It's weight watcher season. And this year, it seems to have reached a high pitch.
This week, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson revealed that he currently weighs 205 pounds, down from 230 two years ago and 215 last season. He was so much thinner that tight end Isaiah Likely joked on “Up & Adams” that he didn't recognize him when they got back together this offseason.
Meanwhile, the biggest question about top draft pick Nate Wiggins is his smaller 182-pound frame.
Here are my thoughts on the matter, and more, all in 50 words or less:
First of all, let's acknowledge that Jackson's weight will change over the next several months. Ravens Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Scott Elliott said less than a month ago that his staff is adding lean muscle on his frame. He said he's "never been more excited in April for Lamar Jackson."
While Jackson is still by far the league's best running threat at QB, his speed diminished some last season, per Next Gen Stats. He didn't have as much of a pull-away gear, as evidenced by a top speed of 19.62 mph that was the slowest of his six seasons.
If a leaner Jackson equals higher speed, count me in. Jackson was caught from behind when he snagged his own tipped pass in the AFC Championship against the Chiefs. Had Jackson been even a hair faster, he probably would've pulled away for an 82-yard touchdown. Less runs, more big runs.
The Ravens have Derrick Henry now, and the bruising running back will take more of the workload off Jackson. Henry will also soften up defenses, giving them weaker legs when trying to chase down Jackson late in the fourth quarter if/when he needs to make a play.
Jackson's leaner frame has reignited durability concerns. Sure, there's a base level of protection needed, but I'm sick of this conversation. Jackson has a unique ability to avoid punishing hits and his previous injuries weren't the result of anything out of the norm any QB (at any weight) could suffer.
With Wiggins, the biggest factor is commitment because he absolutely can put on more muscle. This "issue" is easily fixable. Wiggins confirmed his willingness to add weight in an interview on "Glenn Clark Radio" this week. And in terms of willingness, Wiggins doesn't shy away from contact.
Rookie offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten is another player who the Ravens believe can be even better once he adds some muscle. The mobility, the technique, the smarts, the toughness – the makings are there for a really high-level player. When he gets stronger in his lower half, watch out.
Here's a look at the remaining options at wide receiver, guard, safety, and outside linebacker who the Ravens could consider in the third wave of free agency.
G Dalton Risner
Risner signed a one-year deal a few weeks into last season and again proved to be a solid blocker, particularly in pass protection, where he had Pro Football Focus's 32nd best grade among guards.
OT/G Andrus Peat
The Saints made Peat the 13th-overall pick in 2015 and he's been a starter for them ever since. Peat started at tackle but found a home at guard, where he went to three Pro Bowls. He wasn't slated to be a starter last year, but ultimately replaced first-round pick Trevor Penning as the starting left tackle for the final 11 games and played well.
G Mark Glowinski
Glowinski has been a longtime starter for the Seahawks, Colts, and Giants. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound blocker ranked No. 32 overall among guards last season, per PFF, with higher marks for his run blocking.
G Greg Van Roten
Van Roten was graded as PFF's eighth-best guard last season. He started all 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders and gave up five sacks on 598 pass blocking reps.
WR Michael Thomas
Once one of the top wide receivers in football, injuries have grounded the "Slant God." Over the past four years, the longtime New Orleans Saint played in just 20 games and posted 1,057 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Thomas took steps in the right direction last year, playing in 10 games.
WR Hunter Renfrow
Renfrow had a 1,000-yard campaign in 2021 that sent him to the Pro Bowl as a premier slot option. In the two seasons since, he's posted 585 receiving yards. Despite playing in all 17 games last season, he posted a career-low 255 yards.
WR Russell Gage
Gage had back-to-back 700-yard seasons in Atlanta in 2020 and 2021 and scored a career-high five touchdowns in Tampa Bay in 2022. He suffered a torn patellar tendon in training camp last year, however, which ended his season early.
S Justin Simmons
Simmons is arguably the best free agent still on the market. He's a two-time Pro Bowler who is still just 30 years old. His defensive grades from PFF have dropped each of the past four years, however.
S Eddie Jackson
Jackson was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2018 and 2019 early in his career. The former Alabama product was a leader alongside Roquan Smith in Chicago, but he had a tougher 2023 season and was released in February.
S Quandre Diggs
Diggs was a three-time Pro Bowler from 2020-2022 but had a down year last year alongside Adams. He's started every game the past four seasons and had 14 interceptions the previous three seasons.
S Marcus Maye
Maye signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the Saints before the 2022 season began. He only played in 17 games for them, served a three-game suspension last season, and was released before free agency opened.
S Tracy Walker III
Walker played in all 17 games for the Lions last season (six starts) and made 59 tackles with one sack.
S Micah Hyde
A Pro Bowler in 2017, Hyde has been a big part of one of the NFL's most underrated safety duos in Buffalo. He's now 33 years old, but still ranked No. 66 by PFF.
S Jamal Adams
A three-time Pro Bowler, Adams struggled in coverage last season, earning a 29.9 PFF grade.
S Terrell Edmunds
The former first-round pick of the Steelers bounced to Tennessee, and then was traded to Philadelphia last year. He played in 16 games (four starts) and made 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
OLB Carl Lawson
Lawson was a productive player for the Bengals and a big get for the Jets before the 2021 season, but he suffered a torn Achilles before his first year in New York. He returned with seven sacks in 2022, but only suited up for six games last season as a healthy scratch.
OLB Bud Dupree
The former Steeler had a bit of a resurgent season in Atlanta last year, registering 6.5 sacks. His best year was in 2019 in black and gold, when he dropped the quarterback 11.5 times. He's now 31 years old.
OLB Yannick Ngakoue
Ngakoue has been on six different teams the past five seasons, including a brief stint in Baltimore during the 2020 season. He logged a career-low four sacks the Bears last year.
OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
Ogbah has been a consistent defender for years. He had back-to-back nine-sack seasons in Miami in 2020 and 2021. The 30-year-old hasn't been a starter either of the past two seasons.
OLB Tyus Bowser
The Ravens released Bowser earlier this offseason as a cap-savings measure after he didn't play all of last season due to a knee injury.
The Ravens could add a veteran safety before they sign a guard, and there are many good options. As it stands now, the competition for the Ravens' crucial No. 3 safety spot is between Ar'Darius Washington, who has played eight career games, and Sanoussi Kane, a seventh-round pick.
Baltimore's 2024 schedule is expected to drop this upcoming week. We already know it's the second-hardest schedule in the league. While that seems daunting, especially considering the Ravens' offseason losses, don't forgot Baltimore went 13-4 last year. Even if the Ravens aren't quite as good, they'll still be very good.
I'm on record saying the Ravens will get at least five primetime games. They have one of the league's most exciting players in Jackson, juicy storyline matchups against the Chiefs and Chargers, regional rivalry games against the Eagles and Commanders, and AFC North classics in the NFL's best division.
