5 Major Questions For Ravens Heading Into Offseason
Every team across the NFL has major questions heading into the 2024 offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens are no different...even if their questions center more around returning to the AFC Championship game than other organizations.
Nevertheless, head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta have several major points of emphasis to target this offseason. If they can't solve all of the team's major conundrums, they could very well not get as far as they need to next season.
Here are the five biggest questions surrounding Baltimore this offseason.
Which of the big three walks in free agency?
The top free agents in Baltimore this year are guard Kevin Zeitler, linebacker Patrick Queen, and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. It is unlikely that all three will be back with Baltimore's small-cap number this season ($7 million projected).
A safe guess is that Madubuike will return via the franchise tag. Zeitler is also a potential player to return due to his age and effectiveness. Queen, though, is probably the one most likely to hit the open market.
Which of these players will the Ravens let walk? That's the top question this offseason.
What kind of receiver fits well with Lamar Jackson?
In case anyone lived under a rock during the AFC Title game, the Ravens need an additional receiver to enhance the passing attack in 2024. Bengals star Tee Higgins makes a lot of sense, but there are a lot of other quality pass patchers that should help as well.
Regarding their fit with Baltimore's quarterback, the receiver coming in via the draft or free agency needs to be someone who can get open consistently in man coverage. As of right now, only Zay Flowers can do that.
They need more.
Speaking of Lamar, what will things look like for the organization following his lucrative extension?
The two-time NFL MVP's cap hit increases to $32 million this year. There are ways they can decrease that number and create space, but the Ravens are now at the point of their franchise where they are paying a top quarterback top dollar.
That means some of the better talent on the roster will effectively cost too much for the organization - a natural next step for the franchise.
Seeing how DeCosta and the Ravens' front office handle the large-cap hit will essentially tell the story of Baltimore's future. If they can still add some quality talent, they should be positioned nicely to continue their success into 2024.
How does Baltimore fix offensive line health concerns?
A quiet concern for the Flock this offseason is their offensive line. Ronnie Stanley hasn't played a full season in his career and the injuries are piling up. With Zeitler's pending free agency, the offensive line has become a group that will need to be addressed in droves this offseason.
How it's handled will determine how good Baltimore ends up being in 2024.
Will John Harbaugh show enough to warrant confidence in 2024?
Probably the most underrated question in Baltimore surprisingly surrounds their head coach. No one can deny that Harbaugh has had a wonderful career with the team, but the coaching blunders in this year's conference championship tell the story of a team that is potentially being held back by its coaching staff.
The truth is that Baltimore's head coach doesn't call plays - a key point to what many fans criticize the most of one of the longest-tenured men in the game.
With Mike Macdonald gone, and several other assistants leaving for jobs, the Ravens coaching staff will look a lot different in 2024. Just how good the team will end up being could be the biggest help or detriment to Harbaugh's legacy.
