Mink: Besides phase two of the offensive line rebuild, I expect improving the Ravens defense to be the point of focus this offseason. If Baltimore's defense can reach the same heights as the offense … watch out.
I think that starts with tightening up the secondary. Adding Chuck Pagano as a senior secondary coach is a big move in that direction, but the Ravens will want to give him some new pieces too.
Here's how I would rank the defensive needs:
- Safety
- Outside linebacker
- Cornerback
- Inside linebacker
- Defensive line
The Kyle Hamilton-Ar'Darius Washington combination was good down the stretch last year, but the Ravens preferably want both of those players in versatile roles. Baltimore has two openings to fill at safety without Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson and the Ravens are surely looking to cause more turnovers.
At outside linebacker, the Ravens had the second-most sacks in the league last year, there's no reason to believe that Kyle Van Noy will decline, Odafe Oweh could become a monster, and there are other young players poised to take the next step. With that said, another game-changing pass rusher could put this defense over the top.
The Ravens have two returning starters at cornerback in Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, but the depth behind them is questionable with Brandon Stephens and Tre'Davious White set to hit free agency. Next up outside would be Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has struggled to stay healthy. Baltimore needs to add more youth and perhaps bring back (or in) a veteran, which would also allow Humphrey to remain a versatile inside/outside weapon.
Inside linebackers Malik Harrison and Chris Board are pending free agents. While the Ravens expect Trenton Simpson to take the next step and return as a starter, he'll have to earn it, and they need depth. Brent Urban is a pending free agent again and it remains to be seen what Michael Pierce's future will be, so the defensive line may need to be addressed as well.
Brown: I'd say defense is a bigger focal point than wide receiver.
Zay Flowers is coming off a 1,000-yard season and Rashod Bateman had a career-high nine touchdown catches. Regardless of who else joins them in the wide receiver room, the Ravens have two young and talented targets to build around.
However, Baltimore's pass defense ranked next-to-last in 2024, despite dramatic improvement in the second half of the season. Overall, the defense ranked 10th, its lowest ranking since 2021.
As Mink addressed, safety and cornerback are among the Ravens' top offseason needs. To win a Super Bowl, I think they need to force more turnovers and negative plays. Offensively, the Ravens are dynamic. Becoming more disruptive on defense could be the key to winning a Super Bowl.
Mink: No, I don't think the Ravens would switch Daniel Faalele back to tackle. He had a successful first season as a full-time starting right guard, which landed him honors as a Pro Bowl alternate. He got better as the year went on and was especially strong in the playoffs. Moving him back to tackle would short-circuit the progress he's made as an interior blocker. Plus, it would just open up a hole at right guard with no clear answer.
If the Ravens don't re-sign Ronnie Stanley and pencil in Roger Rosengarten for a move to left tackle, I would anticipate that they would bring back a more cap-friendly veteran who can start at right tackle and probably draft an offensive tackle on the first two days and with the aim of hitting on another Rosengarten.
Brown: That's a great question regarding a 2022 draft class that includes Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Travis Jones, Daniel Faalele, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar.
My guess is that Linderbaum will be the first from the 2022 class to receive an extension. Both Linderbaum and Hamilton are in line to receive massive deals, but Linderbaum's should be less expensive. Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs is the league's highest-paid center at reportedly around $18 million a year, while Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the highest-paid safety in NFL history at reportedly just over $21 million per season.
At the season review press conference, General Manager Eric DeCosta said re-signing homegrown players remains a top priority.
"I think I sat up here in 2019 and said we're going to try to retain as many of our good young players as we can, and I think we've done that," DeCosta said. "I'm proud of that, and I think you'll see that continue this offseason."
It will be interesting to see what the Ravens' long-term strategy will be at tight end, with Likely, Kolar, and Mark Andrews all entering the final year of their contract. However, the 2022 draft class has already paid huge dividends for the Ravens. You can believe that DeCosta has a strategy to try to keep as many key players from that strong class as he can.
