The biggest news of last week came in the late Friday afternoon hours, as the Ravens reached a three-year extension through 2028 with Head Coach John Harbaugh.
On the personnel side, with the draft less than a month away, attention shifts from free agency to which rookies the Ravens will bring aboard.
Here are my thoughts, all in 50 words or less:
- A major ingredient in the Ravens' success is continuity. Steve Bisciotti, John Harbaugh, Eric DeCosta, and Ozzie Newsome have been running the football operation for a long time together. Get good people and don't let them go. Retaining Harbaugh at least through 2028 helps extend the championship window.
- Harbaugh is as hungry as ever to win another Super Bowl in Baltimore, as the Ravens have been knocking on the door for the past several years. He's a special person that never seems to let that fire flicker and constantly seeks improvement, and that rubs off on his team.
- The Ravens' signing of veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie may be the team's last until after May 2, when signings don't count against the compensatory pick formula. Awuzie was the perfect fit as a reliable, experienced corner who was cut by another team still paying much of his 2025 salary.
- Awuzie crossed off the Ravens' biggest remaining need, as he steps into the vacancy created by Brandon Stephens' departure. The Ravens could line up right now and not just play, but win a lot of games, which is an enviable position to be in so early in the offseason.
- Here's what's most pressing left: add another safety and more depth to the defensive line and offensive lines. The Ravens love to use three safeties, so an early draft pick or veteran would see a lot of snaps. Baltimore will have plenty of chances to draft help in the trenches.
- If the Ravens don't get early defensive line help in the draft, that's a spot they could revisit in free agency after May 2. Michael Pierce played 32% of the defensive snaps and Brent Urban played 23%. I doubt even one draft pick would make up the difference.
747: What Chidobe Awuzie Will Bring, More Pre-Draft Moves Ravens Could Still Make, And Depth Chart
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing share their thoughts on the addition of veteran CB Chidobe Awuzie and how it impacts the overall defense, look at the free agent field remaining to see if there are any other signings to make, and dive into the updated unofficial depth chart.
- Andrew Vorhees is a big, talented, and dedicated player who the Ravens have been high on since they stole him in the seventh round in 2023. He could very well be the starting left guard replacing Patrick Mekari. But John Harbaugh loves competition. Vorhees will have to win the job.
- I don't see any top guard prospects named "Ben," but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ravens use another mid-round pick on a guard similar to their picks with Ben Cleveland (2021), Ben Bredeson (2020), and Ben Powers (2019). Mid-round draft and develop has been the strategy.
746: Breaking Down the Latest Ravens Mock Drafts
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing analyze the latest mock drafts from NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., and The Athletic to glean similarities and share their reactions. Plus, in honor of Derik Queen's NCAA Tournament buzzer-beater, they debate the Ravens' greatest walk-off touchdowns.
- The latest mock drafts are skewed toward the Ravens drafting an outside linebacker in the first round. A stud added to the Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy duo would certainly help take Baltimore to another level and there seems to be a cluster of intriguing options.
- It's amusing to see Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart fly up mock draft boards after blowing up the Combine and now be supposedly back in range for the Ravens at No. 27 a month later. NFL.com’s Charles Davis has him as in Baltimore with his latest projection.
