3 Questions Ravens Front Office Must Answer At Combine
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta knows that the next few months will be crucial if the franchise wants to get past the AFC Championship game.
As hundreds of scouts, players, and executives all pour into Indianapolis for the 2024 Scouting Combine, each franchise has its own set of questions that need to be answered going into the new league year.
© Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
For DeCosta, the only questions worth discussing are about how he can get his team to still be an AFC power in 2024. As Combine Week begins, here are the three biggest questions the team and executive staff need to answer.
How Will Resources Be Poured Into Offensive Line?
Lamar Jackson is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in all of football now. Protecting him with a great offensive line must be one of the top priorities for Baltimore this offseason.
With Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson set to hit free agency, and with injury concerns at tackle, it's safe to assume Baltimore will be busy trying to rebuild the entire group.
How that is done, though, will remain to be seen. Some clarity from DeCosta on how the resources the Ravens possess will be used to solve a massive question going into the 2024 season is important.
Which Contracts Will Be Restructured to Build Cap Space?
Baltimore has around $16 million in cap space going into the offseason with major names set to hit the free-agent market. If the team wants to keep at least one of their top players, contracts will need to be restructured for those already on the roster will need to be done.
Who those players will be remains to be seen, though.
Jackson, and other top players like safety Marcus Williams, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley could open up roughly around $40 million in space right off the bat.
That doesn't mean all are getting new deals. That's where DeCosta will have to come in to clarify which players are more likely to get new deals done.
What Positions Will Organization Key On Early in Indy?
All scouting eyes will be on Indianapolis for the next few weeks to see which of the top talents will be worthy to spend draft capital on. While some players are already declining to work out during the week, there are plenty of players who could entice DeCosta enough to draft them early in April's selection process.
Baltimore has plenty of needs, but if they offer a small glimpse into what they are looking for in Indy, it could be enough to determine who the team is most interested in on Draft Night.
