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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — In the revolving door of NFL assistant coaching tenures, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will have yet another defensive coordinator.
The Dolphins introduced Anthony Weaver as their defensive play-caller Thursday. The 43-year-old Weaver joins the Dolphins after serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive line coach the past three seasons.
“I think of coaching as like service work,” Weaver said. “I subscribe to the thought that if you work in service, you never get nervous. When I got into this coaching profession in 2010 in my mind I was, ‘I’m going to get in this because this game has been so good to me.’ And this is my opportunity to pay it forward.”
Weaver becomes the third defensive coordinator since McDaniel took over in 2022.
McDaniel retained Josh Boyer from fired coach Brian Flores’ staff to run the defense his first season. Boyer was dismissed after the season and replaced by veteran coordinator Vic Fangio.
The Dolphins allowed the seventh fewest rushing yards and 10th fewest total yards league wide but the results didn’t earn Fangio a second season.
“The whole process of it was cool for me because it started as the person and who could have the biggest impact as a person,” McDaniel said of hiring Weaver. “And in the process got to get down on some nitty gritty on some schematic football side of it that allows to build on what we’ve been good at and continue forward in 2024.”
Now it’s Weaver’s turn to lift the Dolphins’ defense to the elite level that he helped guide while with the Ravens. Baltimore allowed an NFL low 280 points last season, compared to Miami’s 391 — 22nd in the league. The Ravens also had a league-high 60 sacks.
“The scheme that we used in Baltimore is extremely multiple and flexible,” Weaver said. “The foundation that we’re going to do here will be from that. But the beauty in that is a lot of things that they’ve already done here, that they’ve had success in, were very similar there. So there will be a lot of crossover teaching.”
With a 12-year NFL coaching resume, mainly overseeing the defensive line, Weaver spent four seasons on the Houston Texans’ staff before joining Baltimore. His last season with the Texans in 2020 featured a promotion to coordinator. Weaver also had stops at the New York Jets, Cleveland and Buffalo since he transitioned into coaching following a seven-year NFL playing career.
Under Fangio, who quickly was hired as the Philadelphia Eagles’ coordinator, the Dolphins finished fourth in the league in sacks with 54. By year’s end, however, the defense was a depleted unit because of season-ending injuries to pass rushing specialists Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.
“There are multiple guys on every level of defense that you get excited about,” Weaver said. “The opportunity to come here, obviously, with a team and the success they’ve had. How do you pass on that? Mike and that offense — they’re going to put up points. That’s definitely going to happen. It’s our job to make sure that we give up less points than the other team. We plan on doing that every time we get out there.”
Free agency and salary cap restructuring also could noticeably change the Dolphins’ defense next season. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and Van Ginkel have expiring contracts and might end up elsewhere.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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As soon as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22, in overtime Sunday to win their second consecutive Super Bowl title, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked the obvious question about capturing a third.
Of course, Mahomes said he wanted to three-peat, but it’s hard to win three titles in a row, especially since the introduction of the salary cap in 1994.
The Chiefs have their reasons to believe they can pull it off. Mahomes, 28, is a great competitor and one of five quarterbacks to win three or more Super Bowl titles. They also have running back Isiah Pacheco and All-World tight end Travis Kelce under contract for 2024, as well as coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
But since Green Bay won the first two Super Bowl titles in 1967 and 1968, eight teams have tried to three-peat and none have succeeded. Before 1994, teams were able to keep their nucleus of players, but that’s no longer the case.
Kansas City could lose as many as six starters on a defense that carried the team for most of the season, including defensive linemen Chris Jones, Mike Danna and Derrick Nnadi, linebackers Willie Gay Jr. and Drue Tranquill and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
There are other factors to consider, such as complacency and injuries. Also, unlike MLB and the NBA, there are no best-of-five or best-of-seven series.
If a team doesn’t bring its “A” game in the postseason, then it’s one-and-done. The Ravens suffered that painful reminder in their 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game despite having the best regular-season record at 13-4.
Breaking down Mahomes vs. Jackson
There are major differences between Mahomes and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, including arm strength, but the biggest is Mahomes’ ability to read the field and stay focused.
Mahomes doesn’t get rattled. Jackson, meanwhile, seemed in a daze during the conference championship game on Jan. 28.
The 49ers controlled Mahomes for most of the first half Sunday, but in the second he was able to find open receivers as he finished 34 of 46 for 333 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Jackson had receivers open in the game against Kansas City but couldn’t locate them. He held onto the ball too long and chose not to run. Even when both quarterbacks scramble, Mahomes is in control, while Jackson zig-zags and darts in and out. It’s about structure as well, and sometimes the Ravens’ passing game is unorganized chaos.
I thought Jackson had reached the point in his career where he could handle pressure, but there were still some growing pains. If the Ravens make it back to the AFC title game next year, the experience will not be new to him.
With Jackson, it’s a step-by-step process. That’s not the case with Mahomes.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin poses on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show Feb. 8 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Hamlin is the true Comeback Player of the Year
Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco deserved to be in contention for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, but there is no way he should have been selected over Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Flacco carried Cleveland in the final five games of the regular season, helping the Browns earn a playoff spot. He completed 123 of 204 passes for 1,616 yards and six touchdowns before the Browns were bounced from the postseason by the Houston Texans.
You can’t argue with his success.
But during a “Monday Night Football” game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023, Hamlin collapsed on the field after tackling wide receiver Tee Higgins. Shortly after the play, Hamlin stood up momentarily before passing out and falling backward.
First responders initiated CPR and an automated external defibrillator was used to resuscitate Hamlin. Later, it was reported that Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest and his heartbeat was restored on the field. His condition was later described as commotio cordis, an extremely rare condition that is 97% fatal if not treated within three minutes.
Hamlin played in only five games this past season and in two playoff games. He had a total of four tackles, but for a player to come back from something like that is amazing. This isn’t high school or college football. This is the NFL, the best professional football league on the planet.
Even Flacco agreed that Hamlin deserved the award, which tells you about the character of Flacco. He could have taken it a step further and just given the award to Hamlin.
Criticism of Shanahan, Harbaugh goes too far
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has taken a lot of criticism for electing to receive the ball instead of kicking off to the Chiefs in overtime Sunday, which critics say led to San Francisco’s loss.
The choice by Shanahan was strange, but the harsh criticism of him reminds me of the way fans here demand that John Harbaugh be fired after big losses.
Football is an emotional game and fans get too carried away. It’s not as if Shanahan or Harbaugh became “dumb” overnight. It’s all about perspective.
Shanahan, 44, has led the 49ers to three division titles, four conference championship games and two Super Bowls. He has never won a ring, but to get into the Super Bowl twice at his age is remarkable.
Some criticisms of Shanahan were echoed about Reid when he was the coach in Philadelphia. He compiled a 130-93-1 record in 14 years with the Eagles, but he also lost four NFC championship games and fell to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season.
As for Harbaugh, he is 160-99 in the regular season and 12-10 in the playoffs since taking over in 2008. Like every coach in the NFL, he has his strengths and weaknesses, but the status of the organization with him as the leader is strong, stable and well-respected throughout the league.
The Ravens have been in contention almost every year he has been in Baltimore. Some argue that Harbaugh, 61, should have been replaced by Mike Macdonald, 36, the team’s second-year defensive coordinator who was named coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Replacing a quality, effective coach with an unproven assistant makes no sense.
The notion of firing either Shanahan or Harbaugh is absurd.
Jim Harbaugh, left, celebrates with his brother, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, after winning the national championship with Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ‘Harbowl’ is back on
It will be interesting to see the Harbaugh brothers going against each other again now that Jim Harbaugh is the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the brothers, you can see the influence of their father Jack, 84, a former college football coach. The Harbaughs believe in a strong running game and physical defenses, and both have strong, competitive spirits that become contagious in the locker room.
The only on-the-surface difference between the two is that John is more subtle and stylish. He could become a politician because he knows how to work a room. Jim, on the other hand, is more abrupt and straightforward.
In other words, Jim just doesn’t give a damn.
Martindale at Michigan
Don “Wink” Martindale has become the new defensive coordinator at Michigan. It will work out well, at least for a couple of years.
Martindale, 60, is his own man and wants to do things his way. That’s great if a team is winning, but not so good if it isn’t, which might be why he’s no longer working with the Ravens and the New York Giants. Martindale, though, has a strong relationship with his players and they will play hard for him at Michigan.
He certainly influenced Macdonald, especially with the blitzes and pressures off the edge. Martindale is a disciple of the late Buddy Ryan, who created the “46” defense with the 1985 Chicago Bears.
He is also good friends with Rob and Rex Ryan, two former coaches with the Ravens.
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Lamar Jackson understandably had no interest in watching the Super Bowl, telling NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti in the Las Vegas afterglow of his second career NFL Most Valuable Player Award last week that the Ravens’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game was still “too raw.”
Odell Beckham Jr., naturally, was another story. The Ravens wide receiver (along with Kim Kardashian) was spotted at Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s Super Bowl party at The Cosmopolitan on Saturday, according to multiple reports, and around the strip through the weekend.
Whether Beckham, 31, and Kardashian, 43, will be (are?) an item will continue to fuel tabloids for the foreseeable future. Whether the most transcendent sports figure in the team’s history will be reunited with Jackson, however, seems easier to answer, though it has its complexities as well.
Beckham is technically not one of the team’s more than 20 impending unrestricted free agents after his one-year, $15 million contract was reworked, with substantial void years being removed from the deal.
That revision, as noted by Russell Street Report, allows Baltimore to use a post-June 1 release if an extension is not reached by March 14. Doing so would spread out the dead money in the deal over this year and next, rather than have it all hit in 2024, meaning $2.767 million would count for this year and $8.301 million for 2025.
But given that the Ravens are already tight on cap space with just over $7.3 million in room, per Over The Cap — a number that should climb to around $8.8 million with the league’s salary cap projected to be around $245 million for the 2024 season — the only feasible way for Beckham to return with such a large guarantee for 2025 would be to adjust his contract.
Should the Ravens bring him back, and does he want to come back? Those are not necessarily mutually exclusive questions.
Let’s start with the latter.
“I don’t know the political answer to that question, but I’ve enjoyed every single moment,” Beckham said after Baltimore’s 17-10 loss to the Chiefs. “I always talk about [when] I went to the [Los Angeles] Rams, it made me fall in love with football again, and being here … Coach Harbs, [John Harbaugh], [owner] Steve [Bisciotti], EDC [general manager Eric DeCosta] … This felt like a home. It felt amazing for me.”
His performance, broadly and statistically speaking, was not, though it had plenty of moments, on the field and beyond.
In his first season since suffering the second torn ACL of his career in Super Bowl 56 in February 2022, Beckham had a pedestrian 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns. That was the lowest output of any mostly healthy season in his career, though he missed two games early in the year because of an ankle injury and one late to rest for the postseason.
Ravens vs. Bengals
Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. greets fans as he enters the field before a game against the Bengals on Nov. 16. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Beckham averaged just 4.4 targets and 2.5 catches per game, numbers that are at best complementary, though he did manage a career-high 16.1 yards per catch. He also flashed — albeit sparingly — with a 40-yard touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns in November, 116 yards on four catches the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Rams and one spectacular 33-yard grab against the Miami Dolphins.
His impact stretched well beyond Sundays, too.
Beckham arrived in Baltimore in April with the organization unsure of whether he could even run and in large part as an inducement for Jackson to sign a long-term deal. When Beckham hit the field for training camp, he was greeted with daily chants of “OBJ! OBJ!” by a fanbase that, save for Jackson, had long thirsted for a star of such magnitude. In the locker room, Beckham was parked next to Zay Flowers, imparting his 10 years of wisdom on the rookie receiver, and was a popular sage among teammates young, old and in between.
And with only Flowers and Rashod Bateman among the Ravens’ top four wide receivers signed for next season, Beckham, or perhaps veteran impending free agent Nelson Agholor, would be a welcome addition to return — at the right price.
“I don’t know,” DeCosta said at the team’s season-ending news conference when asked if the wide receiver group would undergo a major overhaul as it did this past season. “I love the guys we have coming back.
“We’ll talk to guys and look at potentially bringing guys back, but I feel really good about where we are.”
As for what it would cost to bring Beckham back, it’s unlikely any team would fork over another $15 million, which ranked 19th among receivers this past season.
Still, it might be possible for the Ravens and Beckham to re-do his deal and keep the salary cap implications manageable, which will be particularly important given other, more costly free agents on their roster such as defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, other needs and a full draft class to sign. His return could also depend on what the open market dictates.
And it will depend on Beckham, who said he’ll “take a step back, evaluate the future and just go from there.”
He does not, however, sound like a man who is done playing football, even though he already got a Super Bowl ring with the Rams two years ago.
Said Beckham: “I know that I can still play football, and I know that I still have [expletive] in the tank.”
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NFL free agency doesn’t officially begin until March 11, but the backroom channels from ownership to agents are always open.
It’s a league that never sleeps, and there are always private negotiations regarding future deals. On Feb. 2, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he didn’t subscribe to the idea of windows opening and closing in regard to the development of players and creating championship teams.
To an extent, he is correct, and few would disagree that the Ravens had the best team during the 2023 season. But they were outplayed, outcoached and lacked discipline in a 17-10 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
“I’d like to believe that with careful roster building and good drafting and development of players, the window is going to always be open,” DeCosta said.
For the Ravens to remain in contention and finally reach the Super Bowl, here are some suggestions for the 2024 season.
The NFL draft is April 25-27 in Detroit, and the Ravens need to select a quality offensive tackle and a good outside wide receiver.
Does it make a difference in what order? No, because the Ravens should be able to find a receiver even with the No. 30 overall pick in the first round, and teams can usually select a solid offensive lineman in the second or middle rounds.
The Ravens already have two good tight ends in Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews and a versatile slot receiver in Zay Flowers. Rashod Bateman can provide depth inside or outside, but the Ravens need a big, fast receiver on the outside. That weakness showed up against Kansas City when the Chiefs stacked the line of scrimmage to shut down the run and dared the Ravens to beat them on the outside.
They couldn’t.
“I love the guys we have coming back,” DeCosta said of the receivers. “I think ‘Bate’ is going to have a great season, and we have Zay. We’ll talk to guys and look at potentially bringing guys back, but I feel really good about where we are. We also saw the emergence of Isaiah this year, and we know, of course, what Mark can do.
“We’ve also got the draft, and like I said, we’ll have conversations with our free agents, as well, and we’ve already started those conversations in some cases. So, I would expect the receiver room to be very strong next year and very productive.”
Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie breaks up a pass intended for Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) The Ravens don’t need to re-sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He’s a nice guy and worked well with young players, but he didn’t deliver enough big plays (35 catches, 565 yards, three touchdowns during the regular season) to warrant the $15 million he made in 2023. The same can be said for veteran Nelson Agholor (35 catches, 381 yards, 4 TDs), who was a good leader and a solid performer as well.
An emphasis should be on rebuilding the offensive line. The unit performed well running the ball (No. 1 in the NFL), but the Ravens allowed 41 sacks, and that’s with a quarterback as elusive as Lamar Jackson. Their starting guards, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, are both free agents. Zeitler is a tough guy who can run and pass block and should be offered a new deal, but Simpson is expendable, and the Ravens might consider waiving right tackle Morgan Moses for a cheaper, younger player.
The other problem is left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who’s projected to have a salary cap hit of $26 million in 2024. Because of a series of injuries over the past few seasons, the Ravens should renegotiate Stanley’s deal and point out that a starter making that much money shouldn’t be sharing the position with reserve Patrick Mekari like he did at the end of the season.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens just need to ante up and pay defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who could command $20 million per year. He was sixth on the team in tackles (56) and led the Ravens in sacks (13) and quarterback hits (33). He has done everything asked of him since being drafted four years ago, and yes, he is worth that kind of money.
Both inside linebacker Patrick Queen and outside linebacker-defensive end Jadeveon Clowney might be out of the Ravens’ price range, especially since the team signed Jackson and middle linebacker Roquan Smith to lucrative contract extensions last offseason.
Queen’s development was slowed by the team asking him to play in the middle instead of the weak side, but the 2020 first-round pick has played well since Smith joined the Ravens last November. Clowney, 30, had 9 1/2 sacks this past season. Both should command big contracts on the free agent market, putting pressure on young outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo.
The situations might be the same with both running back Gus Edwards and safety Geno Stone. With Edwards, the concern is whether the Ravens are truly committed to the run after he and Justice Hill received a combined six carries against Kansas City. Stone, though, is a smart player and other teams will be interested in him because of his production and strong work ethic. He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 66 and had an AFC-leading seven interceptions.
“We’ll know what’s best for us to do. It’s something that we haven’t just started thinking about, obviously,” DeCosta said. “Justin had a great year, as did Patrick Queen. Those two guys obviously are Pro Bowlers who had great seasons, and we’ll have a good plan in place for those guys.”
Is there any panic about potentially losing so many key players? Hardly.
“We’ve started talking to agents [and] looking at the crop of free agents that are out there, but mostly [looking] at our guys, and who can we bring back, and what’s that contract going to look like, and what will those long-term ramifications be, as well. At some point, you get to the point where you have to play with who you have, and you have to draft well, and you have to hit on players, and we’ve done that the last couple of years. We’ve seen the emergence of a lot of younger players, and that’s going to continue. We’ve got a great process.”
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Police in Massachusetts contacted Baltimore County officers last month about a report they’d received of a “violent domestic incident” in Owings Mills on Jan. 16, according to a knowledgeable source.
The alleged victim wouldn’t name the other person involved but described him as an NFL player. When Acton Police shared the news with Baltimore County, they added who they believed it was: Xavien “Zay” Flowers.
According to what was reported in Massachusetts, the alleged victim was “physically assaulted,” and said they were left with multiple bruises, according to the source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The alleged victim also reported a third individual present, the source said. That person allegedly drew a firearm during the incident.
Flowers, a Ravens wide receiver, has not been charged with a crime, nor has he been named a suspect, Baltimore County Police said.
In a statement Tuesday, county police spokesperson Joy Stewart said the department’s investigation “into whether a crime has occurred” is still ongoing.
It could not be determined whether Flowers has an attorney representing him. Flowers has not commented publicly since news of a police investigation involving him broke last week.
Officials have provided little additional information. Baltimore County Police spokesperson Trae Corbin said last week they are investigating an “alleged assault,” but declined to answer many other questions.
The source said the alleged victim’s report to Acton Police was made Jan. 21, five days after the alleged Jan. 16 incident.
Baltimore County Police dispatch audio from the morning of Jan. 16 stated that a woman called 911 crying and “seemed in distress” when she hung up, according to archived radio traffic accessed through the Broadcastify website.
According to the dispatch, the call came from an address in the same building where Flowers has owned a townhouse since last summer, records show, in a new development in Owings Mills, a couple of miles from the Ravens training facility. Neighbors confirmed that Flowers lives in the unit.
That 911 call has not been released by Baltimore County’s 911 call center. Officials wrote in response to a public records request by The Baltimore Sun that the records “are part and parcel to an open and ongoing law enforcement investigation.”
The Sun also sought to obtain relevant records from Acton Police, the department in Massachusetts. While the department confirmed it had one report involving Flowers, it said it could not release it or say whether the agency was investigating, citing the state’s Domestic Violence Act of 2014.
Since the alleged assault was initially reported, there has been little comment from those involved. The Ravens said they “take these matters seriously,” but have not commented further. And neither the NFL nor Flowers’ agent has commented. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the NFLPA, the players’ union, declined to comment because it is an “ongoing investigation.”
Flowers, the Ravens top receiver this past season, remains on the team’s roster, listed online. In the days after the alleged incident, he played in both of the Ravens’ playoff games — the win over the Houston Texans on Jan. 20 and the loss in the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 27.
Flowers fumbled the ball near the Chiefs’ goal line in the fourth quarter and slammed his hand against a bench moments later, causing it to bleed.
One consequence he appears to face, however, lies with his sponsorship deals. Flowers has appeared in ads for Pizza Boli’s, the mid-Atlantic pizzeria chain; MyProtein, a dietary supplement; Bath & Body Works and Dunkin’ Donuts. He also reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour last year.
Flowers has appeared in televised commercials for Pizza Boli’s, as has Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard. However, on Pizza Boli’s Instagram page, there are no posts of Flowers, although there are of Ricard.
When asked Tuesday morning about the pizzeria’s partnership with Flowers, the person who picked up the phone at Pizza Boli’s headquarters said that while they take such matters “seriously,” they could not comment. Asked if Flowers continues to represent Pizza Boli’s, the person again said, “We can’t comment about it,” before hanging up.
In a November news release, Bath & Body Works announced that Flowers, as well as San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Ohio State University wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be promoting their men’s grooming products. While ads featuring McCaffrey and Harrison remain on Bath & Body Works’ social media pages, ones with Flowers appear to have been removed.
Bath & Body Works did not reply to requests for comment.
Flowers remains in ads posted to MyProtein’s social media. MyProtein did not reply to a request for comment.
The wide receiver also appeared in a Dunkin’ Donuts ad with Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta in November. Dunkin’ Donuts did not reply to a request for comment, nor did Under Armour.
Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article.
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The Ravens’ coaching and front office staff have already been raided. Next up: their players.
More than 20 are set to become unrestricted free agents in a month, and many of the same questions that were being asked after recent playoff failures continue to be asked in 2024.
If it feels like the best opportunity for the Ravens to reach the Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era just drifted by like an empty ship that broke loose from its mooring amid a storm, that is not an unreasonable thought.
Already, the coaching staff will look significantly different, with defensive mastermind Mike Macdonald now the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, defense line coach Anthony Weaver now the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson now in charge of the Tennessee Titans’ defense. Then there are the many notable contributors from this past season who are about to hit the market, including defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, inside linebacker Patrick Queen and outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy.
The Ravens have just over $7.3 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, which ranks 20th in the NFL, and while they are used to operating this way, it will be even tougher after signing Jackson to a five-year, $260 million extension last offseason.
Of course, general manager Eric DeCosta doesn’t believe Baltimore’s chances for its first Super Bowl title since the 2012 season are dead in the water, regardless of the seemingly endless obstacles between a difficult reality and a championship port. He has faith in the process.
“We’ve seen the emergence of a lot of younger players, and that’s going to continue,” he said in last week’s end-of-season news conference. “We’ve got a great process. We’ve got great evaluators. Our coaching staff does a phenomenal job, and we also develop players, so I don’t really subscribe to the idea of windows opening and closing. I’d like to believe that with careful roster building and good drafting and development of players, the window is going to always be open.”
That first step to keeping it open, DeCosta said, will be starting with their own free agents.
If nothing else, it’s something the Ravens are used to dealing with. But this year’s group is particularly deep, with four running backs, three of the team’s top five wide receivers, its top three pass rushers and both starting guards, along with a handful of defensive backs, all eligible for free agency when the period unofficially begins March 11, which is when teams are allowed to begin talks with players outside the organization.
“We’ll be busy,” DeCosta said. “We’ve started talking to agents, looking at the crop of free agents that are out there, but mostly at our guys, and who can we bring back, and what’s that contract going to look like, and what will those long-term ramifications be, as well. At some point, you get to the point where you have to play with who you have, and you have to draft well, and you have to hit on players, and we’ve done that the last couple of years.”
Here’s an attempt to rank who their top 10 free agents will be:
1. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike
A 2020 third-round pick, Madubuike delivered in a big way in the final year of his rookie contract with a career-high 13 sacks that led all NFL interior defensive linemen. That could net him a deal north of $25 million per year.
“In terms of Baltimore, man, that’s home,” the 26-year-old told NFL.com Friday at the Pro Bowl. “But, you know, business is business, and that side is going to take care of itself.”
That sounds like a man who wants to get paid, and deservedly so. The Ravens aren’t going to let him just walk, though, so the most likely scenario is issuing a franchise tag. That would cost about $21 million for next season and buy DeCosta time to potentially work out a lucrative long-term deal.
2. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen
Queen surpassed his career-high in tackles for a second straight year with 133 and added 3 1/2 sacks, six pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also hasn’t missed a game in his four years in Baltimore, a remarkable achievement for someone who plays the game with as much speed and violence as he does.
But with $20 million a year already invested in fellow inside linebacker and two-time All-Pro Roquan Smith, and big money presumably committed to Madubuike, there’s probably a slim chance Baltimore will be able to keep the 2020 first-round pick.
“This is where I started it at, it would definitely be nice to come back,” Queen said. “But at the same, I just got to do what’s best for me, what’s best for my family.”
2023 NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens
Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens right guard Kevin Zeitler will turn 34 next month, yet he’s coming off the first Pro Bowl selection of his 12-year career. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)3. Right guard Kevin Zeitler
Zeitler will turn 34 next month, yet he’s coming off the first Pro Bowl selection of his 12-year career. DeCosta also said last week that he’s already spoken with Zeitler about the possibility of returning.
Given his veteran leadership, standout play and toughness, the Ravens would be wise to bring him back, especially with starting left guard John Simpson also hitting free agency and some uncertainty over their two aging tackles, Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses, both of whom were slowed by injuries throughout the season.
4. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney was a steal this season, signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal halfway through training camp and then producing one of the best seasons of his 10-year career. The 30-year-old tied his career high with 9 1/2 sacks, didn’t miss a game and was a stout run defender. He’d also like to be back.
“I enjoyed coming to work,” said Clowney, the 2014 No. 1 overall draft pick. “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.”
He’ll certainly have higher offers than what Baltimore can likely afford to pay him, and the Ravens have been reticent to shell out big money to veteran outside linebackers in the past. But if there’s a way to get creative, he has already proved to be a great fit in the locker room and on the field.
5. Cornerback Ronald Darby
Another inexpensive veteran who outperformed his contract, Darby played in 16 games and was more than adequate as he filled in at outside corner with Marlon Humphrey hampered by injuries most of the year. He put up his best numbers in terms of completion percentage allowed, yards per completion allowed, passer rating allowed and gave up only one touchdown.
The 30-year-old will command a higher salary next season than the $1.7 million he was paid in 2023, but the veteran could be an affordable option at a position of need.
Wide receiver Nelson Agholor can help fill the role of veteran leader who’s capable of making big plays on occasion. (Loren Elliott/Getty) 6. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor
With Odell Beckham Jr. unlikely to return after being paid $15 million for his one season in Baltimore, Agholor can help fill the role of veteran leader who’s capable of making big plays on occasion.
He had just 35 catches for 381 yards, but the 30-year-old was a valuable presence and would be even more so with rookie Zay Flowers and third-year receiver Rashod Bateman the team’s top two players at the position. Bateman has also yet to find consistent chemistry with Jackson, and Agholor, who signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Ravens last offseason, would be an affordable backstop.
7. Cornerback Arthur Maulet
Like Darby, Maulet was an outsized performer for the Ravens’ defense. He cost just $1.08 million last season and was a skilled defender in the slot, especially blitzing off the edge. He also performed solidly on special teams and epitomized the Ravens’ culture. Bringing him back on an inexpensive deal would help keep together what was one of the best secondaries in the league.
8. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy didn’t join the Ravens until Week 4, yet he still set a career high with nine sacks. There were times when he struggled, especially against the run, but at just $1.4 million for the season, he was well worth the investment as he was often disruptive in the passing game.
Van Noy will turn 33 in March, but he showed enough that he’ll get an offer from some team, if not Baltimore.
9. Left guard John Simpson
A season after he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders, Simpson won the starting left guard job in training camp and never relinquished it. The 26-year-old was mostly solid and earned himself a notable free agent deal this offseason.
The Ravens already have young guards Ben Cleveland, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees on the roster, so this could be an instance in which they let Simpson walk and hope for a compensatory draft pick in return.
Running back Gus Edwards led the Ravens with 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) 10. Running back Gus Edwards
The concerns with Edwards, 28, are that his 4.1 yards per carry was the lowest mark of his career by nearly a full yard, and he struggled to provide the same power and burst as the season wore on. That said, he led the Ravens with 13 rushing touchdowns, has a nose for the end zone when Baltimore is near the goal line and makes for a good option or decoy in short-yardage situations. Bringing him back for one last hurrah, assuming the two parties can agree on a relatively friendly number, would make sense.
Other unrestricted free agents
Quarterbacks: Tyler Huntley, Josh Johnson
Running backs: J.K. Dobbins, Dalvin Cook, Melvin Gordon
Wide receivers: Odell Beckham Jr., Devin Duvernay, Laquon Treadwell
Center: Sam Mustipher
Long snapper: Tyler Ott
Defensive end: Brent Urban
Linebacker: Malik Harrison, Del’Shawn Phillips
Safety: Geno Stone
Cornerback: Rock Ya-Sin, Daryl Worley
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With the Kansas City Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58 on Sunday, the 2023 NFL season is officially over. Now it’s time to turn the page to 2024.
But before we turn our full attention to the draft and free agency, here’s a way-too-early look at where the Ravens and the NFL’s 31 other teams stack up entering next season. Regular-season unit rankings (as rated by FTN Fantasy’s DVOA) and notable pending unrestricted free agents are included.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
How 2023 ended: 11-6 regular season, Super Bowl champions
Unit rankings: No. 8 offense, No. 7 defense
Notable free agents: DT Chris Jones, CB L’Jarius Sneed, LT Donovan Smith, LB Willie Gay Jr., S Mike Edwards, LB Drue Tranquill, DE Mike Danna
Patrick Mahomes just completed the most impressive five-year run of any quarterback in NFL history, and it sounds like tight end Travis Kelce and coach Andy Reid are coming back. With that trio and an ascending defense, Kansas City has a good chance to become the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three straight titles. There are some big questions to answer this offseason, including the looming free agency of defensive linchpins Jones and Sneed and the lack of reliable receivers around Kelce and Rashee Rice, but Mahomes just proved that he and the Chiefs should never be considered underdogs.
2. San Francisco 49ers
How 2023 ended: 12-5, Super Bowl loss
Unit rankings: No. 1 offense, No. 4 defense
Notable free agents: DE Chase Young, DT Javon Kinlaw, LB Oren Burks, S Tashaun Gipson Sr., G Jon Feliciano
This Super Bowl loss will sting for a long time, but the 49ers have built a strong foundation under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch that should continue competing for championships. Quarterback Brock Purdy proved that he’s capable of playing at a high level across a full season and into the playoffs, and he’s on an incredibly team-friendly contract. Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw faces a long road to recovery after suffering an Achilles tendon injury Sunday, but the defense returns nearly all of its top players as well as coordinator Steve Wilks. San Francisco will once again have one of the league’s best rosters next season, and it feels like only a matter of time before it breaks through.
3. Ravens
How 2023 ended: 13-4, AFC championship game loss
Unit rankings: No. 4 offense, No. 1 defense
Notable free agents: DT Justin Madubuike, LB Patrick Queen, OLB/DE Jadeveon Clowney, G Kevin Zeitler, WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB J.K. Dobbins, S Geno Stone, OLB Kyle Van Noy, G John Simpson
With plenty of turnover among the coaching staff and the potential departure of some key players, getting back to the conference title game is not going to be easy. Fortunately, the Ravens have a rock-solid foundation led by two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and coach John Harbaugh, who together have gone 58-19 during the regular season when Jackson starts. Another year in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system should only benefit Jackson, who will continue to face criticism for his playoff failures until finding a way to break through in the loaded AFC. How newly promoted coordinator Zach Orr and his assistants fare in rebuilding the league’s best defense will determine whether this team is once again championship-caliber.
4. Detroit Lions
How 2023 ended: 12-5, NFC championship game loss
Unit rankings: No. 5 offense, No. 13 defense
Notable free agents: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, G Graham Glasgow, G Jonah Jackson, WR Josh Reynolds, DE Romeo Okwara
The Lions proved they can win in the postseason with quarterback Jared Goff, who’s due for a huge contract extension after leading one of the league’s best offenses. A masterful draft headlined by running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta and defensive back Brian Branch and the steady hand of coach Dan Campbell have laid the groundwork for a long window of contention in a city that has been starved for success, though the NFC North is shaping up to be much better next season. The key will be improving a pass rush and a secondary that struggled at times and failed in the playoffs.
Brett Carlsen/APWill Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs return for another season in Buffalo? (Brett Carlsen/AP)5. Buffalo Bills
How 2023 ended: 11-6, AFC divisional round loss
Unit rankings: No. 3 offense, No. 12 defense
Notable free agents: S Micah Hyde, DE Leonard Floyd, WR Gabe Davis, DT DaQuan Jones, DE A.J. Epenesa, LB Tyrel Dodson
For as dominant as the Bills have been over the past five seasons with coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen, playoff success has been elusive. That can wear on an organization over time, and there’s a feeling that perhaps Buffalo needs a shake-up to finally get over the hump. Maybe that means trading star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who said he isn’t sure if he’ll be back next season. The Bills also need to rebuild a defense that could be losing several veterans, most notably Hyde, who is reportedly considering retirement. It’s going to be a tricky offseason for McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
How 2023 ended: 9-8
Unit rankings: No. 11 offense, No. 23 defense
Notable free agents: WR Tee Higgins, DT DJ Reader, CB Chidobe Awuzie, RT Jonah Williams, WR Tyler Boyd
The return of quarterback Joe Burrow vaults the Bengals back into the league’s top tier, but there are big questions to answer before considering a return to the Super Bowl. Most importantly, what happens with Higgins, who is set to hit the open market but could return on the franchise tag. The Bengals have the salary cap space to spend in free agency, but there’s also the looming extension for star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to consider. Reader and Awuzie have been crucial pieces on defense, and Williams’ likely departure creates a hole at right tackle. Burrow is good enough to keep this team in contention, but there’s plenty of work to do to reshape the roster around him.
7. Green Bay Packers
How 2023 ended: 9-8, NFC divisional round loss
Unit rankings: No. 6 offense, No. 27 defense
Notable free agents: RB AJ Dillon, CB Keisean Nixon, S Darnell Savage, G Jon Runyan
As the league’s youngest team, the Packers entered the postseason with house money and nearly cashed in with a trip to the NFC title game. The rise of quarterback Jordan Love and the emergence of a versatile, skilled group of pass catchers around him create plenty of excitement, but the defense, now under the direction of former Boston College coach Jeff Hafley, needs to dramatically improve for Green Bay to meet much higher expectations.
8. Dallas Cowboys
How 2023 ended: 12-5, NFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 9 offense, No. 5 defense
Notable free agents: LT Tyron Smith, CB Stephon Gilmore, RB Tony Pollard, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong
The Cowboys are sticking with coach Mike McCarthy despite another playoff disappointment, and that’s probably the smart move for the team’s 2024 outlook. Quarterback Dak Prescott played at an MVP level, and CeeDee Lamb emerged as an All-Pro receiver, but the offense stalled out again in the postseason. There’s a glaring need for a bonafide No. 2 receiver and a bigger, more powerful running back. The defense, meanwhile, needs a new voice after Dan Quinn left to coach Washington and took secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. with him.
9. Los Angeles Rams
How 2023 ended: 10-7, NFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 7 offense, No. 22 defense
Notable free agents: G Kevin Dotson, C Coleman Shelton, S Jordan Fuller, WR Demarcus Robinson, CB Ahkello Witherspoon
An outstanding draft highlighted by star wide receiver Puka Nacua and another exceptional season from quarterback Matthew Stafford helped the Rams exceed expectations and nearly knock off the Lions in the wild-card round. The loss of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will sting, and there are several starting spots on both sides of the ball that will need to be addressed, but the Rams have cap flexibility and draft picks in the first two rounds for the first time since 2015 to augment an already solid roster. In a league driven by coach-quarterback combos, Sean McVay and Stafford still rank among the best.
10. Miami Dolphins
How 2023 ended: 11-6, AFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 2 offense, No. 19 defense
Notable free agents: DT Christian Wilkins, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, C Connor Williams, OLB Jerome Baker, DT Raekwon Davis, S DeShon Elliott
After a healthy, productive season, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is likely headed for a big contract extension, and rightfully so. He’s worked well with coach Mike McDaniel, and there’s no guarantee Miami would be able to find a better replacement. It would be foolish to overreact to Tagovailoa’s poor playoff debut in sub-zero temperatures. The Dolphins also have a long list of pending free agents to address, particularly on defense. As the new defensive coordinator, former Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver faces the challenging task of reshaping a unit that slipped below league average during an injury-riddled season.
11. Houston Texans
How 2023 ended: 10-7, AFC divisional round loss
Unit rankings: No. 14 offense, No. 16 defense
Notable free agents: DE Jonathan Greenard, CB Steven Nelson, DT Sheldon Rankins, LB Blake Cashman, DE Derek Barnett, TE Dalton Schultz, RB Devin Singletary, RT George Fant
C.J. Stroud played like a top-10 quarterback as a rookie, which makes the Texans a serious contender while he’s still on a cheap contract. They have the cap space and the draft capital to upgrade the roster, which already boasts some of the most promising young talent in the league. The return of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is huge for Stroud’s development and should help the offense continue to climb.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts will face some pressure after the way the Eagles collapsed in 2023. (Lindsey Wasson/AP) 12. Philadelphia Eagles
How 2023 ended: 11-6, NFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 10 offense, No. 29 defense
Notable free agents: C Jason Kelce, RB D’Andre Swift, DT Fletcher Cox, DE Brandon Graham, WR Quez Watkins
A disastrous finish to the season, in which the Eagles slipped from 10-1 to being laughed out of the playoffs by the Buccaneers, raises serious questions about the future of coach Nick Sirianni and a defense that woefully underperformed. The hiring of coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to lead the offense and defense, respectively, provides some confidence that Philadelphia can return to being a Super Bowl contender, but the pressure will be immense. The relationship between Moore, quarterback Jalen Hurts and star wide receiver A.J. Brown is worth watching.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
How 2023 ended: 10-7, AFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 15 offense, No. 6 defense
Notable free agents: QB Mason Rudolph, S Miles Killebrew, CB Levi Wallace, CB Chandon Sullivan, OLB Markus Golden
For a team facing so much uncertainty about its quarterback, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Kenny Pickett struggled in his second season, but the hiring of former Falcons coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator likely shifts the focus more toward running the ball and putting Pickett — or whoever plays quarterback — in a better position to succeed. The Steelers’ rushing attack was a true strength toward the end of the season behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and the defense should remain elite as long as outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward are healthy. This could be a surprise contender.
14. Seattle Seahawks
How 2023 ended: 9-8
Unit rankings: No. 12 offense, No. 28 defense
Notable free agents: DE Leonard Williams, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Bobby Wagner, TE Noah Fant, G Damien Lewis, C Evan Brown, QB Drew Lock
What better way to fix one of the league’s worst defenses than hiring the coordinator of the league’s best? The arrival of coach Mike Macdonald from the Ravens provides hope that Seattle can get the most out of its talented players, namely rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon. There are plenty of holes to fill on that side of the ball, particularly up the middle, but Macdonald was able to coax career seasons out of undervalued players such as Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Arthur Maulet. If he can fix the defense and have quarterback Geno Smith continue to thrive under former Washington Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, the Seahawks have the potential to be a very good team.
15. Cleveland Browns
How 2023 ended: 11-6, AFC wild-card-round loss
Unit rankings: No. 28 offense, No. 2 defense
Notable free agents: DE Za’Darius Smith, DT Maurice Hurst, DT Shelby Harris, QB Joe Flacco, RB Kareem Hunt, LB Sione Takitaki, LB Anthony Walker Jr.
That magical Flacco run was a great way to end the season, but the Browns can’t count on the 39-year-old quarterback to keep that up. This is Deshaun Watson’s team, for better or worse, and he at least showed flashes of being a competent quarterback during a 5-1 run as the starter before getting hurt again. The return of running back Nick Chubb as the engine of the offense will help, but a lack of dynamic receiving talent outside of Amari Cooper — who turns 30 in June — and tight end David Njoku raises questions. A defense that looked historically good at times during coordinator Jim Schwartz’s first season provides a high floor, though it will be challenging to replicate that success given the potential turnover in free agency.
The arrival of coach Jim Harbaugh, fresh off a national championship at Michigan, is a much-needed shot in the arm for the Chargers. (Ashley Landis/AP) 16. Los Angeles Chargers
How 2023 ended: 5-12
Unit rankings: No. 16 offense, No. 26 defense
Notable free agents: RB Austin Ekeler, TE Gerald Everett, S Alohi Gilman, LB Kenneth Murray
The arrival of coach Jim Harbaugh, fresh off a national championship at Michigan, is a much-needed shot in the arm for a franchise fighting for relevance not only in its home city, but the league at large. Harbaugh will certainly bring attention, but also a toughness and competitive attitude that should help the Chargers gain ground in a crowded playoff race. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is an inspired choice, but offensive coordinator Greg Roman has a lot to prove after his passing game floundered in Baltimore. Time will tell if he’s learned to adapt and can put talented quarterback Justin Herbert in the best position to succeed.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
How 2023 ended: 9-8
Unit rankings: No. 18 offense, No. 10 defense
Notable free agents: DE Josh Allen, WR Calvin Ridley, G Ezra Cleveland, CB Tre Herndon
It feels like a long time ago, but the Jaguars were once 8-3 and poised to claim the top seed in the AFC before quarterback Trevor Lawrence injured his ankle in a deflating loss to backup Jake Browning and the Bengals. Then they collapsed down the stretch and missed the playoffs, leading to the firing of defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. There is still plenty of talent on this team, and Lawrence still has another level or two to reach in his development, but there will be more pressure than ever on him and coach Doug Pederson.
18. Minnesota Vikings
How 2023 ended: 7-10
Unit rankings: No. 23 offense, No. 11 defense
Notable free agents: QB Kirk Cousins, DE Danielle Hunter, G Dalton Risner, LB Jordan Hicks, DE Marcus Davenport, DE D.J. Wonnum, WR K.J. Osborn
The Vikings’ outlook for next season depends on what happens with Cousins, who is once again poised for a big payday. But all signs point to a reunion in Minnesota, which looked formidable before Cousins went down with a torn Achilles tendon in Week 8. There are holes to fill on defense, which improved dramatically under blitz-heavy coordinator Brian Flores, but a full season of Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson should produce one of the league’s best offenses.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
How 2023 ended: 9-8, NFC divisional round loss
Unit rankings: No. 20 offense, No. 14 defense
Notable free agents: QB Baker Mayfield, WR Mike Evans, S Antoine Winfield Jr., LB Lavonte David, LB Devin White, G Aaron Stinnie
Mayfield and the Buccaneers exceeded expectations in 2023, winning the NFC South, eliminating the defending conference champions and nearly taking down Detroit in the divisional round. If Mayfield returns, Tampa Bay should remain in the mix to repeat as division champs, though some big names are hitting free agency. Don’t overlook the departure of offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who helped revive Mayfield’s career before taking over in Carolina.
20. Indianapolis Colts
How 2023 ended: 9-8
Unit rankings: No. 13 offense, No. 20 defense
Notable free agents: WR Michael Pittman Jr., CB Kenny Moore II, S Julian Blackmon, DT Grover Stewart, QB Gardner Minshew, RB Zack Moss, DE Tyquan Lewis
In just 173 snaps, rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson flashed the potential that made him such an intriguing prospect. His dual-threat ability paired with running back Jonathan Taylor and coach Shane Steichen gives the Colts a chance to compete with the many star-studded rosters in the AFC, though Richardson must prove he can stay healthy long enough to get Indianapolis to the playoffs. He’ll need plenty of help, which makes bringing back Pittman and adding another receiver or two a top priority.
21. New York Jets
How 2023 ended: 7-10
Unit rankings: No. 32 offense, No. 3 defense
Notable free agents: DE Bryce Huff, LT Mekhi Becton, S Jordan Whitehead, DE Carl Lawson, S Chuck Clark, DT Quinton Jefferson
The Jets are all-in on 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon suffered on the opening drive of his team debut. It would be easy to suggest that the four-time MVP will immediately make the Jets contenders, but that would overlook reported dysfunction behind the scenes and a lack of talent at both wide receiver and the offensive line. As good as Rodgers has been, we haven’t seen him play a full NFL game in over a year. Even if the defense remains elite, it’s asking a lot of Rodgers to lead this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
22. New Orleans Saints
How 2023 ended: 9-8
Unit rankings: No. 17 offense, No. 15 defense
Notable free agents: WR Michael Thomas, LT Andrus Peat, G/T James Hurst, CB Isaac Yiadom, DE/OLB Zack Baun, QB Jameis Winston
A late-season surge was not enough to lift the Saints to a playoff spot, and they’re once again facing a bloated cap sheet while several key contributors hit free agency. Recent draft misses, notably left tackle Trevor Penning, have left the roster in desperate need of young talent. Quarterback Derek Carr provides a solid enough level of play to keep the team in the playoff mix, but it’s hard to envision anything better than a wild-card appearance in 2024 unless the draft provides an immediate impact.
It seems unlikely that Justin Fields will be the Bears quarterback in 2024. (David Banks/AP) 23. Chicago Bears
How 2023 ended: 7-10
Unit rankings: No. 22 offense, No. 17 defense
Notable free agents: CB Jaylon Johnson, WR Darnell Mooney, DE Yannick Ngakoue, RB D’Onta Foreman
The Bears are expected to trade Justin Fields and draft a quarterback — likely USC’s Caleb Williams — at No. 1 overall in April, starting a new era for a franchise that has struggled for decades to find a reliable starter at the sport’s most important position. Time will tell whether the decision to keep coach Matt Eberflus and hire a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron was the right move, but the huge strides made on defense after the trade for defensive end Montez Sweat provide hope that Eberflus is the right man for the job.
24. Las Vegas Raiders
How 2023 ended: 8-9
Unit rankings: No. 27 offense, No. 8 defense
Notable free agents: RB Josh Jacobs, C Andre James, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, G Greg Van Roten, TE Austin Hooper, CB Amik Robertson
The Raiders decided to stick with the hot hand and hire Antonio Pierce as the full-time coach after a successful stint as the interim to end the season. It’s a smart move for a franchise that has lacked stability since reaching the Super Bowl in 2002, though Pierce has plenty of work ahead of him to find a franchise quarterback and maintain a defense that took a major step forward under coordinator Patrick Graham. How aggressive the Raiders are in the draft and free agency will be interesting.
25. New England Patriots
How 2023 ended: 4-13
Unit rankings: No. 29 offense, No. 9 defense
Notable free agents: LT Trent Brown, RT Mike Onwenu, S Kyle Dugger, CB Myles Bryant, DE Josh Uche, TE Hunter Henry, WR Kendrick Bourne, TE Mike Gesicki, DE Anfernee Jennings, RB Ezekiel Elliott
The Patriots enter a new era without Bill Belichick, who leaves after winning six Super Bowl titles over 24 years as coach. Jerod Mayo inherits a team desperate for quarterback help, which could come in the form of the No. 3 overall pick. The bones of a potentially elite defense are there, especially with defensive end Matthew Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez set to return from injury. Even with a rookie quarterback, it would not be shocking to see New England compete for a playoff spot in Mayo’s first season.
26. Arizona Cardinals
How 2023 ended: 4-13
Unit rankings: No. 21 offense, No. 32 defense
Notable free agents: WR Marquise Brown
The Cardinals went 3-5 down the stretch after quarterback Kyle Murray returned from a knee injury, including wins over the Steelers and Eagles. While coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense still has a long way to go, the offense should take a significant step forward behind Murray, running back James Conner and perhaps rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is widely projected to be picked fourth overall in April. Another strong draft could push Arizona back toward competing for a playoff spot.
27. Atlanta Falcons
How 2023 ended: 7-10
Unit rankings: No. 24 offense, No. 24 defense
Notable free agents: DT Calais Campbell, DE Bud Dupree, CB Jeff Okudah, RB Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Van Jefferson
After the Falcons surprisingly moved on from Arthur Smith, coach Raheem Morris inherits a team that has plenty of talent and the cap space and draft capital to add more. The biggest question is at quarterback after Desmond Ridder struggled during his second season. Perhaps a trade for Georgia native Justin Fields, who showed signs of progress at the end of the year in Chicago, would make Atlanta a contender in the wide-open NFC South.
RJ Sangosti, DPA split from quarterback Russell Wilson looks inevitable for the Broncos. (RJ Sangosti)28. Denver Broncos
How 2023 ended: 8-9
Unit rankings: No. 19 offense, No. 30 defense
Notable free agents: C Lloyd Cushenberry III, LB Josey Jewell, TE Adam Trautman, CB Fabian Moreau, OT Cam Fleming
A split from quarterback Russell Wilson looks inevitable after he was benched at the end of the season. How coach Sean Payton addresses that position will be fascinating, since there are few enticing options likely to be available in free agency or with the No. 12 overall pick. The defense also needs plenty of work after ranking near the bottom of the league. Unfortunately, after spending big last offseason and still missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year, the Broncos don’t have much financial flexibility.
29. Tennessee Titans
How 2023 ended: 6-11
Unit rankings: No. 25 offense, No. 18 defense
Notable free agents: RB Derrick Henry, QB Ryan Tannehill, DE Denico Autry, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, C Aaron Brewer, DT Teair Tart, RT Chris Hubbard, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR Chris Moore
It’s the end of an era for the Titans, who parted ways with coach Mike Vrabel and are likely saying goodbye to Henry and Tannehill after missing the playoffs for the second straight season. New coach Brian Callahan faces an exodus of veteran talent across the board, but opportunity knocks to breathe some new life into one of the league’s oldest rosters. The development of quarterback Will Levis will be key for Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon to determine the length and scope of this rebuild.
30. New York Giants
How 2023 ended: 6-11
Unit rankings: No. 30 offense, No. 21 defense
Notable free agents: RB Saquon Barkley, S Xavier McKinney, CB Adoree’ Jackson, LB Isaiah Simmons, DT A’Shawn Robinson
Next season will likely be quarterback Daniel Jones’ last in New York unless he can prove he’s ready to take the next step while coming off a torn ACL. The problem is, he might not be put in the best position to succeed considering the uncertainty over who’s calling plays between offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and coach Brian Daboll. An overhauled coaching staff and a roster that could be losing two of its most important players in Barkley and McKinney does not inspire confidence that the Giants can bounce back and return to the playoffs.
31. Washington Commanders
How 2023 ended: 4-13
Unit rankings: No. 26 offense, No. 31 defense
Notable free agents: CB Kendall Fuller, S Kam Curl, WR Curtis Samuel, RB Antonio Gibson, QB Jacoby Brissett, LB Khaleke Hudson
With a new owner, front office and coaching staff, hope springs eternal for Washington to escape its long walk on the treadmill of mediocrity. How Josh Harris, Adam Peters and Dan Quinn work together to reshape the roster, starting with a big decision at quarterback, will determine just how quickly this team can return to playoff contention. With a league-leading $73 million in cap space and a treasure trove of draft picks (including No. 2 overall), it might be faster than you think.
32. Carolina Panthers
How 2023 ended: 2-15
Unit rankings: No. 31 offense, No. 25 defense
Notable free agents: DE Brian Burns, LB Frankie Luvu, S Jeremy Chinn, CB Shaquill Griffin, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, WR DJ Chark Jr., WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
After helping revive Mayfield’s career in Tampa Bay, Canales is tasked with getting another former No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner back on track. How Bryce Young recovers from a disastrous rookie season is the most important question in Carolina, which must be aggressive in adding talent around its franchise quarterback or risk another year of stunted growth.
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LAS VEGAS — Jim Harbaugh won a national championship at Michigan last month and returned to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers.
He still agonizes over losing a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers 11 years ago.
Harbaugh is in town and will be watching closely when San Francisco faces the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
He was on the sideline coaching the 49ers when they rallied from a 28-6 second-half deficit only to fall short against his older brother, John Harbaugh, and the Ravens on Feb. 3, 2013.
Colin Kaepernick threw an incomplete pass to Michael Crabtree on fourth-and-5 from the 7 with under two minutes remaining in that game and the Ravens prevailed 34-31 after taking a safety to secure the win.
“There’s probably not a day that goes by that I don’t think about that game and what we could’ve done down at the end, [7] yards away from getting into the end zone,” Harbaugh told The Associated Press on Friday. “You leave that field and you go, there might be other days. Then you start thinking that might be the only day. Just wanted another shot at it, take another crack. My brother, my best friend, I love him, I’m proud of him. He earned that and he deserved that and his team did. … When I say it motivates me every day, it’s every day.”
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, right, shakes the hand of his brother and Ravens coach John Harbaugh after Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2013. The Ravens won, 34-31. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) Harbaugh, who played quarterback for two seasons with the Chargers when they were in San Diego, inherits a team that underachieved under previous coach Brandon Staley. Running back Austin Ekeler, who will be a free agent, believes the team needed a coach like Harbaugh who can inspire and motivate the players.
“I’ve heard great things about him. I’ve heard about he’s a culture-starter, which is exactly what that team needs,” Ekeler told the AP. “My message for Jim if I’m on that team or not on that team is to make sure we’re holding ourselves to a high standard and the culture is about holding ourselves accountable and holding other players accountable because I think that was lacking last year.”
Harbaugh inherits a franchise QB in Justin Herbert but still plans to emphasize running the ball. The Chargers had the 25th-ranked run offense in the NFL this season, when they finished 5-12.
“If things go well, it’s going to be because of guys like Austin Ekeler and the players,” Harbaugh said. “I like Austin Ekeler. We’re going to have a huge emphasis on the run game, and we gotta block better up front. He’s a tremendous back and we’d love to have him on the team next year. But yeah, things go well, it’s kind of because of all the players. If it goes bad, it’s because I’m a bad manager, I’m a bad coach.”
Harbaugh hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2014. He was 44-19-1 in four seasons with the 49ers and led them to three straight NFC championship games, winning one.
The game has changed. There’s new technology and a greater use of analytics. Harbaugh plans to embrace all of it. He’s looking for whatever it takes to win, to gain even the slightest edge. Harbaugh was in Las Vegas working with Verizon, which deployed new coach-to-coach communications across each of the stadiums this season that will be used for the first time in a Super Bowl on Sunday.
“There’s places that this can go and where it’s going to be next year, you’re going to be a lot more advanced than this year,” Harbaugh said. “This AI technology. How does that relate to football and what tendencies and what film to watch and what blueprint you can get on a coordinator that you’re going up against. It’s going to take you to places that the human brain can’t go. There’s no question at the end of the day, it’s blocking and tackling, and toughness. But, you still have to dig for every minute possibility to be competitive and ultimately win because it’s that darn competitive at this level.”
The 60-year-old Harbaugh has unfinished business in the NFL. He’ll keep working to hoist that Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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A key to Michigan football’s highly rated defense the past three years has been continuity of scheme, despite having two different coordinators.
Now, Don “Wink” Martindale, who spent a decade with the Ravens and is one of the architects of the defense installed at Michigan, will be the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. A source familiar with the situation confirmed Martindale’s expected hiring to the Detroit News. The news was first reported by ESPN early Friday morning.
Martindale, 60, had been a defensive coordinator in Baltimore and more recently with the New York Giants. He has not coached in college since 2003, at Western Kentucky, when he was defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.
He replaces Jesse Minter, who spent the past two seasons with the Wolverines and led them to the No. 1 ranking in 2023 in total defense and scoring defense and played a major role in winning a national championship. Minter, now the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator on former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff, followed Mike Macdonald, who spent a year at Michigan in 2021 and installed the defense before returning to the Ravens to become defensive coordinator. Minter and Macdonald had learned the defense while on the Ravens’ staff.
First-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore now has his coordinators in place, Kirk Campbell promoted from Michigan quarterbacks coach as offensive coordinator and now Martindale. Moore was named Michigan’s 21st head coach two weeks ago.
Martindale was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator for the final four of his 10 years on staff and helped design the blitz-heavy defensive system in Baltimore. It’s the defense Macdonald and Minter learned and carried to Michigan, so this move clearly establishes continuity for the Wolverines’ defense. Macdonald coached linebackers from 2018 to 2020 while Martindale was there, and Minter was a defensive assistant in 2018, assistant defensive backs coach in 2019 and then defensive backs coach in 2020.
Last month, Martindale and the Giants agreed to part ways, according to reports, and the Giants kept the $3 million he was owed. During an interview with Giants reporters in 2023, Martindale shared that he doesn’t sugarcoat things with players.
“I do a ‘keep it real’ with everybody on where they’re at and why they’re there, because the last thing I want as a coach is for a player to drive in this parking lot and not know where they stand, especially this time of year,” Martindale said in 2023. “Because I think that we build our relationships, we build our foundation on trust and honesty. I tell them what I think and where they stand, and where the competition is, where the line is. I talk about all that.”
©2024 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The Ravens won’t be able to add another Super Bowl championship Sunday, but a lucky — and wealthy — individual might be able to take home a Baltimore championship ring this weekend anyway.
Of the more than 1,000 lots up for auction at this year’s Super Bowl LVIII Live Auction in Las Vegas, run by Hunt Auctions, are hundreds of collectible items that belonged to Baltimore Colts legend Johnny Unitas and his family. His Super Bowl V ring — “among the most desirable Championship rings ever offered at auction,” Hunt says — and his 1958 NFL championship ring could be among the priciest, potentially fetching north of $100,000. A pair of his iconic high-top cleats might go for more than $20,000, while other, more obscure collectibles — like his personal U.S. Airways ID card — are expected to auction for less than $100.
Before Unitas died in 2002, he donated many of his belongings to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum: several helmets, a pair of cleats, and several trophies including his 1970 NFL Man of the Year award, which the museum’s executive director Michael Gibbons called “one of the heaviest awards I’ve ever tried to lift.”
“We like to call him the Babe Ruth of the NFL,” Gibbons said.
Other possessions remained with his family, however, who recently decided now was the time to auction some off, while keeping others. Part of the timing is because John Unitas Jr., the Hall of Fame quarterback’s son, is downsizing homes as he moves from Maryland to Florida.
“I thought it was the appropriate time to do it,” said Unitas Jr., who will continue to run his real estate company in Maryland and award the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award annually in Baltimore.
Included in the lot are Unitas’s 1964 and 1967 NFL MVP awards, his unopened champagne bottle from the 1958 NFL championship (dubbed “the Greatest Game Ever Played”), his Rolex watch, his driver’s license, his golf clubs, his tuxedo, his neckties, and an image from an episode of “The Simpsons,” featuring Unitas’s voice and likeness, addressed to Unitas and autographed by the show’s creator, Matt Groening.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction benefit NFL Auction Charities.
Hunt Auctions, which also organizes a similar event annually at the MLB All-Star Game, often works with personal collections and the Unitas family approached the auction house about the prospect. David Hunt, president of the Pennsylvania-based auction house, called personal collections “the pinnacle,” of memorabilia — since they’re full of unique items that are hard to obtain.
“Johnny Unitas’s Baltimore Colts souvenir program is going to be worth ten times what one is worth that you just buy on eBay from somebody who just got it in the 50s,” he said.
The auction will take place live on Saturday with memorabilia-seekers able to bid in person in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, as well as over the phone or online, provided one registers to bid beforehand. The orders are bid on in succession — so Lot 1 will be bid on and then, within minutes, Lot 2 will proceed, up to the more than 1,000 lots.
There are several other Baltimore-related items, including game-worn and autographed cleats from (now) two-time NFL MVP winner Lamar Jackson’s first start, which is estimated to go for roughly $10,000. Then, there are items like a 1982 Baltimore Stars, a short-lived USFL team, with bidding starting at $30.
But many more are related to Unitas: Over 250 of the lots are from his personal collection.
“I hope it goes well,” Unitas Jr. said. “I hope everybody enjoys it. And I hope some folks that are interested in a piece of Johnny Unitas get what they want.”
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Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Super Bowl 58 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas:
Brian Wacker, reporter
Chiefs 23, 49ers 20: Kansas City has won five of its past six against San Francisco and quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been tidy throughout the playoffs with three touchdowns, no turnovers and a completion rate of 75.8% against the Buffalo Bills and Ravens, two defenses that ranked in the top seven against the pass this season. The 49ers aren’t as strong against the pass, though both teams feature stellar defenses, which should keep this game perhaps lower scoring than even this prediction. Mahomes, coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo know how to win these games.
Mike Preston, columnist
Chiefs 28, 49ers 24: Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes remind me of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. It’s always hard beating those combinations. This will be a different Kansas City team than the one that beat the Ravens in the AFC championship game. In that contest, Mahomes struck early and often and the Chiefs forced the Ravens to beat them with the passing game, which they couldn’t do because Kansas City’s defense was deep in the head of quarterback Lamar Jackson. Mahomes was a game manager in the second half that day, but the Chiefs will be in more of an attack mode against San Francisco.
Unlike the Ravens, look for the 49ers to pound the ball with Christian McCaffrey, one of the best running backs in the NFL. They will stay with the running game, which will keep Mahomes off the field, but in the end he will make several big plays that will prove to be the difference in the game.
I still can remember the blank look on San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s face when the Ravens pounded the 49ers into submission, 33-19, on Christmas night. That could happen again in the Super Bowl because the Chiefs have a great pass rush and they can get after the quarterback if they get a substantial lead.
Childs Walker, reporter
49ers 27, Chiefs 23: It’s tough to pick against the Chiefs because they have the more trustworthy quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, the more trustworthy defense and deeper postseason bona fides. But logic says Kansas City can’t keep beating teams that were clearly superior in the regular season. The 49ers will do what the Ravens could not and play to their offensive identity, with Brock Purdy distributing the ball to the league’s best set of playmakers in Kyle Shanahan’s well-defined system.
C.J. Doon, editor
Chiefs 23, 49ers 20: The Chiefs have the better quarterback and the better defense, but the 49ers have a potent ground attack led by Christian McCaffrey that can take advantage of Kansas City’s weak spots and keep Patrick Mahomes off the field. The question is, will 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan stick with the running game, especially if Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce come out as hot as they did against the Ravens? Whoever takes the early lead will have a big advantage in dictating the pace of the game and making the opponent uncomfortable, and I’m more confident in the experienced Chiefs dealing with the pressure in what will be their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years. Maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t see Brock Purdy lifting the Lombardi Trophy just yet.
Tim Schwartz, editor
Chiefs 30, 49ers 24: Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes. San Francisco does not. That, to me, decides it. The 49ers are favored and have essentially been Super Bowl favorites from the start of the season but do you really trust Brock Purdy with the game on the line? He’s shown he can win big games, but not by himself. Maybe coach Kyle Shanahan will lean heavily on Christian McCaffrey and the running game to limit the Chiefs’ time of possession, but we’ve seen how good Kansas City’s defense is — and how good Mahomes is when it matters. Give me Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and Mahomes in a big game.
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One of the most lovable things about sports are the debates. For better or worse, there are plenty of shows built around that idea.
Public ballots are often a lightning rod for those arguments, and the 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player Award is no exception.
In finishing with 49 of 50 first-place votes, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson narrowly missed becoming the first two-time unanimous winner of the annual Associated Press award. It’s perhaps nothing more than a footnote in NFL history and Jackson’s career at large, but a vote away from history nonetheless.
Aaron Schatz, a longtime NFL analyst and stats expert who is now the Chief Analytics Officer at FTN Fantasy, was revealed to be the lone dissenter among the MVP voting, placing Jackson third behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. It’s not an unreasonable opinion, as Schatz laid out in a long, detailed article explaining his decision to leave Jackson off his All-Pro team.
“TL;DR: I trusted my numbers and my gut over going with the crowd just to avoid controversy,” he wrote.
Without completely rehashing Schatz’s argument — which is important to read in its full context — he noted that Jackson ranked behind Allen and Prescott in several advanced metrics such as Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement (DYAR), Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), expected points added (EPA), win probability added (WPA), ESPN QBR and Sports Info Solutions Total Points.
Schatz also pointed out that, while Jackson’s rushing ability “is one reason why the Ravens had the No. 1 run offense DVOA, even on plays where he hands the ball off,” Allen was more impressive as a runner and scrambler.
And while acknowledging that Jackson performed at his best in nationally televised games against difficult opponents late in the season, including wins over the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, Schatz said that Jackson had “more mediocre games than Prescott or Allen.” (We all remember those early struggles against the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers.)
Leaving those stats aside, Schatz said Jackson passes the “eye test.”
“There’s no question, Jackson’s season was impressive,” he said. “I trust the film study people who believe he has never been better as a passer, even if his numbers were better in 2019. He’s processing better. He’s throwing the ball better. He’s hitting those tough throws outside the numbers better.”
On that, we agree. Here’s where we don’t.
“I looked at all this data. I tried to make the case for Lamar Jackson. I tried very hard to convince myself that I felt he was the guy. And I just could not do it,” Schatz wrote. “He had a great season. He’s a very good quarterback. I simply do not believe he was the best quarterback in the NFL this year, even though he led the best team.”
There is plenty of nuance to this discussion, and perhaps those who gave second-place votes to Prescott, Allen, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill should have had more conviction and ranked those players above Jackson. Schatz deserves credit for being brave enough to give a controversial opinion.
Here’s where it gets tricky: Those 49 other voters put Jackson first on their ballots for a reason, and it’s hard to say exactly how much public pressure factors in. The criticism Schatz is receiving on social media is perhaps what those voters wanted to avoid.
But maybe the vote was just that simple. Jackson was the best player on the best team, and for much of the history of the subjective award (it’s Most Valuable Player, not Most Outstanding), that’s been enough.
The context is important, too. Jackson entered the season with a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and a largely new group of receivers, including a first-round rookie. He had to learn a new playbook and get comfortable with more control at the line of scrimmage.
In Week 1, starting running back J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. In Week 12, his favorite target and longtime security blanket Mark Andrews went down with an ankle injury. In Week 15, rookie running back Keaton Mitchell — who emerged as perhaps the most explosive playmaker on the team behind Jackson — suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Jackson still threw for a career-high 3,678 yards, and although his 24 touchdown passes rank among the lowest ever for an MVP-winning quarterback, he also rushed for 821 yards and five scores. The Ravens rolled to a 13-4 record, the best in the NFL, and clinched home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a week to spare.
And while Allen rallied the Bills to five straight wins to clinch an improbable AFC East title, Jackson won his final six starts and 10 of his last 11 to end the regular season.
When you tell the story of the 2023 NFL season and think back on its most memorable moments, how many involve Jackson and the Ravens?
On Dec. 10, do you remember Allen’s 20-17 win over the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, or Jackson’s 37-31 overtime win over Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Tylan Wallace’s walk-off punt return for a touchdown?
On Dec. 17, do you remember Allen completing seven passes in a 31-10 win over the Cowboys and Prescott or Jackson rushing for 97 yards in a 23-7 win over the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence?
What about the holiday weekend, when Allen narrowly beat the lowly Chargers and backup quarterback Easton Stick, 24-22, on Dec. 23 before Jackson threw for 252 yards and two scores in a 33-19 over the NFC-leading 49ers on Christmas night?
On New Year’s Eve, do you remember Allen rushing for two touchdowns in a 27-21 win over the Patriots, or Jackson throwing five touchdown passes and posting a perfect passer rating in a 56-19 beatdown over the Dolphins that clinched the AFC’s top seed?
Do you remember as Jackson watched comfortably from the sideline as the Ravens rested their starters in a Week 18 loss to the Steelers while Allen threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in a 21-14 win over Miami on “Sunday Night Football”?
That’s the problem when we start looking at stats and data as a way to evaluate everything we see on a football field. Jackson was the star of the season, the leader of the team that Schatz himself argued is one of the best regular-season teams in NFL history. The 2023 Ravens would not be in the same conversation with legendary teams such as the 2007 New England Patriots and 1985 Chicago Bears without Jackson under center.
“I’m a stat guy. I’m going to look at stats,” Schatz wrote. “There’s no question that by nearly every advanced metric you could look at, Josh Allen and Dak Prescott had better seasons than Lamar Jackson.”
Here are Jackson’s top 10 plays of the 2023 season, here are Allen’s, and here are Prescott’s, as compiled by NFL.com. Decide for yourself which player should be MVP. I know who I’d vote for.
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LAS VEGAS — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named NFL Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career Thursday night during the annual NFL Honors show highlighting the league’s best.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey ran away with the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award. Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett beat out T.J. Watt for AP Defensive Player of the Year. Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in a landslide. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Stroud’s teammate, won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, outgaining both Jalen Carter and Kobie Turner by two first-place votes.
The Browns took home four awards. Quarterback Joe Flacco, the former Ravens star who came off the couch to lead Cleveland to the playoffs, won the AP Comeback Player of the Year. Kevin Stefanski edged Houston coach DeMeco Ryans for AP Coach of the Year honors by one first-place vote. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award after guiding the league’s No. 1 ranked unit.
McCaffrey, San Francisco’s All-Pro running back, received 39 of 50 first-place votes for OPOY and earned 222 points, outpacing Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Garrett, Cleveland’s All-Pro edge rusher, received 23 first-place votes and 165 points to Watt’s 19 first-place votes and 140 points for DPOY.
Stroud received 48 of 50 first-place votes for OROY with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua getting the other two.
Anderson and Stroud are the fourth teammates to win the offensive and defensive rookie awards in the same season. Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner swept the awards last year for the New York Jets.
Flacco beat out Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for the comeback award. He received 13 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes and eight thirds to finish with 151 points.
Hamlin returned to the NFL this season after collapsing on the field and needing to be resuscitated following a cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023. He played in five regular-season games. Hamlin received 21 first-place votes but appeared on 42 of 50 ballots while Flacco was on 47. He got seven second-place votes and 14 thirds for 140 points.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Mayfield, who bounced around from the Browns to the Panthers to the Rams last season, started every game for Tampa Bay and led them to the second round of the playoffs. He got 10 first-place votes and finished with 93 points.
Flacco, the 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP, was home in New Jersey with his family when Cleveland called him in November. He went 4-1 in five starts and passed for over 300 yards in four straight games with 13 touchdowns.
Others receiving first-place votes were: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (4), Rams QB Matthew Stafford (1) and 49ers QB Brock Purdy (1).
Stefanski led the Browns to their third playoff appearance since 1999 despite losing quarterback Deshaun Watson, star running back Nick Chubb and right tackle Jack Conklin to season-ending injuries and starting five QBs.
Ryans helped the Houston Texans go from worst to first in the AFC South. The Texans routed the Browns 41-14 in a wild-card playoff game, but voting was completed before the postseason.
Stefanski and Ryans both earned 165 points in a weighted point system. But Stefanski had 21 first-place votes to Ryans’ 20. Stefanski had 18 second-place votes and six third-place votes. Ryans got 21 second-place votes and two thirds. Detroit’s Dan Campbell finished third. He got three first-place votes. San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan (3), Baltimore’s John Harbaugh (2) and the Rams’ Sean McVay (1) also got first-place votes.
Schwartz received 25 first-place votes and finished with 160 points, easily outpacing Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Hill received seven first-place votes and finished with 139 points. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb came in third with 45 points, including one first-place vote. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got three first-place votes, finishing fourth.
McCaffrey, a unanimous choice for All-Pro, led the NFL with 1,459 yards rushing and had 14 rushing TDs for the NFC champion 49ers. He also had 564 yards receiving for seven scores.
Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons finished third for DPOY with 89 points, including seven first-place votes. Cornerback DaRon Bland, Parson’s teammate, got the other first-place vote and came in fifth behind Raiders edge Maxx Crosby.
Watt, who won the award in 2021, led the NFL with 19 sacks. But Garrett had the better all-around season for the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
Despite constant double-teams, Garrett had 14 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and forced offensive coordinators to avoid his side of the field.
Bland set an NFL record with five interception returns for a touchdown but was named on only six ballots. He got two second-place votes and three for third to go with the one first.
Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and had a passer rating of 100.8, third-best by a rookie. He helped the Texans go from worst to first place in the AFC South and led them to a playoff win in the wild-card round.
Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (273.9) and had the best touchdown-interception ratio at 4.6, becoming just the third player in NFL history to finish first in both categories, joining Joe Montana (1989) and Tom Brady (2007).
Nacua set a rookie record with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards receiving yards. Lions tight end Sam LaPorta finished third.
This was the second year of AP’s weight point system. For MVP, first-place votes are worth 10 points, second-place votes are five points, third-place votes are three, fourth-place votes are two and fifth-place votes are one.
For all other awards, first-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes are three and third-place votes are one.
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The Ravens were trailing the Miami Dolphins by a field goal midway through the second quarter on New Year’s Eve at M&T Bank Stadium. All that was at stake was the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage through the conference title game.
As Lamar Jackson dropped back a few steps, Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins closed in. But before anyone could get to Jackson, the quarterback shuffled forward two steps and, with his left leg still in the air and body off balance, flung a deep pass down the right sideline to a streaking Odell Beckham Jr., who, with cornerback Kader Kohou blanketed on him, twisted and caught the perfectly placed ball with both hands and both feet in bounds before crashing to the ground at the 1-yard line.
The catch was a vintage Beckham moment, but it was just one of many spectacular plays by Jackson in 2023 and demonstrative of his greatness throughout the season. That’s why, for the second time in his six-year career, he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player during NFL Honors on Thursday night.
“It’s like watching a video game, bro,” Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet said after the Ravens’ win over Miami, a 56-19 pounding in which Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns for a perfect passer rating (158.3) to all but cement his grip on the award in the Week 17 blowout.
It was plenty “quarterback-y”, too, then and all year. After career highs in passing yards (3,682), completions (307) and completion percentage (.672), along with 24 touchdown passes and 821 rushing yards and five more scores, Jackson is just the 11th player to receive the honor more than once.
The last time he did was in 2019, when he set the single-season record for quarterback rushing yards (1,206), led the league in touchdown passes (36) and won the award unanimously, joining Brady as the only players to do so.
He beat out San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dan Prescott.
Jackson was also a finalist for NFL Offensive Player of the Year with McCaffrey, Prescott, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. McCaffrey won for the first time in his career.
That Jackson was voted MVP by the Associated Press for the second time was not a surprise. As he went this season, so went the Ravens.
Just as he did four years ago, he led the Ravens (13-4) to the best record in the NFL. Along the way, he played his best in the team’s biggest games, with standout performances in victories over the 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.
The Ravens won 10 of 11 games at one point, with Jackson topping the 300-yard passing mark three times and leading the team in rushing on four occasions in that span.
And though Jackson’s career postseason record fell to 2-4 with a loss at home to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game, in which he completed just 54.1% of his passes with a touchdown, an interception and a fumble, the award is based off the regular season.
Jackson’s numbers weren’t as eye-popping as they were in 2019 — his 24 touchdown passes are tied with Steve McNair for the fewest by an MVP — but his brilliance was in his balance, both as the focal point of a new offense under coordinator Todd Monken and statistically. Jackson ranked eighth in the NFL in total touchdowns and completion percentage, led the league in yards per attempt (8) and had the fourth-highest passer rating (102.7).
His 821 rushing yards also led the team, ranked 22nd in the NFL and were 164 more than the next closest quarterback, the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields. His 5.5 yards per carry also led all players, and he was named an All-Pro for the second time and selected to his third Pro Bowl.
“Lamar Jackson is a phenomenal success,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at the team’s season-ending news conference. “He’s a phenomenal success as a football player. He’s phenomenal success as a person, as a leader, as a family man, but you’re asking about the football player. In my opinion, there’s nobody better in this league, especially nobody better for the Baltimore Ravens and for this organization and for this city and just from a historical perspective.”
All of it came after an offseason of tumult and uncertainty in which Jackson requested to be traded after he said he felt the team wasn’t meeting his value in contract negotiations. Eventually, the two sides came to an agreement, with Jackson signing a five-year, $260 million extension in April that, at the time, made him the highest-paid player in the league in terms of annual salary.
It turned out to be a worthy investment.
After a somewhat sluggish start to the season in a new offense, Jackson and the Ravens took flight. At home against the Lions in Week 7, he completed 21 of 27 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns to lead Baltimore to a 38-6 blowout of the future NFC runner-up. The performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, and he was just getting started.
Two weeks later, against the Seahawks, he completed 21 of 26 passes for 187 yards and rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries to help lead a 37-3 rout. A little over a month later, in a “Sunday Night Football” showdown against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, he threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries in a convincing 23-7 road victory.
Then came a Christmas night showdown against the 49ers on the road and their MVP candidates, McCaffrey and Purdy. Jackson outplayed them both, completing 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 45 yards on seven carries in a resounding 33-19 victory.
Still, it wasn’t enough for one Fox Sports Radio host, who was critical of Jackson when it came to the MVP conversation, calling him not “quarterback-y” enough and saying that McCaffrey was more valuable.
A week later, against the Dolphins, Jackson shrugged off the commentary and posted the third perfect passer rating of his career. His performance clinched the AFC North title for Baltimore for the first time since 2019 as well as the top seed in the conference as he was again named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
He put together an MVP season when all the attention was on him. In addition to Jackson being at the axis of everything the Ravens did on offense, they lost their top running back, J.K. Dobbins, in Week 1 to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, tight end and security blanket Mark Andrews to an ankle injury in Week 11 and explosive rookie running back Keaton Mitchell to a knee injury in Week 15.
There was no stopping Jackson, though. After missing 11 games the previous two seasons because of injury, he played every meaningful snap this season, only sitting out a Week 18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because there was nothing left to play for or to prove.
He was, simply, the best player on the best team.
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Baltimore County Police have confirmed they are investigating an alleged assault involving Baltimore Ravens player Zay Flowers.
Flowers has not been charged with a crime.
Asked specifically whether it was investigating any domestic violence allegations involving Flowers, police department spokesman Trae Corbin said in an email last month that it was investigating an alleged assault in Owings Mills but that “a suspect has not been named at this time.”
Corbin also said the “contributing factors surrounding this case are still being determined.”
Baltimore County Police did not clarify how Flowers may be involved or respond to a request for an update Thursday.
The investigation appears to involve a police agency in Massachusetts. The Acton Police Department confirmed in January that it had one report involving Flowers but said it could not release it, citing a state law that bars the release of records in certain cases. The Baltimore Sun had requested any police report made Jan. 16 to Jan. 21 involving Flowers.
In a subsequent email this week, Acton Police spokesperson John Guilfoil said the agency could not respond to an inquiry about whether the agency was investigating a report of assault by Flowers.
“Under the Domestic Violence Act of 2014, Massachusetts Police Departments may not comment on, release records regarding, answer questions regarding, issue press releases regarding or include in their logs any mention of any case involving domestic violence,” Guilfoil wrote. “The department is not attempting to be uncooperative with you in any way, shape or form, but [is] bound by law.”
A request for comment left with Flowers’ agent was not returned Thursday.
Ravens spokesperson Chad Steele said the team is aware of the report regarding Flowers.
“We take these matters seriously and will have no further comment at this time,” the team spokesperson said.
Asked to clarify whether “the report” meant a police report or the initial news report, Steele did not respond.
The NFL declined to comment, with a spokesperson saying in a text message: “We are aware of the report but will decline further comment at this time.”
Flowers, a South Florida native who went on to excel at Boston College, was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. The 5-foot-9 rookie was the Ravens’ top wide receiver this season, catching 77 passes for 858 yards.
Flowers missed some practices in early January with a calf injury, but regularly attended practice as the Ravens prepared for postseason play. In the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 28, he scored Baltimore’s only touchdown and totaled a season-best 115 receiving yards in the Ravens’ 17-10 loss, but made a couple of costly errors, receiving a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting an opponent and later fumbling at the goal line.
Asked the following day when he would turn the page and focus on next season, Flowers said, “I already did.”
At an end-of-season news conference Feb. 2, the Ravens’ general manager, Eric DeCosta, cited Flowers as a player he’s excited to see return next season.
“We have a lot of guys that can make plays and, watching Zay this year and just picturing Zay and ‘Bate’ [Rashod Bateman] out there next year is very exciting, and we’ll see where that leads,” he said.
Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article.
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Jim Harbaugh is bringing in another familiar face to direct the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense.
The Chargers announced Thursday that Greg Roman has been hired as offensive coordinator. Roman was Harbaugh’s coordinator during his four-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers and was associate head coach under Harbaugh at Stanford in 2009 and 2010.
Los Angeles also announced that Marcus Brady will be the passing game coordinator.
Roman was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator under Jim’s older brother, John, from 2019 to 2022, a run in which he designed the most productive ground game in NFL history but frustrated fans by failing to build a commensurate passing attack. The Ravens hired Todd Monken as his replacement and finished with the NFL’s best regular-season record before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. Roman did not coach in 2023.
While the Chargers have one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, Roman’s calling card has been strong rushing offenses. The 49ers averaged 139.3 rushing yards per game in the four seasons under Roman and Harbaugh, which ranked second in the league during that period.
Roman was honored as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2019 season after the Ravens led the league in scoring (33.2 points per game) and rushing (206.0 yards) while ranking second in total offense (407.6 yards). Lamar Jackson was named Most Valuable Player that season; he was the favorite to win that award for a second time Thursday night.
Roman was Buffalo’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016.
Harbaugh said during his introductory news conference last week that protecting Herbert, beefing up the running game and honing the play-action pass game would be early priorities.
“I think that we can be extraordinary there with the receivers we have and the quarterback. Also, the running game, work just as hard at that and get to be a balanced type of a football team. Always protect the football. That’s where it starts,” Harbaugh said.
Brady comes to the Bolts after spending the this past season as a senior offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before that, Brady had a five-year stint in Indianapolis, including the 2021 and ’22 seasons as offensive coordinator.
Roman and Brady join defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and strength and conditioning coach Ben Hebert on Harbaugh’s staff.
Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.
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It’s not a club anyone wants to join.
“Every day and every night, it still pisses me off,” Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton once told the St. Paul Pioneer Press of playing for perhaps the finest team in NFL history not to win a Super Bowl.
At least Tarkenton played in the biggest game three times. Plenty of great teams never got that far, and the 2023 Ravens now reside prominently on that list.
Aaron Schatz created defense-adjusted value over average — DVOA — as a means of measuring team efficiency relative to competition, and by his reckoning, the Ravens are the second best team since 1981 not to make the Super Bowl, behind only the 2010 New England Patriots.
“The best indicator of a championship team is big, dominating wins, and the Ravens had a series of big, dominating wins, but not against bad teams, against good teams,” Schatz explained. “Also, they were tremendously well-balanced — good at passing and running, good against the pass and the run and good on special teams. There are not a lot of teams in history that have been top eight in all five.”
These teams come in many varieties. Some fell short for one year in the middle of glorious runs. Others were slightly lesser editions of previous champions. Still others never did reach the summit.
The Ravens hope they don’t fall into the last category, but as Schatz noted, there’s no guarantee. Many of the best teams not to reach the Super Bowl did not bounce back to do better the following season.
“There’s just a lot of randomness in a sport where you play only one game [to avoid elimination] in the playoffs instead of seven,” he said.
As fans continue to process their disappointment with the Ravens’ ending, here’s a countdown of the list they joined — the 10 best teams that did not make it:
The Steelers’ Clark Haggans and Joey Porter sack Colts quarterback Peyton Manning during an AFC divisional round playoff game Jan. 15, 2006, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 10. 2005 Indianapolis Colts
Record: 14-2
Point differential: +192, best in the league by 11
Eliminated: 21-18 in AFC divisional round by Pittsburgh Steelers
Next year: 12-4, won the Super Bowl
Here’s a hopeful tale for Ravens fans wondering if quarterback Lamar Jackson will ever break through. Peyton Manning was in his eighth season in 2005, with two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards on his shelf. His Colts, featuring an elite offense and an opportunistic defense masterminded by coach Tony Dungy, won their first 13 games. But they fell behind 21-3 to the Steelers in the AFC divisional round, and Manning, who took five sacks, could not rally them. To that point in his career, he had made one AFC championship game in six postseason appearances. Why, critics wondered, could he never win the big one? Well, the next year, Manning took a lesser team to Super Bowl glory.
9. 2006 San Diego Chargers
Record: 14-2
Point differential: +189, best in the league by 17
Eliminated: 24-21 in AFC divisional round by New England Patriots
Next year: 11-5, lost in AFC championship game
Ravens fans suffered their own bitter playoff disappointment as they watched a 13-3 team fall at home to the hated Indianapolis Colts, but the Chargers were even better and crashed just as hard. The defense featured All-Pros Shawne Merriman and Jamal Williams. Quarterback Philip Rivers forged a beautiful connection with tight end Antonio Gates. But this season belonged to running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns and caught 56 passes for 508 yards and another three scores. Not even the Patriots could bottle up Tomlinson in the playoffs, but they befuddled Rivers to pull the upset. The Chargers were so distraught that they fired coach Marty Schottenheimer coming off his greatest season.
8. 1973 Los Angeles Rams
Record: 12-2
Point differential: +210, best in the league by 17
Eliminated: 27-16 in NFC divisional round by Dallas Cowboys
Next year: 10-4, lost in NFC championship game
The Rams were cousins to the Vikings of the same era, making 10 playoff appearances and reaching double-digit wins 10 times over 14 years from 1967 to 1980 but never breaking through to win the Super Bowl. Their 1967 team, which kept one of Johnny Unitas’ best Colts teams out of the playoffs, could have made this list just as easily. Coach Chuck Knox’s 1973 bunch was beautifully balanced, with All-Pro quarterback John Hadl steering the league’s best offense and Hall of Fame linemen Merlin Olsen and Jack Youngblood — with a big hand from All-Pro linebacker Isiah Robertson — anchoring its top defense. The Rams won their last six regular-season games, all by at least 11 points, but Hadl fell victim to a fearsome Cowboys pass rush after Dallas built a 17-0 lead in the NFC divisional round.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, right, talks with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the end of a game Nov. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 7. 2011 Green Bay Packers/New Orleans Saints
Record: Packers 15-1, Saints 13-3
Point differential: Saints +208, Packers +201
Eliminated: Packers 37-20 by New York Giants, Saints 36-32 by San Francisco 49ers, both in NFC divisional round
Next year: Packers 11-5, lost in divisional round; Saints 7-9, missed playoffs
This is a cheat, but it’s remarkable that one conference featured two all-time great offenses, and neither team made it past the divisional round. In fact, they set a tone when they met in the season opener, a 42-34 shootout won by Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers won MVP honors that year, throwing 45 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. Drew Brees matched him, throwing for 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns as the Saints actually topped the Packers in DVOA. Neither team balanced its offense with a top-10 defense, and it showed in the playoffs.
6. 1998 Minnesota Vikings
Record: 15-1
Point differential: +260, best in the league by 68
Eliminated: 30-27 in NFC championship game by Atlanta Falcons
Next year: 10-6, lost in NFC divisional round
This was the team that put Brian Billick in position to coach the Ravens, because his offense, with Randall Cunningham throwing bombs to a rookie Randy Moss, set a new record for points scored (34.8 per game). The Vikings were not a DVOA juggernaut. Schatz’s method nicks them for so-so competition and for rolling up their huge offensive totals in a dome. But there was no doubting their big-play majesty, which they never quite recaptured despite Moss’ ongoing brilliance. Coach Dennis Green’s team simply ran into a very good version of the Falcons with a Super Bowl trip on the line.
Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce looks on from the sideline during the AFC championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) 5. 2023 Baltimore Ravens
Record: 13-4
Point differential: +203, best in the league by nine
Eliminated: 17-10 in AFC championship game by Kansas City Chiefs
Next year: TBD
It’s a difficult choice between this team and the 2019 edition that rolled up a greater scoring margin with the league’s best offense. But the 2023 Ravens hit higher peaks against better competition, were more balanced and advanced deeper in the playoffs. Jackson was statistically superior in his 2019 MVP year, but he’s expected to win the award again this year, and the 2023 defense was better, leading the league in sacks and takeaways while allowing the fewest points. The Ravens are in mighty company on this list, but their missed opportunity will sting for a long while.
4. 1970 Minnesota Vikings
Record: 12-2
Point differential: +192, best in the league by 47
Eliminated: 17-14 in NFC divisional round by San Francisco 49ers
Next year: 11-3, lost in divisional round
Coach Bud Grant’s Vikings fielded several candidates for this list, not to mention some of the best teams to lose in the Super Bowl. Minnesota won 10 division titles in a span of 11 seasons and won at least 10 games (when the NFL played a 14-game schedule) seven times in eight years. Younger fans remember the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s as an also-ran dynasty, but the Vikings were better. This pre-Tarkenton edition featured a middling offense but dominated anyway because of the “Purple People Eaters” defense, which allowed just 10 points a game thanks to Hall of Fame defensive linemen Alan Page and Carl Eller. The Colts brought Baltimore its first Super Bowl win at the end of this season, but they were lucky not to face Grant’s crew. The team they did beat, the Cowboys, lost to the Vikings 54-13 in October.
3. 1987 San Francisco 49ers
Record: 13-2
Point differential: +206, best in the league by 55
Eliminated: 36-24 in NFC divisional round by Minnesota Vikings
Next year: 10-6, won Super Bowl
The 1981-1998 49ers were the Patriots of the previous generation, winning so frequently for so long that their success obscured several great teams that fell short in the postseason. The 1992 team that went 14-2 and the 1995 team that featured perhaps the best offense and best defense in the league were candidates for this list, but we’re going with the 1987 edition led by coach Bill Walsh, quarterback Joe Montana and wide receiver Jerry Rice at his young apex (22 touchdown catches in 12 games). The 49ers led the league in total offense and total defense and won their last three regular-season games by an average score of 41-2. But they fell behind early and never recovered in an inexplicable flameout against the 8-7 Vikings.
2. 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 10-4
Point differential: +204, best in the league by 33
Eliminated: 24-7 in AFC championship game by Oakland Raiders
Next year: 9-5, lost in divisional round
Coach Chuck Noll’s Steelers were going for a Super Bowl three-peat and crushed the Colts, perhaps the league’s second best team behind MVP Bert Jones, 40-14 in the divisional round. The roster featured all the stars — from “Mean” Joe Greene to Franco Harris to Jack Lambert to Terry Bradshaw — we associate with the “Steel Curtain” dynasty. By scoring margin, it was Noll’s second best team behind only the 1975 edition. But coach John Madden’s Oakland Raiders had Pittsburgh’s number in 1976, beating the Steelers in the season opener and finishing them off the day after Christmas. This great team was not done, of course, picking up two more Super Bowl wins in 1978 and 1979.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is sacked by the Jets’ Drew Coleman during an AFC divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Al Bello/Getty Images) 1. 2010 New England Patriots
Record: 14-2
Point differential: +205, best in league by 57
Eliminated: 28-21 in AFC divisional round by New York Jets
Next year: 13-3, lost in Super Bowl
We tend to think of the Patriots’ run with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady as one of unremitting good fortune and big-game excellence. But we forget that Belichick and Brady went nine straight years without a Super Bowl win in the middle of their run, and perhaps their most dominant teams were among those that fell. The 2007 team that lost in the Super Bowl finished with the highest regular-season DVOA ever, but the 2010 version that bowed out two rounds earlier was nearly as good. Brady threw 36 touchdown passes against just four interceptions, and the Patriots closed with a fury, winning their last eight regular-season games by an average score of 37-16. That string included a 45-3 thrashing of the Jets, who would eliminate them on the same field six weeks later. The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl a year later (as Ravens fans remember all too well) but did not win it all again until 2014.
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Former Jets coach Rex Ryan is making moves toward a possible return to the NFL.
Ryan interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys about their defensive coordinator vacancy, CBS Sports reported Wednesday.
The 61-year-old Ryan last coached in 2016, when the Buffalo Bills fired him as their head coach before the season finale. He has served as a football analyst for ESPN over the seven years since.
But Ryan’s name continues to surface in coaching rumors. He was linked to the Broncos’ defensive coordinator role last October, shortly after Denver surrendered 70 points in a Week 3 loss to Miami. Vance Joseph remains in place as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
The outspoken Ryan made a name for himself from 2005-08 as the charismatic coordinator of a Baltimore Ravens defense led by Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Ryan became the Jets’ head coach in 2009 and led them to the AFC Championship Game in both of his first two seasons there. He went 46-50 over six seasons with the Jets, who fired him after a 4-12 campaign in 2014.
Ryan then spent two years as head coach of the Bills, compiling a 15-16 record. Ryan’s defenses finished top 10 in terms of yards allowed in all but three of his 12 seasons as a head coach or coordinator.
The Cowboys are looking to fill the defensive coordinator role that was vacated last week by Dan Quinn, who became head coach of the NFC East rival Washington Commanders. Dallas is also considering Ron Rivera, whom the Commanders fired as their head last month, and Mike Zimmer, who went 72-56-1 in eight seasons as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach from 2014-21.
The upcoming season is a pivotal one for Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who led Dallas to 12 wins in three consecutive seasons but won only one playoff game in that stretch.
The upcoming season is a pivotal one for Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who led Dallas to 12 wins in three consecutive seasons but won only one playoff game in that stretch. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones opted to bring back McCarthy in 2024 despite Dallas’ lackluster performance in a 48-32 loss to the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers in the opening round of the playoffs last month – a game that was largely decided by halftime.
Ryan has been critical of McCarthy on ESPN, including when the Cowboys hired the former Packers coach in 2019.
“It’s not a sexy hire by any stretch to me because you didn’t win,” Ryan said on “First Take” at the time. “You were like the rest of us when you never had Aaron Rodgers.”
©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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When Todd Monken became the Ravens’ offensive coordinator last winter, he said his unit would be a work in progress. That’s the description of the defense for the 2024 season.
Zach Orr, 31, was introduced to the media for the first time Tuesday as the team’s defensive coordinator, a job previously held by Mike Macdonald for two years until he was named coach of the Seattle Seahawks nearly a week ago.
Everybody within the Ravens organization likes Orr, from coach John Harbaugh to Poe, the team mascot. But the former linebacker has a huge task in front of him in trying to rebuild a defense that led the league in sacks (60), takeaways (31) and points allowed per game (16.1) last season and is losing three defensive assistants.
On Tuesday, he sounded like someone still playing.
“I want our defense to play together, first and foremost — 11 people playing as one, let’s start there,” he said. “The next thing is, I want it to be violent — very violent, physical. That’s just the standard here. Everything we’re going to do is going to be with physicality and violence. Then, just execution — executing at a high level, executing in certain situations, executing all the time.
“Then the last thing I would say, ‘organized chaos.’ Present a lot of problems to the offense. Never give the answer to the offense before the snap, but that’s what I would say. Identify first things first, hit everything that moves.”
Orr has charisma, which allows him to relate to not only the star players he has coached — such as former Ravens outside linebacker Terell Suggs and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen — but the classic overachievers. He was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent from North Texas in 2014 and played in 46 career games over three seasons, recording 163 tackles. He was named second team All-Pro in 2016 before being forced to retire the following year because of a congenital neck/spine condition.
But this upcoming season will be different than anything he’s ever experienced. Orr has to devise and implement a game plan and call plays for the first time. That’s another step in the progression from assistant to coordinator.
“I have to be on the field,” Orr said. “I have to look players in their eyes and see what’s going on and get a feel for how guys are feeling out there. So, people have their different ways, I have to be on the field. I’m more into it and getting the feel of emotion and how guys are really feeling out there.”
It goes beyond calling plays. The Ravens have to replace several assistants. First, there is Macdonald, and then there is defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who structured the front seven. He was named the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator last week.
The Ravens also need to find a replacement for defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson, who became the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator after helping the Ravens to a No. 6 ranking in pass defense, and an inside linebackers coach to step in for Orr, who had one of the most productive tandems in the NFL last season in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen.
All had great relationships with their players, and that’s hard to build in the modern era of pro football in which everything is centered around image and ego.
When it comes to filling out the defensive staff, Harbaugh will have the final say on hiring his assistants, though Orr might have some input. But you can bank on Harbaugh having more say during practices and games, especially with Orr being so young and this being his first coordinator position.
“The final decision is Coach Harbaugh’s and [executive vice president and general manager] Eric DeCosta’s, but I’m very much involved with it,” Orr said of the staff. “They do a great job of letting me be in on the interviews, run the interviews and communicating back and forth. It’s an open line of communication.
“Every year, when you’re building a team, building a staff, you have to build that trust, build that camaraderie, that teamwork. You have to build that every single year. Every year, you have to build it up, but I’m confident in the people we have. Once we get the staff filled out, we’ll be able to build that trust, we’ll be able to build that teamwork and be the best staff we can possibly be for our players.”
Orr and the Ravens will also have to wrestle with the salary cap. They have more than 20 pending free agents, including several defensive players who will command top dollar in tackle/end Justin Madubuike, Queen and possibly safety Geno Stone.
Madubuike had 13 sacks to lead the team, which is rare for an interior lineman. Queen was second on the team in tackles with 133. Stone ranked second in the NFL with seven interceptions. Even outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney played with a rejuvenated spirit at age 30 with 9 1/2 sacks.
The Ravens have already locked in long-term contracts with their two top players. They signed Smith to a five-year, $100 million extension last January and then agreed to a five-year, $260 million deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson in late April. Those deals increase in salary every season, which decreases the amount of cap room.
Baltimore might be able to bring back one or two of its top defensive players, but not four or five. Unfortunately, there are some top offensive free agents on the list, too, such as right guard Kevin Zeitler, running back Gus Edwards and wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor.
The Ravens might have to start the 2024 season in a similar fashion to 2023, when they had to count on young pass rushers such as outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. So far, neither has shown they are worthy of their draft status. Oweh, a first-round pick out of Penn State in 2021, played in only 13 games during the regular season, starting five. Ojabo, a second-round pick from Michigan in 2022, has been bothered by leg injuries the past two seasons and has played very little. Both are still labeled as projects.
There is also a sense of urgency for players such as safety Marcus Williams and cornerback Marlon Humphrey to return to top form after missing substantial playing time this past season.
It’s an uphill fight for Orr, but he has already spoken to several players.
“He brings passion on the field, off the field and in the meeting rooms as well as his football IQ and the ability to relate to players,” Smith said. “He’s very young and has been in the game recently, so I think overall, it’s a really good fit for our defense. Everybody around the building respects him.”
The Ravens have a proud tradition of putting together physical and intimidating defenses. That dates to 2000, with the record-setting unit led by linebackers Ray Lewis, Jamie Sharper and Peter Boulware and defensive linemen Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams.
They have also had some good defensive coordinators, such as Rex Ryan, Chuck Pagano, Dean Pees, Don “Wink” Martindale and Macdonald. But maybe none of them faced such a daunting rebuild in terms of coaches and players as Orr does.
It might take some time. This appears to be another work in progress.
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When Zach Orr played inside linebacker for the Ravens, his speed, quick instincts and enthusiasm for crunching and dragging ball carriers to the ground helped propel him to second-team All-Pro honors in what was a breakout third season.
It also turned out to be his last as a player, with a congenital neck/spine condition bringing his career to a sudden end in 2017.
Now he’ll bring many of those same traits to Baltimore’s sideline as their defensive coordinator.
“First thing first, is hit everything that moves,” Orr said Tuesday at his introductory news conference in Owings Mills. “We’re gonna play violent, we’re gonna play together and we’re gonna execute.”
He also said that he “definitely” wants to build on his predecessor Mike Macdonald’s scheme that created chaos and confusion for opposing offenses, and that effort will be a collaborative one.
That Orr was tapped for the job in the first place was mildly surprising.
At 31, he is the second youngest defensive coordinator in the NFL behind the Arizona Cardinals’ 30-year-old Nick Rallis, and it will be his first time calling defensive plays. He is also the first former Ravens player to be hired as a coordinator.
But with Macdonald having left to become the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, defense backs coach Dennard Wilson bolting for the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator opening and assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver getting passed over for a second time and leaving for the Miami Dolphins, Orr became the obvious choice. The process also moved quickly.
Orr met with Ravens coach John Harbaugh on Monday and Tuesday last week — as well as with the Green Bay Packers for their defensive coordinator opening a day later. There was also interest from Macdonald and the Seahawks.
Baltimore couldn’t risk losing Orr, and Harbaugh loved what he saw in the former undrafted linebacker out of North Texas as a player and a sharp, detailed-oriented coach who could relate to the men he coached.
Zach Orr said Tuesday that he bleeds purple and black because of the support the Ravens organization showed him once he retired. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Orr’s ascent was also a product of diligence, ability and a deep love for the organization. He said Tuesday that he bleeds purple and black because of the support the organization showed him once he retired.
After his playing days ended prematurely in 2017 and he expressed an interest in coaching, he got a call from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti that both lifted his spirits and let him know they’d love to have him. He spent the next four years as a defensive analyst with Baltimore before leaving in 2021 to become the outside linebackers coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, where former Ravens defensive line coach Joe Cullen was the defensive coordinator under coach Urban Meyer.
When Meyer’s brief and disastrous stint ended the following year, Orr returned to the Ravens as their inside linebackers coach.
In his time in that role, Baltimore’s defense ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per game (312.8), rushing yards allowed per game (100.8), passing yards allowed per game (212.1), points allowed per game (17.5), opponent third-down conversion rate (35.7%), opponent red zone efficiency (43.8%) and takeaways (56). Inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen also thrived, with Smith having been selected as an All-Pro each of the past two seasons and both selected to this year’s Pro Bowl.
Orr garnered the respect of players as well.
“He brings passion on the field, off the field and in the meeting room, as well as his football IQ and the ability to relate to players,” Smith said in a statement. “Overall, it’s a really good fit for our defense. Everyone around the building respects him; it’s not just because of what he says, but because of his actions and the way he goes about things.
“I know his mentality is very similar to mine, so I’m stoked.”
Added outside linebacker Odafe Oweh: “One thing I notice about Zach is his voice is always loud. It’s always the highest pitch, and you have to respect it because it never wavers. He’s always bringing that action.”
Orr also has his work cut for him.
At 31, Zach Orr is the second youngest defensive coordinator in the NFL behind the Arizona Cardinals’ 30-year-old Nick Rallis, and it will be his first time calling defensive plays. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) He follows a defensive coordinator in Macdonald who helmed a historically great unit that became the first in league history to lead the NFL in sacks (60), takeaways (31) and points allowed per game (16.1). The Ravens also have more than 20 free agents, many of whom were key contributors on defense, including outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy.
But he does not appear to be overwhelmed by the challenge ahead.
“One thing that I’ve always lived by is, ‘You never stay the same. You either get better, or you get worse,’” Orr said. “You want to be cutting edge, always want to evolve and always want to be ready for the next thing the offense may present. So, we’re going to get in the lab this offseason. We’re going to look at ourselves, look at things we did well, look at how can make it even better, look at things we need to improve on and get better at that, and look at some new ideas that we could possibly present and get ready to roll out there by the time we kick off the ball the first week of the season.”
His first priority, though, he said will be to fill out the defensive coaching staff.
At least one job has reportedly already been filled, with the Ravens hiring Doug Mallory, a former Michigan defensive analyst, as defensive backs coach, according to 247 Sports. There’s also the NFL scouting combine later this month.
For Orr, it’s all part of the process and one he’s been around most of his life.
A native of DeSoto, Texas, his father, Terry, was a tight end for Washington from 1986 to 1993, while his younger brother, Chris, is a former linebacker who played for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. His older brother, Terrance, is the offensive coordinator at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, and his younger brother, Nick, played college football at TCU and spent time with the Chicago Bears in 2018.
As for being named the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Orr follows a long list of successful in-house hires.
After Harbaugh retained Rex Ryan from coach Brian Billick’s staff as his first defensive coordinator, five of his next six hires all came from inside the building, with Greg Mattison, Chuck Pagano, Dean Pees, Don “Wink” Martindale and now Orr. Macdonald was the exception but only briefly — he was with the Ravens for six years before spending one season as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
“Zach is a homegrown Raven in every way,” Harbaugh said in a statement last week. “His energy, intelligence, work ethic and strong communication skills have been on display since the day he joined our organization as a player in 2014.”
Orr said he wasn’t terribly surprised to get the job.
Given the departure of other coaches, he knew he was in the running. He’s also excited to get going, which was obvious from the enthusiasm in his voice Tuesday.
“Wednesday, [Harbaugh] called me into his office, and in my mind, I’m like, ‘Man, what do you want to talk about?’ I was like, ‘I’ve been talking to this dude [on] Monday, Tuesday. Like, what’s up?’” he said. “I’m like, ‘I thought I answered every question you had.’ So, we’re still talking [on] Wednesday, and then he asked me again; he said, ‘Are you ready to call it?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, I’m ready.’ And he was like, ‘All right, well, I’m offering you the position,’ and that’s how it went.
“I heard those words, made him smile, I was grinning from ear to ear. I’m just thankful that he has that belief in me. And like I said, I’m going to work my butt off and do everything I can to make it right.”
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New Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has already poached a couple of coaches and front office staff from the Ravens. Now it’s apparently his brother John’s turn.
Former Michigan defensive analyst Doug Mallory will join the elder Harbaugh brother in Baltimore as the team’s defensive backs coach, according to 247Sports.
Mallory, 59, worked for three seasons with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. He replaces Dennard Wilson, who left to become the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator.
A veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience mostly at the college level, including as defensive backs coach at Maryland from 1997 to 2000, Mallory spent six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020 under coach Dan Quinn, first as a defensive assistant then as defensive backs coach and a senior defensive assistant.
Like the Harbaugh brothers, Mallory comes from a coaching family. His father, Bill, was a longtime coach at Indiana, among other stops, and his brother Mike was a veteran NFL assistant who most recently spent time on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan staff as a special teams analyst. His other brother Curt is the football coach at Indiana State.
Mallory, who played defensive back for Michigan from 1984 through 1987 under coach Bo Schembechler but was undrafted and never played in the NFL, returned to Ann Arbor in 2021 as a defensive analyst under the younger Harbaugh. This past season, the Wolverines had college football’s top defense, allowing 10.4 points and 247 yards per game en route to the school’s first national championship since 1997.
This story might be updated.
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Jerry Rosburg is not returning to the Ravens after all.
The team’s former longtime special teams coach will not be back in Baltimore as talks between the two sides did not result in a deal, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday. NFL Network had reported Monday that Rosburg would have a role focused on game management.
Rosburg, 68, most recently served as an assistant for the Denver Broncos under coach Nathaniel Hackett in 2022 and then as the Broncos’ interim coach for two games after Hackett was fired in December of that season.
Before that, Rosburg was the Ravens’ special teams coordinator from 2008 to 2018 before retiring.
Rosburg was also the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2006 and for the Atlanta Falcons in 2007. He is close with Ravens coach John Harbaugh — Rosburg’s daughter is Harbaugh’s assistant — as well and attended some of the team’s practices this past season.
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It’s been just over a week since the Ravens’ season came to a stunning end in the AFC championship.
The Kansas City Chiefs will play in their fourth Super Bowl in five years, while Baltimore, which produced the NFL’s best record and was the AFC’s top seed, is left asking what went wrong as it again failed to advance to the sport’s biggest game for the 11th straight season. The Ravens are just 3-6 in six postseason appearances since their 2012 title season, and they haven’t won more than one playoff game in the same postseason during that span.
What do they need to do to break that streak? Baltimore Sun reporters Brian Wacker and Childs Walker weigh in on this year’s playoffs, Lamar Jackson and the future.
Coach John Harbaugh said it’s a fair criticism that the Ravens’ postseason performance didn’t match its regular-season output, much the way it hasn’t in recent playoff failures, yet was firm in his belief that their process works. What’s your take?
Wacker: It works in that there’s a level of consistency the Ravens enjoy that many other teams in the NFL do not. Consider: Baltimore has the eighth-best record in the league since 2013, behind only the Chiefs, Patriots, Seahawks, Steelers, Packers, Cowboys and Saints. Still, something isn’t entirely translating when it comes to the postseason. Their 2019 failures can perhaps be pinned on a young quarterback in the spotlight for the first time, 2020 to a windy game on the road with a quarterback who was pressing and this season a quarterback who looked to be playing tight as the favorite against the league’s best at the position. Notice a trend? But for all the fans’ exasperation, the Ravens did take a step forward and got within a game of the Super Bowl. Now there’s only one thing left to do.
Walker: What else was he going to say, really? The Ravens did about everything their fans could have asked right up to the moment they took the field for the AFC championship game, and they’ve made it clear they’re not about judging their season through the lens of one disappointing performance. Their destiny is inextricably bound to Jackson’s progress toward becoming a championship-level quarterback, and as Harbaugh noted, Jackson will only have a greater hand in shaping their attack in year two under Todd Monken. They don’t really have a choice other than to steam forward and hope Jackson takes the final step in 2024, as Joe Flacco and company did after their massive championship game disappointment at the end of the 2011 season.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson beats Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to the end zone during a playoff game last month. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) What does Lamar Jackson need to do to get the Ravens to a Super Bowl?
Wacker: Play like Lamar Jackson. What’s always made him so dangerous is his ability to run, by design or off script. That doesn’t make him any less “quarterback-y.” Though the next few years feel like his best window to get to/win a Super Bowl, this was also Jackson’s slowest season in terms of top speed (19.62 mph, per Next Gen Stats) and that number figures to only decline with each passing year, thus diminishing his threat to defenses. Jackson said earlier this season that he doesn’t like to run, and there seems to be a desire to win by passing. It’s a fine line between running less and throwing more, but while Jackson is plenty good as a passer it’s his ability to run that makes him impossible to stop, and he can’t forget that.
Walker: He did it right up until the Chiefs game, playing with exceptional confidence and command of Monken’s offense in key late-season wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins and again in the second half of the team’s divisional round trouncing of the Houston Texans. That was a quarterback more than capable of leading his team to a Super Bowl win. So where did that Jackson go after Kansas City jumped on the Ravens early? He was off-rhythm, off-target and visibly angry at himself as the Ravens’ chances slipped away in the second half. It’s difficult to say how Jackson might jump this last hurdle in a career that will soon feature two Most Valuable Player Awards. Is the necessary work more technical or psychological? Will simple experience serve him as it did previous greats Peyton Manning and John Elway, who did not win Super Bowls until deep in their careers? If the answer was simple, Jackson would have already found it. Harbaugh and his teammates have expressed absolute confidence that he’s thinking the right way to get there.
The Ravens will have more than 20 unrestricted free agents come March 13. Who are the biggest priorities?
Wacker: Keeping Justin Madubuike, who led all interior defensive linemen with 13 sacks, is easily the highest priority. Expect the Ravens to use a franchise tag on him, which allows general manager Eric DeCosta time to perhaps work out a long-term extension. Doing so also gives them an All-Pro at each level of the defense, along with inside linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton. Re-signing right guard Kevin Zeitler would also provide some stability on the offensive line, while bringing back wide receiver Nelson Agholor, cornerback Ronald Darby and running back Gus Edwards would affordably fill some holes.
Walker: Madubuike, Madubuike and Madubuike. Elite interior pass rushers are among the rarest gems in the league, and that’s what he became in his fourth season. Madubuike also has a chance to be the best pass rusher of any type the Ravens have developed since Terrell Suggs. They cannot let him reach the open market, even if that means using the franchise tag to extend their negotiating window. A shorter-term reunion with Zeitler, who’s still as dependable as any lineman on the team and wants to be back, would also make sense. In a perfect world, the Ravens would line up Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith side by side for the next four years, but Queen right now feels like the top free agent the Ravens cannot afford.
The Ravens have the 30th pick of the NFL draft plus six other picks. What’s their biggest need(s)?
Wacker: With the exception of tight end and quarterback, the Ravens need help just about everywhere, most notably along the offensive line with two aging, injury-prone tackles and two starting guards who are free agents and little in the pipeline behind them. After that, outside linebacker is a big need with uncertainty about how David Ojabo will fare coming back from a torn ACL after suffering a torn Achilles tendon the year before and Odafe Oweh’s performance having flattened out as the season went on (though his ankle injury could’ve played a part). Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, meanwhile, are both free agents and coming off career years, likely making them unaffordable. Cornerback, wide receiver and running back are also areas that will need to be addressed.
Walker: They need at least one young offensive lineman who could start in 2024 and preferably another to compete for a starting job by 2025. They could go a win-now route in 2024 and bring back most of their line, save penalty-prone left guard John Simpson, but major change will be in order the following season, with center Tyler Linderbaum the only long-term building block on the current roster. They also need a cornerback given that Brandon Stephens is headed for free agency after next season and Marlon Humphrey missed eight games with a variety of injuries in 2023. A plug-and-play running back would help given that Keaton Mitchell will be coming back from knee surgery.
Baltimore’s 2024 schedule includes eight teams that made the playoffs this season, down one from this past season. What’s your way-too-early prediction on how the Ravens will fare next season?
Wacker: Given all the turnover on the roster and among the coaching staff, it’s hard to imagine the Ravens matching what they did in the regular season. Plus, division foes the Bengals and Steelers should both be better next year, along with other teams like the Chargers. But maybe that’s not the worst thing. Perhaps Jackson plays better as the underdog than a Super Bowl favorite. Maybe the Ravens are better off having to go on the road and can somehow avoid the Chiefs. Still, based on Baltimore’s opponents I see a 10-7 record at best and another season without a Super Bowl appearance.
Walker: It’s worth remembering that for all our hand-wringing over his postseason performance, Jackson is 58-19 as a regular-season starter. This was the NFL’s best team, with a string of resounding victories over elite opponents. They’ll still have a top defense led by All-Pros Smith and Hamilton and coordinated by Mike Macdonald’s sharp, charismatic young protege, Zach Orr. Even if the Ravens take a step back, they’ll be plenty good, with 11 wins as a reasonable baseline. And their fans won’t be convinced by any of it until the Ravens show up with a great performance in late January.
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A Pennsylvania man faces up to four years in federal prison for flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during the first quarter of the AFC championship game.
NFL security temporarily suspended the game, and Maryland State Police tracked the movement of the drone from directly over the stadium to a landing spot about half a mile away in the 500 block of South Sharp Street, where FBI agents and state police located 44-year-old Matthew Hebert, according to a news release.
“Temporary flight restrictions are always in place during large sporting events,” United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron said in a news release.
A temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration outlawed drones operating within a three nautical mile radius of the stadium starting an hour before kickoff and lasting until an hour after the final whistle, according to the news release.
The drone was not registered, and Herbert did not have a remote pilot certification to operate it, according to the news release. Herbert told officers that in the past, the application he uses to operate the drone warned him of flight restrictions but offered no such warning during the game, according to an affidavit. Hebert allegedly flew the drone approximately 100 meters or higher for around two minutes, taking six photos and possibly a video.
If convicted, Hebert faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison for knowingly operating an unregistered drone and for knowingly serving as an airman without an airman’s certificate and a maximum of one year in federal prison for willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace, according to the news release, which also notes actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
An initial appearance and arraignment will be scheduled later this month.
“Operating a drone requires users to act responsibly and educate themselves on when and how to use them safely,” said FBI agent R. Joseph Rothrock of the Baltimore Field Office said in the news release.. “The FBI would like to remind the public of the potential dangers of operating a drone in violation of federal laws and regulations.”
Ravens Insider: Ravens sign WR Nelson Agholor to 1-year contract extension
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The Ravens signed wide receiver Nelson Agholor to a one-year extension Sunday, bringing back a durable veteran who gave them solid production in a reserve role last season.
Agholor, who will turn 31 in May, played all 17 games, catching 35 passes on 45 targets for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He caught a touchdown pass in the Ravens’ divisional round playoff victory over the Houston Texans.
The 2015 first-round draft pick has 375 catches for 4,627 yards and 35 touchdowns over nine NFL seasons.
If the Ravens had not reached a deal with Agholor before 4 p.m. Monday, his contract would have voided, and he would have become a free agent. Instead, he’ll be a known quantity in a wide receiver room that’s projected to be led by 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman and 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers.
The Ravens now have to decide whether to seek an extension with their other veteran receiver from 2023, Odell Beckham Jr., or round out quarterback Lamar Jackson’s targets with a free agent or draft pick.
General manager Eric DeCosta did not mention Agholor by name at his season-ending news conference but did allude to possibly bringing back at least one of the team’s pending free agent receivers.
“We have a lot of guys that can make plays and, watching Zay this year and just picturing Zay and ‘Bate’ out there next year is very exciting, and we’ll see where that leads,” DeCosta said in assessing the position group. “We’ve also got the draft, and like I said, we’ll have conversations with our free agents, as well, and we’ve already started those conversations in some cases. So, I would expect the receiver room to be very strong next year and very productive.”
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