Why the Baltimore Ravens defensive draft picks have to be hits

The bulk of the Baltimore Ravens veteran talent is on defense, for the plan to work the new kids have to fit in:

Before we talk about the Baltimore Ravens defense, let’s set the picture with the offense. Here are some star players still on their first contract in Baltimore: Lamar Jackson, Ronnie Stanley, Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown Jr., Marquise Brown. Stanley will be set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The entire offense is very young with the exception of Mark Ingram and D.J. Fluker. The Ravens offense is good not because the Ravens spent money on play-makers but because they have mostly built it through hitting on hits in the NFL Draft. The bottom line is that the Ravens offense is cheap. The defense is another story.

Look at the veteran talent on the defense for the Ravens. Derek Wolfe, Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell are all seasoned veterans. Matt Judon still hasn’t gotten a second contract but considering he’s on the franchise tag, he isn’t cheap. Earl Thomas and Marcus Peters are highly paid defensive backs while Marlon Humphrey is going to be very well paid very soon.

It’s not hard to see that there is more money invested in the defense than the offense. You don’t really have to look at the cap numbers to really figure this out either. Experience gets paid, while up and coming players wait for their biggest pay day. In order for the Ravens to keep as much of their exciting team together as possible, the key is the defensive draft picks all working out.

More from Ebony Bird

• Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
• The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
• Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
• Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
• Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?

If Jaylon Ferguson can become a great player at outside linebacker relatively quickly, the Ravens won’t be forced to dump buckets of money on another edge rusher. If Tyus Bowser steps up with him, that’s even better. Should Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison and Justin Madubuike all pan out, the Ravens have a lot of affordable talent in the middle of their defense for the next four to five years.

The offense doesn’t cost much now, but it will soon. If you take a look at the players you can’t say goodbye to your list should look something like Jackson, Stanley, Andrews and at least one of the Browns. That’s a huge chunk of the salary cap that will be spent on the offense in the coming years.

According to Spotrac.com five of the six top 2020 cap hits for the purple and black come from the defense. Three of them were recent additions, Campbell, Peters and Thomas. in a few years the cap hits could come much more from the offense. The Ravens drafted a good offense and have spent on a good defense. The formula is going to have to flip soon.

The only way for the Ravens to stay where they are, to have a big window to win a championship, not just a few good years, they have to hit on there defensive draft picks.

The future on the defensive line isn’t going to be Campbell and Wolfe. It needs to be Justin Madubuike and maybe even Broderick Washington. The future of the edge rushers has to at least include Ferguson or Bowser. The future of the linebacker position has to be Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison. The future of the secondary might include and Marcus Peters, but it won’t include Earl Thomas for much longer.

The Ravens won’t keep everybody they want to in the next handful of years. Other than Humphrey and Judon the biggest contracts coming up are coming on offense. Nothing could set Baltimore back more than missing on defensive players in the NFL Draft process.

Here’s the good news. The Baltimore Ravens have a history of drafting great players for the defense and Eric DeCosta has earned a lot of trust.