Could the Ravens Reunite With Dalvin Cook?
Competition for the Ravens' No. 3 running back spot has taken an unexpected turn with injuries to leading candidates Owen Wright (broken foot) and fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali (concussion).
Is a reunion with four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook a possibility?
"There's a lot of talk about the Ravens re-signing veteran back Dalvin Cook, and it makes sense from the standpoint that he's an accomplished vet looking for work and there's a familiarity with him after he finished last season with the team," The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "Otherwise, I'm not sure it fits. The Ravens envision Derrick Henry and Justice Hill being a one-two punch in the backfield. The No. 3 running back role was more earmarked for a player who could provide depth and help out on special teams. That's not a role that suits Cook."
Cook is reportedly visiting with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. The 29-year-old running back, who underwent shoulder surgery after the 2023 season, said he feels the best he has in years, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
After posting four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and averaging 4.7 yards per carry with the Minnesota Vikings, Cook fell to career lows of 214 yards and 3.2 yards per carry in 15 games with the New York Jets last season.
The Ravens signed Cook for the playoffs after he was released by the Jets during the final week of the regular season. In the Ravens' divisional-round win over the Houston Texans, Cook rushed for 23 yards on eight carries, but 19 of those yards came on one play.
The Ravens could look at other veterans who are released during roster cuts. Yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers parted ways with Matt Brieda, who has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over his seven-year career.
Wright, who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the season on the practice squad, appeared to be the front-runner for the No. 3 spot before suffering a broken foot in the preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers Saturday. Ali did not play in the final two preseason games.
In addition to Ali, the Ravens' in-house options are veteran John Kelly and undrafted rookie Chris Collier. Keaton Mitchell (knee) is expected to start the season on PUP, meaning he will miss at least four games.
Head Coach John Harbaugh was asked yesterday if the team would look outside the organization to fill the No. 3 running back role, and he did not rule it out.
"I would just say, that's all speculative. It just depends," Harbaugh said. "I like the guys in-house. If there's something on the outside that looks really great, I'm sure we'll look at it. It just depends who the names are [and] what the options are. … We'll be open to anything. If the right player becomes available."
Five Ravens Make ESPN's Top 100 Rankings
ESPN asked a panel of dozens of its experts to rank the top 100 players based on performance expectations for the coming season. It's different from the NFL Top 100 rankings, which were determined by players based on 2023 performance.
Here's a look at the Ravens on ESPN's list along with comments from Jamison Hensley and 2024 stats projections:
2. QB Lamar Jackson
"Lackson has been the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history, leading the Ravens to an average of 28.3 PPG and 383.5 YPG through six seasons. Jackson dropped 15 pounds from last year to feel quicker, while picking up his strongest supporting cast yet. He has his first All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry, a healthy Mark Andrews at tight end and a fast-rising wide receiver in Zay Flowers."
2024 projection: 3,389 passing yards, 22 TDs, 11 INTs (736 rushing yards, 6 TDs)
38. LB Roquan Smith
"It's called the 'Roquan Smith effect.' Since trading for Smith midway through the 2022 season, the Ravens have allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL (15.8). Smith is the best middle linebacker and leader Baltimore has had since Ray Lewis retired in 2012."
2024 projection: 157 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT
47. S Kyle Hamilton
"Hamilton has become one of the NFL's best and most versatile players. Last season, Baltimore moved him around, lining him up as a deep safety, slot cornerback, inside linebacker and even defensive tackle. The results were historic: Hamilton became the first Ravens defensive back to record double digits in passes defensed (13) and tackles for loss (10) in a season. He has the potential to become Baltimore's first NFL Defensive Player of the Year since Terrell Suggs 13 years ago."
2024 projection: 95 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INTs
55. DT Justin Madubuike
"Madubuike put together an Aaron Donald-like season last year when he led all defensive tackles with 13 sacks. It was an impressive performance considering he had totaled 8.5 sacks in his first three seasons combined. The question is whether Madubuike is the next pass-rushing force inside or a one-year wonder. The last Ravens player to record double-digit sacks in back-to-back seasons was Terrell Suggs in 2013-14."
2024 projection: 55 tackles, 6 sacks
64. TE Mark Andrews
"A severe ankle injury caused Andrews to miss the final six games last season, but he still led the Ravens with six touchdown catches. Even with the emergence of Zay Flowers at wide receiver, Andrews will remain the go-to target for quarterback Lamar Jackson, especially inside the 20-yard line. Since Jackson's first full season as a starting QB in 2019, Andrews ranks fourth in the NFL with 31 red zone touchdowns."
2024 projection: 74 receptions, 819 yards, 7 TDs
In conjunction with the rankings, ESPN analysts debated the final order. Kicker Justin Tucker was named one of the biggest snubs.
"The biggest snub has to be Tucker, one of the best kickers in the NFL," Kalyn Kahler wrote. "I understand why a kicker failed to break into the top 100. But the kicking game still exists, and teams with elite kickers are going to have an edge over others this season as everyone tries to figure out how to best the new kickoff rules."
Surprisingly, Henry was not mentioned as a snub. Six running backs made the rankings (Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and Jonathan Taylor).
Hamilton's ranking was too low in Ben Solak's opinion.
"Having Hamilton as the second-best safety and just a hair under Antoine Winfield Jr. (No. 46) is perfectly defensible. Having Hamilton as the 20th-best defensive player in football is much tougher for me to swallow," Solak wrote. "We love to laud secondary players for their versatility, but there really isn't anyone in the league who can do more on a field than him. Hamilton's blend of size (6-foot-4, 224 pounds), range, recognition, quickness and coverage ability is unique, and it makes him one of the five or six most valuable defenders in the league, by my estimation."
Dan Pompei Says the NFL's Most Fascinating Rivalry Is Between John and Jim Harbaugh
The Athletic's Dan Pompei wrote an in-depth feature on the close relationship between Harbaugh and his younger brother, Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. They will coach against each other this season for the first time since John's Ravens beat Jim's 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.
"Now, with John in his 17th season leading the Ravens and Jim coaching the Los Angeles Chargers after nine years at the University of Michigan and fresh off a national championship, their collective forces will undoubtedly shake and shape the NFL once more," Pompei wrote. "And as they stand in the other's way for command of the AFC, the sport has no more fascinating rivalry."
Pompei noted that as much as the Harbaugh brothers love each other, "no one expects any jocularity" when the Ravens play the Chargers on Nov. 25.
John will look to go 3-0 against Jim. In addition to the Ravens' 34-31 win in the Super Bowl, John's Ravens beat Jim's 49ers, 16-6, on Thanksgiving night in 2011.
Roger Rosengarten Receives 'C' for Performance Against Packers
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter handed out grades for notable rookies from last week's preseason games. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten received a C.
"Rosengarten is competing to start at right tackle, but he'll need to improve on his mediocre play against Green Bay to hold onto the job when he gets his chance," Reuter wrote. "Packers edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. easily shed the second-round pick to chase down a running back inside on Baltimore's first play. On the second series, Rosengarten failed to reach-block a 3-technique on a run play, resulting in a tackle for loss. Cox knocked the rookie back with a strong punch on a third down, forcing quarterback Josh Johnson to unload a pass short of the sticks.
"Rosengarten did a better job of holding his ground against Cox and others in the second quarter but was inconsistent in his kick-slide, at times crossing his feet to stay with his man. The former Washington Huskie was certainly a willing run-blocker, whether crashing the edge to provide a lane or taking out a defender in space when leading on an outside toss in the mid-second quarter."
Rosengarten had solid outings in the previous preseason games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. He also bested Packers starting outside linebacker Rashan Gary in a one-on-one drill at a joint practice last week.
