It’s now officially the offseason for every NFL team, with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Admittedly, it was a pretty great game. That doesn’t end frustrations for Ravens fans, though, who I assume still feel their team is the best in the league.
Looking ahead to next season, it seems ESPN agrees:
ESPN ranks the Ravens as the #1 team going into the 2024 season in very early rankings. pic.twitter.com/szv2X6YFgs
— 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) February 13, 2024
And yet, there are many who also see the flip side, feeling that “the year” has passed for Baltimore. I tend to lean in this direction; I think Sunday’s Super Bowl was the one the Ravens had to win. Marcus Whitman hits on some of the reasons why here:
I'm not gonna lie man… I hope I'm wrong but the Ravens are looking like a serious "Blew their shot" type of team… Lots of impending losses and both their O&D lines are in serious jeopardy of not being as good as they were this season and those staff losses are brutal.
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) February 14, 2024
In reality, it’s probably somewhere in between. As Chiefs DT Chris Jones highlights, the Ravens are an extremely talented team:
Chiefs’ DL Chris Jones gives MAJOR praise to the Ravens after winning the Super Bowl
“I think we faced the best team in the league in the Baltimore Ravens, hands down” pic.twitter.com/Nhm9DoHj5o
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 12, 2024
Obviously, the most talented team doesn’t always win it all, but Baltimore can hang their hat on that. But with so many impending losses, what’s the priority to rebuild? There have been a few rumors I’ve seen that are worth noting.
First, it’s time for GM Eric DeCosta to work some magic before the end of the league year:
An upcoming contract deadline to watch as EDC begins shaping next year's team: pic.twitter.com/PnBhCNHXMH
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 13, 2024
Without a doubt, bringing back guys like Kevin Zeitler and Nelson Agholor will answer some of the more minor questions Ravens fans have. At the same time, in the case of Agholor, there are likely higher priorities.
Alongside those guys, there are the one year rentals and veterans, like Kyle Van Noy. KVN had an outstanding year for the Ravens, and it appears he’d like to come back in 2024:
I asked Kyle Van Noy at the Super Bowl if he was going to return to the Ravens. He got a big grin on his face, and said that depends on Eric DeCosta.
KVN knows that he gave the Ravens a bargain last year ($1.4M, 9 sacks) and this time, he wants EDC to pay up. pic.twitter.com/pszp0wqKht
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) February 13, 2024
Why wouldn’t he? In my opinion, the more interesting name on the D-Line (shocker) is Justin Madubuike. Not only did he have a breakout campaign this season, but history shows the position is necessary in the NFL:
Chiefs SBs – Chris Jones
Rams SB – Aaron Donald
Patriots SBs – Vince Wilfork
Broncos SB – Malik Jackson
Eagles SB – Fletcher Cox
Bucs SBs – Vita Vea, Warren Sapp
Ravens SBs – Haloti Ngata, Tony SiragusaIf you wanna win, you better have an all world DT.
— TF1o1 (@NotThe12GAF) February 13, 2024
You simply must have pass rush from the inside, and even if Baltimore brings Madubuike back, I feel they still should prioritize the interior. Michael Pierce will be a question mark, but if the team is going to give youngsters Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo a chance on the edges, they have to shore up the inside rush.
On the other hand, they might double down on the EDGE if Brian Burns becomes available:
Bleacher Report proposed a tag-and-trade between the Ravens and Panthers
Ravens receive: EDGE Brian Burns
Panthers receive: 2024 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, EDGE David Ojabo pic.twitter.com/A8j5gKM6jo
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 13, 2024
This asking price is pretty high, but I wouldn’t be totally opposed. Burns is a young controllable stud who’s had at least 7.5 sacks each year of his career. He’d be an immediate upgrade and a scary addition to Zach Orr’s new defense.
Or, if you want to improve the most glaring issue in the most recent loss, you could look at the offense. While I’d currently say Baltimore drafts an OT with their 1st Round pick, there are other ways to use it. At the moment, 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk could be disgruntled following the Super Bowl loss:
Brandon Aiyuk’s Brother (Best Friend) On IG pic.twitter.com/WedP0QYiZ8
— WayneBreezie (@thewaynebreezie) February 13, 2024
I’ll let Kevin Oestreicher ask the question for me:
Should the Ravens trade for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk if he becomes available? pic.twitter.com/4TAR3TIQPk
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 13, 2024
I’d send San Francisco a 1st in a heartbeat for Aiyuk, and that’s regardless of how things shake out with Zay Flowers. Aiyuk is a complete receiver, something Baltimore might be lacking immensely come next year.
I doubt it’ll happen, but it’s food for thought.
One Response
It would be nice to have Mads back in the future but dunno with the way he played last season.
Let’s hope for the best. We’ll have All Pro talent at all 3 levels and can concentrate on WR,OT and CB then.
Leading to the Aiyuk rumor. I’m not buying it at least now. Lamar still has to grow as the QB and with the targets we have now(Zay, Andrews, Likely) he may be a waste at the cost of a 1st rounder. I would rather bring back OBJ or Agholor and add a WR in the draft.
Now’s the time to ponder what if. Once preseason starts there’ll be plenty of shoulda, coulda, wouldas. It’s a good thing I’m not running the front office LOL.