The Baltimore Ravens' disappointing season came to a brutal end on Sunday night at the hands of their division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that, it's time for the Ravens and their fans to start thinking about the offseason. After one of the most disappointing seasons (from any team in recent memory), needless to say, some changes must be made.
Outside of changes to the coaching staff, including John Harbaugh (which, for the record, should absolutely happen), the Ravens have some clear roster flaws that general manager Eric DeCosta must address. It all starts with the trenches, most notably the defensive line. Offensive line is another area of need, but that could be solved in-house by giving Emery Jones Jr. a bigger role, and in general, it is less of a need.
The Ravens finished the season ranked 27th in pressure rate, a far cry from last year's ranking of 15th. A lack of a pass rush caused opposing quarterbacks to be extremely comfortable in the pocket, which in turn allowed them to dice up the Ravens' secondary. Giving up 390 total yards to a Steelers team without DK Metcalf felt like a fitting way to end the season.
Frankly, it doesn't matter how talented the secondary is when the front seven gives quarterbacks all day to throw. Baltimore's subpar front-seven also hurt their ability to contain the run; they notably ranked just 23rd in opponent yards per game.
Nnamdi Madubuike's season-ending injury and defensive coordinator Zach Orr certainly hurt the Ravens. Nevertheless, it's clear that they lack talent up front, and that's something that needs to be addressed in the offseason.
The Ravens have several options to upgrade their pass rush
DeCosta constructed this roster with some clear flaws. However, he has never been scared to make a big move in free agency or via trade. With $40 million in open cap and some possible cost-cutting trades to make, the Ravens have some financial wiggle room to work with.
Now the Ravens will have some decisions to make with their own free agents, most notably Tyler Linderbaum, Alohi Gilman, Kyle Van Noy, and Dre'Mont Jones. Linderbaum should be the priority, given how the offensive line has been an issue.
Regardless, the Ravens may chase some stars in the offseason. Trey Hendrickson, John Franklin-Myers, and Jaelan Phillips could be a few high-end targets. While they would be pricey, especially Hendrickson, the benefits of spending would be clear, and a move like this could propel the Ravens into Super Bowl contention again. Boye Mafe is also a cheaper yet impactful target to watch.
On the trade front, Maxx Crosby would be a dream outcome. His tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders is likely coming to an end, and there won't be a better available defensive end. It would be a hefty yet worthwhile price to trade for Crosby.
Of course, the other option is the draft. After missing out on the playoffs, Baltimore holds the 14th overall, and if they don't make a big trade or signing for pass rush reinforcements, that should be the priority with this pick. A lot can change between now and April. However, Texas Tech's David Bailey and Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas appear to be some possible targets.
Ultimately, whether it's free agency, the trade market, or the draft, it's clear Eric DeCosta must bolster the Ravens' pass rush, or they will be back in a similar position next season.