Steve Bisciotti Ranked As One of the NFL's Three Best Owners
The Ravens are regarded as one of the NFL's model franchises, and it starts at the top with owner Steve Bisciotti.
Bisciotti's standing as one of the league's best owners was reflected in NFL Trade Rumor's owner power rankings, which placed him at No. 3. Only the New England Patriots' Robert Kraft (No. 1) and Kansas City Chiefs' Clark Hunt (No. 2) were ranked higher.
"Bisciotti purchased a minority stake in the Ravens in 2000, with the NFL later approving his majority purchase in 2004. He immediately began work on overhauling Baltimore's facilities and has invested a considerable amount of money into his franchise," NFLTR’s Ethan Woodie wrote. "Bisciotti surprised many by hiring longtime Eagles ST coordinator John Harbaugh as head coach in 2007, but Harbaugh has since won a Super Bowl and is considered one of the league's top coaches. The Ravens are widely considered one of the best-run teams in football."
Consistency and continuity have defined Bisciotti's tenure as owner. His goal to have the Ravens in the playoff hunt every season has largely come to fruition.
Since Bisciotti took over as full owner in 2004, the Ravens have made 12 playoff appearances, and four other times they were in playoff contention heading into the season's final week. Not to mention they won Super Bowl XLVII
Pundit Says Healthy Mark Andrews Can Challenge Travis Kelce for 'Unicorn Status'
The Chiefs' Travis Kelce is universally recognized as the best tight end in the league and a future Hall of Famer, but Field Vision’s Sasha Bouska believes Mark Andrews is the one player who can rival Kelce.
Bouska ranked the top 10 tight ends and divided them into three tiers. Kelce was alone in Tier 1. Andrews was in Tier 2 and ranked fourth overall.
"Mark Andrews, when healthy, is the true pass catching threat that can challenge Kelce for unicorn status," Bouska wrote. "In 2021, he had our third best Raw Threat Rate score in our data set trailing only Kelce in 2019 and 2020. Andrews accumulated 1,361 yards in that season but has taken a bit of a step back in the subsequent two with last year's season ending prematurely due to injury.
"Andrews is top 10 against both zone and man coverage and he's our number 1 Threat Tight End when lining up in the slot. He's also #3 on short/intermediate targets. The Ravens will need Andrews to be at peak form to replicate the efficiency they showed last season."
Ravens Are Behind Bengals in Fox Sports' Power Rankings
The Ravens have been a top four team in the majority of offseason power rankings, but Dave Helman of “The NFL on Fox Podcast” isn't quite as bullish on Baltimore.
Helman has the Ravens at No. 8 in his rankings. The team directly above the Ravens is the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati finished in last place in the AFC North last season, but quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy after being limited to 10 games in 2023.
"Yes, Ravens fans, I can hear you yelling at me. I've got the Bengals ranked over the Ravens even though the Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the AFC [last year]," Helman said. "I think the Bengals gained and the Ravens lost. Yes, Derrick Henry is in Baltimore, but there's three starters missing on their offensive line; their defensive coordinator [Mike Macdonald] is the head coach in Seattle now; Patrick Queen plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Jadeveon Clowney left. That's a lot of loss to offset in Baltimore."
Helman noted that the Ravens also lost safety Geno Stone to the Bengals.
"I think the Cincinnati Bengals stand to benefit," Helman said. "I think they're going to be right back where they've been, at the top of the AFC North, this year."
Ian Rapoport Praises Ravens' Defensive System, Nate Wiggins
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said the Ravens' losses on defense, both players and coaches, is are negligible because of the system the team has in place.
"What they've really done in Baltimore, what it feels like to me, is what a lot of teams want to do," said Rapoport, who was at training camp yesterday. "They have created a defensive system where when they lose guys — like they move on from Wink Martindale after several really successful seasons; when they see Mike Macdonald move on to go be the head coach of the Seahawks, they slot Zach Orr in to essentially run the same system [and] let a really, really bright defensive coach rise but know that the foundation is secure.
"That's really how an organization like the Baltimore Ravens is good year in and year out, because you just have that groundwork laid all the time."
One of Rapoport's other takeaways was how good first-round rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins looked.
"It does seem like Nate Wiggins has really impressed," Rapoport said. "He's big, he's long. He looks like a Ravens corner, and [he's] scrappy."
