The Baltimore Ravens have the benefit of an MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a roster that is once again built to compete for a championship. Still, they do not have depth in many of their key areas due to the massive influx of veteran free agents who could leave the team in short order.
While the Ravens will try to bring back as many players as is financially feasible, Eric DeCosta has acknowledged the challenges that will come with trying to spend money this offseason. The 2024 NFL Draft might be the best way for this front office to keep the talent rolling in.
With the 2024 NFL Combine officially here, the Ravens will get their best chance to see their top draft targets in action while digging into them through interviews. Millions of dollars could be made or lost with a strong performance in Indianapolis, and it could impact the Ravens' immediate plans.
The best way for Baltimore to attack the combine will be by identifying multiple areas of need and focusing on the players who impress them the most. DeCosta and the rest of the front office need to take a long, hard look at these three positions and try to select some of the best performers when April comes.
3 positions the Baltimore Ravens must focus on during NFL Combine
3. Cornerback
The Ravens have one above-average cornerback in Marlon Humphrey, but he hasn't lived up to the massive hype put on him by his contract due to some injuries. Brandon Stephens has proven to be a quality NFL player, but he's not necessarily a lockdown CB2 at this stage of his career.
The Ravens are in the range to select one of the consensus top five cornerbacks in the draft should one of them slide, but the emergence of a few fringe first-rounders like Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Georgia's Kamari Lassiter could help DeCosta decide that a depleted secondary needs his attention.
The Baltimore Ravens could make additions at cornerback at the NFL Combine
Baltimore might be better off using one of their Day 2 selections on a corner. A few of the names who could find themselves in Maryland with some strong performances in Indianapolis include Iowa State's TJ Tampa, Michigan's Mike Sainristil, and Oregon's Khyree Jackson.
The Ravens have developed a well-earned reputation for drafting and developing talent in the secondary, and Harbaugh may need to work his magic once again to make sure a team that is expected to lose standout safety Geno Stone can hold up against a gauntlet of quarterbacks in the AFC.