Are Ravens Still Team To Beat in AFC North?
It hasn't been the greatest offseason for the Baltimore Ravens. After falling to the eventual champion Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, the Ravens have lost most of their defensive coaching staff.
Then free agency happened.
Top players like linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Geno Stone, and offensive linemen like Morgan Moses and John Simpson have all found new homes. With so much roster and coaching turnover, are the Ravens still the team to beat in a loaded AFC North?
After all, Stone's new home is in Cincinnati and analysts were stunned when Queen found his way to Pittsburgh. Even the Browns were able to bring in former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel as a consultant.
In a way the North teams have all gotten better, while the Ravens have taken some obvious steps back.
That doesn't mean Baltimore's hold on the division is gone, though.
While the Ravens have lost a plethora of offensive linemen, they have plenty of Draft capital and have made numerous free agent moves to improve the roster. Whether it was All-Pro running back Derrick Henry, re-signed their best defensive linemen, and also added depth on the defensive end.
If Baltimore was already the crown of the division due to their young talent like Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, and Zay Flowers, their current additions will only help them.
Then there is the fact that the offensive line draft class is among the deepest in recent memory. Even with the current concerns, those positions could be solved in a matter of months.
So even though the Ravens may be seen as a team prepared to take a step back in 2024 with other teams in the division improving, that may not actually be the case.
