Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta and Head Coach John Harbaugh met with reporters at the Combine Tuesday and hit on a wide range of subjects.
Here are the biggest takeaways:
DeCosta, Harbaugh Are 'Optimistic' About Retaining Ronnie Stanley
Stanley is one of the NFL's top pending free agents and the Ravens don't have a lot of salary-cap space (projected around $10 million), but DeCosta still feels like they can keep their Pro Bowl left tackle.
"You never want to say 100%, but I feel good that we'll have a good, healthy debate, a good process," DeCosta said. "I'm optimistic that we'll be able to get a deal done."
DeCosta said he'll meet with Stanley's agent, Kim Miale, this week in Indianapolis.
"I think that we'll probably keep Ronnie. I'm hopeful that we will," Harbaugh added.
Harbaugh and DeCosta expressed their confidence that Roger Rosengarten could flip to left tackle in his second season and said they'll pursue offensive linemen in the draft, but they'll first try to re-sign their homegrown veteran.
Justin Tucker Allegations Are 'Serious And Concerning'
DeCosta got several questions about Justin Tucker as he faces allegations from 16 massage therapists from eight spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, as reported by The Baltimore Banner.
"The allegations are serious, concerning," DeCosta said. "The amount of allegations are serious and concerning.
"I think we're fortunate the league is doing an investigation. We'll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We'll make our decisions based on that."
DeCosta said he met with Tucker and NFL investigators, and the Ravens will wait for the findings of the investigation before taking any further steps.
While Tucker's future in Baltimore remains a question, the Ravens will do their due diligence in scouting potential replacements.
"We're looking at kickers," Harbaugh said. "The kicker position would have been a priority no matter what. … I always expected [Tucker] to keep going forever, but nobody goes forever."
Some of the top projected kickers in the NFL Draft are Florida State's Ryan Fitzgerald, Ole Miss' Caden Davis, and Miami's Andres Borregales.
"We're blessed to have a really good kickers coach in Randy Brown, who does a phenomenal job evaluating punters and kickers and long snappers for us every single season," DeCosta said. "We'll meet with Randy throughout the process. Over the coming weeks, he'll travel all over the country looking at these guys, and we'll build the best board that we can."
Don't Expect Big Free Agency Moves
The Ravens are projected to have $9.7 million of effective cap space, per OvertheCap. If they retain Stanley, that will eat a sizeable chunk.
Thus, fans shouldn't hold out hope for the Ravens to make a big "splash" in free agency.
"You guys know the Ravens – right player, right price. We don't have a lot of cap room," DeCosta said. "We have [Vice President of Football administration] Nick Matteo working tirelessly to find some space for us. We call it couch cushion coins. We're trying to find $50,000 here, $75,000 there in the couch cushion.
"We're not a team that's going to make a lot of big splashes, generally speaking. We're probably going to have 11 draft picks. My goal would be to hit on a large percentage of those draft picks to find good, young, inexpensive talent and put guys in for the future."
DeCosta's mission has long been to retain homegrown talent, and the Ravens have done that with numerous players such as Lamar Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Nnamdi Madubuike, and others. There are more coming down the pipeline, such as Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum.
Last week's boost in the salary cap helped, but didn't change the reality that the Ravens are a "victim" of their own success that they want to pay their own free agents first.
"Any additional money we can get is very helpful," DeCosta said. "It still doesn't mean that we're going to break the bank in free agency. We're still going to be going after those veteran minimum guys."
Ravens Figuring Out 'Roster Machinations' Regarding Mark Andrews
Tight end Mark Andrews has the Ravens' fourth-highest salary cap hit in 2025, per OvertheCap, at $16.9 million, making him a player some pundits have pointed to as a potential candidate to free up more salary cap space.
DeCosta was asked about Andrews' future, as he and fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all set to enter the final year of their contracts.
"We're blessed to have three really good tight ends under contract this year. They all contribute in different ways. Their chemistry, their camaraderie, their impact on the offense, their relationship with the other skill guys is great," DeCosta said.
"I mean, Mark is going to go down as one of our great players – he'll be in the [Ravens] Ring of Honor someday. I love having Mark on the team – he's an amazing player. I know he's going to have an amazing season. We'll figure out all of the roster machinations over the coming weeks, but I can tell you, there's no bigger fan of Mark Andrews than me. He's been a blessing to have on the team. His leadership, the way he approaches the game, his attention to detail – he's just one of those guys."
Pass Rusher Is a 'Priority,' But It's Still BPA
There has been a lot of chatter this offseason about the possibility of the Ravens adding a pass rusher with pick No. 27 in the Draft, especially after seeing the Eagles sack Patrick Mahomes six times in Super Bowl LIX.
But DeCosta is not straying his same best player available approach, and Harbaugh sees pass rush holistically.
"It really comes down to the best player at the time," DeCosta said. "If we're picking at 27, and there is an edge rusher, and he is the best guy, we're probably going to pick him. That's going to hold through with every round.
"It's an important position. We were maybe second in the league in sacks last year, but having a continuous influx of young pass rush talent – guys that can set the edge and play the run, guys that play like Ravens, physical players who can get to the quarterback – that's a priority for us, for sure."
This year's draft class is strong at outside linebacker and defensive line. Harbaugh said the Ravens do want to create pressure with their four-man rush without having to send blitzes, but they view pressure as a multi-pronged attack.
Harbaugh said "game-wrecking defensive tackles, [it's] kind of a big deal. Pass-pressuring defensive ends, that's kind of a big deal, too."
DeCosta's Feelings About Derrick Henry Are Clear
Derrick Henry said recently that he wants to retire as a Raven and he's currently under contract for just one more season.
After a phenomenal first year with the Ravens in which Henry rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, DeCosta said at the season-ending press conference that he would look into a possible extension for Henry.
Asked about again at the Combine, DeCosta said, "I think we have a picture of Derrick going up on my wall. So, what does that tell you?"
"He was just a perfect player for us last year. [He was] the right addition, and he brought a lot to the table on the field and also off the field with intangible qualities. We're blessed to have him, and I would expect his successes last year to continue this year."
Andrew Vorhees Will Get a Shot at Guard
Stanley isn't the only Ravens' only pending free agent on the offensive line. Patrick Mekari is also set to hit the market after starting every game last season, primarily at left guard.
If Mekari isn't re-signed, Baltimore could turn to Andrew Vorhees, who won the job out of training camp last year before suffering an early-season ankle injury. Mekari took the reins from that point on, but Vorhees, who is entering his second healthy season, kept developing.
"Vorhees has got a great shot at that. He looked great at the end of the year when he played," Harbaugh said. "There are other guys in there too in that mix."
Ravens See Good Wide Receiver Options
The Ravens were happy with the progress of their young wide receivers as Zay Flowers had a Pro Bowl season in Year 2 and Rashod Bateman had his finest season yet.
Baltimore's wide receiver options behind those starters is less clear entering 2025, however, as veteran Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace are pending unrestricted free agents. Second-year wideout Devontez Walker could step into a larger role, but Baltimore will be on the lookout for more wide receiver depth.
"I think it's a pretty good class draft-wise and free agency-wise as well," DeCosta said. "We feel like there is a good opportunity for us to find some good talent either through free agency or the Draft, in every round and every price point."
DeCosta said he was also happy to see their vision of the offense with playmakers at every position, even with backups, come to fruition. While adding more talent to the receiver room is a priority, they have dynamic weapons and depth at tight end and running back as well.
DeCosta Speaks Up for Jackson on MVP Snub
Jackson finished second behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in MVP voting, but there's no doubt who DeCosta believes should have won.
"He's my MVP, and I think his impact on our team is impossible to measure," DeCosta said. "Lamar is Lamar. He is a two-time MVP. In my opinion, he should have been a three-time MVP."
DeCosta said he'll probably take a trip to Florida again this offseason to meet with Jackson and get his input on how to improve the offensive roster.
"Lamar has a great voice, and he's a student of the game. He watches players; he knows talent. Now, he does love the Miami guys and the Florida guys," DeCosta said with a grin. "But listen, Lamar is a stakeholder. He's a partner. He's earned that right to have that type of input and opinion."
Harbaugh Is OK With the 'Tush Push,' Raises Important Point
The "tush push" is back in the news after the Green Bay Packers reportedly submitted a rule change to ban the play.
Harbaugh said he's "OK" with the "tush push," which was so effective for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, and he raised a good point about the ramifications of banning it.
"If you take out the 'Tush Push,' then you've got to take out all pushing," Harbaugh said. "A guy can't be downfield and the offensive lineman come running in and push the ball carrier five more yards. You can't take one out and not the other. They're the same."
While the Eagles use quarterback Jalen Hurts as the ball carrier in their version, the Ravens have occasionally used a tweaked version with tight end Mark Andrews.
