Projecting the futures of the Ravens’ top 2023 free agents
By Kristen Wong
The Baltimore Ravens have a handful of quality players entering free agency in 2023, and this year could determine whether those players stay or go.
The top free agent of 2023 is, of course, Lamar Jackson, who will likely play out his rookie contract this season and negotiate an extension next offseason.
Rumors continue to swirl around Jackson’s future, but there’s been no indication that the franchise quarterback is unhappy in Baltimore. If anything, Jackson will play on the franchise tag in 2023.
As for the other free agents…
The players on this list range from key starting playmakers to backup depth pieces, but each will have played out his contract by the end of the 2022 season. No one but Jackson and a few other cornerstone pieces has a guaranteed spot on the roster.
Here’s our attempt to predict the futures of the Ravens’ top free agents (except for Jackson) come 2023.
Ravens TE Josh Oliver will go (if he’s still on the team)
Our own Justin Fried wrote about how Josh Oliver will be on thin ice entering training camp, and Oliver’s time may indeed be running out in Baltimore.
The 2019 third-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars was brought on last season to add depth to the team’s tight end corps, but Oliver largely disappointed, recording nine catches for 66 yards in 14 games played.
Fellow tight end Mark Andrews enjoyed a lion’s share of targets in a career-best campaign in 2021 and will continue serving as the team’s top tight end this upcoming season.
What hurts Oliver’s future the most is the Ravens selecting not just one, but two rookie tight ends in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Currently, Baltimore’s tight end unit consists of Andrews as TE1, Nick Boyle as the team’s de facto blocking tight end, and Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely behind them.
Given Oliver’s lack of upside compared to the likes of Kolar and Likely, he may have one foot out the door in 2022.