasons. The Ravens have rotated at center Matt Skura, who was benched for bad snaps, Pat Mekari, who’s young and is originally a guard, and have also flirted with starting guard Bradley Bozeman at the spot.
It’s also safe to say the Ravens left a lot to be desired in the passing game that evening. Second-year WR Marquise Brown put together a solid game, but the need for a veteran WR who can move the chains, make contested catches downfield and has a large catch radius could make things a little easier on Lamar Jackson. Baltimore totaled seven passing first downs to Buffalo’s 14. To strengthen that point, they ran for 11 first downs to Buffalo’s one.
Moving ahead, Baltimore still expects to be among the title contenders in the NFL with their former MVP quarterback, youth at skill positions and a stout secondary that’s intact for the next few years. To keep those championship hopes alive, I believe Baltimore should go in a specific direction in 2021 NFL Free Agency and the NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens Offseason Needs and Moves
2021 NFL Free Agency
The Ravens have a projected $18.27 million of cap space, based on a 180.5 salary cap (currently) per @ravenssalarycap. That is before any tenders are issued to RFA’s and ERFA’s, when that happens, the cap space is projected to be in the neighborhood of $13.89 million. With that limited number, the Ravens have to be strategic with their spending, so it’s likely that top-coveted free agents are off the board.
A receiver like Allen Robinson or Kenny Golladay would likely be off the table, unless general manager Eric Decosta does some maneuvering. Options like Corey Davis or JuJu Smith-Schuster may be ideal, considering the Ravens limited cap space. I believe there is a lot of talent there, but the price should not be as high. Having more of a possession-type of WR next to Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews would do wonders for the Ravens offense.
Pass rush has been pretty inconsistent for Baltimore as well. That’s even after franchise tagging Matthew Judon and acquiring Yannick Ngakoue from the Minnesota Vikings for a fifth-round pick last year. Both are up for new contracts and are eligible for the franchise tag. That tag comes with a hefty price to pay, but so does signing a long-term contract. Baltimore is likely to be priced out of bringing both back, and it looks like they couldn’t afford even one, but there is one factor that could play into this year’s free agency—the lower salary cap. Due to COVID-19, the NFL Salary Cap will not grow as previously expect, so there may not be as many lucrative deals being handed out.
I could see some players taking a short prove-it type of deal to give them a chance at a bigger pay day in the future. If that were to happen, I could certainly see the Ravens re-signing one of their two premier pass rushers. 2017 second-round pick Tyus Bowser is a FA and a great re-sign candidate. He was a rising key piece of the defense playing behind Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngaukwe and Pernell McPhee. Bowser finished second on the team in interceptions (3), fifth in pass deflections (5) and two sacks. Bowser’s youth, versatility and a lower price would be fitting for Baltimore.
2021 NFL Draft
Currently, the Ravens have seven draft picks; that’s including two compensatory picks. Sitting at pick 27, the Ravens should go offensive line. Depending on how the picks fall, the Ravens could draft any position up front. USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis, Michigan tackle Jalen Mayfield and Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins all seem to be good options for Baltimore’s first selection. Good starting offensive linemen are expensive, so grabbing one in the first secures a fifth-year option, and riding a rookie deal while allocating resources to other areas of the team.
One move that could clear up some room for roster additions could be releasing veteran defensive tackle Brandon Williams. That move would save the Ravens $7.5 million on the cap. Relieving Williams of his services would open up another need for Baltimore on the defensive line, but that has always been a strength of this team. Continuously finding talent via the draft has been a tradition around the Ravens for a long time. Baltimore saving money with roster adjustments this offseason could get them a step closer to bringing in an offensive playmaker, securing the offensive line, or bringing back home-grown pass rushers.
