Adding 'True Game-Changer' at Edge Rusher Named Ravens' Top Offseason Priority
Even though the Ravens finished second in the league in sacks this season, Pro Football Focus' Zoltan Buday said adding a top-tier edge defender should be their top offseason priority.
"The Ravens were one of the most complete teams in the NFL in 2024, leading the league in EPA per play on offense (0.18) and ranking ninth in EPA allowed per play on defense (-0.05)," Buday wrote. "However, if there's one area where they could improve, it's at edge defender — a position that could also help them in the postseason, as they failed to force a single turnover in their last three playoff games.
"Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh ranked among the top 25 edge defenders in PFF pass-rush grade during the regular season, Van Noy at 22nd and Oweh at 25th, but neither is a true game-changer."
Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones offered a similar take.
"Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh had strong seasons, but how would a true game-wrecker impact these agonizing postseason losses in which the defense hasn't been able to force a turnover?" Jones wrote.
Of course, adding an impact edge rusher is easier said than done.
Nine-time Pro Bowler Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers is a pending free agent, but he turns 34 next month and he went from 17 sacks in 2023 to six in 2024. Other pending free-agent edge rushers include the Philadelphia Eagles' Josh Sweat and New York Jets' Haason Reddick.
Edge rushers Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M and James Pearce Jr. of Tennessee have been linked to the Ravens in the first round of recent mock drafts.
Van Noy Is Excited to Have 'Old School' Chuck Pagano on Coaching Staff
Van Noy told Pat McAfee that he's excited about Chuck Pagano joining the coaching staff as senior secondary coach.
"He's got that old school juice that you need to have in the building," Van Noy said of the 64-year-old Pagano. "The sky's the limit for that group, leading with Nate Wiggins now and Kyle Hamilton, who's an avatar. It's a great group of guys in the secondary and we're excited to get him in the building."
Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton Differ on Whether MVP Award or Super Bowl Ring Means More
Lamar Jackson could win his third MVP award at next Thursday's NFL Honors, but he has been saying for years that a Super Bowl ring means more to him than an individual accolade.
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton doesn't share that opinion.
Newton won the 2015 MVP award, but his Carolina Panthers lost in the Super Bowl that season and he never made it back to the big game. When asked by Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's "First Take" if he would trade his MVP award for a Super Bowl championship, Newton said no.
"Let me remind you: Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl. Respectfully, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl," Newton said. "You can say as an MVP award winner, you held your end of the bargain. I'm taking individual success because I did my job. Football is not about one guy trying to do 11 jobs. It's 11 guys doing one job."
It's an interesting take. Extraordinary individual success, which Jackson has achieved, should be celebrated.
However, Jackson's burning desire to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl championship – a declaration he made as soon as the team drafted him – is what makes him an outstanding teammate and leader in addition to being a generational talent.
Pundits Give MVP Nod to Jackson
NFL.com analysts made their picks for the league's individual awards before the winners are revealed next week.
Jackson was the top-vote getter for MVP with 15 votes. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was second with eight, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley received the other five.
Sharp Football Analysis’ Will Mauro also went with Jackson for MVP.
"All signs point to a third award for Jackson, whose career-highs in completions (316), passing yards (4,172), and passing touchdowns (41) far exceeded Allen's numbers this season," Mauro wrote.
