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3 reasons Baltimore Ravens should be aggressive in free agency

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens calls a play against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens calls a play against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: General manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens looks on from the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: General manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens looks on from the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2. They have earned the right to be big spenders:

The best argument against spending big money on free agents is that a team should be built through the NFL Draft. It’s an argument that any general manager with any common sense can agree with. The thing is, that the Ravens have earned the right to be big spenders by building the core of the roster with great draft picks. Look at the Ravens starting offense as it stands at the moment. Take out Marshal Yanda, Mark Ingram and Willie Snead and you have almost an entire offense built out of recent draft picks.

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We’ve seen bad teams, like the New York Jets, spend a boatload in free agency just to add big names to a rather hollow roster. That’s not what the Ravens would be doing if they brought in big name talent. The Ravens have done the work. They have more than built a strong foundation through the draft.

The last two drafts have been about as productive as they could have been for Baltimore. Going back to 2016, the Ravens have gotten at least two starters or big contributors out of every draft class.

In 2016 they picked Ronnie Stanley and Tavon Young. From 2017, Marlon Humphrey and Chuck Clark emerged as the present leaders of the secondary. In 2018, the Ravens got Jackson, Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst and Orlando Brown Jr. In 2019 they added Marquise Brown and Jaylon Ferguson.

The Ravens have done the hard work. Now they can treat themselves to a player they really want to bring in. It’s like one of those Michelob Ultra commercials, it’s time for the post workout beer, right? The Ravens have set themselves up in a spot where they can use free agency to give them a boost. This is what free agency was always meant for. It wasn’t designed to give the Cleveland Browns offseason championships. It’s here to allow the missing piece to complete a Super Bowl puzzle.

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