The Baltimore Ravens have a roster that is ready to peak and make a playoff run. The team has veteran talent, young talent, and they have hungry talent. They entered the season with a couple of notable names with one year left on their deal. The Ravens had a chance to sign these players but thought that the hunger of a contract year may bring out their best since so much money is on the line. Who are these players, and are they playing their way out of Baltimore?
3. The Baltimore Ravens are seeing Justin Madubuike at his best
This one could have been expected. Justin Madubuike has improved every year he has played in the NFL. He went from one sack as a rookie to two the following year. Then, he had 5.5 sacks in 2021; all the while, his win rate has been increasing as well.
This year, he already has 5.5 sacks, and his win rate has continued to rise to impressive levels. What is more notable from this rise is that Madubuike has always been a stud run-defender. The question was what his pass rush ceiling was. Right now, he is showing that he is a complete player as a top 10 pass rusher, as well as being one of the best run-defenders in the league.
This is going to end up getting Justin Madubuike paid. There is a chance that the team could re-sign him. When you look at the defensive line room, Broderick Washington is signed on a team-friendly deal, Travis Jones is on a rookie salary, and the rest of the names will be gone after this season.
Still, Madubuike has to be looking at his stats and thinking that the highest bidder will end up being high this spring. This may be the last year he is with the Ravens.
2. Patrick Queen has turned things around with the Baltimore Ravens
Before the season, it was pretty obvious how the Baltimore Ravens would handle Patrick Queen. Queen had struggled for three years, and while he turned it on towards the end of his third season, it was not enough. The Ravens would let Queen play out this last year on his rookie deal and then walk. Their only hope was that he would play well enough that the team would be able to get a compensatory pick.
Now, he is playing so well that the team actually has to debate keeping him. The addition of Roquan Smith may have saved the career of Patrick Queen. It took all of the pressure of being the signal maker in the defense away from Queen and allowed him to play more of a run-and-chase role rather than a role that takes on blocks. It essentially opened up all of his strengths.
Now, Queen is playing the best football of his life, and his play since Roquan Smith is Pro Bowl level. The question is whether the Ravens can afford him now. Together, Smith and Queen may be the best duo in the NFL. Still, the Baltimore Ravens are paying Roquan Smith like the best linebacker in the NFL in part because he can make other linebackers play to the quality of Queen.
Thi sis another situation where the Ravens may get the most out of Queen and then watch him walk away in free agency.
1. Will the Baltimore Ravens extend Geno Stone?
The Baltimore Ravens risked losing Geno Stone. They dangled him out there in free agency without a tender, allowing teams to sign him. No one took a shot on Stone, who came back on the cheap to play a backup role. Still, Stone also saw the plan that the Ravens had in motion, and he was familiar with the defense so the fit always made sense.
The Marcus Williams injury has changed Geno Stone's life. He stepped into the role and has been everything the Ravens wanted from Williams. He has a few game-changing interceptions and is up to four already. Two of them came at game-changing moments against the Titans and Bengals. He also helped put away the Browns and Lions with big picks.
Stone is a late-round pick who already tested the waters and had no interest. This is not quite like Justin Madubike and Patrick Queen. Still, the result may end up that way. Stone finally got the chance to prove himself and he can finally cash in. He would be crazy not to go to the highest bidder at this point.
The Ravens will get Marcus Williams back and they have Kyle Hamilton locked in as well. They cannot splurge on a third safety like that. Patrick Queen, Justin Madubuike, and Geno Stone may all be gone soon.