What the Ravens Can Take Away From Eagles' Dominant Super Bowl Win Over Chiefs
In addition to the delight scores of Ravens fans felt watching the Philadelphia Eagles squash Kansas City's three-peat bid on Sunday, there also were things the Ravens could take away from Super Bowl LIX as they look to get over the hump next season.
"The biggest Ravens-related takeaway from Philadelphia's 40-22 drubbing of Kansas City was the Chiefs' left tackle situation finally blowing up in their faces on the biggest stage," Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones wrote. "It highlights the dilemma [General Manager] Eric DeCosta now faces pondering the future with or without longtime left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who's scheduled to become a free agent next month."
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked a career-high six times in the game.
The Chiefs opened the season with rookie Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle, but he lost the starting job after just two games. The position remained unstable until Kansas City moved All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney there in the final weeks of the season.
"To the Chiefs' credit, that move brought a higher floor to the position and mostly worked until running into the Eagles' elite group on Sunday night, but moving Thuney still wasn't Plan A, B, or C for a championship contender and the shuffling also weakened the left guard spot in the process," Jones wrote. "That should serve as a warning as the Ravens ponder who will be protecting Lamar Jackson's blind side for 2025."
The 31-year-old Stanley, who returned to Pro Bowl form in 2024 and did not miss a game for the first time in his career, is widely regarded as the top left tackle set to hit the open market.
"Re-signing an older player with a detailed injury history, would be a gamble for a cash-strapped team," The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote.
The Ravens could move Roger Rosengarten to the left side if Stanley doesn't re-sign, but then they'd need a starting right tackle.
"You certainly don't want to be in the position of creating weaknesses at both tackle spots if Rosengarten ends up not being ideal for the left side," Jones wrote. "Just ask the Chiefs."
The Eagles made life miserable for Mahomes despite not blitzing a single time, and that's something else the Ravens should take note of, Jones said.
"You don't need to be the second coming of Tom Landry or Bill Belichick to recognize how valuable a dominant four-man rush can be," Jones wrote. "Few would watch that game and argue with DeCosta adding a stud edge rusher or dynamic defensive tackle to try to take this Ravens defense to the next level."
Ravens Floated As Potential Suitor if Deebo Samuel Is Traded
The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly expected to explore trading Deebo Samuel this offseason, and the Ravens have been mentioned as a potential suitor for the versatile wide receiver.
"I could see him in Pittsburgh, I could see him in Baltimore," ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” "I could see him in a lot of places, like any of those AFC North teams make sense."
Adding another playmaker to a Ravens offense led by Jackson and running back Derrick Henry and a receiving corps that includes wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely is a tantalizing thought.
Samuel, 29, had his best season in 2021, when he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ravens Named a Top Landing Spot for Justin Fields
Quarterback Justin Fields said last year that the Ravens were among the teams that looked into trading for him before the Chicago Bears ultimately dealt him to the Steelers.
Fields, who started six games for Pittsburgh this past season before Russell Wilson took over, is a pending free agent, and The 33rd Team’s Tyler Brooke included Baltimore among Fields' top landing spots.
Given Fields' dual-threat ability, the 11th-overall pick in 2021 seems like the ideal backup for Jackson. Fields rushed for 1,143 yards in 2022, joining Jackson and Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks in history to top 1,000 yards.
Journeyman Josh Johnson, who turns 39 in May and was Jackson's backup this past season, is a pending free agent.
"What better team for Fields to take a short-term deal with and learn from than the Baltimore Ravens?" Brooke wrote. "While Fields would likely never see the field, he'd have an opportunity to work side by side with arguably the best quarterback in the NFL right now, Lamar Jackson. [Jackson] has found out how to develop as a lethal passer without sacrificing his mobility, which is something that Fields could benefit from, especially with a coaching staff featuring Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken.
"For the Ravens, there aren't many other suitable QB2 options that fit what they do."
The question is whether Fields would prefer going to a team that would give him an opportunity to compete for a starting job. There's a possibility that could be Pittsburgh, which is reportedly looking to move on from Wilson.
"It's unlikely that Fields would be interested in a long-term deal, but if the market is cold, then a one-year deal in Baltimore could be a beneficial long-term play," Brooke wrote.
Pundit Makes Bold Prediction About 2025 Ravens
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr made one bold prediction for each team for the 2025 seasons.
For the Ravens, the good news is that Orr believes they'll make the AFC championship game. The bad news is …
"The Ravens will lose to the Bills in the AFC championship game," Orr wrote. "This offseason lacks the kind of available difference-makers Baltimore could sweep up en route to fielding a more competitive team à la Derrick Henry a year ago. Teams will have an offseason to dissect the Henry–Lamar Jackson dynamic as one of the league's more frustrating teams in the postseason continues to butt their heads against the ceiling without breaking through."
Orr predicted the Bills will go on to win Super Bowl LX. ESPN, however, gave the Ravens and Chiefs the best odds to win Super Bowl LX.
We'll see this time next year if Orr was right. In the meantime, here are 10 reasons why the Ravens are poised for a Super Bowl appearance.
Ravens Among Elite Teams in Early Power Rankings
Speaking of next season, ESPN and The Baltimore Sun released their early power rankings for 2025. Here's a look at where the Ravens landed:
"This offseason, two of Baltimore's top free agents represent the left side of its offensive line: tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari. But the Ravens are confident they can retool their blockers in front of quarterback Lamar Jackson and will do so by going younger. This past season, Baltimore replaced three starters on its line and finished No. 1 in offense." – Jamison Hensley
"Maybe 2025 is finally the year that Lamar Jackson and company win that elusive title. With relatively few holes to fill on the roster, the return of running back Derrick Henry and the retention of coordinators Todd Monken and Zach Orr, the Ravens should once again be in Super Bowl contention behind their MVP-caliber quarterback. How aggressive they are this offseason when it comes to seeking upgrades (perhaps trading for a wide receiver like Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel or DK Metcalf or a pass rusher like Jadeveon Clowney) and retaining expensive veterans (such as cornerback Marlon Humphrey and tight end Mark Andrews) will ultimately determine Baltimore's ceiling. But as long as the Ravens keep putting a solid roster around him, it seems like only a matter of time before Jackson gets over the hump in the postseason." – C.J. Doon
