Our NFL Preview takes us from the dirty south to Charm City, where the Ravens turn their attention to what they hope will be a season of championship contention after finally putting to rest one of the most high-profile negotiations in recent memory. After months of posturing in front of the media, offers and counteroffers, Baltimore finally agreed on a mammoth new contract for their star Quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who returns to the club ready to retake the NFL by storm. In addition to welcoming the former MVP back into the fold, (General Manager) Eric DeCosta and (Head Coach) John Harbaugh have seriously overhauled the offense, hiring (new Offensive Coordinator) Todd Monken to revolutionize their passing attack with a slew of new targets added to the Receiving Corps, including (former All-Pro Wideout) Odell Beckham Jr. Will these changes keep the blackbirds competitive in the ruthless AFC? Will Jackson remain healthy enough to justify the investment that the franchise made in him? Let’s take a ride up the Chesapeake Bay and ascertain just how high these birds of prey will fly…
Breaking the Bank
Though it seemed like it lasted a lifetime, the twelve-month negotiation between Lamar Jackson and the Ravens finally came to a resolution shortly before the Draft, as the prolific Quarterback put pen to paper on a seismic five-year, $260 million contract. Of course, the main point of contention between the two sides was Jackson’s stance that the deal be completely guaranteed, while the club argued that was wholly unrealistic given that he had missed ten games over the last two seasons, including each of their final five down the stretch last Winter capped by their narrow loss in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Rather than see him leave for nothing, DeCosta and Harbaugh hit him with the non-exclusive franchise tag, meaning that he would be free to pursue a trade, with a fixed compensation being two first-round picks in exchange. In hindsight, this was a seriously shrewd move from the brain-trust, who banked on no other teams having the stomach to offer what the 2019 MVP was requesting. In a relieving compromise that was felt across the state of Maryland, Jackson (pictured above) will be receiving $185 million in total guarantees, the most in the NFL history, including $135 million guaranteed at signing. As a result, the Ravens are getting a healthy, happy, and above all else PAID Lamar Jackson, which could spell big things this season; the 26-year-old has been nothing but prolific during his five years in Baltimore, throwing for 12,209 yards and rushing for another 4,437 yards on the ground, while amassing a staggering 125 total touchdowns along the way. Oh, and all he does is win games, owning a stellar 45-16 record as the starter (.737), while leading his team to the postseason on four occasions since being drafted thirty-second overall back in 2018. Alternatively, the Ravens are only 4-9 without his services during that period of time, averaging fewer than twenty points in those outings. Simply put, this was a deal that the franchise NEEDED to get over the line, for starting over with a new Quarterback would have meant that a seriously lengthy rebuild was in the cards, which neither DeCosta, Harbaugh, or (longtime Owner) Steve Bisciotti had the stomach for.
An Offensive Revolution
Of course, one of the major reasons that Jackson ultimately came off his stance of a fully-guaranteed deal was the appeal of the changes being made on the offensive side of the football. With (former Offensive Coordinator) Greg Roman parting ways with the organization, Harbaugh sought out someone to revolutionize the attack, bringing more balance to what had been a run-heavy and oftentimes predictable playbook that relied too much of the legs of the Quarterback. This meant finally fleshing out the passing game, which is equal parts system and personnel. For the former, Harbaugh pried Todd Monken away from Georgia, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to each of the last two National Championships. Collegiate success aside, the 57-year-old has a wealth of NFL experience under his belt, including tenures calling plays for both the Buccaneers (2016-2018) and Browns (2019). His offenses ranked ninth and third in total yards in 2017 and 2018, while leading the league in passing yards in the latter. Keep in mind that he managed to achieve that feat with the turnover-prone Jameis Winston under Center, leaving it to the imagination what he could accomplish with a talent like Jackson at his disposal. As far as personnel goes, a Receiving Corps that has long been one of the weakest in the NFL received a strong shot in the arm during the offseason, for while they were embroiled in negotiations with Jackson, the Ravens added a number of pass-catchers to their ranks; (veterans) Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor were added via Free Agency, while the club utilized their first-round pick on Boston College’s Zay Flowers bringing vertical speed and athleticism to a unit that desperately needed it. Couple that with the presence of (All-Pro Tight End) Mark Andrews and Baltimore may suddenly have a top-ten group of pass-catchers on their hands. Of course, just how effective this group will be likely hinges on the health of Beckham Jr. (pictured above), who effectively sat out all of 2022 after suffering a torn ACL early in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI triumph. The 30-year-old may be far removed from the three-time Pro-Bowler he was earlier in his career, but there were signs during his brief stint in Los Angeles where he was borderline uncoverable, and it seems as if sitting out last season was more of a precaution in order to avoid a setback. It also bodes well for the club that he is on a one-year prove-it deal, meaning that Beckham will be highly motivated to earn what could be the last big contract of his career.
Roquan in Charge
With all this talk about Jackson and the offensive side of the football it is easy to forget about the defense, which has formed the identity of this franchise for the bulk of its existence in Baltimore. While most eyes were fixated on Jackson and the topic of his ongoing contract negotiation, DeCosta and Harbaugh made a brilliant midseason trade for (former Bears Linebacker) Roquan Smith. With Chicago entering a full-on rebuild, Smith wanted no part of it and refused to re-sign with the club ahead of Free Agency. As such, the Ravens got the deal done for second and fifth-round picks last Spring, and in return received a tackling machine that emerged as the clear leader of their defense. Prior to his arrival, the team struggled greatly to slow down the opposition, relinquishing an average of 22.8 points on 364.2 total yards, including 266.7 against the pass. However, after his acquisition, they yielded just 15.6 points on 283.3 total yards and 201.4 versus the pass, with the 26-year-old totaling eighty-six tackles, including seven for loss, a pair of sacks, an interception and three defended passes in nine games. Oh, and Smith (pictured above) proceeded to act as his own agent in securing a lucrative, five-year, $100 million contract with $60 million in total guarantees. As Baltimore looks to keep pace with the likes of the Chiefs, Bengals, and Bills within the hyper-competitive AFC, having a top-flight Quarterback is absolutely necessary, but then again, so is having playmakers that can slow them down, and keeping Smith in the fold was essential to ensuring that. Coupled with (Pro-Bowl Cornerback) Marlon Humphrey and (Sophomore Safety) Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens have formed the backbone of what they expect to be the next great era of defense in Baltimore…
Projected Finish:11-6
Despite playing the final five games of the regular season without Jackson, the Ravens came oh so close to advancing past the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, and with the electrifying Quarterback back in the saddle healthy and happy, and buoyed by what on paper appears to be a much-improved supporting cast, there is reason to believe that this team could be MAJOR players in 2023. We’ve seen what Jackson could do without a bevy of capable weapons in the passing game, and now we’ll get the opportunity to see how he performs in a more balanced system that should finally make better use of his strong arm. Sure, Beckham and Agholor are likely just one-year rentals, but if they are healthy and build a rapport with their Quarterback, then there could be huge plays to be had downfield, particularly if Flowers develops as expected. If Jackson avoids injury, then Baltimore could very well be one of the last teams standing come January, though it remains to be seen how they fare against the other superpowers in the AFC…
