The Baltimore Ravens have more than 20 players, including names like Kevin Zeitler and Justin Madubuike, scheduled to hit free agency. Eric DeCosta has said that his main focus this offseason will be on continuity and keeping most of the pieces from an AFC finalist together.
Baltimore will also use this as an opportunity to thin the herd just a bit, figuring out which players from last year either don't fit in with what DeCosta and John Harbaugh are trying to build or looking at those who simply don't have the baseline talent needed to last in the NFL for much longer.
Even though 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson is entering his prime, the Ravens have a fairly old roster that could use a fresh injection of new blood the 2024 NFL Draft might be able to provide. This could spell the end for a few players who were already on the back nine of their professional careers.
These three Ravens not only face challenges when it comes to returning to the Ravens, but they could find it very difficult to sign with a team. Their age, performance, and past history could cause some teams to doubt the validity of giving any one of these players a bigger deal.
3 Baltimore Ravens free agents who could be forced into retirement
3. WR Laquon Treadwell
The Ravens became the fifth team in five years to try to make Treadwell work, but the success the former Ole Miss star and first-round pick had in college never translated to the pros. The Ravens rolled the dice, and he rewarded them with all of one catch in his limited opportunities.
Treadwell always had great size and physicality for the position, but he never picked up the long speed or separation at the line of scrimmage needed to succeed in the NFL. With Jackson and the Ravens clamoring for a physical X receiver who can win 50/50 balls on the outside, Treadwell didn't utilize his path to limited playing time.
Laquon Treadwell could be done after leaving the Baltimore Ravens
The former Vikings first-round draft pick is now 28 years old, has only topped 400 yards in a season once (Urban Meyer Jaguars), and has been cast aside by five different teams. The writing is on the wall, even if Treadwell may not see it yet.
While certainly not a part of Balitmore's long-term plans, Treadwell was unsuccessful in his attempt to convince a team that he is worth rolling the dice on. Unless he is willing to give the UFL league a try, Treadwell may have played his last NFL game in what was an underwhelming career.