It was the first exciting Tuesday in a while for Ravens fans yesterday, with a flurry of news and rumors hitting the Twitterverse. While much is conjecture, the one fact was a positive piece of news in Baltimore, as police suspended the investigation of WR Zay Flowers.
Breaking: Baltimore County police close investigation into Ravens WR Zay Flowers without charges https://t.co/HeEb3Ic2xb
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) February 20, 2024
There’s no doubt the organization and fanbase is relieved to hear this update, but by no means does it indicate it’s a non-issue moving forward. First and foremost, you hope it’s true that nothing happened at all, but focusing on football, the NFL is still monitoring the situation:
Baltimore Co. Police released its report/911 call involving investigation of a Jan. incident involving Ravens WR Zay Flowers. The police say investigation is "closed"
An NFL spokesperson says that the NFL is "monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review."— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 20, 2024
If Flowers is innocent and is able to play, that will be a massive relief for the Ravens. After finally drafting a reliable receiver that seemed poised to continue improving, it seemed he may have forced his way off the roster.
For now, we may still be able to call WR a non-need entering the offseason, but I’m sure there’s more to come. With a deep class in the NFL Draft, Baltimore will only need to select one when the value presents itself. That’s especially true after the agreement reached with WR Nelson Agholor, who’s salary was released last night:
The terms of Nelson Agholor's deal with the Ravens have been released, per @MySportsUpdate
One-year, $3.75 million pic.twitter.com/sSLYkMtLYP
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 21, 2024
Nelson Agholor coming back to the Ravens is bigger than you might think.
Team friendly deal, a trusted pair of hands and a great veteran head to have in that young WR corps. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/d3jOWbKlqA
— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) February 19, 2024
On top of Agholor, I still believe in Rashod Bateman. The young receiver’s career is off to a slow start, but he has flashed incredible route running ability:
also eff it here's 140 seconds of really impressive cardio pic.twitter.com/txlItmhsSt
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 20, 2024
Jonas Schaffer wrote an interesting piece on Bateman’s strengths, and even uncovered some misses from QB Lamar Jackson in the process:
"The more persistent issue, though, was Jackson’s inaccuracy. According to Pro Football Focus, his downfield throws to Bateman were considered “off target” 57.1% of the time; only five qualifying receivers had a worse rate."
Sheesh. https://t.co/zgJJ1fWXRs
— T'Challa 🐱 (@Agent_00bondjr) February 20, 2024
For now, the way I’m looking at things, the order of priority entering the offseason should be OT, OG, DT, RB CB, WR. However, if the following rumor proves true, DT could move into the top spot:
Matt Bowen of ESPN named the Bengals as the best fit for Ravens DL Justin Madubuike in free agency pic.twitter.com/7zqAABnHin
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 20, 2024
An interesting wrinkle to this year’s offseason is how GM Eric DeCosta handles a few stud free agents on the last year’s defense. For years under Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens made a habit of letting strong defensive contributors walk after showing out in their contract year. With Madubuike – not to mention Patrick Queen – fitting that description, what will DeCosta do?
I believe Baltimore must bring Madubuike back, but I’m curious to see how DeCosta approaches the decision.
On the flip side, there’s another rumor picking up steam:
Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) on Derrick Henry and the Ravens
“There’s only one place for him to go. Derrick Henry should be a Baltimore Raven because he already plays like one. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry [are] the duo we didn’t know we needed” pic.twitter.com/WhiPppEavZ
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 20, 2024
I’m torn on this one, but let me know what you think in the comments. For me, Henry would be ridiculous in Baltimore’s backfield, but will the juice be worth the squeeze?
To round things out today, here are a couple other intriguing players the Ravens are linked with:
Bleacher Report named Eagles EDGE Haason Reddick as a “dream” acquisition for the Ravens
“The Temple product may only command a second-round pick…Landing Reddick at that price point, possibly with a 2025 selection, would be a dream for the Ravens” pic.twitter.com/IxPsBsw7xi
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 20, 2024
ESPN writer Matt Bowen believes that Baltimore would be the “best fit” for free agent Chase Young. pic.twitter.com/eM2OMPWzsM
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) February 20, 2024
3 Responses
If nothing else, Mads will most likely be tagged. Doubt he’s going anywhere.
I don’t believe his girlfriend fabricated this story. Something happened and you can probably bet that Zay cut her a check to have her drop everything.
I’m all in on potentially picking up Derrick Henry. The rb market is down and his age may prevent others from giving him top $$, but he was still the no. 2 rusher in the league this year. For us he won’t need to be a bell cow. Justice will still have an important role and keaton will hopefully come back and provide an obscene change of pace from king henry’s downhill style. Important points: he gasses defenses, we almost always have better run game blocking than the titans, and he gets better as the game goes on. What are defenses supposed to even do in rpo situations with him and lamar? Imagine him him hitting the a gap between linderbaum and cleveland…