For three straight offseasons, the Ravens have emphasized their desire to upgrade their pass protection and pass rush. After Baltimore finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018, those issues are still the center of attention.
In 2021, the Ravens allowed a team-record 57 sacks, second-most in the NFL, while registering only 34. With free agency set to open in nearly a month and the NFL draft beginning April 28, which area is more important to the Ravens?
Traditionally, defense has been the backbone of this franchise since that record-setting 2000 group led the team to a Super Bowl title. But the Ravens have moved on from the days of great defenses led by Hall of Famers like middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Rod Woodson and Ring of Honor stars like outside linebacker Peter Boulware and defensive end Michael McCrary.
The Ravens are in the era of “Lamar mania.”
A lot of their recent investments have gone to players who share the huddle with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley signed a five-year, $98 million contract Oct. 30, 2020. Tight end Mark Andrews finalized a four-year, $56 million deal last September.
General manager Eric DeCosta has already picked up the fifth-year option on Jackson’s rookie contract worth $23 million this upcoming season and recently said he will do the same for receiver Marquise Brown, who is scheduled to make $13 million. The Ravens drafted Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins in the second round in 2020 and chose Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman with their first pick last April.
Enough said. The Ravens’ top priority should be to build up the offensive line to complete Jackson’s maturation process.
After four seasons, it’s clearly evident that Jackson is the most explosive yet unpredictable offensive player in the NFL. But something else is evident. In college, when the pocket broke down, Jackson just took off running, which is why he still has trouble reading defenses.
In the NFL, defenders are more athletic. Jackson struggles with his decision making, especially getting the ball out of his hand quickly against blitzes and pressures.
True franchise-caliber quarterbacks make those around them better, and Jackson does that in a sense. But he is also limited. To fix those limitations and elevate their passing game to another level, the Ravens have to protect him better. After ranking No. 13 in passing yards per game (233.0) in 2021, they need to crack the top 10 in 2022.
At the beginning of each season, every team has strengths and weaknesses. That strength has to carry the team until the weaknesses improve or coaches find a way to compensate. With the Ravens, that strength is Jackson. So, if the Ravens are in position in free agency to sign a guard like the Washington Commanders’ Brandon Scherff or a tackle like the New Orleans Saints’ Terron Armstead, go for it. If they can get an offensive lineman like Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum or North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu in the first round of the draft, make that move.
The Ravens talk a good game about Jackson being their quarterback of the future, but even they aren’t sure yet. They’ve got a two-year window to find out.
That’s not to say the Ravens should pass on a highly ranked defender in the draft or free agency, but upgrading the offensive line has to be the top priority. There can be no more disappointments like the free-agent signing of tackle Alejandro Villanueva last year or these one-dimensional run blockers selected in recent drafts like guards Ben Powers and Ben Cleveland.
The Ravens have some improvements to make on offense, but the defense is a “work in progress.” They’ve got a new coordinator in Mike Macdonald who really should bring an assistant along with him who specializes in pass rushing.
The Ravens have failed with previous pass-rushing specialists like defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and outside linebackers Justin Houston and Jaylon Ferguson, even though Ngakoue and former Ravens outside linebacker Matthew Judon have succeeded outside of Baltimore. It will be interesting to see what Macdonald can do with young outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser.
The secondary should be better if both starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters (knee) and Marlon Humphrey (pectoral) return from season-ending injuries. They certainly won’t be left in one-on-one press coverage as much as they were under former defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.
It’s understandable that the Ravens feel the need to get younger on the defensive line. Defensive end Calais Campbell, 35, and nose tackle Brandon Williams, 32, are hitting free agency. In a conference loaded with good, young quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, the Ravens need to find pass rushers.
But the best way to keep those star quarterbacks off the field is with a run-dominant, ball-control offense. The most demoralizing part of any NFL game is when a team can keep pounding away on the ground despite the defense having seven or eight players near the line of scrimmage.
That’s what the Ravens do best, and they do it better than any team in the NFL with Jackson. If they can elevate the passing game with better blockers, the offense will be even more dangerous and Jackson might complete his evolution as a quarterback.
It would show the Ravens made wise investments and finally upgraded their offensive line.
