The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of work to do this offseason. Following a disappointing, injury-riddled season that saw them finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, the organization is desperately in need of a re-tooling of sorts.
Numerous important players are set to hit the open market and the Ravens don’t have the cap space to keep all or even most of them.
That means players like Bradley Bozeman and others could very well be departing within the next month or so, much to the chagrin of the Ravens’ front office and fans.
With so many holes to fill, it might seem impossible for the Ravens to address everything this offseason. But it seems as though the team’s decision-makers have identified three key positions of need.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec discussed the Ravens’ needs in a recent article and insisted that the “focus will be on the offensive and defensive fronts and the secondary. That’s where the Ravens will have to start.”
Expect the Ravens to address the trenches and the secondary in the offseason
This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given the current state of the roster. The Ravens were already weak along their offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary, and their pending free agents don’t help matters.
If Bozeman departs, Baltimore will have yet another hole on their offensive line. With needs already at tackle and even guard, expect the Ravens to use a lot of their resources this offseason on bolstering their O-line.
The same is true for their aging defensive line. Brandon Williams, Justin Ellis, and Calais Campbell are free agents, and even if the latter returns, it’s clear the Ravens still need to address the position.
Expect the team to turn to the 2022 NFL Draft in search of younger, cheaper alternatives, but don’t rule out a high-profile addition such as Akiem Hicks in free agency either.
Finally, the secondary will be a major point of emphasis as well. The Ravens are coming off a 2021 season in which they ranked 32nd against the pass, and while injuries certainly played a factor, it’s clear there’s work to be done.
Anthony Averett and DeShon Elliott are set to be free agents and the former seems highly unlikely to return. Even with Marcus Peters returning, cornerback is absolutely a need, and the same could be said for safety.
The Ravens have their priorities set for this coming offseason. They will work on building the trenches and bolstering their secondary.
And that’s the way it should be.