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When Air Force safety Trey Taylor wanted some inside information on the Ravens, he went to a relative: Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed. They are cousins by marriage, but Taylor always called Reed “unc,” and Reed calls Taylor his nephew. Reed’s diagnosis of the Ravens organization was as thorough as his film study when he played in Baltimore from 2002 through 2012. “It’s called 1 Winning Drive, the street they are on,” said Taylor, who went to The Castle for a predraft visit with the Ravens on March 19. “I loved the place, I loved the people there. It seemed like everybody was happy to be there, and they all had winning attitudes. “It was definitely a positive experience. I’m looking forward to comparing the experience I had with them to the other places I will visit.” Taylor is also expected to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders before the NFL draft, which is April 25-27 in Detroit. But Taylor fits the profile of a Ravens “hybrid” safety. At 6 feet and 206 pounds, he can play near the line of scrimmage and in the deep third of the field. He had 71 tackles last season and earned first-team All-Mountain West honors. He also recorded six career interceptions. It’s one of the things he said he discussed with Ravens coach John Harbaugh and first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr during his visit. “That’s what they were saying, they would be excited about me playing underneath, but they like how I can also convert to being somebody that plays deep,” Taylor said. The Ravens need safety help, too. They lost Geno Stone to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency, and while they return starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams, Williams missed seven games last season with various injuries and played much of the year with one arm because he declined to have surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. There is a lot to like about Taylor. He started for three years at Air Force and finished with 205 career tackles. Various draft reports have said he has good intuition reading plays. He also received the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the best defensive back in college. Air Force’s Trey Taylor, the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, is the cousin of former Ravens safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed. (Air Force Athletics/Handout) Taylor, who played at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, was recruited by 30 schools, including every Ivy League school but Princeton. But Taylor chose the Air Force Academy. “I really wanted to have a positive lifestyle for my family whenever I was getting out,” he said. “I didn’t think that football or going to the NFL at that time in my life was even a possibility. At the Air Force Academy, everybody was really like-minded, everybody had some aspirations in life. They wanted to do big things, wanted to be around big corporations, and I really appreciated that.” Playing at a service academy, though, has some disadvantages. Army, Navy and Air Force don’t play a traditional, modern style of football. Defenders face run-oriented offenses in practice every day. There is also the five-year obligation to stay in the military after graduation, though Taylor said he can play in the NFL first as long as he is under contract before having to serve that obligation. Afterward, according to Taylor, he can pay $250,000 or serve out the five-year commitment. Those things might have played a part in Taylor not being invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. Air Force safety Trey Taylor said he “dominated” practices at the Shrine Bowl while competing against some of the country’s top NFL draft prospects. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Taylor has also been criticized by draft analysts for being too aggressive on the field and not waiting until he can dissect a play. Maybe that’s why he is projected to be a late-round pick. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens signing Deonte Harty, 2019 All-Pro kick returner and former Archbishop Curley star Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona after allegedly threatening to kill another driver Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh bullish despite questions ahead of NFL draft: ‘We’re going to have a heck of a team’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. But at his pro day in Colorado Springs, Taylor ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 22 times and recorded a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump. He has heard his stock is rising. “I got to the Shrine Bowl and played against some of the best competition in the country and honestly dominated those practices,” Taylor said, “so hopefully [scouts] can bring that back to the [general managers] and really be able to say he’s actually really effective no matter who or what opponent he is playing against. “I’m pretty confident in what I’ve been hearing from my agency and how I’ve been climbing up the draft board. I’m happy with the progress. The reality is I can slip into the fourth round or possibly sign as an undrafted free agent. It all depends how the board shakes out.” Regardless, Taylor is easy to like. He is well-rounded and likes to fish, cook and paint. He loves snowboarding, skiing and seeing different parts of the world. Because of his service background, the Ravens know “he is going to play like a Raven” and he can spend possibly a year polishing his skill set playing behind Hamilton and Williams. Taylor has watched Hamilton play for years going back to the 2022 first-round pick’s days at Notre Dame. Taylor likes the leverage Hamilton plays with, especially filling gaps and taking on blockers. Before Air Force games, he used to watch Washington safety Sean Taylor deliver vicious hits because it amped him up. And then, of course, there’s “unc,” Ed Reed. “I literally can call him up right now and be like, ‘Hey, let’s talk ball, or let’s talk investments, or let’s talk life after football,’ and we can have a two-hour conversation,” Taylor said. “It’s crazy. He’s really like having somebody in my corner. “He has a ton of love for the organization and you can see it in the way that he talks about the team.” Now, we’ll see if the Ravens have that mutual feeling about Taylor on draft weekend. NFL draft Round 1: Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 27, noon TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network View the full article

The Ravens might have their new kick returner. Baltimore is signing Deonte Harty to a one-year deal, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. His addition fills the void left by Devin Duvernay, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Harty, 26, is a Baltimore native who starred at Archbishop Curley before playing at Division II Assumption. He spent last season with the Buffalo Bills, where he primarily served as the team’s punt returner, though he also has experience returning kickoffs. Last season, he averaged 12.4 yards on 26 punt returns, including a 96-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 that helped Buffalo secure the AFC East title. Harty returned only one kickoff for 7 yards last season, but he was an All-Pro as an undrafted rookie with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 when he averaged 26.8 yards per kickoff return. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens would be wise to target Ed Reed’s cousin, Trey Taylor, in NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona after allegedly threatening to kill another driver Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh bullish despite questions ahead of NFL draft: ‘We’re going to have a heck of a team’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. For his career, Harty, who was also a Baltimore Sun first-team All-Metro selection in 2014, has averaged 10.4 yards per punt return and 25.2 yards per kick return. He also has 79 career catches for 943 yards, the bulk of those coming in 2021 with the Saints. Two years ago, he legally changed his last name from Harris to Harty in honor of his stepdad. The Ravens’ move comes as the NFL undergoes a drastic change to its kickoff format this year. The new rule, which will be in place for one season before it is reviewed and voted on again, is designed to increase the number of returns per game while limiting the number of injuries from high speed collisions. A steady decline led to a record-low 23.7% return rate in 2023. “I love the fact that kickoff returns are going to be back in the game,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday. “I’m kind of on record saying I wish they would have looked at a couple other things before taking the line of scrimmage out of the kickoff [and] kickoff return play, because the onside kicks and all that are still pretty cool, and they had already taken the wedges out and the double teams out. If you create some space for the kickoff return team to operate, maybe that would have slowed the kickoff team down; that was a theory. “But they went all in with this new rule, and I’d rather have this than what we had in the past, where they were going all in for fair catches. We were never in favor of that.” View the full article

Former Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was arrested in Arizona on Tuesday night. Suggs, 41, was charged with one count of assault and one count of offense against public order, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He has since been released, according to police. More details about the allegations against Suggs were not made immediately available, though a Scottsdale police spokesperson confirmed to The Baltimore Sun that the arrest stems from an incident that happened on March 10. KTVK/KPHO in Arizona reported that the charges relate to an alleged road rage incident in Scottsdale that involved weapons. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh bullish despite questions ahead of NFL draft: ‘We’re going to have a heck of a team’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft prospects to watch: Which players might be available at pick No. 30? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens host ninth leadership conference empowering female high school athletes Drafted 10th overall out of Arizona State by Baltimore in 2003, Suggs spent all but one of his 17 years in the NFL with the Ravens, who inducted him into their Ring of Honor in October. Suggs won two Super Bowl titles in his career, including one with Baltimore in the 2012 season. He was also named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2003 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, as well as an All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. This is also not the first time that Suggs has been accused of assault. In 2003, he was charged with a felony aggravated assault after a man was allegedly struck with a piece of rebar during an argument at a basketball tournament. Suggs was later acquitted of the charges. In 2009, Suggs’ future wife, Candace Williams, accused him of domestic violence and filed a request for a protective order claiming he had hit her and spilled bleach on her and their then-1-year-old son. She later requested that the order be rescinded after they reconciled. Then, in late 2012, she accused him of punching her in the neck and dragging her behind his car as he drove away with their two children. Suggs was ordered to turn over seven guns, including an AK-47 assault rifle, because of the temporary protective order granted by the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Less than a month later, the couple married, and she again asked for the protective order to be lifted. After two years of marriage, she filed for divorce in 2015. Suggs, who spent his final season in the league in 2019 with the Arizona Cardinals and then the Kansas City Chiefs, finished his career with 139 sacks, 895 tackles, 15 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions. This story will be updated. View the full article

With nine picks and holes to fill on both sides of the ball, the Ravens see the 2024 draft as essential to rebuilding the roster depth that made them a top contender last season. General manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh shared a bit of their vision — while proudly obscuring specific plans — at the team’s annual predraft luncheon Tuesday. Here are three takeaways from what they said. The draft will be more essential to building the 2024 Ravens than it was for last year’s team. DeCosta made just six picks last April, fewest for the franchise since 2009, and only one of those players, wide receiver Zay Flowers, played a prominent role as the Ravens went all the way to the AFC championship game. This was largely by design as DeCosta tabbed players such as linebacker Trenton Simpson and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees with an eye on what they might contribute in 2024 rather than 2023. The script has flipped this year. More talent left the organization than entered it over the last two months. The Ravens kept several of their own key free agents, most recently outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and added an offensive hammer in running back Derrick Henry. But they said farewell to three starters on their offensive line, a Pro Bowl inside linebacker, their best edge rusher and a pair of essential reserves from their secondary. They anticipated this exodus, sure, but it left them with much work to do just to get back to par. Both Harbaugh and DeCosta made a point of saying the Ravens have no plan to take even a half-step back this season. Come September, they aim to field a team at least as good as the one that won 13 games and clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a week to spare. To do so, they’ll return to a bedrock principle established by DeCosta’s predecessor and mentor, Ozzie Newsome: build through the draft first. “There’s a real opportunity for us to build that depth up again,” DeCosta said, referring to the flood of picks the team is expected to make over the next two drafts. This isn’t just about back filling behind the team’s highly compensated stars and young Pro Bowl starters, however. The Ravens need multiple players from this class to compete for snaps right away, especially on the offensive line but also potentially at wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback. Even if they don’t need immediate starters at all those spots, they need players who might shove their way to the front of the line heading into 2025, when players such as left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Brandon Stephens, wide receiver Rashod Bateman and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh aren’t guaranteed to be around. “We’ll have some opportunities for sure. There’s going to be some spots that need to be filled,” DeCosta said. “The burden is on me to find those players.” Is this a make-or-break draft? Not quite, but the Ravens’ talent pipeline needs feeding. Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims could be an option for the Ravens in the first round. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) This is a great year to need offensive linemen. Harbaugh reiterated that the draft isn’t the only means by which the Ravens plan to fill the gaps left by departed starters Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. They expect tackle Daniel Faalele, guard Ben Cleveland and the powerful Vorhees (coming off a de facto medical redshirt year) to compete for snaps this summer. But it’s hard to imagine DeCosta would have been comfortable waving goodbye to stalwart veterans Moses and Zeitler if he was not confident he could snag at least one immediate starter from this draft. We’ve heard it from evaluator after evaluator: there could be 10 starting tackles drafted from the top of the first round to the middle of the second, with potential standouts at guard and center also available on all three days of the draft. DeCosta noted that the Ravens spent all of Monday on offensive line prospects, because there were just so many draftable players to review. Do you fancy an athletically gifted talent who didn’t play much such as Georgia’s Amarius Mims? Or a more refined plug-in at right tackle such as BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia? There’s an answer to fit every strategy, including a possible trade out of the first round. And the key point to keep in mind is the Ravens’ work won’t stop with the first offensive lineman they draft. DeCosta will almost certainly draft at least two and perhaps three, recognizing that center Tyler Linderbaum is his only current starter certain to be on the team in 2025. This is the year for the Ravens to set up their offensive line for the next half-decade. “Offensive line is just stacked across the board, in most rounds,” DeCosta said. It’s a perfect meeting of need and opportunity. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh bullish despite questions ahead of NFL draft: ‘We’re going to have a heck of a team’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft prospects to watch: Which players might be available at pick No. 30? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens host ninth leadership conference empowering female high school athletes The calls for a playmaker aren’t quite as urgent, but expect another wide receiver and another running back. It was unusual to go through a predraft news conference without DeCosta having to answer for the team’s spotty track record evaluating wide receivers. That’s partly because Flowers, the team’s third first-round receiver in five years, performed well as a rookie, and partly because of the more obvious holes along the offensive line. But with Bateman, the team’s 2021 first-round pick, still looking for a breakout season and potentially headed to free agency after this year, the Ravens do need another young pass catcher. Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson have discussed which type of receiver — fans still lust after a big, fast X receiver on the outside — might be the the best fit. Again, the good news for the Ravens is that this draft class comes packed with options of all sizes, speeds and styles. DeCosta put the wide receiver group right next to the offensive linemen when asked which positions will yield the most fruit on the draft’s second and third days. The running backs are far less hyped, and the Ravens already made their big move there when they signed Henry. In fact, DeCosta suggested that teams rushed to scoop up starters in free agency in part because there’s not a premium ball carrier projected to go in the first round of the draft. That said, he expects interest in running backs to intensify in the middle three rounds and all but guaranteed the Ravens will draft a player to supplement Henry, Justice Hill and rehabilitating Keaton Mitchell. No, they won’t be looking for a runner to take carries away from Henry, but they could use another versatile threat to rotate in on third down and to take advantage of the NFL’s new kickoff rules, designed to increase returns. View the full article

The information NFL general managers and coaches divulge between now and the draft in two weeks is often about as forthright as that of a Cold War-era double agent. There’s deception everywhere. In other words, if Ravens fans were hoping to glean a trove of revelatory nuggets from the team’s annual predraft news conference Tuesday in Owings Mills, they might be disappointed to learn that Baltimore is planning to target players along the offensive line, at cornerback, running back, possibly at wide receiver as well as other positions, or could even trade out of the first round. Put another way, the Ravens have to address several areas of need after an exodus of more than a dozen players in free agency who were either starters or significant contributors to a team that went an NFL-best 13-4 last season and reached the organization’s first AFC championship game in more than a decade. Yet, there were insights offered by general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh that were somewhat revealing in the 35-minute session inside the team’s auditorium. One of the more telling — at least based on a two-minute commentary by Harbaugh — is that the Ravens don’t quite view all those departures as the window being slammed shut, but rather nothing more than a blip on the radar when it comes to reaching the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl. “Listening to questions about the team and parts and math, I think it’s really interesting and good to look at the parts,” Harbaugh said, transitioning from a question about backup quarterback-wide receiver Malik Cunningham into his thoughts about something else entirely. “You say we lost this many guys, we had this many guys, we’re not gonna be as good of a team, or how are we gonna fill these pieces, and that’s kind of a math equation. In the end, it’s not just about the parts, it’s about the sum of the parts. Can the sum be greater than the parts? And it’s how you put the parts together, how you piece them together. So the process is, it’s about getting the best players you can. “It’s about how you build the whole machine. … It’s not just a math equation at the end of the year. These same questions were being asked last year, they were being asked the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that, all the way back. Every year it’s the same questions. It’s kind of a rollover thing. “The goal is to be all-in every single year as best as you can be.” Baltimore certainly was among the best in the NFL last year, thanks in part to not just the play of quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson but to the moves it made in the months and weeks leading up to and even during the season. There was the signing of Jackson to a long-term contract, aided by the addition at his request of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and the drafting of fellow receiver Zay Flowers, who went on to lead the team in catches and yards. There were the free agent additions of outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy along with cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Arthur Maulet, among others. There was the signing of undrafted and ultimately sensational running back Keaton Mitchell. Now DeCosta is tasked with doing it again. But this time, he’s faced with perhaps an even greater challenge than a year ago. “We’re going to have a heck of a team this year,” Ravens coach Harbaugh, left, seated next to general manager Eric DeCosta. said on Tuesday. “You wait, you watch.” (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Three starting spots on the offensive line need to be filled after guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson left in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded. The defense, which led the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game last season, is without Pro Bowl inside linebacker Patrick Queen, who signed with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Clowney (Carolina Panthers), safety Geno Stone (Cincinnati Bengals) and Darby (Jacksonville Jaguars). There are questions about the depth at running back, wide receiver and cornerback. Baltimore also lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and replaced him with its former inside linebackers coach, 31-year-old Zach Orr, an energetic and bright mind who is untested as a play-caller. The holes on the roster are indeed significant. But there is belief that some of them can be filled from within, be it on the offensive line, edge rusher or at other positions with young but mostly unproven talent. Some of them already have been addressed, with the signing of four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry and the re-signing of Van Noy among other roster moves. There is also, of course, this month’s draft. From that standpoint, the Ravens are in good shape with nine picks, including the 30th overall selection. What direction they go that late in the first round on April 25 is anyone’s guess, but DeCosta said he and his staff spent all day Monday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., dissecting offensive line prospects. “It’s a very deep pool of players,” he said. “We see a lot of different opportunities in different rounds to get players at tackle, guard and center.” They’re also not opposed to taking a wide receiver in the first round, something they’ve done in three of the past five drafts. “If there’s a player that’s there that we think is too good to pass up on, we’re going to take him,” DeCosta said when asked about adding to that with another first-round receiver. With the position thin beyond its top three of Rashod Bateman, Flowers and veteran Nelson Agholor, who signed a one-year extension in February, it’s almost certain Baltimore will look to bolster the group, in the first round or otherwise. There is also the question of whether the team picks up the fifth-year option for Bateman (and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh). DeCosta was noncommittal, saying he would address that after the draft. But a May 2 deadline looms, and declining the option would make both players eligible for free agency next offseason. A deep receiver class helps no matter the decision. The running back class, meanwhile, isn’t as top heavy, but there is depth, particularly in the middle rounds. With only Henry, Justice Hill and Mitchell, who likely won’t be available until late in the year as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December, it’s a position DeCosta was even more definitive about. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft prospects to watch: Which players might be available at pick No. 30? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens host ninth leadership conference empowering female high school athletes “There’s probably a pretty strong chance we’ll draft a running back at some point,” he said. “We do think there’s a chance for us to get a good, young player who can help us in different ways, as a running back, in the passing game and on special teams.” The same is likely true at cornerback, an area the Ravens feel they never have enough players at. “We would love to add a talented corner at some point in the draft,” DeCosta said. “That’s a position you typically never have enough, due to injuries and different things. … Our depth has always been tested in the secondary. This year’s was no exception.” There’s always the possibility Baltimore could make a move or two between now and the draft, though it’s unlikely anything major would develop. “You never know,” DeCosta said. “I don’t know that we’ll do a lot in the next couple weeks, other than polish the board up and get ready for the process. “We’re still building. A big part of that is going to be through the draft. But there’s a lot of different opportunities along the way to add players. … The destination is September, not May.” To that point, players will begin reporting to Owings Mills for the start of the voluntary offseason program beginning Monday. There is a draft to prepare for. There will be more free agent additions at some point. Can the Ravens match the success they had last season despite all of the questions they’re facing this offseason? “We’re going to have a heck of a team this year,” Harbaugh said. “You wait, you watch.” NFL draft Round 1: Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 27, noon TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network Ravens 2024 draft picks No. 30 (first round) No. 62 (second) No. 93 (third) No. 113 (fourth, from Denver via N.Y. Jets) No. 130 (fourth) No. 165 (fifth) No. 218 (sixth, from N.Y. Jets) No. 228 (seventh, from N.Y. Jets) No. 250 (seventh) View the full article

The NFL draft is a little more than two weeks away and the Ravens, like every team around the NFL, have been busy. Specifically, organizations are allowed to host up to 30 players for in-person visits at their facility ahead of the draft, which will take place April 25-27 in Detroit. These meetings last longer and are more formal than those at the scouting combine or at college all-star games. And they can be telling — Baltimore hosted Zay Flowers on a visit last year before drafting him 22nd overall — or perhaps simply subterfuge. Often, though, they do provide at least some insight into what teams are thinking when it comes to players or positions they are targeting, something general manager Eric DeCosta is expected to address during the team’s annual predraft news conference Tuesday in Owings Mills. With the Ravens owning nine picks in this year’s draft, it could also be a fruitful haul. Here is a look at the players who have been confirmed to have or reportedly visited with Baltimore thus far: Troy Fautanu, Washington, offensive tackle NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks the quick-footed 6-foot-4, 317-pound Joe Moore Award winner given to the nation’s top offensive lineman as the 12th best player on his board, so it’s possible that Fautanu would still be around when the Ravens draft at No. 30. He is an enticing prospect and has starting experience at tackle and guard, positions Baltimore has openings for after losing both starting guards in free agency and trading right tackle Morgan Moses. Chop Robinson, Penn State, edge rusher A Maryland native who starred at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, the 6-3, 254-pound edge rusher is fast (4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and twitchy but had relatively modest outputs for the Nittany Lions. In three seasons, including one at Maryland in 2021, Robinson had 60 career tackles, including 20 for loss, and 11 1/2 sacks. His best season with Penn State was in 2022 when he had 10 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Xavier Worthy, Texas, wide receiver The Ravens need to bolster their wide receiver corps with the group thin behind Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor, and Worthy is a burner, having tied John Ross’ 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.21 seconds at the scouting combine. Though slight at 165 pounds, Worthy had career-highs in catches (75) and receiving yards (1,014) last season and could be an option for Baltimore with the 62nd pick. Worthy also becomes intriguing if the Ravens decline to pick up the fifth-year option on Bateman, a decision they must make by May 2. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft prospects to watch: Which players might be available at pick No. 30? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens host ninth leadership conference empowering female high school athletes Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bring back OLB Kyle Van Noy on two-year deal for reported $9 million Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills agree to trade receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | NFL mock draft (Version 4.0): Two-round projections with trades as team needs come into focus Malachi Corley, Kentucky, wide receiver At 5-11 and 215 pounds, Corley has drawn comparison to the San Francisco 49ers’ do-everything star Deebo Samuel from NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein. At Western Kentucky, he played mostly in the slot and in motion, had good explosiveness and yards-after-the-catch skills, though his route-running isn’t viewed as top tier. Still, he put up impressive numbers with 259 catches for 3,303 yards and 29 touchdowns over 49 career games and could be an interesting fit in the Ravens’ redesigned offense, especially with new kickoff rules and kick returner-wide receiver Devin Duvernay having departed in free agency. He currently projects as a mid-to-late second-round pick. Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Canadian Football League, cornerback Stiggers’ story is the stuff of heartbreak and Hollywood: His father died after a car accident and Stiggers walked away from Division II Lane College in 2020 before ever playing, started driving for DoorDash and washing trucks, eventually landed with the semipro, seven-on-seven Fan Controlled Football League the following year, then with the Toronto Argonauts, where he had 53 tackles and five interceptions in 16 games en route to being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award. Twenty-nine NFL teams sent representatives to his pro day last month and the 5-11, 204-pound corner didn’t disappoint with a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical and broad jump of 10 feet, 8 inches. Marshall running back Rasheen Ali was the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in touchdowns with 25 as a redshirt freshman in 2021. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) Rasheen Ali, Marshall, running back The Ravens have their lead back after signing Derrick Henry, but they could use some depth at the position with only Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell — who’s coming off a torn ACL and likely won’t be ready to play until late in the year — behind him. Enter the 5-11, 206-pound Ali, who could be this year’s version of Mitchell as an undrafted free agent who is a shifty runner. Ali was the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in touchdowns with 25 as a redshirt freshman in 2021, rushing for 1,401 yards on 250 carries, but took time away from the Thundering Heard the following season before bouncing back with 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns on 212 carries last year. Theo Johnson, Penn State, tight end The one position the Ravens mostly don’t need to worry about is tight end, with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar their top three tight ends (though they could use an in-line blocker). But they will have to start thinking about Andrews’ future soon as he enters his age 29 season this year. At 6-6 and 259 pounds, Johnson looks the part. In four years at Penn State, he had 77 catches, including 32 last season, for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns in 44 games. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller also believes Johnson’s stock is on the rise as a Day 2 pick and possibly the third tight end drafted. “There’s such an appetite for that wide tight end, that big, nasty, in-line tight end who does a great job in the middle of the field,” Miller said. “No, you’re not flexing them out and asking them to play wide receiver, but they’re super-reliable players.” Travis Glover, Georgia State, offensive tackle A five-year starter with 4,164 career snaps, experience at both tackle positions and five sacks and 24 pressures the past two years, the 6-6, 317-pound Glover could be an intriguing late-round option for the Ravens. He ranked 29th among all tackles in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grades, had his best season as a run blocker last year, per PFF, and a strong showing at the Hula Bowl landed him a late invite to the Senior Bowl. Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa, defensive tackle The Ravens enjoy finding talent from small schools and Boyd would be another example. Projected to be a late-round pick, the 6-4, 317-pound 24-year-old is a project but could be something of a sleeper, giving depth behind Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington and Travis Jones. His 38 reps on bench press during his pro day would’ve ranked second at the scouting combine, and his stock has been on the rise since a strong performance at the Shrine Bowl. Illinois Maryland FootballNick Wass/APMaryland’s Delmar Glaze’s physical attributes make him a potentially interesting Day 3 option as a swing tackle. (Nick Wass/AP) Delmar Glaze, Maryland, offensive tackle With three starting spots needed to be filled on the offensive line, the Ravens will likely draft multiple linemen as part of their rebuild up front. Maryland isn’t known for producing top-tier linemen, but Glaze’s physical attributes make him a potentially interesting Day 3 option as a swing tackle, given he has a nearly 7-foot wingspan and is 6-4 and 327 pounds. Trey Taylor, Air Force, safety The cousin of former Ravens safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed, Taylor won last season’s Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football’s top defensive back. A first-team All-Mountain West selection, Taylor had 71 tackles, three interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown, and four passes defensed last season. A 6-foot, 210-pound three-year starter for the Falcons, he had six career interceptions, projects as a sixth- or seventh-round pick and could give Baltimore some needed depth after the free agent departure of Geno Stone. NFL draft Round 1: Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 27, noon TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network View the full article

The beauty of the NFL draft is in the uncertainty. Less than three weeks before the first round begins April 25 in Detroit, there’s no consensus on how the first round will play out. The Chicago Bears drafting Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick is just about the only selection set in stone. But for as hard as the team and player pairings are to predict in mock drafts, there’s a much clearer picture of who the first-round caliber prospects are at this point of the calendar. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which players at positions of need could be available for the Ravens when they’re on the clock at No. 30 overall: Offensive line Amarius Mims, Georgia: There might not be a prospect with a wider range on the first night of the draft. At 6 feet, 8 inches tall and a lean (yes, lean) 340 pounds, Mims looks the part of an elite tackle, but he only made eight starts in his three-year career at Georgia. Questions about his lack of experience and durability could push him down the board to the Ravens, who might be thrilled to take a chance on the 21-year-old’s incredible potential. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma: Guyton is the most popular pick for the Ravens in recent mock drafts, and it’s easy to see why. At 6-8 and 322 pounds, the former H-back has the size and athleticism to be a cornerstone tackle on the left or right side. But he’s still raw, which means he might not be ready to play right away for a team in need of a starting right tackle. Jordan Morgan, Arizona: Along with Guyton, Morgan has been a popular pairing for the Ravens. Baltimore might be interested too, having reportedly met with the lineman ahead of his pro day. The 6-5, 311-pound Morgan has the size and skill set to play tackle, but some analysts project him to be more successful at guard. Either way, he’ll need to get stronger to hold up at the next level. BYU right tackle Kingsley Suamataia waits for the snap during the Senior Bowl on Feb. 3 in Mobile, Alabama. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Kingsley Suamataia, BYU: Ranked No. 39 overall on the media consensus big board, Suamataia might be a reach late in the first round, but he has the profile of a prospect worth betting on. A former five-star recruit, the 6-5, 322-pound Suamataia is an explosive athlete with long arms and an aggressive mentality. Although he could need some time to develop and refine his technique, the Ravens’ patience could pay off in a high-end starter. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon: The Ravens have their franchise center in Pro Bowl selection Tyler Linderbaum, but what if they want a potential Pro Bowl-caliber guard, too? The 6-3, 328-pound Powers-Johnson is considered by far the best interior offensive lineman in the draft after dominating the Senior Bowl and could step in immediately at one of the Ravens’ two vacant guard spots. Positional value suggests drafting interior linemen early is a poor use of resources, but there’s no doubt “JPJ” would bolster a group at the core of the Ravens’ identity. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, Texas: A player who has drawn comparisons with George Pickens and Tee Higgins would certainly bring a different flavor to the Ravens’ receiver room. But for as enticing as Mitchell’s size, speed and catch radius are, the 6-2, 205-pound Georgia transfer also comes with plenty of question marks, notably inconsistent effort and some wasted movement in his route running. Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey catches a touchdown pass against TCU during the College Football Playoff national championship game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 9, 2023. (Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Ladd McConkey, Georgia: Behind star tight end Brock Bowers, McConkey was the second-leading receiver (762 yards, seven touchdowns) for offensive coordinator Todd Monken when the Bulldogs won a second straight national title in 2022. Might Monken want to bring his former pupil to Baltimore? The 6-foot, 186-pound McConkey can win both on the outside and from the slot, though he could struggle to beat press coverage because of his lack of size and strength. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens host ninth leadership conference empowering female high school athletes Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bring back OLB Kyle Van Noy on two-year deal for reported $9 million Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills agree to trade receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | NFL mock draft (Version 4.0): Two-round projections with trades as team needs come into focus Baltimore Ravens | Offensive line or cornerback? Here are the Ravens’ biggest positions of need as NFL draft approaches. Xavier Worthy, Texas: Worthy turned heads with an NFL scouting combine-record time of 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash, but speed alone does not make a good wide receiver. He is only 5-11 and 165 pounds (first percentile among players drafted since 1999), so physical coverage can neutralize his elusiveness and prevent him from making contested catches. Any offense would like to add an elite vertical threat, but the first round might be too rich for Worthy. Keon Coleman, Florida State: A former basketball player at Michigan State, the 6-3, 213-pound Coleman brings an “above the rim” mentality to the receiver position with his ability to win jump balls and make contested catches. Although he ran the 40-yard dash in a disappointing 4.61 seconds and can struggle to separate from defenders, his combination of size, strength and reliable hands is enticing for a Ravens team in need of a big outside target. Edge rusher Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson rushes the passer against Rutgers on Nov. 18, 2023, in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) Chop Robinson, Penn State: The Gaithersburg native and Maryland transfer has been one of the draft’s rising stars after posting strong athletic testing numbers at the combine, including a blazing 4.48-second 40-yard dash at 254 pounds. What might drop him to the Ravens’ range is a lack of production at Penn State (9 1/2 combined sacks in the past two seasons), less-than-ideal size and subpar technique outside of an elite first step off the line of scrimmage. Darius Robinson, Missouri: If the Ravens are looking for someone to fill Jadeveon Clowney’s big shoes as an edge setter and a pass rusher, this could be the choice. The 6-5, 285-pound Robinson has the size, strength and length (34 1/2-inch arms) to line up all over the defensive front and offers plenty of potential after leading the Tigers in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (8 1/2) as a fifth-year senior. He needs to refine his game, but giving pass-rush guru Chuck Smith a tool kit like Robinson’s to work with could produce a star. Cornerback Cooper DeJean, Iowa: Some evaluators are split on whether DeJean is best at cornerback or safety after he started at both spots in college, but he has the tools to be an impact player in either role. An explosive athlete, the 6-foot, 203-pound DeJean is also a standout punt returner, but there are questions about his ability to play press and man-to-man coverage after excelling as a zone defender at Iowa. Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry celebrates during the Rose Bowl against Michigan on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama: Top players often fall into the Ravens’ lap during the draft, and McKinstry could be next in line. While more explosive athletes have jumped him in the rankings, his body of work as a three-year starter for coach Nick Saban’s excellent and demanding defense speaks for itself. Though McKinstry only recorded two interceptions in college, his awareness, length and poise fit the profile of a longtime NFL starter. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia: It’s unlikely the Ravens reach for a prospect but they could be tempted by the former Bulldogs standout. The 5-11, 186-pound Lassiter is aggressive, versatile and savvy, and he’s drawn rave reviews for his leadership and competitiveness inside one of the nation’s top programs. His size, speed and athleticism might be lacking for the position, but his intangibles could catch the Ravens’ attention. View the full article

Leadership comes in many forms, some loud and others quiet. Thursday, the Ravens hosted the ninth L.I.F.T Conference (Leading and Inspiring Females to Thrive) at its Owings Mills practice facility. An estimated 180 female high school student-athletes attended the leadership seminar. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors applied with many receiving referrals from coaches and athletic directors. The criteria to be selected included student-athletes who serve as an “untitled leader” and “unsung hero” for their respective programs, according to the Ravens. “I heard about it from my older sister,” Mt. Hebron junior Lily Hofmann said. “She said it was a really good opportunity about leadership. She really likes the Ravens and I enjoy the Ravens a lot. We’re both very passionate about that. So, it’s just a good opportunity for women empowerment. I’m having a really good time here.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh and 2006 University of Maryland women’s basketball national champion and WNBA All-Star Marissa Coleman were featured speakers, while five Ravens female staff members in varying roles led a panel discussion. “There’s so many fantastic young people today that you get a chance to meet, Harbaugh said. “But the opportunity as a leader is to help somebody else feel good about themselves. Say something good to somebody during the course of the day. To look them in the eye and tell them they’re capable, worthwhile and they’re valuable is something they’ll remember for the rest of their life. That makes a difference. That’s a really powerful thing and I think these girls understand that.” Ravens director of nutrition Sarah Synder led a conversation surrounding nutrition while assistant strength and conditioning coach Kaelyn Buskey guided the girls in a workout in the team house. Jalyn Powell, a program manager at Strive, which provides specialized leadership training, also led the girls in interactive leadership exercises. Powell began the packed day with a 45-minute leadership workshop, focused on helping the girls realize their leadership strengths and weaknesses. The collaborative exercise encouraged audience participation and interaction with one another. “I would say the emphasis on confidence and empowerment,” Mt. Hebron junior Quinn Carberry said was her biggest takeaway. “How it plays a critical role in expanding your leadership skills and honestly just being more confident with yourself has been super important today.” Harbaugh entered next to an excited applause. He detailed the importance of positivity in leadership and uplifting those around you. Positivity is the first distinctive leadership lesson Harbaugh learned from his parents who constantly empowered him and his brother, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. Laying out his leadership philosophy, Harbaugh fielded a range of questions from how he handles a loss to Justin Tucker’s practice habits. “Anybody can be a leader. A leader is how you make somebody feel,” he said. “Maya Angelou said, ‘You remember how somebody made you feel in the end.’ If you can make somebody feel good about themselves, empower somebody, make them stronger, then they’ll remember that for the rest of their life.” The five-person panel was particularly illuminating to the student-athletes. Each panelist shared their respective journeys to the Ravens, offering valuable advice on networking and work-life balance. Their perspectives opened up the eyes of many in the audience. “There have been so many different segments,” Mt. Hebron junior Phoebe Hogle said. “Coach Harbaugh came out and he gave his speech. He gave a lot of interesting, almost more philosophical-type prompts to really get us into thinking more than just the game play. It’s a whole system and everyone has their parts. All of these women shared the great leadership roles that they are in inside of the system. How it all works together is really beautiful.” Hours of sitting quickly turned to energetic physical activity. Buskey worked with fellow coaches Megan Rosburg and Marianna Salas to create a workout that replicated what the Ravens players will do in the offseason. Rotating between multiple stations, the coaches explained the purpose of each exercise. For 40 minutes, the girls worked out like Ravens. “It’s a really big passion of mine to expose girls at a young age to career opportunities in sports and how they exist outside of simply playing,” Buskey said. “Analytics, strength and conditioning, athletic training, sports nutrition, public relations and marketing just to name a few. We have so many career opportunities and I think that’s the awesome added benefit of this leadership conference.” The conference helps introduce those opportunities to girls at a younger age. “We’re trying to almost play catch up a little bit because this is not something that is not marketed toward girls at the elementary, middle school age,” Buskey said. “So, something as simple as this eight-hour experience that they’re here I think exposes them to that. I think they’re now open to the idea of pursuing a career in sports, especially in football.” Snyder then led a 40-minute presentation on nutrition. She shared her day-to-day responsibilities with the team and gave helpful tips for pre and postgame meals, depending on the sport. Eighteen years to the day after winning a collegiate national championship, Coleman described Thursday as a “full circle moment.” She shared wisdom that she wished she had as a high school athlete. “I think it’s just to feel empowered,” Coleman said of her message. “To see that there are people that want to see them be successful and the different ways that you can lead and be into sports. I think the more conversations and experiences like this the better. Then you realize you’re not the only one experiencing some things. Young girls, it’s even harder on them because they’re dealing with so many outside forces, too.” Coleman’s message capped off an educational day filled with smiles, laughs and thought, lifting up the next generation of leaders and female student-athletes. “It really opened my eyes that women are allowed to do this,” City freshman Michaela Breit said. “I want to be involved in sports, especially football or basketball when I’m older. But I don’t think I’ll necessarily play, so especially when it comes to the NFL, I want to be involved in that somehow. Seeing all these women today that are involved somehow was definitely inspiring.” View the full article

In desperate need of a pass rusher after an exodus of free agents, the Ravens are bringing back one of their best from last season. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy is returning to Baltimore, the team announced Thursday. The deal is for two years and is reportedly worth $9 million with up to $1 million in additional incentives, according to NFL Network. Van Noy, 33, is coming off a career year in which he had nine sacks in 14 games after joining the team as a free agent in late September following injuries to outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills agree to trade receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | NFL mock draft (Version 4.0): Two-round projections with trades as team needs come into focus Baltimore Ravens | Offensive line or cornerback? Here are the Ravens’ biggest positions of need as NFL draft approaches. Baltimore Ravens | 10 takeaways from NFL meetings, including Ravens ticket prices, uniforms, Christmas games and more Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: 40 years after Colts left, Baltimore remains a football city like no other | COMMENTARY Coach John Harbaugh said during last week’s league meetings in Orlando, Florida, that he was “optimistic” that Baltimore would be able to sign Van Noy or outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9 1/2 sacks last season. Not long after, Clowney agreed to a two-year deal worth a reported $20 million with the Carolina Panthers. Van Noy’s return should help bolster what is an otherwise young and somewhat unproven outside linebacker group that includes Oweh, Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Malik Hamm. Last season, he was third on the team in sacks, behind defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and Clowney, and a significant contributor to a defense that led the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game. Van Noy had 48 total pressures and a 14.7% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus, which ranked 29th in the league among qualifying edge rushers, along with 30 tackles, including nine for loss, four passes defended and two forced fumbles, including a strip-sack. Van Noy’s signing comes after a dozen players from last year’s 13-4 team that reached the AFC championship game signed elsewhere in free agency. In addition to losing Clowney, inside linebacker Patrick Queen signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, safety Geno Stone with the Cincinnati Bengals and cornerback Ronald Darby with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A second-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Van Noy won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots but has played for four teams the past four seasons, including the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and now Baltimore. Still, he has remained a more than capable pass rusher with at least five sacks each of the past five seasons. He also fit in well in the Ravens’ locker room. “I pride myself on having a high IQ,” Van Noy said last season. “You can ask anybody, and I think they’d tell you I’m a smart football player. I take pride in that. I take pride in being a professional. I tried to learn the defense in a week, so I feel like I got a good grasp on it. I know what everyone’s doing and where I fit in.” In 142 games, Van Noy has 500 tackles, 42 1/2 sacks, 72 quarterback hits, 12 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and three interceptions. View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are trading their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a deal that was agreed to on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced. It was first reported by ESPN. As part of the deal, the Bills acquired the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which Houston acquired in a trade with Minnesota, the person said. Houston also acquired Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, and a fifth-rounder in 2025, the person said. Diggs’ departure from Buffalo leaves quarterback Josh Allen without his favorite target, and breaks up a tandem that has re-written the team’s passing records since the receiver’s arrival in a trade with Minnesota in March 2020. Together they transformed a Bills offense into becoming one of the NFL’s most potent, while helping Buffalo win four straight AFC East titles. For the Texans, Diggs gives the offense another playmaker to team with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Collins led Houston with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The Texans went worst to first in the AFC South under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. Houston has also traded for running back Joe Mixon, along with a host of improvements on defense. After the deal, the Texans were 15-1 to win the Super Bowl next season on FanDuel Sportsbook. The 30-year-old Diggs has nine years of NFL experience and topped 1,000 yards in each of his past six seasons. In his first season in Buffalo, he became the Bills’ first player to lead the league in both yards receiving (1,535) and catches (127). Diggs’ production began slipping in the second half of last season, which coincided with Buffalo firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoting Joe Brady, who placed a renewed emphasis on the running attack. Diggs finished the season with 107 catches and 1,183 yards — both lows during his tenure with the Bills — and eight touchdowns. He finished his time in Buffalo with 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns to rank fourth on the team list. Diggs holds the top four spots on the franchise list for single-season receptions and the top-two spots for yards receiving. Overall, he has 1,178 catches for 9,995 yards and 67 touchdowns since being selected by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of Maryland. Diggs, however, also carried over his mercurial personality that led the Vikings to trade him to Buffalo. Though voted a Bills team captain in each of the past two seasons, Diggs caused occasional stirs with several sideline outbursts and the frustration he showed after the Bills’ 2022 season ended with a 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in a divisional round playoff. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL mock draft (Version 4.0): Two-round projections with trades as team needs come into focus Baltimore Ravens | Offensive line or cornerback? Here are the Ravens’ biggest positions of need as NFL draft approaches. Baltimore Ravens | 10 takeaways from NFL meetings, including Ravens ticket prices, uniforms, Christmas games and more Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: 40 years after Colts left, Baltimore remains a football city like no other | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on new NFL rules, pass rush concerns, Lamar Jackson and more | COMMENTARY Diggs left the locker room before coach Sean McDermott had a chance to address the team, and had to be coaxed back by teammate Duke Williams. Diggs then spent the offseason posting cryptic messages on his social media accounts while declining to take part in the Bills’ voluntary offseason programs. Confusion then arose when Diggs wasn’t present for the Bills’ first mandatory practice and McDermott said he was “concerned” about the player’s absence. A day later, McDermott corrected himself by saying Diggs was excused from practice, but was present at the facility to discuss lingering issues that stemmed from the previous season. The dustups led to Diggs having to several times reiterate his loyalty to the Bills, including him saying he wanted to finish his career in Buffalo. “I take my job seriously. You can see how I play. You can see how I play. You can see how I practice,” Diggs said in November. “They’ve never questioned me as a player, and as a man of what I bring to the table. So me being fully invested has never really been in question.” View the full article

It’s officially draft month. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft begins April 25 in Detroit, which means there are only a few weeks left for prospects to make their final impressions and teams to solidify their big boards as they fill their remaining roster holes. Here are The Baltimore Sun’s latest projections for the first two rounds, with a few mock trades sprinkled in: 1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California After Chicago traded quarterback Justin Fields to Pittsburgh, there’s no mystery here. Williams has the potential to lead a talented roster to playoff contention as a rookie. 2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU There’s plenty of mystery here, with no consensus on the second-best quarterback. The Commanders decide Daniels is the best fit for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and hope the 210-pound Heisman Trophy winner can stay healthy. 3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina It would be bold for top executive Eliot Wolf and coach Jerod Mayo to pass on a quarterback here, even though the Patriots have plenty of other needs and a capable stop-gap in Jacoby Brissett. The question is whether Maye has done enough to solidify his spot ahead of a fast-rising J.J. McCarthy. 4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The Cardinals will likely get plenty of calls to trade down, but it will be hard to pass on a blue-chip talent like Harrison at a position of need. The son of the Hall of Fame receiver can be the focus of the passing game from day one. 5. TRADE: Minnesota Vikings (from L.A. Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan After losing Kirk Cousins to Atlanta, it’s unlikely the Vikings leave the first round without a quarterback. Minnesota trades picks Nos. 11 and 23 to the Chargers to move up and select McCarthy, who will battle Sam Darnold for the starting job with an eye toward the future. 6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU With the top four quarterbacks off the board, the Giants “settle” for Nabers, who has the talent and explosiveness to follow Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase as former LSU stars turned elite NFL receivers. 7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame With the signing of wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the Titans turn their attention toward rebuilding one of the league’s worst offensive lines. Alt, a former tight end, has the traits to be a cornerstone at left tackle. 8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama Pairing Washington receiver Rome Odunze with Drake London is tempting, but the Falcons desperately need to end their long search for an impact pass rusher. Turner would be a great fit for new coach Raheem Morris’ defense. 9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington This is a dream scenario for the Bears, who get one of the “big three” receivers to pair with Williams, DJ Moore and Keenan Allen and form one of the league’s most exciting offenses. 10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Even with the addition of former Chargers receiver Mike Williams, the Jets need another pass-catcher for Aaron Rodgers. Bowers has Pro Bowl potential after a highly productive college career. Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga makes sense for the Chargers and new coach Jim Harbaugh. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File) 11. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (from Minnesota): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State With coach Jim Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman in charge of the offense, expect an emphasis on blocking over receiving. Fuaga is a mauler in the running game who can start immediately at right tackle. 12. TRADE: Los Angeles Rams (from Denver): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State With 11 total picks, the Rams have the assets to move up a few spots. Denver, which doesn’t have a second-round selection, is happy to trade down. Verse would pair well with nose tackle Kobie Turner and linebacker Byron Young to bolster the pass rush after Aaron Donald’s retirement. 13. Las Vegas Raiders: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo The Raiders have holes to fill on the right side of their offensive line, but lockdown defenders are much harder to find. Coach Antonio Pierce can turn his defense into a true strength with the feisty, athletic Senior Bowl star. 14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT/G, Alabama With Ryan Ramczyk’s outlook murky because of a knee injury, the Saints have question marks at both tackle spots. Latham might be the best tackle prospect in this draft because of his size and strength. 15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama The return of slot corner Kenny Moore II helps, but the Colts need another defender on the outside to fix a leaky secondary. Arnold has the traits to be the team’s top cover man from the get-go. 16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington You’ll see this pairing a lot considering the Seahawks have a glaring need at guard and Fautanu played for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at Washington. The former Huskies star could even take over at right tackle if Abraham Lucas continues to struggle. 17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson What Wiggins lacks in size (173 pounds at the combine), he more than makes up for with speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and athleticism. The Jaguars still need a long-term solution at cornerback after bringing in Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage this offseason. Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II would be a good fit for the Bengals. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) 18. Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas After losing defensive tackle DJ Reader to the Lions, the Bengals draft his replacement in Murphy, an explosive gap-shooter who can wreak havoc in the middle of the front seven. 19. TRADE: Denver Broncos (from L.A. Rams): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA After trading down, the Broncos land a player they might have selected earlier anyway. Latu, who led the nation with 21 1/2 tackles for loss last season, adds some juice to a budding group of young pass rushers in Denver. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills agree to trade receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | Offensive line or cornerback? Here are the Ravens’ biggest positions of need as NFL draft approaches. Baltimore Ravens | 10 takeaways from NFL meetings, including Ravens ticket prices, uniforms, Christmas games and more Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: 40 years after Colts left, Baltimore remains a football city like no other | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on new NFL rules, pass rush concerns, Lamar Jackson and more | COMMENTARY 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, OT/C, Duke The Steelers need a center and potentially a left tackle. Graham can play both, though he projects inside because of his shorter-than-average arms. He should help anchor an offensive line that paved the way for one of the league’s best rushing attacks down the stretch last season. 21. Miami Dolphins: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois Newton would have big shoes to fill replacing Christian Wilkins in Miami, but he’s disruptive and offers the pass-rushing potential the Dolphins lack in the interior. 22. Philadelphia Eagles: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia The Eagles taking a rare athlete with limited experience and molding him to eventually take over for Lane Johnson at right tackle just makes sense considering which positions and athletic profiles they value early in the draft. 23. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (from Minnesota): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama The Chargers’ depth behind top cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is uninspiring. McKinstry is a versatile, smart defender who would be a great fit for former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. 24. Dallas Cowboys: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State The Cowboys stop a mini-slide for Fashanu, who needs more refinement and is not as physically imposing as some of the other top tackles in this class. Still, he has the potential to be a star and would fill a big position of need for Dallas after the departure of longtime starting left tackle Tyron Smith. 25. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa After signing former Giants standout Xavier McKinney, the Packers shore up their safety pairing with DeJean, an explosive athlete who could also line up at outside corner. Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson, a Gaithersburg native and Maryland transfer, could be a first-round pick. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State The Buccaneers have talent at pass rusher but they don’t have anyone as explosive as Robinson, a Gaithersburg native and Maryland transfer. His first step is special, and he could be a game-changing presence as a rotational piece for coach Todd Bowles. 27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri Relying on defensive linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols is a scary proposition for an NFL defense. Robinson is a versatile player with the strength to rush from the interior or set the edge against the run. 28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU This is probably the furthest Thomas could fall after running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and scoring 17 touchdowns last season, but the Bills won’t complain. The former LSU star would give Josh Allen a more explosive and reliable deep threat than Gabe Davis, who signed with Jacksonville. 29. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri The Lions needed cornerback help even before Cameron Sutton was released. Rakestraw is smart, tough and plays with an edge, which makes him a perfect fit for Detroit. Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton is a rare athlete who could help solidify the Ravens’ offensive line. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) 30. Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma There’s always potential for the Ravens to trade down and accumulate more picks, but having a top prospect fall into their laps makes this an easy decision. Guyton is a rare athlete with room to grow who could start at right tackle as a rookie before eventually taking over for Ronnie Stanley on the left side. 31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona There’s been a lot of speculation about the 49ers moving on from one or both of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, which might make drafting a wide receiver a higher priority. But to keep winning this season, the 49ers solidify their offensive line with the smooth-moving Morgan. 32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia McConkey doesn’t have the enticing height-weight-speed combination of some other receivers in this class, but he’s quick and knows how to get open. He could be the reliable target quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been looking for to complement tight end Travis Kelce. Round 2 33. Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas The Panthers added some much-needed talent at receiver by trading for the Steelers’ Diontae Johnson, but they shouldn’t stop there. Mitchell looks the part of a No. 1 target with his size, speed and leaping ability. 34. New England Patriots: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU 35. Arizona Cardinals: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia 36. Washington Commanders: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama 37. Los Angeles Chargers: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan 38. Tennessee Titans: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State 39. Carolina Panthers (from N.Y. Giants): Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon 40. Washington Commanders (from Chicago): T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State 41. Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale 42. Houston Texans (from Minnesota): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas Giving star quarterback C.J. Stroud a wide receiver who ran the 40-yard dash in an NFL scouting combine-record 4.21 seconds would make Houston an even more popular pick to win the Super Bowl next season. 43. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan 44. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington The Raiders have some fallback options at quarterback in Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, but they should be thinking more aggressively. Although Penix comes with plenty of concerns over his injury history and lack of mobility, his arm strength and character are worth betting on. 45. New Orleans Saints (from Denver): Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas 46. Indianapolis Colts: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon 47. New York Giants (from Seattle): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota 48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State 49. Cincinnati Bengals: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan 50. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Michigan 52. TRADE: Denver Broncos (from L.A. Rams): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon It’s hard to believe the Broncos will head into a new season with Jarrett Stidham as their top quarterback. Nix is already 24 and doesn’t have the profile of a high-end NFL starter, but his experience and mobility give him a chance to exceed expectations. 53. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 54. Cleveland Browns: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Playing in a division that prides itself on running the football, the Browns could use another big body on the defensive line. The 6-4, 366-pound Sweat won’t be an every-down player, but offenses are going to have to double-team him when he’s on the field. 55. Miami Dolphins: Christian Haynes, G, UConn 56. Dallas Cowboys: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee 57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Frazier, C/G, West Virginia 58. Green Bay Packers: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan 59. Houston Texans: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson 60. Buffalo Bills: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia 61. Detroit Lions: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette is an intriguing prospect for the Ravens. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File) 62. Ravens: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina The Ravens said goodbye to Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman is entering the final year of his rookie deal, which means receiver is once again a draft priority. The 6-1, 221-pound Legette is not a smooth route runner, but he’s fast, competitive and makes tough catches (only two drops in 2023). He could also return kicks, a bonus after the departure of Devin Duvernay. 63. San Francisco 49ers: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington 64. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston View the full article

“We still have Joe, so that’s a big plus.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh was talking about Joe D’Alessandris, now in his 45th year of coaching and eighth as Baltimore’s offensive line coach. He’s correct about it being an enormous positive, too, given the 69-year-old’s masterful teaching abilities behind the scenes of some of the game’s best fronts over the years. And he’ll be particularly important next season when the group will feature at least three new starters after guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departed in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded. With a rebuilt offensive line and an exodus of a large crop of free agents, the Ravens have a lot of holes to fill to have a chance to get back to the AFC championship game. Some of them have already been plugged, most notably at running back with the addition of four-time Pro Bowl selection Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, the return of Arthur Maulet and signing of Ka’Dar Holman provide depth at cornerback. And newly signed tackle Josh Jones should compete for Moses’ old job if not one of the guard spots given the former third-round pick’s versatility and experience at both positions. Yet, there are still plenty of needs. Some of them will be filled in the draft April 25-27 in Detroit. The good news for general manager Eric DeCosta is the Ravens have nine draft picks. And with the free agents they lost this year, including outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, they are in line to receive four compensatory picks (fourth-, fifth- and two sixth-rounders) next year in addition to their usual seven. That’s 20 total picks this year and next, something that will help tremendously when it comes to restocking the roster with inexpensive talent as the backloaded contracts of quarterback Lamar Jackson and inside linebacker Roquan Smith, among others, only get more pricey with each passing year. With the draft only three weeks away, here is a look at the Ravens’ biggest needs and areas they will likely target: Offensive line Harbaugh is unsurprisingly bullish when it comes to this unit. “We have guys in-house. We have free agents that we’ve signed,” he said during the annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida, last week. “Then we have the draft. So, I’m confident we’ll have a very good offensive line.” Among those in-house options? Daniel Faalele will likely get a crack at the starting right tackle job and Patrick Mekari, whom Baltimore prefers to use in a swing role across multiple positions, could be an option as well. But there’s also a chance the Ravens find their starting right tackle at pick No. 30 in this year’s draft. As for the two guard spots, Jones, Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland and Sala Aumavae-Laulu are all candidates. There are also some veteran free agents still available. And it’s possible again they find a starter in the first round or later. Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, tackling Michigan wide receiver Semaj Morgan on Jan. 1, could be a player the Ravens target in the draft. (Ryan Sun/AP) Cornerback The Ravens are in solid shape with Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens returning on the outside and Maulet fitting in nicely in a slot role. But Humphrey is also coming off an injury-plagued season and Baltimore’s other corners all have varying question marks. Which perhaps explains why some draftniks have the Ravens targeting Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw, Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry or Iowa’s Cooper DeJean with the 30th pick. Whether Baltimore goes offensive line or corner in the first round, both are considered deep positions in this year’s draft, so they should have options. But as was the case last year, cornerback will be a position of importance and need again. Colts Ravens FootballTerrance Williams/APRavens outside linebacker David Ojabo has missed most of his first two seasons in Baltimore. (Terrance Williams/AP) Edge rusher Harbaugh said he believes David Ojabo, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 last season, is going to break out this year alongside his “partner in crime” Odafe Oweh, who was solid but inconsistent again last season. “They are ready to roll, man,” Harbaugh said. “Every time I talk to them [and] every time I see them, they are brimming with enthusiasm. They are working hard, and [David] is healthy. They are both healthy.” How effective they can be after the departures of Clowney and inside linebacker Patrick Queen — outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy is still a free agent — remains to be seen. Van Noy could be back, but even so it would be wise for the Ravens to find a young pass rusher in the draft given Ojabo’s injury history. He has essentially missed his first two seasons, and Oweh has been inconsistent his first three years. Perhaps the high school best friends will finally deliver on their promise this season, but finding another young option is never a bad idea. Wide receiver Jackson provided his input on wide receiver and fellow South Floridian Zay Flowers ahead of last year’s draft and things worked out swimmingly on the field with the former Boston College star leading the team in catches and yards. So, Jackson is doing so again this year. 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Baltimore will have Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor again, but beyond those three things get thin fast with Tylan Wallace, who plays mostly on special teams, and Sean Ryan, an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers last year, the only other wide receivers on the roster. Like offensive linemen and cornerbacks, the draft is considered to be deep with wide receivers, so adding to that group via the draft seems a likely scenario. Ravens draft picks Round 1: No. 30 Round 2: No. 62 Round 3: No. 93 Round 4: No. 113 (from New York Jets) Round 4: No. 130 Round 5: No. 165 Round 6: No. 218 (from Jets) Round 7: No. 228 (from Jets) Round 7: No. 250 View the full article

ORLANDO, Fla. — There was golf, a swanky evening soiree complete with a band, committee meetings and interview sessions with the media. And, of course, the annual grilling of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. This year’s league meetings at the lush Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes was, as usual, a gathering of football cognoscenti, and it provided no shortage of storylines, most notably the implementation of wild new kickoff rules and the banning of a controversial tackle beginning next season. The Ravens, meanwhile, had a much less fretful few days compared with a year ago, when quarterback Lamar Jackson revealed during the meetings that he’d asked the team to trade him. After signing the now two-time NFL Most Valuable Player to a $260 million extension last April, finishing a league-best 13-4 and reaching its first AFC championship game in over a decade, this year’s affair was perhaps a bit more relaxed for Baltimore’s brass, with owner Steve Bisciotti, president Sashi Brown, general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh all on hand. Here are the 10 biggest takeaways from the three days of meetings: Ravens ticket prices going up The Ravens will raise the price of season tickets by an average of 13% for next season to “remain competitive,” said Brown, who met with local reporters during the meetings. Last year, Baltimore ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in terms of pricing, and the bump, Brown said, is part of the Ravens doing so every other year. Given significant renovations to M&T Bank Stadium, which began after the season ended and are scheduled to be completed in 2026, seating will also be “re-zoned,” Brown said. He added that they won’t lose much in terms of seating capacity, despite the renovations. The Ravens are also adding “about 160, 170” field seats, similar to what the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers have at their stadiums. Alternate uniform change Uniforms are always a hot topic among fans, and the Ravens “have some stuff that’s coming,” Brown said. He declined to get into specifics but did add that the Ravens are exploring changes to their alternate uniforms. One thing that won’t be changing, however, are Baltimore’s regular home and away jerseys. “We feel like we have really classic jerseys, and I think the team did a great job when we’ve had some minor modifications,” Brown said. “We’re really cautious about making changes, something that we think really works well.” Ravens Training Kim Hairston/Baltimore SunRavens coach John Harbaugh, right, talks with quarterback Josh Johnson. The 38-year-old Johnson will back up Lamar Jackson this season. Ravens name backup quarterback When Tyler Huntley signed with the Cleveland Browns earlier this month, it was clear the Ravens weren’t interested in retaining him or investing much money in the position, given he got a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum. It also raised the question of who would be the No. 2 quarterback behind Jackson. Harbaugh provided the answer: Josh Johnson. Johnson, who will turn 38 in May and has played for an NFL-record 14 teams, joined Baltimore last offseason and spent the year as the team’s third/emergency quarterback. The only other quarterback on the roster — for now — is second-year player Malik Cunningham, who was Jackson’s teammate for one season at Louisville and was signed from the New England Patriots’ practice squad late last season. “Thrilled to have him back,” Harbaugh said of Johnson. “I think he can still play at a really high level. He knows the offense inside and out. He contributes to the offense. He and Lamar have a great relationship.” Offensive lineman Vorhees ‘full go’ after torn ACL One of the more interesting moves the Ravens made last year was when they traded back into the draft and selected Southern California offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees. Vorhees was projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick until he tore his ACL at the NFL scouting combine. The injury didn’t stop him from ripping off 38 reps during bench press, but it did end any chance of him playing this past season. Harbaugh said Vorhees is now a “full go,” which could make things interesting again for Baltimore, given the uncertainty surrounding its offensive line. The Ravens lost starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson in free agency while right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets in a draft pick swap. Goodbye, surprise onside kicks The biggest news of the week was the NFL’s drastic new kickoff formation, which should boost the frequency of returns significantly. Perhaps that’s why on the same day the proposal passed, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed four-time All-Pro returner Cordarrelle Patterson to a two-year deal worth a reported $6 million. With the new rule, however, comes a loss: the surprise onside kick. Now, teams will have to declare when they are going to attempt an onside kick, which they can do up to twice a game and only in the fourth quarter while using a traditional formation. That means we might never again see what coach Sean Payton did in Super Bowl XLIV, when the New Orleans Saints, down 10-6 to the Indianapolis Colts, opened the second half with a surprise onside kick that they recovered. Six plays later, the Saints scored, completely changing the momentum of the game on the way to victory. Hip-drop tackle chaos? The other hot-button topic of the week was the NFL banning the use of the hip-drop tackle after the league’s owners unanimously voted to outlaw the move. Several defensive players — including now former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen — have been outspoken against the ban because it’s viewed as more legislation favoring offensive players. Advocates for getting rid of it, meanwhile, believe it can be coached and enforced accurately. If a hip-drop tackle is used, it results in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. But plays will also be reviewed by the league and offending players will be hit with a fine — even if they weren’t flagged. Goodell said he expects a learning curve, but this undoubtedly will end up being at least a little messy. New trade deadline One of the lesser talked about but important proposals that was approved is moving the trade deadline back a week to the Tuesday after Week 9. Pushing the deadline back was something Harbaugh said he was in favor of when asked about it during last season. “It is better for the players and the teams and the fans,” he said. “As long as it doesn’t compromise the fairness and integrity. As far as I can tell it would be great.” The Tuesday after Week 9 this year also marks another, even more important day: Election Day. Maryland Air National Guards A-10 fighters fly over M&T Bank Stadium before a playoff game against the Texans. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Draft could be coming to Baltimore, but not Super Bowl As reported earlier, the Ravens have already begun talks with the NFL about hosting the draft, which has rotated cities since 2015 after 50 years in New York. It also might be a while, between M&T Bank Stadium renovations not being scheduled to be completed until 2026 and other teams, including the rival Steelers, also expressing interest in what has become one of the league’s biggest events. What about the idea of Baltimore someday hosting a Super Bowl? The Ravens haven’t talked or even thought about that, Brown said. Though the NFL has gone to cold weather cities before, most of those featured indoor stadiums. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was the exception, hosting the event in 2014, but it’s also just outside New York City, which has the kind of hotel and event space Baltimore simply doesn’t. 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Despite the win and a largely positive experience, don’t expect them to be a part of that again this season, even as the NFL expands its reach with a game in Brazil for the first time. “We know there’s an expansion, and we’re supportive of the expansion of the game internationally,” Brown said. “It’s not an easy task to get over there. But I think the league’s been really thoughtful and flexible in terms of helping teams and giving them support when they go over. We had a good time over there. Obviously, it’s more helpful when we win, but I thought the stadium that we played in over at [Tottenham] was fantastic. And our opportunity to get our players over there was a neat experience. But we’re focused and six days later, we’re playing another [game].” The Eagles, one of the teams playing in Brazil, face the Ravens next season, but their rumored opponent for the Sept. 6 opener in Sao Paolo is the Browns. An announcement could come any day. More Christmas football The NBA and Christmas have long been tied together, with the league holding games on the holiday on 76 occasions. The NFL, meanwhile, has played on Christmas just 30 times, including last year when the Ravens blew out the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. Next Christmas falls on a Wednesday, a day the NFL typically doesn’t play — until this year. Last year’s Christmas triple-header averaged more than 27 million viewers per game, according to Sports Media Watch, which dwarfed the NBA’s average of 2.85 million viewers across five games. So guess what? The NFL decided it will hold two Christmas games this year. Matchups haven’t been announced, but both games will feature teams that played the previous Saturday, which would allow for the same amount of time off for teams that play a Thursday night game. View the full article

During the fall of 1983, I was asked to go out and write a feature on Baltimore Colts rookie linebacker Vernon Maxwell. Even though I was still a sports clerk, this was the best assignment ever because I finally would get into an NFL locker room and begin covering a pro team. Little did I know that I would not cover another pro team in Baltimore for the next 13 years. On March 28-29, 1984, there was professional anger because the Colts left their training facility in Owings Mills for Indianapolis on a cold, windy and snowy night. The personal pain was even greater because, like all Baltimoreans, I had grown up with Colts legends such as Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, John Mackey, Mike Curtis, Artie Donovan and Bobby Boyd. The new generation of Colts, including Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, John Dutton, Freddie Cook and Roger Carr, were just as exciting and were starting to win on a regular basis, too. Then it was all gone in one night when the Mayflower trucks left under the cover of darkness. That was 40 years ago, and the fond memories are still etched deep in our minds. So is the pain, especially then-Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer looking as if he was about to cry. “I was still living at home with my parents. I was 26, definitely a Colts fan,” said Mark Crilly, 67, of Hagerstown. “And when I heard the news, I remember it being an empty feeling. It was like, ‘No, this can’t be happening, this doesn’t ever happen.’” Paul Hocheder, 89, of Taylorsville had a similar reaction. “Every time I see a Mayflower moving van I still get mad even until this day,” Hocheder said. “Secondly, Mayor Schaefer had assured us that they had a plan in place to build this guy [Robert] Irsay a stadium and I am not happy one bit to this very day that they’re gone. It was just a shock, a total shock when I woke up and saw those moving vans in the snowstorm leaving the complex.” Will we ever get over it? Nope, not as long as the old Colts fans are still around. The former players lived among us year-round. They owned transportation and freight companies, liquor and sporting goods stores and several restaurants. It wasn’t unusual to see the players out at charitable events because, unlike a lot of current players, Baltimore became their home. That all changed when Robert Irsay became the owner of the Colts in 1972. He ran one of the NFL’s most storied franchises into the ground with mistakes in the hiring of front office executives as well as head and assistant coaches. AP Baltimore Colts' owner Bob Irsay engages in a shouting match with reporters at a news conference on Jan. 20, 1984. Irsay denied making a deal to move the Colts to Phoenix. Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis two months later. Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer is on right. Lloyd Pearson, Baltimore Sun Under cover of a night snowstorm, the Colts steal out of their Owings Mills complex on their way to Indianapolis on March 29, 1984. UPI file photo Colts' owner Robert Irsay at a press conference in Indianapolis on April 14, 1984. At left is acting general manager Jimmy Irsay. Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas carries the ball as the Oakland Raiders’ Gus Otto comes up to make the stop during the AFC championship game at Memorial Stadium on Jan. 3, 1971. (Staff file) Show Caption of Expand Before the Colts left for Indianapolis, they had six straight losing seasons, including going 2-14 in 1981, 0-8-1 in 1982 and 7-9 in 1983. In the 1960’s, Baltimore had 51 straight games with at least 60,000 in attendance, but the Colts were averaging only 42,000 per game before they left. The passion surrounding this team had subsided. On Sunday nights after games in 1983, I was one of the clerks who had to take statements from callers who wanted to ask then-coach Frank Kush a question. Few people called because no one seemed to care. It wasn’t just because of the win-loss record, but Irsay had consistently threatened to move the team to cities such Phoenix, Memphis, Los Angeles, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Irsay eventually moved the team shortly after a chamber of the Maryland State Legislature had threatened him with eminent domain, which gives the government power to take your property even if you don’t want to sell. In some places in Baltimore, Irsay, who died Jan. 14, 1997, still might be considered Public Enemy No. 1. “I have never forgiven Irsay for doing what he did,” Hocheder said. “[Memorial Stadium was] the greatest insane asylum in the world and we were denied a team because of this guy.” “There was emptiness and heartache,” Crilly said. “Most NFL fans don’t comprehend that you wake up tomorrow and your team just isn’t there. It ain’t like they were having a terrible year, you go 0 and 10 or 0 and 20. They just weren’t there.” Irsay might have merited some forgiveness if he had left the memorabilia, the records and team colors behind, but the Colts piled those into the moving vans as well. To me, that horseshoe on the side of the helmet is still the greatest logo in sports. “The thing that hurts the most is they took the name,” Crilly said. “They have Johnny Unitas holding an Indianapolis Colts record, and he never played in Indianapolis. If they had just left and not taken the name, it might not have hurt so bad.” The hurt continued for more than a decade. Hocheder remembers going to the stadium on Sundays the year after the Colts left, standing around with fans. “Those were desolate and depressing times,” said Hocheder, then a Colts season-ticket holder. Baltimore fans were left in a limbo. They couldn’t decide if they wanted to root for the hated Washington franchise or another team close by such as the Philadelphia Eagles. In the Colts’ 13-year absence, there were several attempts to lure another team away from its home city or possibly acquire a new franchise. But Baltimore lost out there, too, in 1993 when the NFL awarded Jacksonville and Carolina franchises to begin play in 1995. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on new NFL rules, pass rush concerns, Lamar Jackson and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Jadeveon Clowney agrees to huge deal with Panthers after resurgent year with Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh: NFL kickoff overhaul raises ‘a lot of questions’ Baltimore Ravens | National Rugby League provides path to how NFL ban on hip-drop tackle can be coached, officiated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens express interest in Baltimore hosting NFL draft: ‘We’ve begun talks’ That’s when former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told Baltimore to “build a museum” with their proposed stadium funds. Baltimore fans rallied around statements like that one. “We kind of jelled so to speak, rallied around the cause,” Hocheder said. Groups like the old “Colts Corral” stayed together and met every month for years until the Ravens came to Baltimore from Cleveland for the 1996 season. Under president John Ziemann, the Colts marching band continued to play until joining the Ravens organization. The city, as well as state officials, didn’t cease looking for a viable franchise until then-Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell was lured here. Baltimore is again a storied franchise in the NFL. The Ravens have won two Super Bowl titles since 1996, in the 2000 and 2012 seasons. In 2000, they put together one of the greatest defenses in league history led by a top linebacking corps. In 2012, quarterback Joe Flacco went on one of the best postseason runs ever. Under coaches Brian Billick and John Harbaugh, the Ravens have been one of the league’s winningest franchises over the past two-plus decades. It fits into the old Colts history of having played and won the NFL championship in 1958 against the New York Giants in what some have described as the greatest game ever played. Baltimore might have produced the best quarterback ever in Unitas or running back in Moore or middle linebacker in Ray Lewis. Now they have a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player in quarterback Lamar Jackson. There is no place like this city, regardless of the 13-year absence of its NFL team. From “Unitas We Stand” to “The Squirrel Dance,” there is no better place to get football memories than Baltimore. View the full article

NFL owners made the right decision by approving a drastic change to the kickoff rules this week, potentially putting a game-changing play back on the field. The call was made after kickoff returns dropped to a record-low 23.7% in 2023. Now the kicking unit will line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard line with at least nine players on the receiving team lined up in a “setup” zone between their own 35 and 30 and two returners in a “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20. Only the kicker and returner(s) will be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone. No fair catches will be allowed, and touchbacks will be marked at the 30. There will be some other minor changes, but now the kick return can have a major impact like a long pass or an interception returned for a touchdown. One of the most demoralizing aspects of any game is for an offense to go on one of those run-dominated, 12-play, 85-yard scoring drives, which can crush the psyche of a team. But on the next play, the opponent can return the kickoff for a touchdown and change the course of the game. The NFL might get some new stars, such as former game-changing kickoff returners Mel Gray, Gale Sayers, Devin Hester and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. Even back in the late 1960’s, the Green Bay Packers had a top-flight kickoff returner in Travis Williams and the Dallas Cowboys answered with Bob Hayes, who were two of the fastest sprinters in the world. In football, there needs to be as many big plays as possible. The NFL finally returned one of the biggest to the game. Hip-drop conundrum Owners also decided to ban the hip-drop tackle, in which a defender grabs a ball carrier, twists and then drops his hips onto the player’s knees and/or ankles. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson used one on Ravens tight end Mark Andrews in a Week 11 matchup, and the three-time Pro Bowl selection was sidelined with an ankle injury for seven games. The hip-drop tackle, which now results in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down, will be as subjective as pass interference and will vary from official to official and game to game. Some defensive players are already squawking because a lot of the rules are already in favor of the offense. But when a ball carrier is near the goal line, like Andrews was when he was tackled, defenders aren’t concerned about legality. They just want to bring the player to the ground by any means necessary. That’s why the interpretation of the rule will vary, like we see with pass interference. In the postseason, some officials will let defensive players virtually mug receivers down the field compared with the soft approach during the regular season. Bring back Van Noy The Ravens need to keep pursuing pass rusher Kyle Van Noy now that fellow outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney reportedly agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. Last year, the veterans combined for 18 1/2 sacks. Even if Van Noy re-signs with the Ravens, they still need to pursue another pass rusher, perhaps in free agency or the draft. The Ravens would like to build their hopes around current young linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, but they did that at the beginning of training camp last year and it didn’t work out well. Oweh started 13 of 17 regular-season games but had only 23 tackles, including five sacks. Ojabo was placed on injured reserve Sept. 30 with a partially torn ACL. He missed his entire rookie season in 2022 with an Achilles tendon injury. The assumption here was Clowney was going to sign a lucrative deal because he played so well with the Ravens. Van Noy might not sign a contract until after training camp starts, and at age 33, he won’t be in any hurry to get there. Clowney, though, had a better season. “Yes, I think David is going to just break out,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at the NFL owners meetings. “I think he and Odafe are going to be partners in crime. I think those guys are going to play great together. They are ready to roll, man. Every time I talk to them [and] every time I see them, they are brimming with enthusiasm. They are working hard, and [David] is healthy. They are both healthy. I can’t wait to get to work with those guys.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Jadeveon Clowney agrees to huge deal with Panthers after resurgent year with Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh: NFL kickoff overhaul raises ‘a lot of questions’ Baltimore Ravens | National Rugby League provides path to how NFL ban on hip-drop tackle can be coached, officiated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens express interest in Baltimore hosting NFL draft: ‘We’ve begun talks’ Baltimore Ravens | What will the Ravens offense look like with Derrick Henry? John Harbaugh says ‘it’ll look different.’ From good to great? I love the Ravens talking about quarterback Lamar Jackson’s possible new role in the offense, but it won’t change much. It can’t. After six years, Jackson is a running quarterback, and if the Ravens take that element out of the offense then he becomes just an average passer. The Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year contract worth $16 million on March 12, and he’ll be able to handle most of the loaded offensively. This will not be the same Henry who has rushed for 9,502 yards throughout his eight-year career, but the Ravens should be able to get at least one more good year out of him. It will come down to offensive coordinator Todd Monken — again. Entering his second year, he has proven he can make an average offense good, but can he make a good offense great? Best of Beckham The Ravens aren’t bringing back veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for another season, but they got exactly what I expected from him on his one-year, $15 million contract. He appeared in 14 regular-season games and had 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. He was a leader, a positive player in the locker room and completely opposite of all the foolishness we’ve heard about him during his five-year stay with the New York Giants and three seasons in Cleveland. He could still run slants and had some explosiveness, but he wasn’t going to beat the best cornerbacks on the outside. His experience will be missed in the classroom and on the field. Calling out Kolar Message to tight end Charlie Kolar: Get strong in the weight room during the offseason. With Andrews coming back and Isaiah Likely ready to step up after a strong season in 2023, Kolar’s only chance to get on the field is as a blocker. He is 6 feet 6 and already weighs 270 to 275 pounds. Andrews doesn’t really want to block, even though he has improved in that area, and Likely has shown he wants no part of mixing it up. Time for Kolar to step up. View the full article

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney had perhaps the best year of his career with the Ravens. Now he’s cashing in. Clowney, 31, has agreed to sign with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is worth a whopping $20 million over two years, according to ESPN, and could reach as high as $24 million. It comes after Clowney tied a career-high with 9 1/2 sacks for Baltimore last season and was a key contributor on a defense that became the first to lead the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game. After an ugly exit from the Cleveland Browns following a 2022 season in which he registered just two sacks in 12 games, Clowney signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with Baltimore last August and thrived with the Ravens under defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. In addition to ranking second on the team in sacks, he had his best pressure rate, pass-rush win rate and most total pressures in a season, according to Pro Football Focus, and was a disruptive force against the pass as well as the run. He also had 43 tackles and two forced fumbles. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh: NFL kickoff overhaul raises ‘a lot of questions’ Baltimore Ravens | National Rugby League provides path to how NFL ban on hip-drop tackle can be coached, officiated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens express interest in Baltimore hosting NFL draft: ‘We’ve begun talks’ Baltimore Ravens | What will the Ravens offense look like with Derrick Henry? John Harbaugh says ‘it’ll look different.’ Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: No. 3 Duke men’s lacrosse bounces back with 11-7 win over No. 8 Denver at Spalding | COMMENTARY Another big reason for his success was his health: He played 15 of 17 games and logged 654 snaps, his second-highest total since 2018. Clowney also said two-time All-Pro Roquan Smith was the best inside linebacker he ever played with, raved about Baltimore as an organization and called his teammates a “special group.” “Sure hope so,” Clowney said a day after the Ravens lost in the AFC championship game when asked if he would like to return to Baltimore. “I enjoyed coming to work. It made my life a lot easier this year. That’s probably why I played at a high level because I [didn’t] have any pressure. I would just come in, have fun and be yourself and just play ball. There was never any pressure throughout the week on anybody, but yes, I would love to come back here.” Baltimore had hoped to bring Clowney back for another season as well, but he became largely unaffordable for the salary-cap strapped Ravens, particularly after they made a free agent splash and added running back Derrick Henry, who signed a two-year deal earlier this month that will pay him $9 million next season. Clowney’s addition to the Panthers, meanwhile, helps fill their pass rush void after they traded outside linebacker Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this month. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for the South Carolina native and former Gamecocks star, who joins a Panthers team that finished with the league’s worst record last season (2-15) and hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales after Frank Reich was fired midseason. However, it leaves the Ravens continuing their search for a replacement at edge rusher. Currently, their only outside linebackers are Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, who is coming off a torn ACL, and second-year players Tavius Robinson and Malik Hamm, who was an undrafted rookie last season. View the full article

ORLANDO, Fla. — The biggest change to the NFL in years will take place when next season kicks off. NFL owners approved a major overhaul of kickoffs Tuesday at the league’s annual meeting. Beginning next season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kicking team will line up at the opposing team’s 40 with at least nine players on the receiving team lined up in a “setup zone” between the 35 and 30 and up two returners in a “landing zone” between the goal line and 20. Only the kicker and returner(s) will be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone. No fair catches will be allowed and touchbacks will be marked at the 30. If a team wishes to attempt an onside kick, it will have to tell the officials and would be allowed to line up in a traditional formation, thus eliminating the surprise element. Twenty-nine of the league’s 32 owners approved the proposal, competition chairman Rich McKay said. A proposal needs approval by 24 of the 32 owners to pass. The new rule, which will be in place for one season before it is reviewed and voted on again, is designed to increase the number of returns per game after a steady decline — including a record-low 23.7% in 2023 — while also attempting to decrease the number of injuries from high-speed collisions. “I think it will [be a positive]. I say that with a little bit of hesitation. We will still have to tinker with it,” commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday. “We will reevaluate it as the season goes on. I think it will be a big improvement. I think it will bring it back to a relevant play, an exciting play.” Not everyone agrees, however. The Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers were the three teams that voted against the proposal. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, meanwhile, voted for the proposal, but coach John Harbaugh is not entirely sold on the new format. “It’s always in the details, and that’s the challenge we’re going to have right now with that,” Harbaugh, who spent nine seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles’ special teams coach before Baltimore hired him in 2008, said Monday, the day before the proposal passed. “The line of scrimmage is a big part of football. It’s been around for quite a while, and that play takes the line of scrimmage out of it. “It’s just a different kind of a football play. I just appreciate that we’re exploring every option up to that point to where we have to make that kind of a move. Is that the right move at this time? I don’t know. I think that’s to be determined.” The new format follows that of the XFL, though in that league players are lined up between the returning team’s 30 and 35. In the XFL’s two seasons, more than 90% of kickoffs have been returned. “We’re in the business of creating an entertaining product and putting a product on the field that should be competitive in every moment,” McKay said. “And we had created a play that was no longer competitive, and our [goal was] to try to find a way to make that play competitive. This was, in our opinion, our best option. “Yes, it’s a big change, but the time has come to make that change.” In an effort to reduce head injuries, including concussions, the NFL over the past 15 years had made incremental changes to kickoffs, including moving the kick from the 30-yard line to the 35, banning wedge and double-team blocks and last year allowing a fair catch to be marked at the 25. Touchbacks increased and return rates fell, but concussion rates per kickoff, the league said, remained relatively stable even with the changes. With kickoffs having trended toward a ceremonial act, discussion began just a couple of years ago of taking it out of the game entirely. Now the league has gone the other direction. Several coaches are in favor it. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | National Rugby League provides path to how NFL ban on hip-drop tackle can be coached, officiated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens express interest in Baltimore hosting NFL draft: ‘We’ve begun talks’ Baltimore Ravens | What will the Ravens offense look like with Derrick Henry? John Harbaugh says ‘it’ll look different.’ Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: No. 3 Duke men’s lacrosse bounces back with 11-7 win over No. 8 Denver at Spalding | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Five questions facing the Ravens heading into NFL owners meetings “You felt like that took a significant amount of plays out of the game, and those were from special teams,” Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday. “And you don’t make it up really anywhere else. So, we put an emphasis on it. So, I believe in it.” Added Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whom Harbaugh served under in Philadelphia: “I’m all for it. You have 2,000 dead plays. Nobody wants to see that. It’ll add excitement and newness.” What kind of impact it has — from the types of players who are used on returns to how rosters are constructed to how many returns and big plays it will spark — remains to be seen. There is some thought, for example, that the formation could play like a cover-zero defense, with only one layer of defenders to get past before a player can break free. It will also call on kicking teams to devise new ways to attack returners. The Ravens also lost their top returner, two-time Pro Bowl selection Devin Duvernay, to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency earlier this month. “The kickoff return has been around for a long time in football,” Harbaugh said. “I’m passionate about that myself. “Everybody wants to get returns back. Everybody’s on the same page with that. How you go about doing that, there’s a lot of questions because it’s a big change. I think there are just a lot of questions.” View the full article

ORLANDO, Fla. — The tackle that left Ravens tight end Mark Andrews with a fractured fibula, ligament damage to his left ankle and caused him to miss seven games last year was officially banned by the NFL on Monday at the league’s annual meeting. The vote was unanimous among the league’s 32 owners. The hip-drop tackle — in which, according to the competition committee, a defender “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee” — will result in a 15-yard penalty beginning next season. “I’m not a politician, but I’m for it,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the day. “I think taking the hip drop out of the game is the right thing to do.” But even with its outlawing, there are questions, most notably will defenders be less effective stopping a ball carrier moving at speeds sometimes faster than 20 mph while avoiding committing the penalty, and how will referees be able to officiate it accurately? The answers perhaps can be found in another game whose origin traces back nearly 200 years, is played with an oblong ball and became popularized in a faraway land nearly 10,000 miles from the United States. Rugby union was first played in Australia in 1839, with its next iteration, rugby league — the sport’s closest thing to the modern day NFL — holding its first full season nearly six decades later in 1907. Like football in this country, rugby union has seen the speed of its players increase exponentially over the years. With speed, of course, comes danger — and a higher risk of injury. Before the hip-drop tackle became a buzzy phrase and fast-rising concern around the NFL, it was already something the National Rugby League, headquartered in Sydney, was looking to eliminate from its game. “We were noticing three or four years ago we were getting a lot of lower leg injuries, ankle injuries, in some cases knee injuries, where they all had fairly similar attributes in relation to the type of tackle that was performed,” NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley told The Baltimore Sun. “They all had three common elements: holding the player with both hands, the tackler twists their body, then the bulk of their body weight falling onto the lower limb. “We got to the point a few years ago where we said this is causing too many injuries, we’ve got too many players out of the game for extended periods of time as a result of it, and we need to make a concerted effort across the game to try and eliminate it as much as possible and significantly reduce the incidents of it.” Unsurprisingly, the NFL, which says it routinely consults with a variety of football leagues around the globe and reached out to the NRL two years ago, had also seen its own increase in injuries as a result of the tackle, some of which were high profile. In addition to Andrews, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith were among the players who suffered injuries related to hip-drop tackles. In 2022, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and then-Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard were also injured after being tackled that way. And last month, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said the league’s research found that hip-drop tackles resulted in an injury rate 20 to 25 times greater than other tackles. Ravens vs. BengalsKenneth K. Lam/Baltimore SunThe hip-drop tackle that injured Ravens tight end Mark Andrews in November has been banned by the NFL starting next season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It had also become a problem for the NRL, which is why in 2020 it sent a memo to clubs outlining its concerns about the injuries involved. Three years later, the league formally banned it. In the NRL’s initial conversations, though, the pushback was predictable and foretelling: Players and coaches said the injuries were simply the consequence of playing a contact sport. Not long after, however, the league outlined the specifics of the new rule, how players could be coached on how to avoid committing the offense and worked with match officials on how to call it. The league also sent instructional videos to clubs and referees and had dialogue with both. “We brought it down to hold, twist, drop,” Annesley told The Sun. “We kind of simplified it as much as possible.” Still, there was a learning curve, as there likely will be in the NFL next season. Said Annesley: “We did have some confusion initially where we were seeing some action taken where it wasn’t necessarily a hip drop because we had to educate them that the drop component needed to be a direct drop onto the limb, rather than subsequent contact with the limb.” In the days after Andrews’ injury, suffered when he was dragged to the ground by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson in the opening quarter of a November game at M&T Bank Stadium, then-Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen and safety Kyle Hamilton, like many rugby players before them, were against the idea of outlawing the tackle. “How else do you want us to tackle?” Queen said, in part. “Just let the guy run past you? … At the end of the day, we play football. We have pads on. We have all that stuff on for a reason.” Added Hamilton: “I feel like you can’t necessarily [avoid it] because you don’t know exactly what’s gonna happen. You’re trying to get them down by any means necessary.” Banning the hip-drop tackle resulted in a “significant” decrease in injuries, the National Rugby League’s head of football Graham Annesley told The Baltimore Sun. (David Becker/AP) But the NFL believes, as does the NRL, that there is a safer and more effective way for players to continue to tackle while lowering the injury risk, and that it can be officiated consistently. “We still see a number of similar tackles that aren’t necessarily offenses,” Annesley told The Sun. “The ones that we see that aren’t charged under our judiciary code — they still have the grab and the twist, but in many cases the players are much better at their body weight actually hitting the ground before it hits the leg. That’s how most of our coaches have dealt with it here to try and avoid it. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens express interest in Baltimore hosting NFL draft: ‘We’ve begun talks’ Baltimore Ravens | What will the Ravens offense look like with Derrick Henry? John Harbaugh says ‘it’ll look different.’ Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: No. 3 Duke men’s lacrosse bounces back with 11-7 win over No. 8 Denver at Spalding | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Five questions facing the Ravens heading into NFL owners meetings Baltimore Ravens | Ravens tap Chicago-based Levy for concessions at M&T Bank Stadium “There’s still the occasional one that goes wrong … but we’re now seeing much more awareness from the players where they try to move their body weight out of the way of the leg so the body weight hits the ground. The ball carrier’s leg may still finish under the body of the tackler, but we’ve avoided as much as possible the full body weight dropping directly onto the leg.” Still, the NFL Players Association has been steadfast in its opposition to it being banned. “The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” it said in a statement after the league’s competition committee’s rule change proposal became public. “While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.” But the league and its 32 owners disagreed, approving the change with a swift vote Monday. In Australia, meanwhile, the NRL has had its share of controversial calls over the tackle with some players being penalized and others not, causing confusion and discontent with some players, coaches and fans. But it has also resulted in a “significant” decrease in injury, according to Annesley, who said there was always going to be an adjustment period for players and officials but that the change will be beneficial for the long term. “No one wants to see players hurt,” Annesley told The Sun. “We have to balance that against the fact that these are body contact sports where accidents do happen. But we have to make sure there’s a duty of care and that we are always exercising our duty of care to try to keep the players safe as possible.” View the full article

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NFL draft could be coming to Baltimore. Ravens president Sashi Brown said Monday at the NFL owners meetings that he would like to see the city and M&T Bank Stadium host the league’s annual event, and that he has raised the possibility with the NFL. “We’ve begun talks with the NFL,” Brown told reporters in the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes. “The draft has become such a major tentpole event for the league. A lot of cities are interested.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | What will the Ravens offense look like with Derrick Henry? John Harbaugh says ‘it’ll look different.’ Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: No. 3 Duke men’s lacrosse bounces back with 11-7 win over No. 8 Denver at Spalding | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Five questions facing the Ravens heading into NFL owners meetings Baltimore Ravens | Ravens tap Chicago-based Levy for concessions at M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore Ravens | Hip-drop tackle that injured Ravens TE Mark Andrews could be outlawed by NFL next season The first draft took place in 1936 in Philadelphia, where 90 names were written on a blackboard and teams made their selections. It has grown exponentially in size and spectacle since. In its early years, the draft moved around until the league settled on holding it in New York beginning in 1965. It remained there for 50 years until 2015 when it moved to Chicago. It then returned to Philadelphia in 2017, was held in Arlington, Texas, in 2018, Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019, ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, Cleveland in 2021, Las Vegas in 2022 and Kansas City, Missouri, last year. This year’s draft will be held April 25-27 in Detroit, while next year’s will be in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Beyond next year, the NFL has yet to announce future draft sites, though the Steelers announced that they have submitted a bid for Pittsburgh to host it in either 2026 or 2027. M&T Bank Stadium, meanwhile, is currently undergoing extensive renovations that began last season and will be rolled out in phases over the next three years with completion slated for 2026. “We think Baltimore’s a great venue for it,” Brown said. “We’re also talking to folks who are developing the Inner Harbor. We’d certainly have to convince the NFL, but we’ll put that pressure on ourselves to try and bring one to Baltimore in the relatively near future.” View the full article

ORLANDO, Fla. — As Ravens coach John Harbaugh sat down with reporters Monday morning at this week’s NFL owners meetings, he checked his phone and texted quarterback Lamar Jackson. By the time the 35-minute session was over, he still hadn’t heard back from the NFL’s two-time Most Valuable Player. Harbaugh just smiled — there was no need to fret, unlike during last year’s gathering when Jackson revealed in a tweet just as the coach arrived that he’d asked Baltimore to trade him after he said the organization failed to meet his value during contract negotiations. With Jackson’s future in Baltimore ensured in the form of a $260 million extension signed in April and the Ravens coming off an NFL-best 13-4 record with an appearance in the AFC championship game, there is far less drama swirling around the team this time around. Still, there was plenty to discuss, most notably an offense that figures to be revamped again with the splash free agent addition of four-time Pro Bowl running back and two-time NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry, an offensive line that will feature three new starters, several players lost to free agency and multiple coaching changes. Asked how different things could look with Henry — easily the best back of Jackson’s tenure and one of the game’s all-time greats who was the centerpiece of the Tennessee Titans his first eight years in the NFL — the coach said he wasn’t sure. Then he used an anecdote about a book on snipers that his wife, Ingrid, was reading on their flight to Florida, in which the subject talked about being able to take advantage of patterns the enemy had fallen into during war. “It’ll look different, there’s no doubt about that,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the one thing we believe in is keeping it moving. You can never keep it the same. “No patterns. We don’t want patterns. We don’t want to be predictable in what we’re doing.” In that unpredictability, however, also comes some uncertainty — at least for now. Jackson has never played with a dominant feature back of Henry’s ilk, and his arrival comes just one season after offensive coordinator Todd Monken was hired to transform Baltimore from a heavy, ground-and-pound scheme to a more wide-open, spread attack. The change last year resulted in career highs for Jackson in passing yards (3,678) and completion percentage (67.2) and Baltimore came within a game of its first Super Bowl appearance in more than a decade. But in its AFC title game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Ravens running backs strangely accounted for just six carries. Who will block for Henry is also a question. Guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson both departed in free agency to the Detroit Lions and New York Jets, respectively, while right tackle Morgan Moses became essentially a salary cap casualty and was traded to the Jets in a pick swap that also cleared $5.5 million in cap space. The only returning starters are Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who reportedly took a pay cut in restructuring his contract that now features various performance-based incentives after the 30-year-old missed four games because of injury last season and was rotated in a late in the year. One of the keys to the Ravens’ offense in 2024 with Derrick Henry will be unpredictability. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Who will fill the openings remains to be seen, but Baltimore has some potential in-house options between tackle Daniel Faalele, whom Harbaugh said Monday will get a shot to start, along with recently signed guard Josh Jones, Andrew Vorhees, who is a “full go” after suffering a torn ACL at last year’s NFL scouting combine, and Sala Aumavae-Laulu as well as Ben Cleveland. “I expect it to be better than last year,” Harbaugh said of the line. “That’s always the goal, to improve.” Whether the Ravens can improve, or even come close to matching, the kind of success they had on defense and, in particular, getting to the quarterback is also uncertain. Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is now the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, while Ravens inside linebackers coach Zach Orr, 31, was promoted to the role. Former defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and former defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson are now the defensive coordinators for the Miami Dolphins and Titans, with Dennis Johnson and Doug Mallory replacing them. And outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, who were second and third on the team in sacks last season, are both free agents. But Harbaugh did not rule out the possibility of Clowney or Van Noy returning. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: No. 3 Duke men’s lacrosse bounces back with 11-7 win over No. 8 Denver at Spalding | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Five questions facing the Ravens heading into NFL owners meetings Baltimore Ravens | Ravens tap Chicago-based Levy for concessions at M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore Ravens | Hip-drop tackle that injured Ravens TE Mark Andrews could be outlawed by NFL next season Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens face an even tougher test from stronger AFC North | COMMENTARY “There’s optimism about both,” he said. “Been texting with J.D. and Kyle here and there the last [few] weeks. I’m hopeful we get there.” Asked about a potential timetable for re-signing them, Harbaugh wasn’t sure, saying, “I think it’s just business.” The Ravens’ wide receiver group is also undergoing something of a smaller overhaul after Odell Beckham Jr. was released earlier this month in a salary-related move. Though he is still a free agent, he is not expected to return. For now, Baltimore’s top three receivers are Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor, who re-signed last month. “We drafted two great players in the last three years the first round,” Harbaugh said about Flowers, a rookie last season who led the team in catches and yards, and Bateman. “I would think Rashod and Zay would be excited to step to the front together. That’s where it begins. Then we get a veteran player back in Nelly who did such a great job last year. … He played at a high level, he’s a real versatile player.” From there, however, things get murky with Tylan Wallace and Sean Ryan the only other receivers currently on the roster, though free agents Michael Gallup and Josh Reynolds visited Baltimore recently and there’s always the draft. Jackson has his wish list of potential additions, too. Of course, Jackson and the quarterback position isn’t one Harbaugh has to worry about, unlike this time a year ago. Now it’s about the two of them taking that next step: getting to a Super Bowl. “He’s looking at every aspect of his game,” Harbaugh said. “He starts with himself. That’s what I love about him.” View the full article

No. 5 Syracuse beat No. 3 Duke by six goals on Wednesday, and it was clear Sunday that the Blue Devils were eager to redeem themselves. It took a while before they hit their stride but Duke eventually did, pulling away for an 11-7 win against No. 8 Denver before a crowd of 2,111 at Archbishop Spalding’s Whittles Field in Severn. As expected, it was a physical and highly competitive game until the Blue Devils scored four goals in the final 4:14 to secure the win. That 10-4 loss to Syracuse wasn’t the only motivating force, but it was a factor. Related Articles Sports | No. 7 Maryland men’s lacrosse upset by No. 19 Michigan, 12-11 | ROUNDUP Sports | No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse beats Ohio State, 12-6 | ROUNDUP Sports | McDonogh girls lacrosse star Kate Levy, daughter of North Carolina coach, raising game with film study Sports | No. 9 Maryland women’s lacrosse hands No. 2 JMU first loss, 11-8 Sports | No. 7 Maryland men’s lacrosse edges Brown in OT, 14-13 | ROUNDUP A big factor. “We always want to hit the field after losing,” Duke attackman Brennan O’Neill said. “We don’t want to dwell too much on the loss but we want to learn from our mistakes. We want to show each other that one loss doesn’t define us but neither does one win. We don’t want to get too high or get too low, we have to stay on an even keel.” O’Neill paced Duke (9-2) with three goals and midfielders Benn Johnston and Max Sloat and attackman Dyson Williams each had two. Midfielder Joshua Carlson and Michael Lampert had two apiece to lead Denver (6-2). The Blue Devils took control of the game in the final minutes as O’Neill, attackman Josh Zawanda and Williams scored goals. Williams came on an extra-man opportunity and scored to put Duke up 10-6 with 1:30 to go. O’Neill scored an empty net goal with 29 seconds remaining to complete the scoring. But the story of this game wasn’t Duke’s offense but rather its defense, which limited Denver to only one goal and 14 shots in the first half. The Blue Devils, led by long poles Henry Bard, Kenny Brower and Jake Wilson, long stick midfielder Tyler Carpenter, and goalie Patrick Jameison, have held the opposition to only 20 goals in their past three games. Jameison is only a freshman and had nine saves Sunday. This Duke team might be different from the Blue Devils of the past, which were known more for their high-powered offenses. “Every team is unique, every team is different,” Blue Devils coach coach John Danowski said. “In preseason you have a vision of what you want to be, but you don’t know until you play the games. We’re growing and adjusting to what we’re becoming. Our goalie has started to stand up as a freshman and no one really expected that.” Duke supporters celebrate a goal scored during the second half of Sunday’s game at Spalding. The Blue Devils beat Denver, 11-7. (Terrance Williams/Freelance) Danowski also did a good job of neutralizing Denver faceoff specialist Alec Stathakis. The Blue Devils put two long poles on the wings and he won 12 of 22, sometimes outrunning his Duke counterparts to loose balls. But Denver couldn’t win all the scrums, which allowed the Blue Devils to slow the transition game. It was a typical Duke versus Denver game, a physical matchup between two teams that weren’t going to back down. “They are big, athletic and very physical,” O’Neill said. “It was one of those games you knew you had to grind it out and that was expected before the game.” There weren’t many other differences between the two teams except Denver failed to score on three extra-man situations. Pioneers goalie Malcolm Kleban played as well as Jamieison and finished with 10 saves. The Blue Devils, though, led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and went ahead 4-0 on a goal by Johnston two minutes into the second. Denver finally scored on a shot from attackman Cody Malawsky with 8:05 left in the quarter, but Duke maintained the three-goal lead going into the half. March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devil players stretch during pre-game warm-ups before an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Denver Pioneers, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers players workout during pre-game warm-ups before an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Duke Blue Devils, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers players walks off the field during pre-game warm-ups before an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Duke Blue Devils, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devil players walks onto the field before an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Denver Pioneers, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devils Max Sloat (15) handles the ball against Denver Pioneers Jake Edinger during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devil players celebrate a goal scored by Max Sloat during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Denver Pioneers, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devils Brennan O'Neill controls the ball and scores a goal during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Denver Pioneers, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devils Kenny Brower (29) looks to pass the ball against Denver Pioneers JJ Sillstrop (5) during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers Mic Kelly (21) handles the ball against Duke Blue Devils Tyler Carpenter during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers Malcolm Kleban (53) attempts a shot as Duke Blue Devils Henry Bard (5) defends during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers Cody Malawsky (17) scores a goal against several Duke Blue Devil defenders during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers players celebrate a goal scored by Cody Malawsky during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Duke Blue Devils, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devils Jack Gray (20) passes the ball during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game against the Denver Pioneers, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devil and Denver Pioneers players compete for the loose ball during the first half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers Ty Hussey (28) controls the ball as Duke Blue Devils Aidan Maguire (23) defends during the second half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Denver Pioneers Stephen Avery (50) looks to pass the ball as he’s defended by several Duke Blue Devils during the second half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) March 24, 2024: Duke Blue Devils Brennan O'Neill (34) handles the ball against Denver Pioneers Jack DiBenedetto (31) during the second half of an NCAA men’s lacrosse game, in Severn. (Terrance Williams/for Capital Gazette) Duke players celebrate a goal scored by Dyson Williams in the second half of Sunday's game against Denver at Spalding in Severn. (Terrance Williams/Freelance) Fans watch as Duke men's lacrosse takes on Denver at Spalding on Sunday. (Terrance Williams/Freelance) Duke supporters celebrate a goal scored during the second half of Sunday's game at Spalding. The Blue Devils beat Denver, 11-7. (Terrance Williams/Freelance) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

It was nearly a year ago to the day that the collective NFL world — or at least all of Baltimore — momentarily shook. Ravens coach John Harbaugh was about to sit down with reporters at the annual NFL owners meetings in Phoenix when his quarterback, Lamar Jackson, revealed in a tweet that he’d asked to be traded after it was clear the organization had “not been interested in meeting my value.” Harbaugh, who doesn’t have an account on X (formerly Twitter), was of course aware of the request, which had been made privately weeks earlier, but was not expecting it to come out at that moment. A table that had about 10 reporters awaiting his arrival swelled into the dozens with a palpable buzz throughout the Arizona Biltmore ballroom, where there were tables for each of the 15 other AFC coaches. Later, a handful of teams around the NFL strangely disclosed their disinterest in acquiring the Ravens’ star, and things got even wilder when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that rapper Meek Mill had texted him a few days earlier saying Jackson would like to play for the Patriots. Jackson, of course, is still in Baltimore after signing a five-year, $260 million extension a few weeks later, and this year’s meetings in Orlando, Florida, figure to be decidedly less dramatic for the Ravens. Still, there are plenty of questions for owner Steve Bisciotti, general manager Eric DeCosta and Harbaugh after a season in which the Ravens were an NFL-best 13-4 during the regular season, had the league’s Most Valuable Player in Jackson and reached the AFC championship game. In the weeks since that defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, they lost a handful of key coaches and front office staff, along with several players in free agency. Bisciotti is not expected to be available to the media for a second straight year, though team president Sashi Brown will meet with reporters Monday afternoon. Harbaugh and the other AFC coaches, meanwhile, will speak Monday morning, NFC coaches on Tuesday morning and most other owners and/or general managers are also generally available. Here’s a look at the most pressing questions facing the Ravens going into this year’s meetings. What will the offense look like with the addition of running back Derrick Henry? Henry, who signed a two-year deal with the Ravens earlier this month, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL rushing champ in eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, where he also had at least 215 carries in five of the past six years (2019, when he missed the final eight games because of a foot injury, was the exception). The last time Baltimore had a running back with that many carries in a season was a decade ago, when Justin Forsett rushed for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns on 235 carries in 2014. Charles Krupa/APFormer Titans running back Derrick Henry, left, gives Baltimore a new dimension in the backfield. But how he will be utilized is a key question. (Charles Krupa/AP) But Harbaugh rightfully isn’t worried about Henry fitting into a shotgun-heavy scheme that transitioned into a spread attack under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken last season. “I think you always try to build the offense around the players that you have,” Harbaugh said. “What Derrick does really exceptionally well is going to be where we’re going to move toward, but we’re versatile. “It’s not just his specific talents, because he can run out of any kind of backfield. He can be in the pistol. We can be under . We can be in the gun. He can move around.” To that point, Henry logged the most snaps of his career from the shotgun each of his past two seasons in Tennessee. His 33 and 28 catches in his final two years there were also career highs. And he had success — albeit in small doses — alongside speedy Titans backup quarterback Malik Willis, next to whom Henry averaged 6 yards on 78 carries. Henry is the best back Harbaugh has ever had at his disposal, so it will be both fascinating and critical how he deploys him. What will the starting offensive line be? Of course, how Henry fares will also be dependent upon the Ravens’ reshaped offensive line. Guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson have moved on (to the Detroit Lions and New York Jets, respectively), while right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the Jets. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens tap Chicago-based Levy for concessions at M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore Ravens | Hip-drop tackle that injured Ravens TE Mark Andrews could be outlawed by NFL next season Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens face an even tougher test from stronger AFC North | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Who will be the Ravens’ backup quarterback? Here are some options, plus other free agents still worth pursuing. Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions will reportedly sign former Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler to 1-year deal There’s now way around it: Filling three starting roles is a difficult task under the best of circumstances, never mind doing so on a tight budget and with question marks about possible in-house replacements. Harbaugh has been adamant about the offensive line since the Ravens hired him in 2008, and in many years Baltimore has boasted one of the league’s best units. But how he sees next season’s group piecing together will be worth watching. Does he see the recently signed Josh Jones as a starter at right tackle? What about Daniel Faalele and the versatile Patrick Mekari? Can he find two starting guards among Ben Cleveland, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees, let alone two? These are all questions that will come up in Orlando and continue to play out in the months ahead. What about all the coaching and front office turnover? The biggest departure on the Ravens’ coaching staff was defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the coach of the Seattle Seahawks. But he was hardly the only one, with defensive line coach Anthony Weaver taking the defensive coordinator job with the Miami Dolphins and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson leaving for the same role with the Titans, among other changes, including in the front office. Harbaugh at least knows his new defensive coordinator well, with Zach Orr having played linebacker for the Ravens from 2014 to 2016 before a congenital neck issue forced him to retire. However, it will be the first time calling plays for Orr, 31, who was Baltimore’s inside linebackers coach for two seasons and an outside linebackers coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars for one. Given all the new hires on his staff, that will undoubtedly put more pressure on Harbaugh. As the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, he’s used to it, but it will put him in the spotlight. Jadeveon Clowney is still a free agent. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Where will the Ravens’ sacks come from next season? Last year, the Ravens became the first team in the modern era to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game. Many of the players who helped them do that, however, could be or will be elsewhere next season. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy are free agents. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen signed with the Steelers. Geno Stone went to the Cincinnati Bengals. Cornerback Ronald Darby is with the Jaguars. Baltimore still has defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who signed a four-year extension, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, but who else will provide pressure is a valid concern. Again, the Ravens don’t have the salary cap space to make a big splash on the free agent market, so presumably they’ll turn to the draft and veteran castoffs as usual. There are also questions about what kind of impact outside linebacker David Ojabo will have after he suffered a torn ACL last season following a torn Achilles tendon the previous year. What do the Ravens think of the potential rules changes for next season? The biggest possible change for next season could be on kickoffs. Under a proposal from the competition committee, kickers would still kick from the 35-yard line but the other 10 players would line up at the receiving team’s 40, while at least nine members of the receiving team would line up in a “setup zone” between the 35 and 30. Up to two returners would be allowed to line up in a “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20, and no one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball hits the ground or a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks would be marked at the 35 and no fair catches would be allowed. The idea is to increase return rates while also lowering concussion rates. Meanwhile, hip-drop tackles could also be banned. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews suffering a significant ankle injury on one from Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson last season was only the latest moment that has cast scrutiny on the play. Both proposals, among others, could be voted on at the meetings. View the full article

Levy, the Chicago-based hospitality company that manages concessions for Oriole Park at Camden Yards, will take on food and beverage sales for the Ravens, too. The team said Thursday that it has chosen Levy as the exclusive concessionaire at M&T Bank Stadium. The partnership will start this year. The Ravens announced earlier this month that they were parting ways with longtime concessions partner Aramark, which had been in charge of food and beverage at the football stadium since 2003. The decision came four seasons before Aramark’s concessions contract was set to expire, according to a spokesperson for the company. The change was prompted by the Ravens’ recent lease extension and infusion of $430 million in state funds for upgrades to the stadium. The team is planning a major round of renovations that will include expanded concourses, new suites and three plazas with bars, restaurants and shops. The Ravens issued a request for proposals for a concessionaire last fall. “Food and beverage and hospitality has become such a core part of our fans’ gameday experience,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said in a statement. “Throughout the planning of our stadium renovations, we pushed ourselves to evolve every aspect of the fan experience and were heavily focused on our F&B program.” Levy, which also recently landed a concessions contract at the Baltimore Convention Center, already handles concessions at several nearby stadiums in addition to Camden Yards, such as Commanders Field (formerly FedEx Field) in Landover, Nationals Park and Audi Field in the Washington, D.C., and Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Levy’s CEO, Andy Lansing, said the company will focus on “bringing wonderful flavors and hospitality to M&T Bank Stadium in a way that celebrates cherished traditions with new and improved modern amenities.” View the full article

The tackle that injured Ravens tight end Mark Andrews last year could be banned by the NFL by next season. The league’s competition committee has formally proposed making hip-drop tackles illegal, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. The proposal could be voted on at next week’s owners meeting in Orlando, Florida, and would require 24 of 32 votes to be approved. Hip-drop tackles — in which, according to the competition committee, a defender “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee” — have been a significant talking point the past two seasons and there was discussion about a potential rule change going into effect in 2023, but the competition committee never made a formal proposal. NFL data has shown that a player is 25 times more likely to suffer an injury from a hip-drop tackle than other tackles. On the opening drive of last season’s Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium, Andrews caught a short pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson near the Bengals’ 5-yard line and was tackled by linebacker Logan Wilson, who rolled onto the tight end’s legs as he dragged him down. Jackson threw his helmet to the ground in frustration and knew immediately the injury was severe. Baltimore scored on the drive and won the game, 34-20, but lost Andrews for the remainder of the regular season with a severe ankle injury that included a fractured tibia and ligament damage. The former All-Pro did not return until the AFC championship game. “It’s a tough tackle,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said last November. “Was it even necessary in that situation?” Not everyone necessarily supported outlawing it, however, including two of Andrews’ own teammates at the time. “I hate that Mark is hurt,” said inside linebacker Patrick Queen, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Prayers for him, but at the end of the day, we play football. We play a tackling sport. “I don’t think a hip-drop tackle is that bad of a thing. How else do you want us to tackle? Just let the guy run past you? … At the end of the day, we play football. We have pads on. We have all that stuff on for a reason.” Added safety Kyle Hamilton: “The hip drop, I feel like you can’t necessarily [avoid it] because you don’t know exactly what’s gonna happen. You’re trying to get them down by any means necessary. I mean, if it happens that way, it happens that way. I don’t think anybody means anything malicious by it.” Andrews called his more than two months of rehabilitation and time away “a test” but didn’t have a problem with the tackle. “If they want to ban the tackle, [that’s] fine, but I’m going to go out there and play hard no matter what,” he said in January. “I don’t blame the guy. He’s just playing ball.” Several players, including Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, have suffered injuries in recent years on what appear to have been hip-drop tackles. But last season the scrutiny intensified in the wake of the injuries to Andrews as well as New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Last year, Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, called the hip-drop tackle a “cousin” of the horse-collar tackle, which was banned in 2005. “When they do it, the runner becomes defenseless,” McKay said. “They can’t kick their way out from under. And that’s the problem. That’s where the injury occurs. You see the ankle get trapped underneath the weight of the defender.” The NFL Players’ Association, however, has long been against banning the tackle, a view that has not changed. Former Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell, now with the Atlanta Falcons and a vice president of the league’s executive committee, said in February that while the NFLPA wants to keep players healthy, “there’s only so much you can restrict the game and still call it football.” “A lot of rules that were put in place over the last 10-plus years that made the game a lot safer were big adjustments for players,” Campbell said. “I feel like this particular rule change, I don’t understand how you can police it the right way and allow us to do our job.” In the days after Andrews’ injury, Harbaugh declined to share his thoughts on the idea of a ban, but said if the competition committee decided to do something, “it would be for a good reason.” “Whatever they decide to do, at whatever point in time, you just abide by it, and you say, ‘Hey, it’s what’s best,'” Harbaugh said in November. “Then, in the offseason, I’m sure there will be a debate, and it will be voted on and all that.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens face an even tougher test from stronger AFC North | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Who will be the Ravens’ backup quarterback? Here are some options, plus other free agents still worth pursuing. Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions will reportedly sign former Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler to 1-year deal Baltimore Ravens | Odell Beckham Jr. pens emotional farewell to Ravens; Patrick Queen embraces villain role as newest Steeler Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Offseason grades, roster questions, AFC North pecking order and more Outlawing the hip-drop tackle is just one of a handful of proposals from the competition committee that could go into effect next season. Others included: revamping kickoffs; adding whether a passer is out of bounds or down by contact before throwing and whether the game clock has expired before a snap to the list of reviewable plays; expanding the rule against crackback blocks to players “who go in motion and move beyond the center to block a defender at or below the knee”; and allowing teams to use a practice squad quarterback as the emergency No. 3 quarterback. Of those, the kickoff proposal would be the biggest on-field rule change in years. Under the proposal, kickers would continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players would line up at the receiving team’s 40. At least nine members of the receiving team would, meanwhile, line up in a “setup zone” between the 35 and 30. As many as two returners would be allowed to line up in a “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20 and no one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball hits the ground or a player inside the landing zone. Touchbacks would be marked at the 35 and no fair catches would be allowed. Also, if a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it would have to inform officials and would then be allowed to use a traditional kickoff formation. The kickoff proposal is designed to reverse declining return rates while also lowering concussion rates and, if approved, would go into effect for only one season. View the full article

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin must have studied some Ravens history. He apparently learned a major lesson from former Ravens coach Brian Billick about going down with his star quarterback, which is why the AFC North, already the best division in the NFL, has gotten even stronger during the first wave of free agency. The Ravens selected Kyle Boller with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft and Billick stuck with the former University of California star until he was fired after a 5-11 season in 2007, which eventually led to Boller leaving in 2008. Tomlin apparently had seen enough of former University of Pittsburgh star Kenny Pickett, a first-round pick in 2022, and traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles last week in a swap of draft picks. Pittsburgh appears to be back in full playoff run mode, and that will make the AFC North more competitive and so, so spicy. There are so many storylines. Will Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson, signed by the Steelers via free agency, be able to hold off Justin Fields, obtained in a trade with the Chicago Bears, for the starting position? Can Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow return from a season-ending wrist injury last season, and how will wide receiver Tee Higgins’ trade request play out in the locker room? Cleveland has added a top receiver in Jerry Jeudy to team with Amari Cooper, but the status of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s recovery from a broken bone in his right throwing shoulder is more questionable than Burrow’s return. And there has to be mourning in Cleveland because the Browns allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to sign with the Indianapolis Colts and got Jameis Winston as their backup. Ah, boo-hoo. Now, where does that leave the Ravens? Until proven otherwise, they are still defending champions and at the top of the division. This offseason has already been rough for the Ravens, with the team losing three defensive assistants in coordinator Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks coach), defensive line coach Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator) and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson (Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator). Because of the Ravens’ success in 2023, losing coaches and players in free agency was expected. Running back Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers), safety Geno Stone (Cincinnati), guard John Simpson (New York Jets) and linebacker Patrick Queen (Pittsburgh) all signed elsewhere, but the Ravens did re-sign defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (four years, $98 million) and receiver Nelson Agholor and brought in star running back Derrick Henry for a bargain price of $16 million for two seasons. That’s not to say the Ravens won’t have holes, because they need to find offensive linemen and outside linebackers. There are three major keys for Baltimore heading into 2024. First, it’s imperative for the new assistants to develop strong relationships with the players like their predecessors did. Second, the Ravens will have to either draft an offensive lineman or hope their internal candidates can step in immediately. And lastly, quarterback Lamar Jackson will have to throw more accurately outside the numbers and down the field. Opposing teams are going to stack the line of scrimmage against Henry like they’ve done the past six years. That’s a no-brainer. It’s like Tomlin’s decision in Pittsburgh. Beep, beep, he threw Pickett under the bus. Gone. Now, the Steelers have a more realistic shot. Wilson will always be a diva, but so is Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, whom Wilson played for last season. The Steelers have been void of on-the-field leadership since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, but Wilson will bring a new attitude while Fields adds some mobility. Fields has always had a strong arm, but he needs to be in the right place and organization. The Browns acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, a 2020 first-round draft pick, from the Broncos. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan) Fields spent three seasons in Chicago, where no one should be forced to play. Go ask Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith. As for Queen, he will do well in Pittsburgh because he is a Tomlin-type linebacker. He has good speed, an eye for the ball and can turn into a “fetch” player as a pass rusher. The Steelers also traded for Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson, so they won’t give up as many deep passes. Baltimore fans need to remember that Pittsburgh hasn’t lost much in free agency and has owned the Ravens recently, winning seven of the past eight meetings and 11 of the past 15. With Cincinnati, it’s all about Burrow because the Bengals are the second best team in the division. They will miss running back Joe Mixon, especially in short yardage situations, but they’ve added Zack Moss, who has averaged 4.3 yards per carry in his first four seasons in the league. The Bengals also signed Mike Gesicki, who will be an upgrade at tight end. The addition of Stone will help in the secondary because he is a smart player. His AFC-leading seven interceptions last season were more a result of his intelligence than his athleticism. The Bengals also re-signed tight end Drew Sample and placed the franchise tag on Higgins. Of course, Higgins prefers to be trade, but we heard that last season from Jackson during his contract negotiations. The bet here is that Higgins will be playing opposite Ja’Marr Chase one way or another when the season starts, giving the Bengals one of the top passing combinations in the NFL again. But a sour attitude can be disruptive early in training camp. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Who will be the Ravens’ backup quarterback? Here are some options, plus other free agents still worth pursuing. Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions will reportedly sign former Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler to 1-year deal Baltimore Ravens | Odell Beckham Jr. pens emotional farewell to Ravens; Patrick Queen embraces villain role as newest Steeler Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Offseason grades, roster questions, AFC North pecking order and more Baltimore Ravens | Browns agree to terms with Tyler Huntley, former Ravens backup QB The Browns will have an upbeat mood, especially if Watson comes back fully healthy. He was 5-1 last season as a starter before getting hurt in the Browns’ 33-31 upset win against the Ravens in Baltimore last November. The addition of Jeudy will improve the passing game and Winston, despite not having the arm strength or the recent success of Flacco, can be a good stopgap replacement. Regardless, if running back Nick Chubb returns fully healthy from knee surgery, the Browns still have one of the most physical offensive lines in the NFL. Just like every other team in the division, they should be in playoff contention again if everyone stays healthy. Health is always a major factor, but there are also some other common threads in the AFC North. Cleveland still has the best defensive player in the league in end Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh might have the best pass rusher in outside linebacker-end T.J. Watt, who had 19 sacks in 2023. Cleveland and Baltimore can debate for hours which team had the best defense last season. But if the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, then the AFC North sets the standard with Jackson, Burrow, Watson and now Wilson, with Fields and Winston as backups. That’s a star-studded group. That’s what makes this division so promising. Can’t we start the season now? Please. View the full article