The Baltimore Ravens fell short of the ultimate goal. Now here are five positions the Ravens must address this offseason:
1. Interior Pass Rush:
The defensive line is the Baltimore Ravens biggest need going into the next season. The Ravens need difference makers up front for their defense. It’s not good enough to have run stopping defensive linemen, especially when a running back puts up nearly 200 yards on you in a playoff game. The Ravens need versatility out of their defensive line. When you look at Michael Pierce, Brandon Williams and Chris Wormley, their three main players for the defensive line, you see that they are all essentially one dimensional players. They are all big, physical space eaters without much explosiveness.
The Ravens couldn’t get pass rushers without blitzing. While the outside linebacker play has to be improved, it starts with the defensive line. If the Ravens had defensive ends who factored in more as pass rushers, life would be easier for the edge rushers. The Ravens have no interior pass rusher. Don Martindale had to create pressure, he couldn’t get it with a five man rush. Imagine how much fun the defense could have if Martindale didn’t have to waste all his creativity just to get a standard, half-decent pass rush.
Instead of shelling out big money to keep Michael Pierce, the Ravens should target a defensive lineman or two that can give them what they don’t already have. Two defensive linemen that come to mind are Derrick Wolfe from the Denver Broncos and Chris Jones from the Kansas City Chiefs. If they hit the free agency market, the Ravens need to bring in either one of them. This would give the Ravens more natural pass rush. It would give them the interior pass rush they flat-out don’t have.
2. Outside Linebacker:
The Ravens second biggest need is the outside linebacker position. At the two outside linebacker positions the Ravens have very little to brag about if they let Matt Judon go. Jaylon Ferguson looked raw in his rookie season and he’ll enter next year still a work in progress. Tyus Bowser is actually becoming a decent player, though it’s unclear if he’ll take a step up from his five sack performance in 2019. The Ravens don’t typically like to use the franchise tag, but it’s a fairly safe bet that Judon will get it. With Judon, the Ravens have a lot of work to do at this position group. Without Judon, it becomes a major problem.
The Ravens got 20 sacks from the outside linebacker position and half of that came from Judon. Three of those sacks came from Pernell McPhee, who was hurt for most of the season and is set to become a free agent. The Ravens can’t ask too much from Ferguson and Bowser. This is one of the least compelling combinations the Ravens have ever had at outside linebacker. The Terrell Suggs era is next. The Ravens have to keep a hold of Judon. He has to become the next Suggs and Baltimore has to get him some help.
It will be interesting to see how Eric DeCosta attacks this position group this offseason. Assuming Judon gets the franchise tag or a nice pay day, the Ravens will put a significant portion of their cap space into outside linebacker no matter what. If the Ravens wanted to make a splash in free agency, Bud Dupree or Dante Fowler Jr. would be compelling options. Snatching Dupree away from Pittsburgh surely wouldn’t make the Steelers very happy.
If the Ravens attack outside linebacker in the draft, it has to be a priority. The later they wait in the draft, the less polish they’ll be able to get from pass rushers. The Ravens can’t wait on another project at the position. They have to draft a pass rusher who can come in and contribute right away if they don’t want to sign a free agent other than Judon at the position.
3. Wide Receivers:
The Ravens probably can’t expect Miles Boykin to go from 13 receptions in his rookie year to being a good number two receiver in his second season. The Ravens can’t go into the next season expecting Seth Roberts to get much done for them. The Ravens can’t go into next season waiting for Chris Moore to show his worth to the offense. The bottom line is that the Ravens can’t go into next season without completely rebuilding the receiving corps around Marquise Brown. Brown is a star in the making. Brown’s 126 yard performance in the playoffs showed Baltimore that how exciting of a player he can be. If the Ravens don’t add weapons at the receiver position, they will just be wasting Brown’s special skill-set.
The Ravens got away from what their game against the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens spread things out and had Lamar Jackson drop back to pass over 70 times. The playoff loss showed how lacking the receiving talent was for the purple and black. When the Ravens can’t lean on three tight ends and a great running game, they need more help at the wide receiver position. They have one star at the position. The receiving room as a whole is rather below average. Lamar Jackson proved that he was a good passer this season. Jackson wasn’t the reason the offense was limited when Greg Roman got away from the bread and butter of his play-calling.
Jackson led the league in touchdown passes with a group of pass catchers that most quarterbacks couldn’t have done that with. Jackson’s ability to throw from in and outside of the pocket is the reason the Ravens must invest in the passing game. If Jackson can have a monster season with the current talent on this roster, just imagine what he can do with a legitimate group of receivers.
4. Interior offensive linemen:
There are three positions that are not in question for the offensive line. Ronnie Stanley is an All-Pro left tackle. Orlando Brown Jr. is going to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl. Bradley Bozeman has solidified himself as the left guard of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens just broke a record for the most rushing yards in a single season and have three spots locked up for the offensive line. That’s why this isn’t the most urgent need. That doesn’t mean the offensive line isn’t a source of offseason worry.
The Ravens don’t know whether Marshal Yanda is going to come back for another season. The Hall of Fame worthy guard could retire. If Yanda retires, the Ravens have to worry about the right guard position for the first time in a very long time. On top of that, Matt Skura is coming off of a 2019 season ending injury. Will he be ready to go? Is Patrick Mekari the answer at the center position? These are serious questions facing the Ravens this offseason.
Whether or not Yanda retires, this is a good time to find his replacement. The Ravens need to start thinking about life after Yanda’s career. Depth is also a valid concern for the offensive line. The Ravens may not feel great about a hypothetical situation where they have to depend on James Hurst. There were a lot of positives for the offensive line in the 2019 season. Baltimore has to walk into the next season ready to continue having the offensive line be a positive for them, no matter what happens.
5. Inside Linebacker:
The Ravens signed L.J. Fort and Josh Bynes while the 2019 season was underway. The signings got the Ravens through the season at inside linebacker, yet it remains a big need for the defense. This is an area in which the Ravens can improve in this offseason. The Ravens need better than just good enough from the inside linebacker position. The playoff game was an example of why the Ravens need to get better here. The fact that Derrick Henry had almost 200 yards on the ground is a fact that screams for more dominant play out of the inside linebackers.
The Ravens may have to solve this problem in the 2020 NFL Draft. The market being so high got them out of the running for C.J. Mosley last year. The price for a good inside linebacker is only seems to go up each season. The Ravens need to find a true replacement to Mosley. They need to find a three down linebacker and a leader for the defense. Instead of relying on several serviceable players, the Ravens need to find a play-making star with sideline to sideline speed. If the Ravens find the right linebacker, the defense will be much more athletic and formidable.
When you look at the history of the Ravens, the best inside linebackers have come through the NFL Draft. Ray Lewis was drafted in the Ravens inaugural season. The Ravens have drafted some good ones from Edgerton Hartwell all the way to C.J. Mosley. Look for the Ravens to spend a pick on the first or second day of the draft to add another name to the lure of Ravens’ linebackers.