Happy Monday, Flock Nation! It feels like every week, we have a reason to feel a little bit brighter. In this week’s case, it’s that Lamar Jackson finally put pen to paper and any lingering doubts to rest, officially signing his record-setting contract extension with the Ravens last week.
Full details of the megadeal emerged over the weekend, including Jackson’s year-by-year salary cap hit.
#Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s salary-cap numbers after his new deal:
– 2023: $22M
– 2024: $33M
– 2025: $43.5M
– 2026: $74.5M
– 2027: $74.5M– 2028-2029: $12.5M (void years)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 7, 2023
Those $72.5 million cap hits look big, but cap inflation and restructures will ease that burden, not to mention the potential to extend Jackson again – though I think it’s safe to say that no one wants to think about that for a while.
Still, the Ravens aren’t getting Jackson for a massive, CBA-mandated discount anymore, so they need to maintain a pipeline of talent on rookie deals through the draft. Eric DeCosta may have stepped off the compensatory pick carousel last year with 10 picks already in hand to sign Marcus Williams, Michael Pierce and Morgan Moses, but you can bet he’ll be back aboard in the coming offseasons.
Projected Compensatory Picks for the 2024 Draft:#Bills – One in 3rd Round#49ers – Two 3rds, Two in 5th, One in 6th#Eagles – One in 3rd, Two in 5th, One in 6th#Jaguars – One in 3rd, One in 6th#Saints – Two in 4th, One in 6th#Ravens – One in 4th#Cardinals – One in 4th… pic.twitter.com/we9QgeAC4Y
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 7, 2023
Baltimore is already projected to receive one compensatory selection in the 2024 draft after Josh Oliver cashed in with the Minnesota Vikings, but that could jump to the maximum of four comp picks in the 2025 draft after the 2024 free agency cycle concludes. 2020 draft picks Patrick Queen, J.K. Dobbins, Devin Duvernay and Justin Madubuike could all earn strong enough deals to factor into the compensatory pick formula, though I’d peg Madubuike for an extension unless a pass-rushing breakout in 2023 prices him out of Baltimore.
Rock Ya-Sin could even count towards the comp pick formula in the Ravens’ favor if he impresses as CB2 in Mike Macdonald’s defense this year.
Here at Ravens rookie minicamp. John Harbaugh’s excited about CB Rock Ya-Sin’s signing, but said that doesn’t rule out a reunion with Marcus Peters.
“You never close the door on good players.” pic.twitter.com/GXFzpvpita
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) May 6, 2023
But Marcus Peters could still return to the Ravens, a team that knows you can never have too many corners. That’s especially the case with Brandon Stephens moving back to safety after spending most of last year at cornerback.
Harbaugh said that Brandon Stephens will be focusing on safety this summer.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 6, 2023
Stephens was originally recruited to UCLA as a running back but transferred to SMU and switched to cornerback. The Ravens moved him to safety after he was drafted and he ended up starting 11 games in place of the injured DeShon Elliott, logging more than 275 snaps in the box and at free safety in 2021, followed by more than 400 snaps at cornerback – 340 out wide, 86 in the slot – in 2022.
“The versatility again, we love it… One of his superpowers is going to be he can play all five secondary spots."https://t.co/aiLqV7HGZ6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 7, 2023
But this is really just another step in Mike Macdonald’s evolving vision of positionless defense.
Stephens is a jack-of-all-trades who is comfortable in man and zone coverage, as well as run defense, and can do so from multiple spots. He may not present with the ceiling of Kyle Hamilton or even Trenton Simpson, but he’s a third-year player with good size and athleticism, plus a solid amount of experience in a few different roles. At a minimum, he’s a valuable multi-positional backup who can come in without upsetting the defensive gameplan or matchups while also contributing on special teams.
But, if Stephens continues his development as a safety, his versatility can allow Macdonald to deploy Hamilton – and potentially Simpson – as the disruptive defensive weapons they’re meant to be.
That’s not even mentioning Roquan Smith, who really only lines up as an off-ball linebacker in the box, but can do anything effectively from that spot. He’s already announced the number of points he wants to give up to opposing offense next season with his new jersey number: zero.
"I look at the No. 0 as a new beginning — continuing to build a foundation of greatness with the start of a new season. A strong and solid foundation is what you must have before anything else, and you must be willing to work for what comes next. This is my first start of a… pic.twitter.com/7AJVCRvR7H
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 5, 2023
I’m not sure I dig it, though. Smith did go back on an earlier promise to stick with number 18 –
Roquan Smith said he’s keeping No. 18, by the way. Go ahead and order those jerseys, Ravens fans.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) January 13, 2023
– and Isaiah Likely would have been an objectively funnier choice for the number.
In other jersey news, the Ravens’ rookie class got a first look at their pro threads, with long-held dreams finally becoming reality.
"They might not be able to touch me in this one… I'm trying to retire this jersey❕"
Rookies see their jerseys for the first time 💜 pic.twitter.com/TetVhxrlRc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 5, 2023
Get ready to hear a lot of “Flowers 4” this season – you know, “Flowers fo(u)r a first down,” “Flowers fo(u)r a touchdown.”
He is the only Ravens pick who hasn’t signed his rookie contract yet, though that’s obviously a mere formality given his infectious enthusiasm over his NFL landing spot that continues to endear him to the Baltimore faithful.
A wide receiver saying they love the Ravens offense just made me almost shed a tear https://t.co/ropDR1LoYS
— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) May 6, 2023
It’s nice to see the Ravens getting ahead of contracts after the past few seasons, especially their rookie deals that took an unusual amount of time to get done last year.
.@TrentonSimpson_ and @Taviusrobinson making it official ❗️ pic.twitter.com/hbSl6KQZho
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 6, 2023
Andrew Vorhees’ reaction to his first jersey with his name on it was touching. I even liked how he facetimed his mom, though I’m cinematically conditioned to be cautious of mother-son combos with the last name Vorhees.
Harbaugh said Ravens have all but ruled out Vorhees from playing this season. This is a redshirt year from him.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 6, 2023
I’m hoping that his ACL tear at the Combine – which will force him to sit out his rookie year – is the scariest thing in his career for a while.
Since the injury occurred at the Combine, Vorhees is eligible to be placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list, though the Ravens must do so in a timely manner. Last year, they didn’t sign David Ojabo to his rookie deal until August and didn’t place him on the NFI list within 24 hours, forcing them to carry Ojabo on the 53-man roster at final roster cuts last year.
It’s worth noting that players on the NFI are not entitled to receive their salary, which may have been the reason for Ojabo’s delayed signing and/or his placement on injured reserve instead of the NFI. Vorhees’ early signing and near-certain sidelining for the entire year – as opposed to Ojabo’s partial absence – should indicate the Ravens won’t run into the same problem this year.
That will leave room for yet another undrafted rookie to make the Ravens roster, which would be the 20th such occurrence in the last 21 season. Ar’Darius Washington and Josh Ross have owned that distinction in the past two seasons, with at least 18 UDFAs vying for a roster spot this year.
We have signed 18 undrafted free agents.https://t.co/H7BA5SR5zM
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 5, 2023
Of them, Maryland WR Dontay Demus Jr. and ECU RB Keaton Mitchell are getting the most hype. Demus is a big-bodied wideout that could round out the Ravens’ receiver room, not to mention the local love he gets after spending five seasons at College Park.
Ravens UDFA RB Keaton Mitchell making his presence known early at rookie minicamp 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zss4MKMA18
— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) May 7, 2023
Mitchell is a speedy, shifty scatback that the Ravens signed with an eye towards the passing game and a potential future without J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards.
There’s still plenty of time for another undrafted rookie to emerge as a roster-spot contender, and last year’s UDFAs like Shemar Bridges and Jeremiah Moon could push for a place on the 53, too.
And finally, there could be another reunion between former Ravens in New York, with oft-injured corner Iman Marshall trying out for Wink Martindale’s defense at the Giants’ rookie minicamp.
Wink Martindale getting another look at Iman Marshall. https://t.co/UVCzRBIXUh
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 5, 2023
It’s remarkable that Martindale watched Marshall spend almost all of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons on injured reserve in Baltimore and still wants to see what he can get out of him. Sometimes, you just can’t let someone go…
Wink Martindale: pic.twitter.com/AUr0OYb0T4
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) May 8, 2023
3 Responses
Ok well, there’s a lot here. I hope Zay does well. The Vorhees pick I liked. The WRs we have on the roster, on the PT squad or in camp is finally solid this year. Which means for once we don’t have to have endless articles during the training camp on WRs. What will Ravens writers write about? This could become the struggle of the entire offseason 😆
a minute ago edited
we`re seeing zay compared to antonio brown and stephon diggs……..even if he falls well short of those two potential hall of famers,theres still plenty of room for zay to contribute to this offense in a big way(a very diverse way,given his skillset)……
how can you not be excited to have this guy?…..people are worried about us not having a power forward receiver…. well last time i looked andrews,likely and kolar are big receivers and should be a handful in the redzone…you have those guys(in whatever combo you want) stressing defenses near the goalline(jump ball potential) and zay running motion back and forth in the backfield……i can see lamar faking to zay and then having the option to run or toss a jump ball to kolar……
we`re going to score more redzone td`s this year…i have NO doubt(and believe me…i don`t spend much time or effort polishing my lamar shrine these days)..that said,i`m having trouble not seeing this offense as an absolute handful for opposing defenses….IF monken is half as good as advertised and lamar can throw it in the ocean.,i`m expecting some fireworks…..
I guess we will find out. There is a reason they play the games on the field and not in the press. I really don’t care how LJ does the 1st 6 games or the regular season if the team continues to not get past the second round of the playoffs.