The Baltimore Ravens had a fantastic offseason. They hired a new coaching staff headlined by one of the most sought-after coordinators in Jesse Minter and addressed their two biggest roster flaws (pass rush and interior offensive line).
Somehow, though, some pundits (and players) aren't respecting the Ravens. Most notably, Lamar Jackson ranked 69th on the NFL's Top 100 list, which led to some follow-up takes, including Colin Cowherd leaving Jackson off his top 10 quarterbacks list. Furthermore, some people are speculating that Lamar could be traded soon amid extension negotiations.
It's not just Jackson who's being doubted, though, it's the whole team. Recently, Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation released an article detailing 61 NFL predictions for this upcoming season.
Bailey's predictions weren't kind to the Ravens -- these predictions include that their season will be ended by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 again, Jackson being omitted from the top-five leaders for passing yards and touchdowns, and finally that murmurs of Lamar Jackson leaving Baltimore get loud.
The Baltimore Ravens built a complete team this offseason
Here's what Bailey said as to why the Ravens will miss the playoffs (spoiler alert: it doesn't make sense).
"Speaking of Minter, the Ravens’ offense is quietly just… mediocre? Lamar Jackson is obviously fantastic, but it would be wishful thinking at best to assume he’ll play close to the level we saw in 2024. Their pass-catchers are a bottom half of the league unit, and all of their top defenders outside of Kyle Hamilton are aging and their play is declining," Bailey said.
The disrespect is simply unreal and Bailey's primary logic doesn't really add up.
Sure, you'd like to see more established pass catchers, but Zay Flowers proved himself as a No. 1 WR last season, and the possibility of young players, including rookies Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, making sizable contributions can't be ruled out. Additionally, Declan Doyle is primed to bring a more creative scheme, which should maximize Lamar and these weapons.
The bigger picture with Baltimore's offense is that they have bolstered their offensive line by selecting Vega Ioane and signing John Simpson. This is an undeniable upgrade over the abysmal duo of Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees. And while losing Tyler Linderbaum hurts, Ethan Pocic is a solid replacement.
After a year of constantly being pressured from the interior (which contributed to his injuries), Lamar is primed to have ample support, which should help him get back to MVP standards regardless of what Bailey says.
And oh yeah, they have Derrick Henry in their backfield. So mediocre isn't the word to use with this offense.
The statistical projection here also doesn't add up. Back in 2024, Lamar posted 4,172 yards (which would rank sixth on Bailey's projections) and 41 touchdowns (which would rank second). This comes with the important caveat that Declan Doyle (unlike Todd Monken) will put passing plays at a premium.
Bailey's assessment of the Ravens' defense also doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
Yes, the likes of Trey Hendrickson, Roquan Smith, and Marlon Humphrey are all getting up there in age, with the last two players showing signs of decline.
Thankfully, though, the Ravens have a slew of young talent. Rookie Zion Young is a ready-made run-stopper, Mike Green should take strides as a pass-rusher in Minter's system, and Teddye Buchanan had a promising rookie season that he can build off. In the secondary, Nate Wiggins is a budding young star, and Malaki Starks could have a breakout sophomore season. And even if you're concerned about Hendrickson's age, there's no arguing that he's a massive upgrade.
These players might not be super established, but they have a ton of potential, which can make up for what, on the surface level, is an aging core outside of Hamilton. The upgrade that Minter's system brings over Zach Orr's also needs to be baked into the equation.
The Ravens will prove the doubters wrong
On both ends of the field, the Ravens are a Super Bowl-level team. That doesn't mean they'll reach this level, but barring some bad injury luck, the Ravens are poised to bounce back and return to the playoffs.
Bailey's trade prediction for Jackson was tied to the Ravens' success. Regardless, as noted, the Ravens' roster is better than Bailey claims. Without a doubt, a bounce-back season from the Ravens would make a contract extension even more logical for both parties.
In any event, the Ravens can use the current doubt around them as bulletin board material to fuel their success. As we saw in 2023, Lamar and the rest of the squad are at their best when they are being doubted -- so I actually hope the criticism continues.
Add us as a preferred source on Google