Offseason 'Dream Scenario' for Ravens in Free Agency and the Draft
With the NFL offseason underway, pundits are playing matchmaker for free agents and putting together mock drafts.
With that in mind, Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron came up with a "dream scenario" for each team in free agency and the draft.
Here's a look at his proposal for the Ravens:
Free-Agent Signing: WR Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers
"Without much cap space to maneuver, the Ravens will have a limited pool of free-agent options. One potential target to fill in nicely as a big-bodied X-receiver could be Mike Williams. While he struggled in 2024, another offseason to regain his form post-ACL surgery in 2023 could pay dividends. In six seasons with the Chargers prior to his injury, he posted a 72.0-plus PFF receiving grade each year, presenting a solid value, if he can get back on track."
First-Round Draft Pick: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
"With Baltimore likely unable to retain Ronnie Stanley, they will also be in the market for a left tackle. Given Simmons' injury in 2024, his draft projection is all over the place, but he is firmly in the first-round conversation. If he were to fall, the Ravens should pounce. Before going down in Week 7, Simmons posted an 88.4 PFF pass-blocking grade and allowed zero pressures on 148 pass-blocking snaps."
Are Ravens or Bills Closer to Reaching Super Bowl in Next Three Years?
The Ravens and Buffalo Bills were one game away from the Super Bowl over the past two seasons, but the Kansas City Chiefs foiled them both.
Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen of “The Athletic Football Show” debated which of the two teams is better positioned to get over the hump in the next three years.
The hosts differed in their conclusions but agreed there's no easy answer.
"If you just looked at the rosters today, maybe because of some of the health stuff that the Bills had on defense for a lot of the year you could say, 'If they get a lot of their guys healthy maybe they're a little bit closer,'" Klassen said. "But even that feels a little bit off. If I really had to make a very fine argument, the Ravens might lose [left tackle] Ronnie Stanley so that makes them a little bit further away than the Bills are."
Mays offered a rebuttal.
"I get it because that's a good way to think about it," Mays said. "I also think that you could make a really serious argument that the Ravens are better positioned to have more difference-makers on defense heading into next year than the Bills with Nnamdi Madubuike. Roquan Smith had a down year this year, but he's generally been a very good player. And with Kyle Hamilton and somebody like Nate Wiggins being an ascending player who had a solid rookie year, you could make an argument that the ceiling is higher for Baltimore on defense because of some of the individual pieces that they have. That might be the tipping point for me even when we consider the Ronnie Stanley part of this."
Klassen conceded that Mays made a good argument.
"With the defense having a little bit more pop with the Ravens, maybe they are the team that is closer," Klassen said. "This is why it's a good question because I still believe what I said about Ronnie Stanley, but then you saying that about the defense also scares me a little bit."
Pundits Differ on Whether Ravens Should Re-Sign Stanley
Stanley's future is the main talking point regarding the Ravens' offseason roster questions.
NFL.com’s Adam Rank is the latest pundit to say that Stanley should hit the open market.
"After a number of injury-riddled seasons, Stanley started all 19 games (playoffs included) for the 2024 Ravens. Baltimore doesn't project to have a lot of cap space, and the soon-to-be 31-year-old tackle needs to cash in after a healthy campaign," Rank wrote. "This should be a very robust market for offensive linemen. Stanley could have many suitors, including teams like the Commanders, Bears and possibly the Chiefs."
Conversely, ESPN's Bill Barnwell, who put Stanley at No. 3 in his top 50 free agent rankings, believes the Ravens are the best fit for the two-time Pro Bowler.
"I like Stanley re-signing with the Ravens after producing high-end tape in 2024 and playing in every game, which answered some durability questions," Barnwell wrote. "At 6-6 and 310 pounds, Stanley can use his long frame to build a wall on the edge, and he tied for 11th among offensive tackles with a 92.5% pass block win rate in 2024."
Odafe Oweh Named Candidate for Contract Extension
The Ravens picked up outside linebacker Odafe Oweh's fifth-year option last year to keep him with the team through the 2025 season, and the 2021 first-round pick responded by recording a career-high 10 sacks.
Baltimore Beatdown’s Nikhil Mehta looked at which Ravens players could be candidates for a contract extension this offseason, and Oweh was among them.
"Oweh is currently slated for the sixth-highest cap hit on the team at $13.25 million. That's not a bad price for a double-digit sack producer, but an extension could save $9.7 million while keeping him around for the future," Mehta wrote.
However, Mehta said extending Oweh isn't necessarily a slam dunk.
"Oweh is coming off a career year with an exploding edge market and will be demanding a sizable salary," Mehta wrote. "The Ravens may want him to prove his production in 2025 before committing long-term money."
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Late for Work: 'Ravens' Nucleus is Good Enough to Challenge for the Title'
- PFF is counting down the top 101 players of the 2024 season and has revealed Nos. 61-101. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (No. 61), center Tyler Linderbaum (No. 69), tight end Mark Andrews (No. 75), and wide receiver Zay Flowers (No. 95) have made the list thus far.
