Guard Prospects – Ravens 2024 Draft

The guard prospects in the 2024 NFL draft are reviewed from the Ravens perspective.

The tackles prospects were previously reviewed here.

By the way I should have noted in the tackle review that a  player with a “Yes” notation at the end of their individual report next t0 “Ravens” means that he’s a player who should be on the Ravens board.

Ravens Current Situation and Need at Guard

Both starting guards from 2023 (Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson) have left the roster.  As readers know, I’m comfortable with both decisions as I think Simpson was a net negative (it’s amazing he landed such a nice contract) and it was time to move on from Zeitler. Continue reading “Guard Prospects – Ravens 2024 Draft”

Ravens 2024 Draft – Part 1, Offensive Tackles

It’s finally time to kick-off my annual positional reports for the upcoming NFL draft.  Readers may recall that this analysis, and the ones to follow, is solely from the Ravens’ perspective.  This is not a “mock draft” for the entire league.  Rather, I focus only on the Ravens’ needs, prospects who might fill those needs, who the Ravens should draft and where in the draft order, and a variety of other Raven-centric thoughts.

I hope to post a series of position-focused blog posts.  This year, I will not review quarterback, center, or tight end prospects.  There is no plausible scenario where the Ravens would invest draft capital in the three positions that are cemented on the roster.  Could they seek out a blocking tight end?  Yes, but I expect that will happen from among the undrafted. Continue reading “Ravens 2024 Draft – Part 1, Offensive Tackles”

Shocking Story From the Justice, Education and Treasury Departments!!

Today we are excited to share with you shocking, joint documents from the Justice, Education, and Treasury Departments, leaked by sources who may or may not be in the know.  A quick precatory note.

It’s our job to bring this news to you immediately.  In publishing fast-breaking stories such as what follows, we apply the same vigorous editorial standards as the most esteemed publications in the United States (the New York Times and Washington Post).  Accordingly, readers should be aware that we neither investigated nor otherwise verified the veracity of what follows.  We certainly don’t want to jeopardize our highly partisan, though plausibly deniable, objectives.   We fully expect what follows to be re-Tweeted (X’ed?) to millions of readers within an hour or so of publication.  Readers should urgently check in on TikTok for further shocking updates before the Congress passes its ban.  In that eventuality, we refer you to Libs of TikTok for future developments.  Readers absolutely should not expect any further update by us to this story. Continue reading “Shocking Story From the Justice, Education and Treasury Departments!!”

The Derrick Henry Signing is Perfect, and a Bit More

Derrick Henry was the perfect solution to the Ravens’ backfield question.  As a power runner he has not lost a thing.  Henry was second in the league in yards after contact last year.  He ran 21.7 miles per hour in the last game of the 2023 season.   This was the second fastest clocked time in his career.  And he reached it in that last game in a season where he led the league in attempts.  His run was the seventh fastest time in the entire league last year and only three running backs recorded faster times (twice by Devon Archane of the Dolphins).

To those who say that few if any 30-year old running backs exceed 1,000 yards rushing – that’s just a meaningless stat based on what other players achieved.  This is not a clearly-slowed Mark Ingram signing.  Derrick Henry is different.  And he should be extra-special for the Ravens. Continue reading “The Derrick Henry Signing is Perfect, and a Bit More”

Exercising Fifth Year Options on Bateman, Oweh, or Both?

May 2nd is the deadline for exercising fifth-year options on 2021 first-round draftees.  Should the Ravens exercise the option for either or both of Rashod Bateman and/or Odafe Oweh?  An exercise of the option on Bateman would cost the Ravens $14.3 million for the 2025 season.  For Oweh, the number is $13.3 million.  These amounts would count dollar-for-dollar against the Ravens 2025 salary cap.

On the surface the decisions for each player may appear obvious.  Neither has reached the expectations of a first round pick.  Typically, you only want to exercise a fifth year option on a player who has “proven it.”  Generally, a team should choose to exercise a fifth year option to allow it to structure a longer term deal with a player who has proven it.  Conceptually, it’s as if the team is addressing a franchise tag type of situation one year earlier.  Has either Bateman or Oweh “proven it?”  Let’s take a closer look at each player to see what case if any can be made to exercise those options. Continue reading “Exercising Fifth Year Options on Bateman, Oweh, or Both?”

2024 Ravens Free Agents – Who to Keep, Part Two

Let’s dive right into who else among the 2024 Ravens free agents make sense for next season.  Part one of this review can be found here.  There are some depth pieces here who make sense to bring back for next season.

Nelson Agholor – Resigned

This was an easy and wise decision.  Agholor had a solid, if typical, season and undoubtedly comes back on an inexpensive (cap-wise) contract.  He brings veteran depth and currently slots in as the number three receiver for next year. Continue reading “2024 Ravens Free Agents – Who to Keep, Part Two”

2024 Ravens Free Agents – Who to Keep, Part One

Everyone touches on this subject.  That won’t stop me from throwing in my two cents regarding each free agent.  The big names are arguably the easiest.  So, who to keep, part one?

Justin Madubuike – Yes

This is the easiest one.  The Ravens will franchise Madubuike, likely by using the “non-exclusive” franchise tag label.  This is what the Ravens used with Lamar Jackson last season.  It allows Madubuike to negotiate with other teams.  It also grants the Ravens a right to match any offer (each of its terms), failing which it grants the Ravens two first round draft picks as compensation from the signing team.  Madubuike’s salary under this tag is the greater of (i) the average of the top five salaries at his position over the last five years, or (ii) 120% of his previous salary. Continue reading “2024 Ravens Free Agents – Who to Keep, Part One”

Ravens Off Season Issues: Cap Space and Player Releases

We are in for a busy next few months.  The Ravens have over 20 of their own free agents, and little salary cap space as we sit here today.  There are plenty of player personnel moves to make.  Let’s dive right into a few issues in this Ravens Off Season Issues post.

Ravens Off Season Issues – Effective Salary Cap Space

There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to salary cap space, which can be a complicated subject.  I focus on “effective salary cap space,” which is the available cap space a team has after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class.  Right now, the Ravens are expected to have eight draft picks.  When combined with the top 51 players contracts, the Ravens effective salary cap space is approximately $4.3 million. Continue reading “Ravens Off Season Issues: Cap Space and Player Releases”

AFC Championship Game – The Ugly Post-Mortem

I don’t know about you, but I needed ten days before penning this ugly post-mortem.  I’m unable to shed any light on Todd Monken’s bizarre avoidance of the run game.  It’s as puzzling to me as it is to every other observer, including you.  Did it cost the Ravens the game?  Mostly likely, yes.  But no need to dwell on that further.

This was the type of year that team dreams of.  Virtually every one of Eric DeCosta’s late pre-season free agent signings were not just hits, but homers (I hate baseball analogies, but its apropos here).  Furthermore, key young players blossomed to their full potential (Justin Madubuike), and some became major stars (Kyle Hamilton) while others came out of nowhere (Brandon Stephens).  The quarterback was the league’s most valuable player.  The defensive structuring and coordination was spectacular.  The Ravens played in arguably the toughest division in football, yet smashed virtually every top end team they played and wound up with the number one seed. Continue reading “AFC Championship Game – The Ugly Post-Mortem”

Ravens-Chiefs Preview: Thoughts from the Chiefs Win Over Buffalo

Time to prepare for the big Sunday matchup.  I start with thoughts from the Chiefs win over the Bills.   What we can identify as focus areas for the Chiefs, and lessons learned for the Ravens.

The Chiefs Running Game

Readers well know that Mike Macdonald’s zone focuses create weakness in the Ravens interior run defense.  The Ravens typically wind up with only six defenders in the box.  In the Chiefs tight victory over the Bills, virtually all of their success in the run game was between the tackles.  Isaiah Pacheco ran tough with arms flailing (a fumble risk) as the Chiefs pounded the ball.  They had virtually no success with designed running plays wide.  Pacheco looked a bit slower to me than I expected, just a tad less explosiveness than we’ve seen before. Continue reading “Ravens-Chiefs Preview: Thoughts from the Chiefs Win Over Buffalo”

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