ExtremeRavens

The Orioles no longer have the No. 1 farm system in MLB, but they perhaps have the best young talent in the game. Jackson Holliday is less than a year removed from being baseball’s top prospect, while Colton Cowser was the runner-up in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo and Cade Povich are also highly touted prospects and are likely to play a role in how the 2025 Orioles fare. Which young Orioles player do you think will break out this summer? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and tell us why and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — From how the Ravens are handling the sexual misconduct allegations against kicker Justin Tucker to general manager Eric DeCosta’s roster-building philosophy and thoughts for the 2025 season, there was no shortage of questions at last week’s NFL scouting combine, which wrapped up Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here are the five things we learned from last week: Tucker’s status remains a question The Ravens were noncommittal about Tucker’s future, saying they will base whatever decision they make on the NFL’s investigation. The last part of that sentence is the key and the determining factor in what Baltimore ultimately does. Tucker was adamant about his innocence in his latest statement last week. But DeCosta also called the voluminous amount of allegations “serious” and “concerning.” “A lot goes into that [decision],” he said. “We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We’ll make our decisions based on that.” The ongoing NFL investigation is expected to take several weeks, or possibly months, even with investigators having been in Baltimore recently to interview at least some of the massage therapists who have accused the 35-year-old kicker of inappropriate sexual behavior between 2012 and 2016, according to reporting by The Baltimore Banner. Should the league find enough evidence, Tucker could be looking at a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy. With that cloud of uncertainty lingering, it’s no surprise that the Ravens were looking at kickers at the combine. One of them was Miami’s Andy Borregales, who was one of four kickers and two punters invited to the combine, along with an additional nine kickers (four via the league’s International Pathway Program) and six punters (one through the IPP). Baltimore had previously met with Borregales at the Shrine Bowl, with the game coincidentally taking place the same day the accusations against Tucker became public, and kicking coach Randy Brown looked on closely last week. Over four years with the Hurricanes, he converted 74 of 86 field goals, including 18 of 19 last season, and 183 of 184 extra points. Borregales, whose older brother Jose also kicked at Miami before a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, also said Tucker was his favorite kicker growing up and called the chance to meet with Baltimore “surreal.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Should the NFL ban the tush push? Ravens’ John Harbaugh and others weigh in. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens to help pay for upgrades at M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker expresses empathy for accusers in new statement denying allegations Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta ‘optimistic’ about extension for LT Ronnie Stanley Baltimore Ravens | NFLPA team report cards: Ravens get high grades but concerns linger about Harbaugh The best kicker, though, perhaps was Lenny Krieg, a 22-year-old German and former soccer player who taught himself how to kick footballs via YouTube and Instagram and eventually found his way to the Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football. In Indianapolis, he was the only kicker who didn’t miss on Wednesday, converting all 14 of his attempts between 35 and 55 yards. The Ravens are the only team to never draft a kicker, and though it seems unlikely that would change this year, even with 11 selections, it perhaps would not be a big surprise if they signed an undrafted free agent after what was also Tucker’s worst season on the field. “Like every position, we’re gonna evaluate and rank the board. We’ve been doing that the last 29 years,” DeCosta said. “We’ll meet with Randy throughout the process over the coming weeks. He’ll travel all over the country looking at these guys and build the best board we can.” Baltimore will probably draft the best player available With the 27th overall pick in next month’s draft, Baltimore could go any number of directions — offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback and safety are among their needs. The draft class is deep with defensive linemen and nothing that happened last week changed anyone’s mind on that. As NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah put it, “It’s a starters draft.” The Ravens’ philosophy also hasn’t changed. “I think it really just comes down to the best player at the time,” DeCosta said. “I think if we’re picking at 27, and there’s an edge rusher and he’s the best guy, we’re probably going to pick him. “I think it’s an important position. I think we were maybe second in the league in sacks last year, but having a continuous influx of young pass rush talent, guys that can set the edge and play the run, guys that play like Ravens, physical players who can get to the quarterback, I think that’s a priority for us, for sure.” Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart has been linked to the Ravens. (Butch Dill/AP) One such player, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, has been projected by some to be chosen by Baltimore. Except he might not be there when they pick. Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 267-pound stalwart who had just 4 1/2 career sacks for the Aggies, had an outstanding combine. Notably, he finished with a 9.99 out of 10 relative athletic score, which included a 40-yard dah time of 4.59 seconds and a 40-inch vertical jump. His RAS score was also the third-best out of 1,802 defensive ends measured since 1987. Also notable was that over his final two years, he had a pass rush win rate of 13.2%. “I wasn’t a sack-chasing warrior,” said Stewart, who added that he has tried to model his game after former Carolina Panthers great Julius Peppers. “I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don’t show that.” They do matter, though, so it will be interesting to see where Stewart goes, but his profile is on the rise. South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori would be a good fit The numbers are eyebrow-raising: 6-3, 220 pounds, 4.38 40-yard dash time, 43-inch vertical, 11-6 broad jump. Emmanwori also had four interceptions (including two he returned for touchdowns), three pass breakups, 88 tackles and zero touchdowns allowed last season for the Gamecocks. If that’s not enough, he also scored a perfect 10 RAS at the combine, which ranked first out of all safeties dating to 1987. The Ravens, of course, also need a safety, with Marcus Williams expected to be released and only unproven Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane, both rookies last season, behind starters Kyle Hamilton and restricted free agent Ar’Darius Washington. ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. has Baltimore taking Emmanwori with the 27th pick. South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori said he models his game after Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. (Charlie Riedel/AP) Emmanwori had plenty to say about the Ravens, too. “I model my game after Kyle Hamilton, [Cleveland Browns safety] Grant Delpit and [Los Angeles Chargers safety] Derwin James,” he said. So what would it like to be paired with Hamilton? “That’d be scary for the league, honestly,” he said. “He and I playing together, that’s like a dream come true. He locks down one side, I lock down the other. “I don’t think you’ve ever seen a safety like me. Well, there are a lot of dudes that came through this league, but a safety like me hasn’t come through this league for a long time. My size, my speed, my ability.” Free agency looms large The next big date on the Ravens’ calendar is free agency, with next Monday marking the beginning of the legal tampering period and the official start of free agency two days later. The biggest question facing Baltimore, of course, is what it will do with Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley. DeCosta said last week that he is “optimistic” the two sides would be able to get a deal done. He met with Stanley’s agent in Indianapolis as well. Then, on Friday, the Los Angeles Rams and their free-agent-to-be left tackle, Alaric Jackson, agreed to a reported three-year, $57 million deal. So what does that mean for Stanley? On the surface, it would seem Stanley might have both feet out the door as unaffordable. The big question, however, is whether he would jump at, say, $19 million from a lousy team like the New England Patriots, who have well over $100 million in cap room and need protection for quarterback Drake Maye, or would he be content with, say, $16 million or $17 million a year from a perennial contender in the Ravens, the only NFL team he’s ever known? Baltimore is projected to have just over $12 million in salary cap space. The talks between the two sides were “productive,” according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, and there is hope on both sides a deal can be reached, so stay tuned this week or early next. “Right player, right price,” DeCosta said. “We don’t have a lot of cap room. We have [vice president of football administration] Nick Matteo working tirelessly to find some space for us. We call it couch cushion coins; just we’re trying to find 50 grand here, 75 grand there in the couch cushion. But we’re not a team that’s gonna make a lot of big splashes generally speaking.” Being able to keep Stanley would qualify as a pretty good one, though. Ravens could draft Lamar Jackson’s backup and WR depth With Lamar Jackson currently signed through the 2027 season, Baltimore does not need to draft a starting-caliber quarterback. Still, the Ravens selected Devin Leary as a project in the sixth round last year, and veteran backup Josh Johnson, who will turn 39 in May, is due to be an unrestricted free agent. Is it possible DeCosta could look to add to the quarterback room in the middle or late rounds again? “Every smart team is always looking for quarterbacks,” he said. “Whether you’re looking for a backup, practice squad quarterback, a starting quarterback, it’s hard to win without one. … Living in a world without a quarterback is a tough world to live in. We understand that. These guys drive the league.” While the 2025 class might lack top-end talent — Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are two of just a handful of “blue chip” talents, according to scouts — there are potential future starters who will be found deeper in the draft. One potential name to keep an eye on is Syracuse’s Kyle McCord. He threw the deep ball well at the scouting combine, performed solidly on out routes and has plenty of run-pass option experience. The 6-3, 218-pound New Jersey native who started his career at Ohio State is, like Leary, a bit of a project but could go on to have a solid career as a backup or potential starter with some improvements, according to analysts. Terps wide receiver Tai Felton could be a target for the Ravens in next month’s NFL draft. (Kim Hairston/Staff) As for the Ravens’ wide receivers, they are thin beyond Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, who is coming off his best season with 756 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, both career highs. After that, veteran Nelson Agholor is a free agent, as are Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty, Steven Sims and Diontae Johnson. That leaves just 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker as the only other wideout on the active roster. Maryland’s Tai Felton and Kaden Prather could be targets for Baltimore. “It’d be a blessing,” Felton, a 6-1, 183-pound long-striding receiver, said when asked what it would be like to play with Baltimore. He grew up in Ashburn, Virginia, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finished last season with 96 catches for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. “I would be very comfortable. I feel like I’ll be playing with a lot of juice being able to be able to be around my friends and family and they’ll be able to come to all the games.” Felton also scored a 9.60 RAS during the scouting combine, which ranked 138th out of 3,408 receivers since 1987. Prather, who started his college career at West Virginia before transferring to Maryland, is bigger at 6-3 1/2 and 204 pounds, but more likely an undrafted free agent target for teams. “Words can’t even explain,” he said when asked what it would be like to catch passes from Jackson. Both players met with the Ravens and both are expected to attend their local pro day. “I think it’s a pretty good class draft-wise, free agency-wise as well,” DeCosta said of the wide receiver group. “I’m very happy to see the development that our young receivers made the last couple of years. … We feel like there is a good opportunity for us to find some talent, either through free agency or the draft in every round, and at every price point.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — It was late November, the Ravens were sitting at 7-4, facing fourth-and-1 from their own 16-yard line and trailing the Los Angeles Chargers 10-7 with two minutes remaining in the first half of a critical AFC showdown at SoFi Stadium. Football norms, along with analytics, said to punt. Instead, tight end Mark Andrews lined up under center and plowed ahead, aided by 6-foot-3, 247-pound running back Derrick Henry shoving “the [crap]” out of him from behind to help pick up a first down that led to an eventual touchdown and a lead that Baltimore never relinquished. It was their own version of the Eagles’ “tush push” with quarterback Jalen Hurts, a play (along with perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL) that helped propel Philadelphia to a Super Bowl title this past season. Over the past three years, the Eagles and Buffalo Bills have combined to run 163 tush push plays, according to ESPN research, which is more than the league’s other 30 teams combined. They were also highly successful, with the two teams combining for a first down or touchdown on 87% of them. Earlier this week, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said that one team had issued a proposal to ban the play for the 2025 season, and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Tuesday confirmed that it was Green Bay. Unsurprisingly, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who utilized Andrews in the same role on several occasions, is not in favor of eliminating the play from the game, however. “You have to take all of those rules holistically,” he said this week at the NFL scouting combine. “What effect does one rule change have on the next thing? So, if you take out the ‘tush push,’ then you’re going to take out all pushing. A guy can’t be downfield, and the offensive linemen can’t come running in and push the ball carrier 5 more yards. You can’t take one out but not the other. They are the same, just like you’re not supposed to be able to grab a running back and pull him into the end zone. That hasn’t been officiated. They’ve allowed that to happen. That’s already against the rules. How are you going to officiate that? “So, if we want to say that you can’t help push a [running] back, then you can take out the ‘tush push.’ If you’re going to say that’s still allowed, then, in my opinion, can’t take out the ‘tush push.’ So, I’m good with it. I’m OK with the ‘tush push,’ yes.” Not everyone feels the same, most notably the Packers, who lost to the Eagles in Week 1 then again in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season. After the latter, Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy called the play “bad for the game” on the team’s website and wrote that there is “no skill” involved in it. This week, Gutekunst downplayed it somewhat. “I know we’re not very successful against it,” he said. “I know that. But to be honest, I have not put much thought into it. It’s been around for a while. We’ve used it in different fashions with our tight end, so, again, I think there will be a lot of discussions about it. I’ve kind of got to look at the, some of the information as far as injury rates, things like that to see. But we’ll see.” Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris was more firm, though, saying this week that he thinks it should be banned. “I’ve never been a fan,” Morris said. “Never understood why it was allowed. I definitely will be one of the guys voting against it.” On Wednesday, though, the proposal likely suffered a big blow: The league announced that its data showed there had been zero injuries suffered during the play, unlike the hip-drop tackle, which was outlawed during last offseason. Injury was at the forefront of Bills coach Sean McDermott’s perhaps surprising thoughts on the play, which he said he does not like, though he stopped short of saying it should be done away with. “The way that the techniques that are used with the play, to me, have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players,” McDermott said on Monday. “You have to go back through, in fairness, to the injury data on the play, but I just think the optics of it I’m not in love with.” Though the Bills have been highly successful with quarterback Josh Allen running the play, that was not the case in this season’s AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. All four times Allen attempted it against Kansas City he was stopped. That included on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter of what ended up being a 32-29 Buffalo loss. “I understand how it can go both ways,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I think it takes certain players to be able to do that, and that’s not an easy thing for the center. “Now there are other things you have to look at. You got to look at the injuries that take place, or, you know, whatever the other deals are that they evaluate on it. So I don’t have all that information, but, I mean, it’s a heck of a play, I know that.” Eagles coach Nick Siranni, meanwhile, called support to outlaw it “insulting.” “We work really, really hard and our guys are talented at this play,” he said. “We work really hard at it and you see it throughout the league. I mean we saw it in the championship games that a team failed at it and ultimately didn’t end up winning the game because of it. “It’s a skill that our team has because of the players that we have, the, the way the coaches coach it again there’s just so much time put into it. The fact that it’s a successful play for the Eagles and people want to take that away, I think is a little unfair.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens to help pay for upgrades at M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker expresses empathy for accusers in new statement denying allegations Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta ‘optimistic’ about extension for LT Ronnie Stanley Baltimore Ravens | NFLPA team report cards: Ravens get high grades but concerns linger about Harbaugh Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clarify zero-tolerance policy amid Justin Tucker allegations: ‘There are no absolutes’ Former Pittsburgh Steeler and current ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark took a similar stance. “How soft do you have to be? Oh we can’t stop it, our defensive tackles are tough enough our linebackers get hurt,” he said on the network this week. “Bow your neck. Somebody get physical and stop the play. “It’s like everything in else in sports, if you don’t have the personnel to do it, you don’t do it.” That has been a popular sentiment among several coaches and general managers. “When a team gets something they’re good at, you gotta learn how to stop it,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “I don’t think the first thing you do is take it out of the ball game.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens plan to carry a significant financial burden for improvements to M&T Bank Stadium. The team will help cover costs for upgrades to the stadium in 2025 and 2026 under a recent memorandum with Maryland Stadium Authority that was approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works. The state allocated $434 million for the upgrades, but a “confluence of several factors, including increased construction costs, design modifications, and changes to the project schedules (moving up the desired completion date of certain projects) has resulted in a funding shortage of $55 million over and above what is available from the 2023 Bonds,” the board said in their meeting agenda published Wednesday. In order to maintain the current schedule of the projects, the Ravens plan to allocate $20 million in team funds without any reimbursement from the Maryland Stadium Authority. An additional $35 million in team funds will be allocated with the expectation the state will provide some reimbursement from bonds that will be issued next year, the Board of Public Works reported. Officials at the Maryland Stadium Authority could not be reached for comment. In 2022, state law permitted the stadium authority to borrow up to $1.2 billion in bonds at one time to improve M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards — $600 million for each. Some upgrades have already been completed at M&T Bank Stadium, including the new Gatehouse & Roof Deck, which has two levels for fans to attend before, during and after every home game. The club level has also been upgraded, 136 new seats have been installed on the field and 10 exclusive suites have replaced the press box, which was relocated to the southeast corner of the stadium. The latest deal will not increase the state’s overall contribution beyond the $600 million because it’s part of the financing from original funds that came with the renewal of the Ravens’ lease in 2023. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

In a new statement denying allegations of inappropriate behavior at Baltimore-area massage parlors, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker said he’s devastated that “anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected and valued as a professional, but more importantly as a person.” “To anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry,” Tucker continued. “I want you to know I am committed to ensuring that everyone I interact with continues to feel that I respect them and care about them as a human being.” Tucker’s statement first appeared Wednesday on the website OutKick. “I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider,” Tucker said, echoing the statement he issued last month. The Baltimore Banner first reported that six massage therapists from five spas around the Baltimore area accused the 35-year-old Ravens kicker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments” between 2012 and 2016. Since then, 10 more massage therapists have come forward with similar accusations, according to The Banner. One of the massage therapists spoke to The Sun about how Tucker had behaved inappropriately during massage sessions on separate occasions at two Baltimore businesses. Attorneys Michael Belsky and Catherine Dickinson, who represent several of Tucker’s accusers, said in a statement Thursday: “The allegations in this matter remain consistent and unchanged, and Mr. Tucker’s statements do not alter that in any meaningful way.” Tucker’s wife, Amanda, also released her first statement to OutKick, saying, “The false allegations against Justin have caused so much hurt to our family. I believe my husband, and I love and support him fully.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clarify zero-tolerance policy amid Justin Tucker allegations: ‘There are no absolutes’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens brass call Justin Tucker allegations ‘concerning’: ‘You don’t want to read about it’ Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Baltimore Ravens | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ The NFL is investigating the allegations against Tucker. Earlier this week, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation for the first time, saying they will wait for the league’s inquiry to play out before deciding on Tucker’s future with the team. “The allegations are serious [and] concerning,” DeCosta said. “The amount of allegations are serious and concerning.” In laying out Tucker’s response to the allegations, his attorney, Joe Terry of Washington-based Williams & Connolly, noted that the Ravens kicker was repeatedly welcomed at several high-end massage parlors after the reported dates of his alleged misconduct at those sites. Terry noted that after Tucker signed a $16.8 million contract extension and bought a house outside Baltimore in 2016, he switched to working with massage therapists at his home. In his latest statement, Tucker reiterated his respect for massage professionals, echoing a statement he issued to The Baltimore Sun earlier this month. “Physical therapy and massage therapy are a large part of why I’ve been consistently healthy and available during the football season,” he said. “In fact, both my wife and I continue to count so many of those professionals as our friends. I absolutely respect the massage therapy profession and more so the individuals who work as massage therapists.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that he is meeting with Ronnie Stanley’s agent at this week’s NFL scouting combine and that he is “optimistic” that Baltimore can re-sign the team’s top pending free agent to a contract extension. The league’s legal tampering period begins March 10, with free agency officially opening two days later. Stanley, who will turn 31 next month, is coming off a Pro Bowl season and would be the top left tackle and one of the top overall free agents should he hit the open market. That could price him out of Baltimore, with Pro Football Focus projecting a two-year deal worth $20 million per season and the Ravens projected by Over The Cap to have only about $12.7 million in salary cap space. But DeCosta is confident the sides can come to an agreement that would keep Stanley in Charm City. There’s reason for that to be the case, too, given a familiarity and comfort between the sides, what other teams are willing to offer an aging tackle who has a long injury history, and what is expected to be a significant increase in the league’s salary cap for 2025. “You never want to say 100%,” DeCosta said Tuesday. “But I feel good that we’ll have a good, healthy debate [and] a good process.” Being able to keep Stanley would at least provide stability and continuity for an offensive line that had three new starters last season. A former All-Pro and the sixth overall draft pick out of Notre Dame by the Ravens in 2016, Stanley also bounced back last season in a prove-it year in which he took a $7.5 million pay cut as part of a contract restructure. After a series of injuries throughout his career, he didn’t miss a game in 2024, logged a career-high 1,089 snaps and allowed just two sacks, per PFF. Stanley also ranked 12th among tackles in ESPN’s pass block win rate and 15th in PFF’s pass-blocking grade at the position. He is not the Ravens’ only priority this offseason, however. Other notable unrestricted free agents include versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, who started at left guard last season, as well as fullback/tight end Pat Ricard and cornerback Brandon Stephens. Safety Ar’Darius Washington is also a restricted free agent, while Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum are entering the final years of their rookie contracts and eligible for extensions. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFLPA team report cards: Ravens get high grades but concerns linger about Harbaugh Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clarify zero-tolerance policy amid Justin Tucker allegations: ‘There are no absolutes’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens brass call Justin Tucker allegations ‘concerning’: ‘You don’t want to read about it’ Baltimore Ravens | NFL scouting combine preview: What Ravens fans need to know Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Orioles owner David Rubenstein is in favor of a salary cap. Should MLB have one? Baltimore does have other options at left tackle should it fail to come to a deal with Stanley, though. Roger Rosengarten, who started 14 games at right tackle as a rookie last season and performed well, could move to the left side if need be, although he played sparingly at left tackle in college and that would leave a void on the right side. There is also free agency and the draft, though the former consists of limited and equally pricey options. “That would be one of the options we could go to,” coach John Harbaugh said of potentially moving Rosengarten to left tackle. “It would depend on the draft and different things like that and free agency. “I think we’ll probably keep Ronnie, hopeful that we will.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — A year after John Harbaugh got high marks in the annual NFL Players Association team report cards, the Ravens coach took a step backward on this year’s survey. Harbaugh, who last year got a B-plus and ranked 20th among the league’s 32 coaches after helping guide Baltimore to the NFL’s best record (13-4) and the AFC championship game, was given a grade of B and slipped to 28th in this year’s report, which was released Wednesday. This season, the Ravens won one fewer game and rallied to win the AFC North but fell to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs. The survey, which was conducted among 1,695 players across the league, noted that only 75% of Ravens players felt that Harbaugh is efficient with his time, which ranked 28th. Players also said that he is “moderately receptive” to feedback from the locker room on the team’s needs, which ranked 25th among coaches in the NFL. Still, Baltimore took a step forward, ranking 13th overall compared with 15th a year ago. Players “appreciate the strong leadership from the owner, general manager, and head coach,” according to the survey, which also noted suggested improvements from players that include larger, more functional lockers, upgraded hot and cold tubs, and better communication with their families throughout the season. The Miami Dolphins, meanwhile, finished with the highest overall mark in the league, followed by the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers. The Arizona Cardinals were the lowest-graded team, with the New England Patriots (31st), Cleveland Browns (30th), New York Jets (29th) and Pittsburgh Steelers (28th) rounding out the bottom five. The biggest jump was made by the Chargers, who climbed from 30th overall to fifth in the first year under coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager and former Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz. As for the Ravens, the category they were rated the highest in was ownership, with a mark of an A. “Owner Steve Bisciotti’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 9.28 out of 10 from the Ravens players, a ranking of 9 out of 32 owners in the league,” the survey said. “Players feel Bisciotti significantly contributes to a positive team culture, a rank of 8 out of 32.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clarify zero-tolerance policy amid Justin Tucker allegations: ‘There are no absolutes’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens brass call Justin Tucker allegations ‘concerning’: ‘You don’t want to read about it’ Baltimore Ravens | NFL scouting combine preview: What Ravens fans need to know Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Orioles owner David Rubenstein is in favor of a salary cap. Should MLB have one? Baltimore Ravens | NFL scouting combine preview: Ravens face plenty of questions as free agency, draft near It also said that Bisciotti is “extremely committed” to building a competitive team, ranking ninth among all teams. Team travel also graded highly (A-minus). They rank seventh among teams as 95% of Ravens players said that they feel they have a comfortable amount of personal space on team flights. Players added that the team’s travel schedule is only “somewhat efficient,” which ranked 14th. The survey also said older players appreciate that their head coach allows them to stay at home before home games instead of sleeping at the team hotel. That was a big improvement from last year when the Ravens got a C-minus for team travel and were ranked 21st. Baltimore has also continued to make strides with its strength coaches. Two years after Ravens strength coaches got a failing grade and were ranked worst in the NFL, they took another step forward from last year’s grade of B for strength coaches and B-minus for the weight room. This year, both were given marks of B-plus. According to the survey, 91% of players said that they get an individualized training plan from their strength coaching staff, ranking the team 22nd. Players also said that they feel that the strength coaches “moderately contribute” to their overall success and ranked 20th. Players also said that the weight room equipment quality is “good” overall and that they have “adequate” space in the weight room. The training staff and training room, meanwhile, both got grades of B-minus as 87% of players said that they receive enough one-on-one training treatment (18th). But they also said that the training staff only “slightly contributes” to their overall success (28th). The locker room also got a mark of B-minus, with 68% of players feeling that they have enough room in their individual lockers (26th), while 87% believe that the overall locker room size is adequate (18th). Ravens players gave owner Steve Bisciotti high marks in this year’s NFLPA team report card. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The team’s food/dining area and nutritionist/dietician, meanwhile, both were graded with a B. Less flattering was the Ravens’ C-plus grade for the treatment of families. The survey noted players’ desire for better, more direct communication between the team and their families. Players also rated the postgame family area a 7.67 out of 10 (14th) and said that the team organizes several family events a year (21st). The Ravens also provide daycare during home games and a family room during home games, the survey said. “The feedback is something we always welcome,” team president Sashi Brown said during the NFL owners meetings last March following last year’s survey results. “Steve is very clear: We want to have the best football operation in the NFL.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — How the Ravens handle sexual misconduct allegations against kicker Justin Tucker remains to be seen, as general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh both said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine that they will let the league’s investigation play out before making any determinations. But what has become clearer is Baltimore’s “zero-tolerance” policy. Simply put, there isn’t one. The Ravens stated that they do not have a defined, written zero-tolerance policy and added that each situation stands on its own and that actions are determined once the facts are known. In 2022, Harbaugh was asked about Deshaun Watson and the sexual misconduct allegations the Cleveland Browns quarterback was facing from more than 20 massage therapists at the time. “Basically, we’re kind of zero tolerance,” he said at the time. “You have to know the truth, you have to try to understand the circumstances, but we’ve stayed away from that particular situation — when we draft players, when we sign them as free agents.” Asked on Tuesday if he regretted saying the organization has a zero-tolerance policy, he said, “absolutely not” and also responded to how the notion of such a policy would apply to Tucker. “That’s to be determined,” he said. “That’s something we have to find out. That’s what the review is for — to gain an understanding of what we’re even talking about. You can’t take an action without understanding. You have to get the facts and understand what happened as best you can. “Then, you take the situation for what it is, but the principle is the same. How you define that principle, that term a little bit and how … maybe we’ll come out and make a definition of that at some point in time. That’s something that would be interesting to me. I think everybody understands the idea there, and let’s see where the review takes us.” The mention of the Ravens and a zero-tolerance policy traces back more than a decade. After the 2014 release of running back Ray Rice after a video emerged of him punching his then-fiancee and future wife in the face, team owner Steve Bisciotti was asked if the Ravens would have zero tolerance for domestic violence going forward. He said, “Some things are going to change. I give you my word. I think that’s pretty safe [to say].” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens brass call Justin Tucker allegations ‘concerning’: ‘You don’t want to read about it’ Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Baltimore Ravens | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ Baltimore Ravens | If the Ravens were to move on from Justin Tucker, how might they replace him? In 2015, during the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, then-team president Dick Cass said specifically that Baltimore did not have a zero-tolerance policy, even after the release of three players that offseason following their arrests. “We have to look at each case individually,” Cass told ESPN.com then. “We look at a number of factors and make a decision based on those factors. It’s not a zero-tolerance policy at all. We’re still going to be willing to take second chances on people if they deserve it. I think it’s a mischaracterization to say it’s a zero-tolerance policy.” Then, during last year’s police investigation into Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers over an alleged domestic violence incident that was later suspended without any criminal charges, current team president Sashi Brown was asked about the team’s “zero-tolerance” policy. “No change in terms of our philosophy and our approach,” Brown said in part during the league’s owners meeting in Orlando, Florida. “Very hard circumstances, always complicated for us, for the league that investigates it, for law enforcement.” With the emergence of the allegations against Tucker, which include at least 16 massage therapists from eight Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers, The Baltimore Banner reported, questions about the so-called policy have cropped up again. “I think the biggest thing that we have to do is look at every single case differently,” DeCosta said. “There are no absolutes. “I think in this case, we’re still awaiting as much information as possible. We’re fortunate the league has come down to Baltimore. I’ve met with the league and I believe the league is meeting with other people in Baltimore as well. We’ll wait for the details of that investigation as well and make a decision based on that.” When DeCosta was asked to explain the specifics of what the Ravens’ zero-tolerance policy is, he further clarified the organization’s stance. Asked on Tuesday if he regretted saying the organization has a zero-tolerance policy, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, “absolutely not.” (Stacy Revere/Getty) “I really can’t [define it] because we look at every case differently, and the facts in every single case,” he said. “We do this for a living. We study players, we look at background, we consider all these different things. Every case is entirely different, different facts, different situations.” How the Ravens handle Tucker then will largely be determined by what the league finds, DeCosta said, and it’s a process that is expected to take several weeks. NFL investigators were in Baltimore last week interviewing massage therapists who have accused Tucker of misconduct, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. “A lot goes into that,” DeCosta said when asked if Baltimore could cut ties with the 35-year-old kicker and the team’s longest-tenured player depending on what comes out of the investigation. “The allegations are serious [and] concerning. The amount of allegations are serious and concerning. I think we are fortunate that the league is doing an investigation. “We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can, and we’ll make our decisions based on that.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called the sexual misconduct allegations against Justin Tucker — and the volume of them — “serious” and “concerning” Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine and said that the organization will wait for the league’s investigation to play out before deciding if he will remain the team’s kicker. “We’re fortunate that the league is doing an investigation,” DeCosta said. “We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We’ll make our decisions based on that.” It was the first time DeCosta spoke with reporters since The Baltimore Banner first reported last month that six massage therapists from five spas around the Baltimore area accused the 35-year-old Tucker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments” between 2012 and 2016. Since then, 10 more massage therapists have come forward with similar accusations, according to The Banner. Tucker, 35, has denied the allegations. What fate Baltimore’s longest-tenured player faces from the NFL’s investigation remains to be seen. Investigators have met with Ravens officials, DeCosta said, and were in Baltimore last week to interview Tucker’s accusers. A spokesperson from the NFL previously said the league does not provide details or updates on the review process while investigations are ongoing and that position has not changed, though the investigation is expected to take several weeks. DeCosta also said the Ravens first became aware of the allegations when The Banner was preparing its initial story on Tucker and the first six accusers. He also expounded on the team’s “zero tolerance” policy and what role if any it could play in Tucker’s future with the team. “I think the biggest thing that we have to do is look at every single case differently,” DeCosta said. “There are no absolutes. “I think in this case, we’re still awaiting as much information as possible. We’re fortunate the league has come down to Baltimore. I’ve met with the league and I believe the league is meeting with other people in Baltimore as well. We’ll wait for the details of that investigation as well and make a decision based on that.” Asked to explain the specifics of what the Ravens’ “zero tolerance” policy is, he further clarified the organization’s stance. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Baltimore Ravens | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ Baltimore Ravens | If the Ravens were to move on from Justin Tucker, how might they replace him? “I really can’t because we look at every case differently, and the facts in every single case,” he said. “We do this for a living. We study players, we look at background, we consider all these different things. Every case is entirely different, different facts, different situations.” No criminal or civil actions have been filed against Tucker, according to Maryland case search, It’s also unclear what punishment, if any, Tucker could face, though under the league’s personal conduct policy, players can face a six-game suspension without pay for violations ranging from assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault. Three years ago, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was initially suspended for six games before the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson settled nearly two dozen civil lawsuits. What action the Ravens decide to take if Tucker faces a suspension from the league is unknown, but DeCosta did add that he met with Tucker following the initial wave of allegations. “I’m going to keep those comments to myself and personal conversations with Justin is probably the smart thing to do,” he said. “But at that point, we did meet and that’s all I’m going to say about that.” If Baltimore does decide to move on from him, though, it seems likely that would not happen until at least the start of the new league year on March 12. By doing so, the Ravens would save just over $4 million in salary cap space and can spread his $7.5 million in dead money over each of the next two years. Tucker is coming off the worst season of his career, converting on just 73.3% of his field goal attempts. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL cognoscenti is in the Hoosier State this week, where 329 college players have been invited to partake in the league’s annual scouting combine ahead of April’s draft. Players will be put through tests physical and mental, interview with their prospective future employers and take questions from the media. Coaches, scouts, front office personnel and agents will be buzzing about as well, in Lucas Oil Stadium and the adjacent Indiana Convention Center. In short, this will be the center of the NFL universe through Sunday. For the Ravens, general manager Eric DeCosta is scheduled to meet with the media on Tuesday at 11 a.m., while coach John Harbaugh’s news conference is scheduled for Tuesday at 1 p.m. There will be no shortage of questions for both — from free agency and the draft to those about kicker Justin Tucker. It will be the first time that DeCosta and Harbaugh have spoken since at least 16 massage therapists from several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers accused Tucker of sexual misconduct between 2012 and 2016, according to The Baltimore Banner. Here’s everything you need to know about the week ahead: Schedule of events and TV info (NFL Network) Thursday: Defensive linemen, linebackers (3-8 p.m.) Friday: Defensive backs, tight ends (3-9 p.m.) Saturday: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs (1-9 p.m.) Sunday: Offensive linemen (1-5 p.m.) Maryland players to watch There are five players from Maryland and one from Navy here this week: Terps wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather; defensive back Dante Trader Jr.; defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Tommy Akingbesote; and Midshipmen safety Rayuan Lane III. Of that group, Felton, Prather and Phillips are the most likely to get drafted as possible Day 2 or Day 3 selections, according to draft experts. “The Maryland guys, talking about those two wide receivers with Felton, productive, can play inside-outside. He can wall guys off in traffic, he can build speed, he’s fearless working in the middle of the field. He can go up and get it and high point the football,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said last week. “I thought he played a little bit bigger than his size. “Prather has that size outside, wins on a lot of shallow crossers, quick screens. Only had one drop. I just didn’t know if he really had that second gear, so I’m anxious to see him run.” Felton was also a captain, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finished last season with 96 catches for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. Terps wide receiver Tai Felton, right, is expected to be selected in this year’s NFL draft. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Prather, who began his college career at West Virginia before spending the past two years in College Park, had 56 catches for 624 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 and was a Shrine Bowl invitee. Phillips, meanwhile, led all Terps defensive linemen with 17 solo tackles last year and finished with 29 total. Akingbesote, a Largo native, had 32 total tackles, including five for loss, a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery. Trader, a McDonogh graduate, had 59 tackles, five passes defended and one interception last season. Lane III, who was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection at safety last season, was also a first-team All-American on special teams. The Jessup native and Gilman graduate finished his career with 244 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 1 1/2 sacks, seven interceptions (including two he returned for touchdowns), 21 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Possible Ravens targets to watch With Baltimore having 11 draft picks and nearly 20 unrestricted free agents, the needs are aplenty for an organization with Super Bowl expectations and a roster that while loaded with talent lacks depth in some key areas. Most notable among them are offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback and safety. Offensive linemen — Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr., North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, Ohio State’s Josh Simmons: Conerly’s draft stock shot way up after a dominant performance against Penn State edge rusher and potential No. 1 overall pick Abdul Carter in the Big Ten championship game after what was a slow start to his season. Simmons, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October, could start immediately, Jeremiah said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta discusses Justin Tucker allegations at NFL scouting combine Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Orioles owner David Rubenstein is in favor of a salary cap. Should MLB have one? Baltimore Ravens | NFL scouting combine preview: Ravens face plenty of questions as free agency, draft near Baltimore Ravens | Ravens announce more additions to coach John Harbaugh’s staff Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Edge rushers — Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, Marshall’s Mike Green, Tennessee’s James Pearce: With Kyle Van Noy about to turn 34 and Odafe Oweh coming off a career-high 10 sacks and not much else in terms of pass rushers, the Ravens need to find a pass rusher. It’s a deep class, according to draftniks, but Stewart or Pearce could be first-round possibilities. Both are long and athletic and look the part. Pearce was also productive with 17 1/2 sacks over his final two seasons at Tennessee. Green, who is more polished, would probably require Baltimore to trade up in the first round. Cornerbacks — East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr., Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, Kansas State’s Jacob Parish: A torn ACL ended Revel Jr.’s season early, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 NFL season. He’s also tall and lean (6-foot-3, 193 pounds), fast and physical. The Ravens hit with cornerback Nate Wiggins, who was one of the best cornerbacks in the league over the second half of the season, in the first round last year and could go that route again with Brandon Stephens set to hit free agency and Marlon Humphrey coming off an All-Pro season in the slot. If Baltimore waits, Amos and Paris could be Day 2 possibilities. Safeties — South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori, Georgia’s Malaki Starks, Penn State’s Jaylen Reed If Emmanwori is available when the Ravens pick near the end of the first round, Jeremiah said he would turn the card in for him. “He’s big. He’s physical,” he said. “Plays more near the line of scrimmage. He makes a lot of plays buzzing underneath the ball, and he’s a physical, firm tackler and an aggressive, aggressive dude. I would be excited about that at the end of the first round.” That could also allow Kyle Hamilton to play more on the back end, as he did last season when doing so helped turn around Baltimore’s shaky pass defense. Reed, meanwhile, projects more as a Day 2 pick. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Should Major League Baseball have a salary cap? Last month, Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he prefers a salary cap structure to improve competitive balance across the sport. He reiterated that opinion last week in Sarasota, Florida. MLB doesn’t have a salary cap like the NFL, NBA and NHL, though MLB does have what some consider to be a soft cap with the competitive balance tax threshold, which penalizes teams with payrolls over a predetermined amount. What do you think? After you vote, leave a comment and tell us why and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Ravens decision-makers will descend upon Indianapolis this week. That’s where the annual NFL scouting combine is taking place and where general manager Eric DeCosta, coach John Harbaugh and other front office and coaching personnel will get their most extensive look yet at what will ultimately become Baltimore’s 2025 rookie class. The 329 players who were invited to this year’s combine will be poked, prodded and tested, physically and mentally, by teams across the league. It’s also where DeCosta and Harbaugh will face questions for the first time about kicker Justin Tucker, who has been accused by at least 16 massage therapists from eight spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area of sexual misconduct between 2012 and 2016, according to The Baltimore Banner. Six of the therapists from five high-end spas accused Tucker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments,” The Banner reported last month. Three more came forward following the initial report and accused Tucker of similar behavior in interviews with The Baltimore Sun and The Banner, and an additional seven massage therapists shared similar accounts with The Banner earlier this month. Investigators from the NFL were in Baltimore last week interviewing massage therapists who have accused Tucker of misconduct. Tucker, 35, has denied the allegations. DeCosta and Harbaugh are each scheduled to hold news conferences on Tuesday. As for the rest of Baltimore’s roster, several holes need to be addressed and some of them will be filled via the draft. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is the Ravens’ most significant of their 19 unrestricted free agents, and there are serious doubts as to whether they will be able to retain his services. Stanley, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season and will turn 31 next month, is expected to be one of the top players available when free agency opens on March 12 and could be prohibitively expensive for a team that is tight on salary cap space. Baltimore also has other free agent decisions on its roster to consider, including versatile left guard Patrick Mekari, All-Pro fullback/tight end Pat Ricard, linebacker Malik Harrison, maligned cornerback Brandon Stephens and veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor, as well as restricted free agent and safety Ar’Darius Washington. “Not as many tough decisions this year — looking at it — which I’m thankful for, but obviously, as we look out, we’ll have some tough decisions after next season,” DeCosta said at last month’s end-of-season news conference. They will also be shaped, at least in part, by the present. Most notably, Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum are set to enter the final year of their rookie deals and thus are extension-eligible. Veteran tight end and Lamar Jackson security blanket Mark Andrews is also set to enter the final year of his contract, while fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are also extension-eligible and in the last year of their rookie contracts. And outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who is coming off a career-high 10 sacks, is slated to be a free agent after next season and thus could be in line for an extension after Baltimore picked up his fifth-year option last offseason. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens announce more additions to coach John Harbaugh’s staff Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Baltimore Ravens | Terrell Suggs pleads guilty to disorderly conduct; former Raven is ‘relieved’ Baltimore Ravens | A look at which Ravens could be released, traded or have their contracts reworked Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Could the team trade for a pass rusher? | COMMENTARY Having 11 picks, which includes four compensatory selections, in April’s draft will help. While Baltimore won’t pick in the first round until No. 27, the expectation is to get someone who will be a significant contributor immediately. That was the case last year when the Ravens drafted cornerback Nate Wiggins 30th overall. It was, too, for the Super Bowl champion Eagles, whose first two picks, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (22nd overall) and defensive back Cooper DeJean (40th), were key cogs in helping turn Philadelphia into perhaps the best defense in the NFL en route to a championship. As for what direction Baltimore will go, the needs are myriad — offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback, safety and wide receiver, to name a few. “One of the things you look at with the Ravens is because they amass all these picks and have played the comp [pick] game better than anybody else in the NFL, is you have options,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on a pre-combine conference call. “I think there’s a lot of depth along the defensive front, not just edge rushers, but D-tackles. If they want to be patient, I think one comes to them.” Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft has the Ravens taking Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft has the Ravens taking Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart, left, in the first round. (Butch Dill/AP) At 6-foot-5 and 281 pounds, Stewart looks like a potential game wrecker. Jeremiah called him big and explosive and said he “just feels like a Raven to me,” while Stewart’s NFL.com draft profile notes his quick first step, disruptiveness but a lack of polish in his moves. To that last point, he managed just 4 1/2 sacks in 37 games over three seasons for the Aggies. Another option could be the offensive line, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding starters Stanley and Mekari. Baltimore made moves to get younger up front last year and it paid off with second-round pick Roger Rosengarten settling in at right tackle, a position he could vacate if Stanley leaves in free agency and the Ravens decide to shift him to the left side. But, Jeremiah said, the offensive tackle class is not deep, so perhaps the Ravens could use a package of picks to move up in the first round, though that’s something they have rarely done. Still, it’s something they might consider. “If you’re picking 28th or 30th, you might only have 15 or 20 guys that you really want,” DeCosta said last offseason. Baltimore has only traded up in the first round on draft day five times. The most recent occasion was in 2018 when they traded down twice to select tight end Hayden Hurst 25th overall before trading back into the first round to take Jackson 32nd. Given the aforementioned depth at edge rusher and defensive line, could Baltimore trade up on the first day of the draft for an offensive lineman? There are some possibilities, including Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons. Conerly, at 6-4 and 315 pounds, has the build, moves well and improved significantly as his final season at Oregon wore on. Notably, he shut down Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter — the potential No. 1 overall pick — in the Big Ten championship game. Simmons, meanwhile, is almost identical in size (6-5, 310) and has good athleticism but is coming off a season-ending knee injury that he suffered in mid-October, though Jeremiah doesn’t view that as a problem. “He’s ready to go,” he said. “He could start right away.” The Ravens could target Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the 27th pick in the NFL draft. (Jay LaPrete/AP) And if Stanley sticks around Baltimore? The Ravens could still look to the offensive line in the first round. Or, perhaps they would consider drafting a cornerback with their first-round pick for a second straight year with the possibility of starting Wiggins on one side, their selection on the other and utilizing Marlon Humphrey, an All-Pro in the slot last season, on the inside again. In that case, the Ravens could go with East Carolina corner Shavon Revel Jr., whom ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has them taking in his mock draft. Rated as the 22nd best overall prospect by Kiper, he would provide the kind of value DeCosta likes, and at 6-1 and 188 pounds, he’s long, fast and physical, which suits the Ravens’ mold. But again, there is good depth at the position, Jeremiah said, adding that Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, Kansas State’s Jacob Parish or Louisville’s Quincy Riley could be Day 2 possibilities. Whatever direction Baltimore goes, though, remains to be seen. This week will be about the Ravens getting their most thorough look at players yet. With 11 draft picks, there’s potential for a good haul. “It’s a starter’s draft is how I would phrase it,” Jeremiah said. “Going through and watching all these guys for the combine and talking to a bunch of people around the league, OK, some positions maybe don’t have that superstar that we have had in years past, but we do have a boatload of starters, particularly the defensive line. A bunch of really, really good players.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The NFL investigation into Justin Tucker’s alleged sexual misconduct is ongoing, and so is the football side of the operation for the Ravens. On Friday, the team announced the addition of several new hires to coach John Harbaugh’s staff, a few of which had not been previously announced. In all, Harbaugh has added six coaches amid a few who weren’t brought back this offseason. The latest hires include defensive backs coach Donald D’Alesio, assistant linebackers coach Matt Pees, assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine Sr. and assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Hartman. Running backs coach Willie Taggart was also given an assistant head coach title. The Ravens also previously announced the addition of senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano and inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci. D’Alesio comes to Baltimore from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the past three seasons as their safeties coach after one season as a defensive assistant. He replaces Doug Mallory, who spent one year with Baltimore before being let go. Before coaching, D’Alesio played safety at Youngstown State, where he later spent five seasons in a variety of roles, including as defensive coordinator in 2019 before serving as a defensive analyst for LSU in 2020. Levine, meanwhile, should be a familiar face for Ravens fans. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL investigators in Baltimore interviewing Justin Tucker accusers Baltimore Ravens | Terrell Suggs pleads guilty to disorderly conduct; former Raven is ‘relieved’ Baltimore Ravens | A look at which Ravens could be released, traded or have their contracts reworked Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Could the team trade for a pass rusher? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Van Noy discusses future with Ravens: ‘My want to is still there’ The former safety spent 10 seasons with Baltimore from 2012 to 2021 and retired as the franchise leader in special teams tackles. In 2023, he was hired by the Titans as a special teams assistant and spent two seasons in Tennessee. Pees joins the Ravens after spending last season as a defensive analyst for the Chicago Bears. Before that, he was a defensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons and a quality control coach with the Titans. He coached with his father, Dean Pees, in both Tennessee and Atlanta and joins him in Baltimore, where Dean remains on the staff in a consulting role after spending last season as a senior advisor on defense. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Investigators from the NFL have been in Baltimore this week interviewing massage therapists who have accused Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of sexual misconduct, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Friday. A spokesperson from the NFL declined to comment, saying only that the league does not provide details or updates on the review process while investigations are ongoing. A spokesperson for the Ravens referred back to the team’s original Jan. 30 statement in which they said they take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation. Michael Belsky, an attorney representing some of the accusers, also declined to comment. So far, 16 massage therapists from eight spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area have accused Tucker of sexual misconduct between 2012 and 2016. Six of the therapists from five high-end spas accused Tucker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments,” The Baltimore Banner reported last month. Three more came forward following the initial report and accused Tucker of similar behavior in interviews with The Baltimore Sun and The Banner, and an additional seven massage therapists shared similar accounts with The Banner last week. Tucker, 35, has denied the allegations. No criminal or civil actions have been filed against Tucker as of Friday, according to Maryland case search. The NFL investigation is also expected to take several weeks or months. It’s unclear what punishment, if any, Tucker could face, though under the league’s personal conduct policy, players can be disciplined for behavior that poses a “genuine danger” to others or “undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.” Under the policy, players can face a six-game suspension. In 2022, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was initially suspended for six games before the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine following more than two dozen women accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. In 2019, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pleaded not guilty to charges of solicitation as part of an investigation into possible prostitution at a Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor. Watson settled nearly two dozen civil lawsuits. Kraft issued a public apology and charges were eventually dropped. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens announce more additions to coach John Harbaugh’s staff Baltimore Ravens | Terrell Suggs pleads guilty to disorderly conduct; former Raven is ‘relieved’ Baltimore Ravens | A look at which Ravens could be released, traded or have their contracts reworked Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Could the team trade for a pass rusher? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Van Noy discusses future with Ravens: ‘My want to is still there’ As for Tucker, he remains the Ravens’ kicker for now. Whether it stays that way remains to be seen. General manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh, who have not spoken publicly since the allegations were made public, are scheduled to meet with the media at the NFL scouting combine Tuesday in Indianapolis. If Baltimore were to part ways with its longest-tenured player, it would likely wait until at least the start of the new league year on March 12. By waiting until then, the Ravens would save just over $4 million in salary cap space and be able to spread his $7.5 million in dead money over each of the next two years. Tucker is coming off the worst season of his career, having made 73.3% of his field goal attempts. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Terrell Suggs, the former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, pleaded guilty Thursday to a disorderly conduct charge, according to Arizona court records. Suggs, 42, entered his guilty plea to the single “reduced” charge during a Thursday pre-trial hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court. The 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is scheduled to be sentenced on the charge on April 1, according to court records. Suggs’ criminal case stems from a March 2024 incident where prosecutors allege the former linebacker threatened to kill a motorist and pulled out a gun after backing into the driver’s vehicle in a Starbucks drive-thru in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the retired Raven lives. Scottsdale Police said that Suggs and the man exited their vehicles and argued in the drive-thru before retreating and placing their orders. The retired linebacker then stuck his middle finger up at the other man and began to swear at him. Suggs called the man a “p— a– cracker” and said, “I’ll kill your b— a–,” according to police. As Suggs began to drive away, he stopped his car and stuck a handgun out of the driver’s side window but did not point it at the other man, according to police, but the alleged victim took it as a threat and wrote down Suggs’ license plate number before calling police. A representative for Suggs said the former linebacker is “relieved that he can now put this unfortunate incident behind him.” “The safety and well-being of his family and himself have always been his top priority, and he is grateful that they are all safe,” his spokesperson said. “He appreciates the support and understanding from everyone during this time and he looks forward to moving forward.” Suggs has said through a representative that he feared for his safety when the man in the vehicle escalated an “incident.” Suggs said that he was simply getting coffee near his home and “not looking for any trouble.” He was arrested that April and released from jail the next morning before being indicted and pleading not guilty. His trial date was delayed multiple times in recent months as lawyers worked out a plea agreement. Suggs pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of disorderly conduct with a weapon, though the charge — originally a class-six felony — was reduced to an “undesignated” offense, meaning he can ask the court to treat it as a misdemeanor. His attorney, Craig Penrod, did not return a request for comment. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to comment, citing its policy of not commenting on open cases. Drafted out of Arizona State by Baltimore in 2003, Suggs spent 16 years with the Ravens before his final NFL season in 2019, when he played for the Arizona Cardinals and then the Kansas City Chiefs. A key member of the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl team, Suggs was a finalist for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, but his bid fell short. Suggs, a stout run defender, was also the 2003 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com, on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62. View the full article

The opening of the NFL’s franchise tag window Tuesday came and went quietly for the Ravens, and it’s likely it will stay that way through the closing of it March 4. With left tackle Ronnie Stanley the team’s only free-agent-to-be who would warrant such consideration, tagging the nine-year veteran would keep him off the market but be cost-prohibitive at around $25 million. Still, general manager Eric DeCosta and company have a lot to address when it comes to the salary cap. According to Over The Cap, the Ravens are projected to have just over $12.9 million in cap space when the new league year opens on March 12, which is also when free agency officially begins. That ranks just 22nd in the league, and it does not include re-signings or tenders for restricted and exclusive rights free agents. There’s also this year’s draft class, which Baltimore’s decision-makers will get a closer look at next week in Indianapolis at the annual scouting combine. The Ravens are currently slated to have 11 draft picks this April — seven of their own, plus four compensatory selections — so there’s a lot to be done to eventually get compliant with what is projected to be a $279.5 million league salary cap for the 2025 season. That league total is up from the $255.4 million mark in 2024 but not quite to the level of the record 13.6% increase teams got from 2023 to last year, though every bit helps a Ravens organization that is perennially tight on space. What does it ultimately mean for Baltimore? Here’s a look at players who could be released, have their contract extended or reworked or be traded to create more cap room: Tight end Marks Andrews With Andrews entering the final year of his four-year, $56 million extension and with the fourth-highest cap hit on the roster at $16.9 million, the Ravens could clear $11 million in space by releasing or trading the veteran. Andrews’ 3.2 catches and 39.6 yards per game were his lowest marks since his rookie year and his crushing dropped 2-point conversion (and a costly fumble) against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs were low points. But his 11 receiving touchdowns were a career-high and led the team, he has long been quarterback Lamar Jackson’s security blanket and he’s still one of the best tight ends in the league. Baltimore isn’t going to release Andrews, who will turn 30 in September, and get nothing for him. Trading him also seems unlikely — though a second-day draft pick could perhaps be a compelling consideration. Complicating matters is that the Ravens’ other two tight ends, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, are eligible to be free agents after next season. That could make an extension for Andrews difficult as well. Kicker Justin Tucker The Ravens have not spoken about the allegations from several Baltimore-area massage therapists who have accused Tucker of sexual misconduct since making a statement at the end of January. Neither has the NFL, which said it is looking into the matter. What that means for Tucker’s future with the Ravens remains unclear, but if Baltimore were to move on from its longest-tenured player it could do so by releasing him once the new league year starts. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s future status with the team is in jeopardy after poor performance in 2024 and off-the-field allegations of misconduct. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Tucker, 35, is coming off easily the worst season of his career, having made 73.3% of his field goal attempts. The Ravens also said they still expected him to be their kicker next year, though that was before a trail of allegations emerged. Releasing Tucker on or after March 12 would save them just over $4 million in cap space and allow Baltimore to spread his $7.5 million in dead money over each of the next two years. Safety Marcus Williams Williams won’t be back. He was benched in mid-November and was inactive over the final five games of the regular season. He and the team also agreed on a reworked contract for the 28-year-old late in the season, freeing up just under $10 million in cap space, with another $2.1 million coming after June 1. That allows Williams to quickly move on to find a new home to try to rejuvenate his career. It also clears much-needed space for Baltimore, which will need to add a safety via the draft or free agency after Williams struggled mightily the past two years. Cornerback Arthur Maulet After Maulet played well in 2023, prompting the Ravens to re-sign him to a two-year, $4 million deal, he struggled to stay healthy in 2024. First, he underwent knee surgery in August. Then he was hampered by calf and knee injuries, all of which limited the veteran to appear in just three games. Though a solid performer when on the field, Maulet will also turn 32 in July, and releasing him would clear $2.25 million in cap space. The Ravens could also perhaps bring him back on a cheaper deal, which would save at least some cap space. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey returns an interception for a touchdown in a 2024 win over the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Cornerback Marlon Humphrey After an injury-filled 2023, Humphrey rebounded with an All-Pro season in the slot. He’s also one of the highest-paid players on the team. With a cap charge of $25.38 million for 2025, only Jackson counts more against the team’s total. Humphrey will also turn 29 in July. With his current deal running through 2026, he could be in line for an extension or at least a restructure, both of which would lower his cap hit. Running back Derrick Henry Henry is entering the final year of the two-year deal he signed with the Ravens last offseason and is set to count $12.9 million against the cap next season. After recording 1,921 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and averaging 5.9 yards per carry — the highest mark of Henry’s career — the 31-year-old showed he still has gas in the tank. Extending any back of that age with as many miles as Henry has (11,423 career yards on 2,355 carries) is a risk, but a logical one here. Doing so would also lower Henry’s cap hit and keep him in Baltimore for a couple more years, making it potentially possible for him to retire a Raven, which he has expressed interest in doing. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Could the team trade for a pass rusher? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Van Noy discusses future with Ravens: ‘My want to is still there’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton trying to focus on football — and golf — rather than extension talks Baltimore Ravens | Ravens OL Ben Cleveland arrested on suspicion of DUI in Georgia Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who should be the Orioles’ opening day starter? Quarterback Lamar Jackson Jackson’s $43.7 million cap hit for 2025 ranks just 10th highest in the NFL, making it look like a bargain, especially compared with the restrictive deals of fellow quarterbacks Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson. Still, it’s easily the biggest hit on the Ravens’ roster and $18 million higher than Humphrey’s. It gets even bigger in 2026 and 2027 at $74.65 million for each year (which would rank behind only Prescott’s hit this year), so a restructure or extension would help now and in the immediate future. Jackson also famously doesn’t have an agent and DeCosta has spoken about how his last negotiation with the quarterback two years ago was one of the most difficult he’s endured. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens’ offseason. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) Will Justin Tucker still be the kicker for the season opener? Will the Ravens use one of their many draft choices to pick a kicker either way? — Jim from London Jim, the NFL will eventually decide Tucker’s fate, whether it’s a suspension or concluding that there isn’t sufficient evidence based on its investigation into allegations by massage therapists of misconduct. There are some people who question the women waiting so long to come out and speak, but I don’t. No one knows the trauma or extent of the harm that these alleged situations might have caused, especially at an early age. I’d like to see an end to this situation as soon as possible, whether it results in a suspension or not. The Ravens and the NFL need to address this publicly. I wrote several weeks ago that the Ravens needed to bring in a kicker to challenge Tucker, and that was before the accusations came out publicly. If the Ravens decide to move on from Tucker, they will do their homework and find a new kicker. This franchise has a history of having some great ones in both Tucker and Matt Stover. The Ravens also have one of the best kicking coaches in the NFL in Randy Brown, so they’ll be fine. But the situation surrounding Tucker is a black cloud hanging over the organization. I’m curious about how involved the Ravens are in the players’ offseason strength and conditioning routines and how coaches monitor workouts outside Owings Mills. Besides Derrick Henry, which players come into camp in the best shape? — Nate A lot of the players attend offseason workouts at the training facility, especially the young ones, and that’s a major key in development. Players add bulk and muscle and it’s clearly noticeable in stars such as defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, center Tyler Linderbaum and even left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who spent a lot of time in Owings Mills during the offseason. It will happen again because young players such as cornerback Nate Wiggins and weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson need to develop and fill out. The linemen, though, are always a concern. Right guard Daniel Faalele could barely make it through training camp practices because of heat exhaustion. The Ravens need to stay on him, as well as nose tackle Michael Pierce. Overall, the Ravens had few injuries in 2024 compared with several years ago, so it was apparent that they listened to the players who strongly complained about the strenuous offseason workout programs. The Ravens don’t have to worry about running back Derrick Henry staying in shape over the offseason. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Do you see the Ravens making a trade for a pass rusher? — Radell Wilson on X Radell, the Ravens have 11 picks overall, so they need to do something to help quarterback Lamar Jackson take the next step and get to the Super Bowl. Be bold, be creative. If that means trading up to get an outside linebacker such as Penn State’s Abdul Carter or Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., go for it. Has the Ravens’ fan base become spoiled by the success of this organization? Yes, of course, but that is the standard. It’s no longer just acceptable to just get to the postseason but to play in the Super Bowl. It’s time to get a sniff of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Before this year’s draft, do the Ravens review their 2024 draft selections and evaluate their grading versus actual performance on the team? Has there ever been a player drafted by the Ravens that they thought would be a stud, but turned out to be a dud? Conversely, was there ever a player graded marginally who turned out to be phenomenal? Finally, do the Ravens or any other teams put much value on the Wonderlic tests? — Dan from Elkton Dan, I am sure there is value in that test, especially at certain positions. Contrary to popular belief, football is a smart man’s game. Regardless of what many say, the NFL draft is a gamble. I never thought former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome’s first two picks in the first round of 1996, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Ray Lewis, would eventually go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | A look at which Ravens could be released, traded or have their contracts reworked Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Van Noy discusses future with Ravens: ‘My want to is still there’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton trying to focus on football — and golf — rather than extension talks Baltimore Ravens | Ravens OL Ben Cleveland arrested on suspicion of DUI in Georgia Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who should be the Orioles’ opening day starter? Truth be told, neither did Newsome. Overall, there are no complaints about the Ravens’ draft record. They have had mid- to late-round success stories such as center Jeff Mitchell, linebackers Cornell Brown, Adalius Thomas and Edgerton Hartwell, safeties Haruki Nakamura and Geno Stone and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Linebacker Bart Scott was an undrafted free agent. But they have also had some early-round stinkers, such as receivers Patrick Johnson, Travis Taylor, Breshad Perriman and Mark Clayton, linebackers Sergio Kindle, Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams, safety Matt Elam and quarterback Kyle Boller. Overall, you can’t argue with the franchise’s record. The Ravens have compiled a 268-199-1 record since moving to Baltimore for the start of the 1996 season. They have also won two Super Bowl titles and there are 12 teams in the NFL that have never won the prestigious event. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

To say that Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has enjoyed a renaissance since his arrival in Baltimore two years ago wouldn’t really be accurate. His nine sacks in 2023 were 2 1/2 more than his previous career high, then he went out and topped that with 12 1/2 this past season to garner his first Pro Bowl selection. He’ll also turn 34 next month and has one year remaining on his current contract. Does Van Noy plan to keep playing in 2025? “We’re still talking about it,” he told The Baltimore Sun the week leading up to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. “I would like to, but there’s things that still need to be talked about.” One of those things is perhaps financial. Last April, Van Noy signed a two-year, $9 million deal that is due to keep him in Baltimore through the 2025 season. He’ll also carry a $6.1 million salary cap hit, per Over The Cap, for a team that is once again tight on space. Releasing the veteran would save Baltimore about $4.5 million, but it also seems like an unlikely move. Van Noy, now on his fifth team, led the Ravens in sacks. Beyond fellow outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who had 10 sacks this past season, Baltimore doesn’t have a proven edge rusher on the roster. “He’s played in multiple cities, [and] he’s been to multiple places. I think he really appreciated the Ravens, which is great,” general manager Eric DeCosta said during the team’s end-of-season news conference last month. “He loves this place. Our young players see that, and that resonates. And that’s a big deal. He comes to work every day with a great attitude, he’s a leader, and he’s a fun storyline this year for us.” Van Noy said that he will have a conversation with DeCosta “at some point,” but that his “want to” is still there and that he has plenty to offer. He’s also eager to see what kind of impact Chuck Pagano has. Pagano was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2011. He also coached the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2017, was the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020 and was hired earlier this offseason to be a senior secondary coach. “When I think about Chuck … whenever he’s coached that group it’s always been tight-knit,” Van Noy said. “That’s what he preaches is, we can’t go anywhere without the group on the same page. I feel he does a good job of that. “His communication skills are very, very good and players wanna play really, really good for him. That means he always has a good command of the room and command of where players are at, so he builds a relationship with them. That’s what you need to do in the NFL.” As for Van Noy and how long his own playing future will last? “My want to is still there, that’s for sure,” he said. “I can still play at a high level. But it’s something where they have to make a decision, too.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton trying to focus on football — and golf — rather than extension talks Baltimore Ravens | Ravens OL Ben Cleveland arrested on suspicion of DUI in Georgia Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who should be the Orioles’ opening day starter? Baltimore Ravens | What can the Ravens learn from the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over Chiefs? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Like Peyton Manning, Ravens’ Lamar Jackson needs pass rushers | COMMENTARY View the full article

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has golf on his mind. Earlier this month, he teed it up at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, as part of the NFL’s Pro Bowl festivities. Later this month, he’ll head to California for a buddies trip that includes tee times at venerable Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, nearby Pasatiempo Golf Course and, he hopes, the ultra-exclusive Cypress Point Club. Hamilton said he was banged up during the season, but that it hasn’t slowed him down. That he’s able to endure all that twisting and torque on his body to swing a golf club, particularly as well as he does, is probably a good sign of his health, including his right leg. “Everybody deals with something throughout the season so I got my little Tiger Woods leg sleeve,” he told The Baltimore Sun the week leading up to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. “I’m all good though.” Of course, he was better than good in his third season in the NFL. Hamilton’s 107 tackles were a career high and ranked 12th among all defensive backs. He was the only one at that position to post at least 100 tackles, an interception, two sacks and two forced fumbles. And he finished as the second-highest graded safety by Pro Football Focus behind only Detroit Lions standout Kerby Joseph, an All-Pro who led the NFL with nine interceptions. The 14th overall draft pick in 2022 and the glue to Baltimore’s defensive turnaround the second half of the season, Hamilton was selected to the Pro Bowl, named second-team All-Pro after being a first-team selection a year ago and finished ninth in The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. He’s also eligible for a contract extension this offseason with one year remaining on his rookie deal and could break the bank in resetting the safety market. Where is he at in that process and would he like to get a deal done before the start of next season? Hamilton isn’t saying (nor are his agents) for now. “I told my agents and family I don’t want to talk about any sort of contract stuff,” he said. “I just want to play football.” Signing Hamilton for the long-term figures to be Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta’s top priority this offseason, and it’s an expensive proposition. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens OL Ben Cleveland arrested on suspicion of DUI in Georgia Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who should be the Orioles’ opening day starter? Baltimore Ravens | What can the Ravens learn from the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over Chiefs? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Like Peyton Manning, Ravens’ Lamar Jackson needs pass rushers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Aaron Rodgers to Steelers? Predicting 2025 landing spots for top available QBs Last offseason, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antonie Winfield Jr. became the league’s highest-paid defensive back in history when he signed a four-year, $84.1 million extension. Translation: Hamilton will get more. The only question is how things will play out. Baltimore could reach an agreement on an extension this offseason or next. If a deal isn’t reached by May 1, the Ravens would likely pick up his fifth-year option to keep him under contract through the 2026 season and then could franchise tag him in 2027. But that’s not how Baltimore has typically handled foundational players of Hamilton’s ilk, so it’s more likely a new deal will be discussed this offseason rather than next. One of the many reasons Hamilton is so valuable is not just his talent and athleticism but his versatility. After playing a hybrid nickel role his first two seasons, he was deployed to a more traditional safety role the final two months of the season. “That guy is just different,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said of Hamilton late in the season. “His play, obviously, you guys see the play, but the communication getting guys right. There are plays that I’m on the field … I get the call, I ask Kyle, ‘What do I do in this call?’ I hear Kyle give somebody else what they need to do in this call. His smarts, how he keeps the guys calm — he’s just a piece you can put at any position. But him going back to safety has seemed to really stabilize everybody else in all of their spots, whether it’s corners, communicating to the nickel, communicating to the ‘backers.” How the Ravens utilize Hamilton in 2025 remains to be seen, but his goal is to focus on football and let the contract situation work itself out. “Wherever coaches and the team see best for me to play — that’s a week-to-week basis, that’s a season-to-season basis — I’m all for it,” Hamilton said. “I feel like I can impact the game at multiple spots. … Me going back to traditional safety, not nickel, I was fine with it. I played safety all my life. “That’s my main focus, is just focus on football, get ready, get back in for OTAs and all that stuff. All the other stuff, I’ll let my agents handle it.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, third from left, could become the NFL’s highest-paid safety this offseason. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last week, according to Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun on Monday. Cleveland, 26, was stopped around 10:25 p.m. on Wednesday in Milledgeville, Georgia, after police observed his black Ford F-250 “failing to maintain its lane” and “weaving in between the lines” and nearly going into a ditch, the documents say. Cleveland told police he’d been coming from a nearby country club and admitted to drinking “approximately 3-4 beers” but that he had not consumed any alcohol within two hours, according to the incident report. The arresting officer also noted in the report that he detected an “unknown” alcoholic odor coming from inside the vehicle and that Cleveland’s eyes were “glossy.” The report states that Cleveland failed at least one field sobriety test and that he was wearing a medical boot on his left foot, with Cleveland adding that he had “pains in his ankle” and did not wish to continue to walk and turn or do a one-leg stand, according to the report. When Cleveland was issued a breathalyzer at the scene, the result came back with a blood alcohol level of 0.178, police said, more than double the legal limit of .08. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Cleveland was arrested and transported to a nearby jail, where a second breath sample returned a blood alcohol level of 0.161, according to police. He was issued citations for driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to maintain his lane. A Ravens spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Cleveland, a third-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia by Baltimore in 2021, has appeared in 54 games across four seasons but has largely been a disappointment. He has made just seven starts during that span and, after playing 367 snaps on offense as a rookie, has seen his playing time dramatically decrease the past three seasons and never emerged as a serious contender for a starting guard position, despite openings each of the past two years. He did, however, become a contributor on special teams this past season, landing himself a full-time role on the field goal and extra point block unit after he blocked a field goal attempt in the Ravens’ win over the Commanders in October. Cleveland will be a free agent in March. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said there is an open competition for who will be their opening day starter. The choice was easy last year with ace Corbin Burnes in the fold, but the competition is much tighter this spring. Who should start on March 27 in Toronto? After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

No two Super Bowl victors are the same. The ones annually puffing cigar smoke in the locker room on a late Sunday night in February, or riding in floats days later, endure unique challenges of roster construction. They’re often swayed by the mercy of football deities, too. The Ravens can’t copy the Philadelphia Eagles’ test answers and make good on Lamar Jackson’s draft night promise next year. But, after falling three wins shy of expectations, they can learn a thing or two from the dynasty dethroners. It starts in April. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman hit on draft pick after draft pick. He was aggressive in trading up early in the 2024 second round and scooping up Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, considered one of the top cornerbacks. DeJean returned on investment with a game-defining pick-six in Super Bowl 59. Roseman traded up in 2023 too, picking defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9. The Georgia star turned into a Pro Bowl selection and game-wrecker by Year 2. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has previously downplayed the idea of trading up in the draft, but Philadelphia showed what kind of difference it can make. Hitting in the draft is easier said than done, but it helped Philly build the best statistical defense in football. Baltimore — which has two homegrown first-team All-Pros on defense in safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Marlon Humphrey — required some retooling before reaching the playoffs on a high note. Perhaps the biggest takeaway the Ravens — and any NFL team, for that matter — should glean from the Super Bowl was the utter domination in the trenches. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio did not blitz the Chiefs once in 42 drop-backs. His four-man rush made Patrick Mahomes’ life hell, forcing the three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player into a pair of uncharacteristic interceptions and sacking him six times, including one that forced a fumble. “They’re one of the best defenses in the league,” eight-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick said on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go podcast. “What Howie did in addition to getting [Saquon] Barkley was improving the defense and putting young players on the field and how well they played.” Baltimore’s pass rush group got breakout years from Kyle Van Noy (12 1/2 sacks) and Odafe Oweh (10 sacks) and totaled 54 sacks, the second most of any team in the NFL. That said, they couldn’t maintain that effective pass rush without compromising at the second or third levels. Philly’s playoff success should be a reminder of the value of investing in that group. As for the offensive line, the Ravens trotted out three new Week 1 starters (both guard spots and right tackle) and plugged in a rookie by Week 4. It took some time for the group to jell. This spring, DeCosta will decide whether to re-sign veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley or to let him walk and reshape that group again. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Like Peyton Manning, Ravens’ Lamar Jackson needs pass rushers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Aaron Rodgers to Steelers? Predicting 2025 landing spots for top available QBs Baltimore Ravens | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 7-round mock draft: Big trades shake up deep pool of picks It’s hard to replicate the success in Philly, which boasted the tallest and heaviest offensive line in NFL history led by one of the league’s best coaches at that position in Jeff Stoutland. Three of those players rank in the top six in terms of average annual salary. But Roseman’s use of void years on such contracts helps kick the financial can down the road, freeing him to bolster the roster now. Philly currently has the most cap dollars in void years in the NFL ($390.4 million) — by a lot. The next most is San Francisco with $204.1M. For comparison, Baltimore has $50.8M in void years, which is outside the top 10. Former New York Times reporter Mike Tanier wrote about Roseman in 2022, describing him as “part Wolf of Wall Street and part pool-hall hustler, with a little bit of repo man and flea-market thrifter sprinkled in.” That’s a high compliment, now with a pair of championships to show for it. The takeaway battle was another plus for Philly that Baltimore couldn’t replicate in its most recent playoff run. The Eagles had a plus-12 turnover differential over a quartet of playoff games and became the first team to force 13 turnovers in a single postseason since the 2008 Arizona Cardinals. The Ravens, who largely avoided turnovers during the regular season, coughed the ball up thrice against the Buffalo Bills in the snowy AFC divisional round and couldn’t muster a takeaway. Baltimore is 0-11 all-time when losing the turnover battle in playoff games. “Just hold onto the [expletive] ball,” Jackson said after losing to the Bills. “I’m sorry for my language, but this [stuff] is annoying. I’m tired of this [stuff].” On Jan. 26, hours before the Eagles and Commanders kicked off for the NFC championship game, Humphrey posted on X predicting Philadelphia as the Super Bowl champions. Despite a national discourse focused elsewhere, Humphrey called the Eagles “the best team we played this year.” He was lambasted in the replies. But he was right. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. sacks Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Dec. 1 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

The careers of Indianapolis Colts great Peyton Manning and current Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson have a lot of similarities, but there is one glaring difference. It’s not what you think. Manning never had Jackson’s mobility and Jackson doesn’t have Manning’s accuracy, but the Pro Football Hall of Famer had two great outside linebackers/defensive ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. The Ravens don’t have anyone in that class. So as the Ravens gear up for free agency and the annual NFL draft in late April, they should make it a priority to find quality pass rushers. After seven NFL seasons, both Manning and Jackson had won multiple NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, but they each shared 3-6 postseason records. Both had high-octane offenses, and the Ravens have done a good job of surrounding Jackson with talent in running back Derrick Henry, tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. But while teams were trying to keep pace with Manning’s offense, Indianapolis would turn loose both Freeney and Mathis on the outside during the majority of Manning’s time with the Colts from 1998 to 2010. Freeney, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, played for the Colts from 2002 to 2012 and finished as the team’s all-time sack leader with 107 1/2. Mathis played in Indianapolis from 2003 to 2017 and replaced Freeney at the top of the Colts’ sack chart with 123. The Ravens have a projected 11 picks in the 2025 draft, so they have some wiggle room. They can become really creative and add some spice by trading up to select Penn State outside linebacker Abdul Carter, who might be the best player in college football. A move like that would go against the Ravens’ tradition of sticking with their picks or trading down to acquire more selections, but it would at least signal to fans the team’s willingness to gamble in an attempt to win a championship. One thing is certain: the slow death routine every year in Baltimore has gotten old. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. or Georgia’s Mykel Williams might go earlier than the Ravens’ 27th overall pick, but Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart or Marshall’s Mike Green might be available. Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart could be available when the Ravens pick at No. 27 overall in the first round. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Regardless, the Ravens need strong pass rushers around for another four years to complement Jackson. If he stays healthy, the Ravens are going to score points. At the end of last season, they ranked No. 1 in total offense, averaging 424.4 yards per game, No. 1 in rushing (187.6 yards) and seventh in passing (237.4). That’s about as balanced as any team in the NFL. On the other side of the ball, they were 10th in total defense (342.2 yards allowed per game) with a No. 1 ranking against the run (80.1) but 31st against the pass (244.1). If a team wants to improve its pass defense, then add pass rushers. It’s not hard to figure out. The Ravens got decent and consistent pressure last season from outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, but both were no-shows in big games against tough teams like Philadelphia in the regular season or Buffalo in the playoffs. Van Noy finished with 12 1/2 sacks but had no tackles against the Eagles in a 24-19 loss on Dec. 1. In that same game, Oweh, who recorded a career-high 10 sacks, had only one tackle. In the Ravens’ 27-25 divisional-round loss to the Bills, Van Noy finished with three tackles, including a half-sack, while Oweh had just one tackle. David Ojabo, a second-round pick out of Michigan in 2022, isn’t even in the discussion. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Aaron Rodgers to Steelers? Predicting 2025 landing spots for top available QBs Baltimore Ravens | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 7-round mock draft: Big trades shake up deep pool of picks Baltimore Ravens | If the Ravens were to move on from Justin Tucker, how might they replace him? The Ravens have already created some recent buzz with the additions of assistant coaches Chuck Pagano (secondary) and Tyler Santucci (linebackers). It was clearly evident that something had to be done. The linebackers were slow in coverage, and the secondary looked almost as lost at the end of the season as they did at the beginning. Now is the time to stir more emotion. Go ahead, make the move. Trade up and get Carter if he merits that type of attention, but come away with a quality pass rusher or two. Freeney was a first-round selection taken in 2002 while Mathis was chosen in the fifth round in 2003. Philadelphia proved what a difference a pass rush could make by sacking Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes six times in Super Bowl 59. If that doesn’t satisfy the Ravens’ front office staff, then they can go ask Jackson. The Eagles sacked him three times and pressured him on six other occasions earlier this season. Case closed. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The NFL offseason is just getting started. With two more weeks until the scouting combine begins in Indianapolis, there’s still so much to be decided as teams plan for free agency and the draft. For a handful of franchises, including those with new coaches and others who made the playoffs last season, who will play quarterback for them next season is the biggest remaining question. This could be a particularly interesting offseason of quarterback movement around the league, with a pair of Super Bowl champions, a breakout star and a four-time Pro Bowl selection among the passers who could have a new home next year. Here’s an early look at how the quarterback carousel could spin this offseason (teams are listed in descending draft order): Tennessee Titans: Sign a veteran and draft a rookie With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall draft pick, they’ll have their choice between the top two quarterback prospects: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. While giving coach Brian Callahan a young player to build his offense around and creating salary cap flexibility with a cheap rookie contract seems like a no-brainer, the question is whether Titans ownership will be patient enough to start a rookie quarterback. Tennessee might lean toward picking a blue-chip prospect such as Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 1 and addressing quarterback elsewhere. With Aaron Rodgers leaving the Jets, Sam Darnold potentially available after a disappointing finish with the Vikings and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in limbo after a year together in Pittsburgh, there could be some intriguing veteran options available. Tennessee still has 2023 second-round pick Will Levis under contract for two more seasons, but a proven starter leading the offense while Ward, Sanders or a Day 2 pick get up to speed might make the most sense. Kirk Cousins worked with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) Cleveland Browns: Sign Kirk Cousins and draft a rookie After Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, he’s not going to be a part of the team’s 2025 plans — and might have played his last NFL snap. Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe are likely not part of the future, either. That leaves the No. 2 pick as the best option to find a new starter. Ward or Sanders would at least create some excitement for a franchise that has had a long history of bad quarterback play and is in need of a reset after the disastrous trade for Watson. With coach Kevin Stefanski returning, there’s a solid infrastructure in place and a decent amount of draft picks to make improvements – especially if they get a haul for pass rusher Myles Garrett. But quarterback depth is important for a team that has not had a consistent starter since Baker Mayfield. That could lead to a move for Cousins, who struggled coming off a torn Achilles tendon in the first season of a $100 million deal with the Falcons and is expected to be released or traded. The 36-year-old is plenty familiar with Stefanski from their time together on the Vikings and will likely be open to signing a cheap contract. If he’s closer to full health next season, he could help stabilize one of the league’s worst offenses. New York Giants: Sign Justin Fields and draft a rookie The Giants should draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall if either Ward or Sanders is available, but that’s not their only path. Coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are under pressure to turn things around after two disappointing seasons, so adding an experienced veteran might be a more appealing short-term option than starting a rookie. While Fields was benched in favor of Wilson midseason, he’s still only 26 and has potential as a dual-threat player. The former Bears first-round pick won’t be expensive and could thrive with a fresh start the same way Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Malik Willis and other highly touted prospects have in recent years. The other veteran options require a lot of optimistic thinking. Jimmy Garoppolo might have something left in the tank after spending time with Sean McVay and the Rams. Mac Jones is just 26 and has experience playing in New England and Jacksonville. Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston have put up big numbers in spot starts as recently as last year. Maybe New York could pry away a backup with some upside such as Cincinnati’s Jake Browning. There’s also an intriguing group of Day 2 quarterbacks in this year’s draft, led by Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard. No matter what, the Giants need to leave this offseason with multiple options. Las Vegas Raiders: Sign Russell Wilson and draft a rookie New coach Pete Carroll and Wilson won a Super Bowl together in Seattle, so why not get the band back together? The 37-year-old Wilson showed flashes of his old self in helping the Steelers reach the playoffs, and while he’s no longer a star, he brings a sense of confidence and professionalism that has often been lacking from this franchise for years. As someone with intimate knowledge of Carroll’s philosophy and day-to-day operations, he could also help his former coach shape the culture in the building. Las Vegas has four picks in the top 75 of the draft, including No. 6 overall, so adding a cheap, long-term option at quarterback would also make a lot of sense. A college star such as Milroe, Gabriel or Ewers could at least build some excitement for the future. If the Saints are open to trading quarterback Derek Carr, the Jets would make sense as a landing spot. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) New York Jets: Acquire Derek Carr and keep Tyrod Taylor After a torn Achilles tendon in 2023 and a messy 5-12 finish in 2024, the Rodgers era is over in New York. For new coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, a blank slate awaits. That doesn’t mean the Jets are planning a hard reset, though. There is still some talent on this roster, headlined by cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Getting Rodgers and wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard off the books could also open up significant cap room to make improvements. That makes New York an intriguing landing spot for Carr, who has a no-trade clause and would likely need the Saints to pay a portion of his remaining salary. Assuming both sides are ready to move on, the 33-year-old could come over in a trade and provide a steady veteran presence while the new regime retools the roster. Taylor, who turns 36 in August, is also under contract for one more season at a reasonable price along with 2024 fifth-round pick Jordan Travis. New Orleans Saints: Sign Daniel Jones As always, the Saints face a significant salary-cap crunch this offseason thanks to their long-standing practice of deferring money to future years. But GM Mickey Loomis isn’t going anywhere, so it’s likely going to be business as usual for a team that hasn’t been able to escape mediocrity since Drew Brees and Sean Payton left. In that case, Jones looks like a perfect buy-low candidate for a cash-strapped team. He could follow the same path as Darnold, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings and revived his career after spending time in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan. Jones, who became Darnold’s backup in Minnesota after being cut by the Giants last season, has shown flashes of the raw talent that made him a 2019 first-round pick and could have a similar resurgence in New Orleans. At the very least, he’s a better option than previous mid-round picks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. New coach Kellen Moore should also be familiar with Jones after facing him in the NFC East with the Cowboys and Eagles. Their success will depend on whether the Saints can significantly upgrade their offensive line and group of pass catchers. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sign Aaron Rodgers and draft a rookie Mike Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach, but it’s clear that something needs to change in Pittsburgh. It should start at quarterback. The Steelers have remained competitive with Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Duck Hodges, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Fields and Wilson, but they have not won a playoff game since January 2017. As good as Tomlin is at keeping his team in the hunt, a lack of firepower has left them overmatched against elite teams. Pittsburgh needs to take a big swing, and that could mean taking a chance on Rodgers. There are major questions about how he’d fit in the locker room after some turbulent years in Green Bay and New York and whether he has anything left in the tank at 41 years old, but the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player would at least raise the ceiling of the offense. The most logical path for the Steelers to find a franchise quarterback, however, is through the draft. Milroe is perhaps the biggest lottery ticket of all, a dynamic playmaker with a rocket arm who could have a Jayden Daniels-like impact if he reaches his full potential. Gabriel is undersized, but his accuracy, quick release and experience could help him succeed. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart has plenty of desirable traits worth betting on. No matter what, the Steelers need to take a risk on someone to escape their current rut. Related Articles NFL | Philadelphia turns green on Valentine’s Day to celebrate Super Bowl champions NFL | New York Jets are moving on from Aaron Rodgers, who hasn’t said if he plans to keep playing NFL | Experts consider Ravens’ response to allegations against Justin Tucker | ANALYSIS NFL | Harry Kane in the NFL? Maybe, but he first wants trophies at Bayern Munich after latest Champions League goal. NFL | Ex-Giants WR Kadarius Toney arrested, accused of strangling woman Minnesota Vikings: Bring back Sam Darnold and keep J.J. McCarthy While the Vikings are no doubt eager to hand over the reins to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, they shouldn’t be so quick to move on from Darnold. The 28-year-old is coming off a career season, and while coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Jefferson had a lot to do with that success, he’s shown the ability to lead a strong offense when he has a strong supporting cast around him. The big question is how much Darnold will cost. The one-year franchise tag will be around $41 million, which might be prohibitive even for a team with a decent amount of cap space. The transition tag, which takes the average of the top 10 salaries at the position instead of the top five, is cheaper and would give Minnesota the chance to match any offer. A short-team deal — perhaps similar to the three-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed that Mayfield signed last offseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — might make sense for both sides as McCarthy gets back up to speed following a significant knee injury. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Confronted with allegations of inappropriate behavior by kicker Justin Tucker, the Ravens have responded with a single statement released last month on the day the story broke: “We are aware of the Baltimore Banner’s story regarding Justin Tucker. We take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.” That cautious stance is the right one for now, said public relations professionals who specialize in helping companies through crises. “Silence is golden at this point,” said Bill Atkinson, president and CEO of Baltimore-based Atkinson Strategic Communications. “Being silent is basically a strategy because this thing is fluid. You want to come out with a statement and set the record … and then you just kind of want to back off, and it’s going to ebb and flow.” Eventually, Atkinson and others said, the Ravens will have to say more. Six massage therapists from five high-end spas accused Tucker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments” between 2012 and 2016, The Baltimore Banner reported last month. Three more therapists came forward after the initial report, accusing Tucker of similar inappropriate behavior in interviews with The Baltimore Sun and The Banner. General manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh could hear more pointed questions about Tucker as early as the end of this month at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. In the weeks after that, they will have to decide, in conjunction with owner Steve Bisciotti and team president Sashi Brown, whether Tucker, coming off his worst NFL season, will be the team’s kicker in 2025. If the answer is yes, they will have to prepare for Tucker’s first interactions with reporters this summer and for potential backlash from fans disinclined to give the seven-time Pro Bowl kicker the benefit of the doubt. Possible NFL discipline is also a consideration after Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will look into the “serious” allegations against Tucker. Tucker has already issued a lengthy denial, calling the accusations against him from nine Baltimore-area massage therapists “unequivocally false.” The Ravens’ stance is a separate matter. They could release the 35-year-old Tucker and save $4.2 million, along with avoiding months of uncomfortable questions, if they execute the move after June 1. Or they could stick with Harbaugh and DeCosta’s assertions — before the allegations came to light — that Tucker would be their kicker next season. Crisis managers said that once Ravens officials know the facts of the case as well as possible, they’ll ask whether Tucker’s brand fits with their brand going forward. Regardless of the answer, their stakeholders — fans in this case — will expect an explanation of how they came to it. Whether the Ravens keep Tucker or not, advocates for sexual assault victims said they’d like to hear more from the team. “It is important for the team to condemn sexual harassment while they wait for this case to be investigated,” said Lisae Jordan, executive director for the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “As a football team, they are in a strong position to bring attention to the issue of sexual harassment and assault and to make it clear that there is no excuse to touch someone without consent.” Baltimore Ravens practice for 2023 seasonKarl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens coach John Harbaugh speaks with kicker Justin Tucker during practice. “Basically, we’re kind of zero tolerance,” Harbaugh said of the team’s approach when asked about sexual misconduct allegations against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kathleen Cahill is a Ravens fan and Towson-based attorney who works on sexual harassment and misconduct cases. “I would like to hear more than, ‘There’s a legal process, and we have to respect the legal process,'” she said. “I would like to see them be transparent and consider the dignity of the women. … If the reporting is accurate that these women didn’t know each other and they have these accounts that are strikingly similar, then the Ravens need to do something. Doing nothing is absolutely unacceptable.” The Ravens are no strangers to dealing with public relations crises around their star players. Just as they were on the cusp of contending for the first time in 2000, their signature star, linebacker Ray Lewis, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a stabbing outside an Atlanta nightclub. Four years later, Jamal Lewis, fresh off leading the NFL in rushing, was indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges. In 2014, franchise leaders were forced to reconsider their entire approach to evaluating players and relating to female fans and employees after a video emerged of running back Ray Rice striking his future wife in an Atlantic City casino elevator. None of these cases are directly comparable to the allegations against Tucker, who, according to Maryland case search, is not facing criminal or civil charges as of Thursday. That does not mean there are no lessons to be gleaned from the Ravens’ responses over the years. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker: ‘Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment’ Baltimore Ravens | If the Ravens were to move on from Justin Tucker, how might they replace him? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens | Justin Tucker accusers face legal headwinds, but it’s important they came forward, experts say Baltimore Ravens | If Ravens decide to release Justin Tucker, here’s when they might do it Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker faces more allegations of inappropriate conduct Baltimore Ravens | How might the NFL handle allegations against Ravens kicker Justin Tucker? Baltimore Ravens | Sexual impropriety allegations, like those against Ravens’ Justin Tucker, difficult to address in court In general, they have stood by their star players during these public relations storms, a tone set by their handling of the Ray Lewis case 25 years ago. Almost four months before the charges against Lewis were dropped in exchange for his testimony against his companions and a plea bargain to a misdemeanor of obstruction of justice, the Ravens held a news conference at which the All-Pro linebacker declared his innocence and coach Brian Billick laid out the rules for how he — and he alone — would address the situation going forward. “Keep in mind that while there needs to be timely and informative internal communication, there must be cautious and limited external communication,” Billick wrote on NFL.com in 2013, explaining how the Ravens handled the charges against their greatest player. “Throughout the ordeal, we made certain to reiterate three main points of our message. First, we were sympathetic to the families involved in the incident and respectful of the loss of life. Second, we continued to reaffirm our faith in Ray. And finally — the most difficult of the three — we reaffirmed our faith in the judicial process.” Billick maintained his discipline. As the Ravens prepared for the Super Bowl the next January, he told reporters: “As much as some of you want to, we are not going to retry this. It’s inappropriate, and you’re not qualified.” Billick spoke just as forcefully on Jamal Lewis’ behalf after the star running back was indicted in 2004, saying: “We have a great deal of faith in Jamal and a great deal of faith in the process. I have no doubt he will find his way out of this difficulty.” Jamal Lewis ultimately pleaded guilty to using a cellphone to facilitate a drug transaction — a deal that included four months in federal prison — after he said he received assurances from the Ravens that the plea would not impact his future status with the team. In Rice’s case, it was the video, posted by TMZ almost seven months after the violent act it captured, that changed everything. The Ravens had stuck by him to that point, with high-ranking team officials testifying to his good character. The star running back was training with his teammates for the start of the 2014 season when the world saw that footage of him throwing a left-handed punch to his fiancée’s jaw. The Ravens released Rice hours later, but that did not save them or the NFL from a reckoning with an angry, disappointed public. How much did they know? When did they know it? How could they have thought it was OK to forgive such an ugly act after a mere two-game suspension? It was in response to these painful questions that Bisciotti and his top lieutenants promised a tougher stance on domestic violence and a comprehensive effort to deepen ties to the community organizations fighting it. Asked at a tense news conference if the Ravens would have zero tolerance for domestic violence going forward, Bisciotti responded: “I give you my word that some things are going to change. I give you my word. I think that’s pretty safe [to say].” Former Ravens running back Ray Rice stands with team owner Steve Bisciotti during a reunion of the 2012 Ravens Super Bowl team at M&T Bank Stadium. Rice was released by Baltimore in 2014 after video emerged of him striking his then-fiancee in an elevator. (Staff file) It’s that statement observers have pointed back to in wondering whether the allegations against Tucker — with no criminal or civil actions attached and a possible NFL investigation pending — would trigger a “zero tolerance” response from the Ravens. It’s a statement Harbaugh referred back to in 2022, after the Cleveland Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history while he was facing allegations of sexual misconduct from more than 20 massage therapists. Harbaugh said: “Basically, we’re kind of zero tolerance. You have to know the truth, you have to try to understand the circumstances, but we’ve stayed away from that particular situation — when we draft players, when we sign them as free agents.” In reality, zero tolerance was always a more complicated idea than some made it sound. In his very next response at that 2014 news conference, Bisciotti said: “Can we avoid situations like Ray Rice’s? Absolutely not. Will we handle it differently? One hundred percent I guarantee you we will. But will it be the minute it happens? Do we cut him? Because we are so close to bordering on a slippery slope the other way with this whole scarlet letter thing.” In describing his management philosophy, the Ravens owner has long said he tries not to make hasty decisions or allow heightened emotions to dictate his actions. The Ravens are taking a wait-and-see approach with Tucker, just as they did last year when Baltimore County Police investigated a report of a “violent domestic incident” possibly connected to wide receiver Zay Flowers. Police suspended that investigation without charging Flowers, who faced no discipline from the NFL and played for the Ravens without interruption. The complexities of zero tolerance aside, the Ravens earned credibility in the wake of the Rice crisis by establishing partnerships, backed by hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations, with anti-violence groups. Five years after the incident, Sandi Timmins, executive director for House of Ruth Maryland, which works against intimate partner violence with an array of support and training programs, called it an “awakening” that spurred meaningful conversations about how to unlearn violent behavior. Rice also gradually rebuilt his place in the community, never playing in the NFL again but using his experience as a cautionary tale to promote anti-violence work. He recently took a job as a football coach at Milford Mill High School. Will the Ravens stand by Tucker and weather the storm around him? Atkinson said it’s entirely possible. “But at some point, you are going to have to come out and address it in a public forum, because the season’s going to start,” he said. “Part of this depends on what they’re going to do with [Tucker]. If he is their kicker and they fully believe in him, they will support him at every turn. That’s how I would play it. I hate to say it, but people forget these things.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article