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Ravens assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt won’t return next season, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday, as Baltimore continues to shake up its coaching staff. Hewitt, who had been with the Ravens since 2012, was one of coach John Harbaugh’s longest-tenured assistants. However, Baltimore’s pass defense struggled much of the year, especially early on. It ranked 27th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (238.3) and 19th in yards per pass allowed (7.2). The move also came a day after Harbaugh hired Chuck Pagano as a senior secondary coach. In a statement announcing the hire, Harbaugh said Pagano “will continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary.” As for Hewitt, who was passed over in favor of Zach Orr for the defensive coordinator opening last offseason, it ends a long run with Harbaugh, who coached the former defensive back at the University of Cincinnati. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bring back Chuck Pagano as senior secondary coach Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry, 2 others pull out of Pro Bowl Games Baltimore Ravens | 18 potential Ravens targets to watch at 2025 Senior Bowl Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan, Centennial teacher starts GoFundMe for charity supported by Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win a championship first: Ravens or Orioles? Hewitt joined the Ravens in 2012 as an assistant special teams coach before being promoted to assistant secondary coach in 2014. He was named defensive backs coach in 2015 and in 2020 was promoted to pass game coordinator before having an assistant head coach title added in 2024. Before joining the Ravens, he spent one year as Notre Dame’s assistant strength and conditioning coach and for eight years was running backs and cornerbacks coach at Rutgers. Hewitt is at least the second assistant coach to be let go since the end of the season with Baltimore parting ways with inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone last week. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

What’s old is new again for the Ravens. Chuck Pagano is returning to Baltimore. Nearly two decades after being hired as part of coach John Harbaugh’s first staff and more than a dozen years after serving as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator for one season, the longtime assistant is coming out of retirement and rejoining Baltimore as a senior secondary coach. In a statement announcing the move Tuesday night, Harbaugh said the 64-year-old Pagano “will continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary.” “Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and coaching talent to our team,” Harbaugh said. “He has deep ties to the program and is excited to get to work.” Chris Hewitt is currently Baltimore’s pass game coordinator and an assistant head coach, while Doug Mallory, who joined the Ravens in 2024, is the secondary coach under second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr. What this hire means for Hewitt and Mallory going forward is unclear. Pagano, meanwhile, has been a contributor on “The Pat McAfee Show” since 2022. His most recent coaching job was as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, where he spent two seasons on coach Matt Nagy’s staff in 2019 and 2020 before retiring. Before that, he was the coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2017, though his debut season was interrupted as he underwent treatment for leukemia. In Pagano’s first season in Chicago, the Bears’ defense led the NFC in points allowed per game (18.6) and ranked second in the conference in yards allowed per game (324.1). In Indianapolis, he had a 53-43 record in the regular season, a 3-3 mark in the postseason and led the Colts to two division titles and the 2014 AFC championship game. Pagano, who spent one season as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2011, is the second former assistant to rejoin Harbaugh’s staff in recent months after 75-year-old former defensive coordinator Dean Pees was hired as a senior advisor five games into the 2024 season. The Ravens’ defense struggled early in the year, particularly against the pass. In Baltimore’s first five games this past season, the defense allowed an average of 447.6 yards and 25.2 points per game. And through the first 10 games, the Ravens allowed the most passing yards per game in the NFL while ranking 27th in total yards and 26th in scoring. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry pull out of Pro Bowl Games Baltimore Ravens | 18 potential Ravens targets to watch at 2025 Senior Bowl Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan, Centennial teacher starts GoFundMe for charity supported by Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win a championship first: Ravens or Orioles? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly finalizing contract extension with OC Todd Monken Over the final eight games of the regular season and with Pees more heavily involved, however, Baltimore was first in the league in each category. Other changes helped, too. Safety Ar’Darius Washington took over for struggling veteran Marcus Williams, while fellow safety Kyle Hamilton was more often deployed on the deep end of the field. Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins were also significant contributors, while struggling second-year inside linebacker Trenton Simpson was benched in favor of the more experienced combination of Malik Harrison on running downs and Chris Board on passing plays. The Ravens finished the regular season ranked eighth in both points allowed per game (21.2) and yards allowed per game (319.2). With the bulk of their players returning next season, they should again have one of the league’s top defenses. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BrianWacker1. View the full article

When the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games kick off this week, the Ravens’ two biggest stars will not be in attendance. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry have both dropped out of the league’s weeklong skills competitions and flag football game in Orlando, Florida. Jackson has been replaced by New England Patriots rookie Drake Maye, while Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will take Henry’s spot. It’s common for players to decline an invitation to the annual all-star event, which for decades was a tackle football game in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the Sunday before the Super Bowl before the league changed the format and location. Jackson and Henry will still get credit for making the Pro Bowl roster as part of Baltimore’s league-high 11 nominees. It’s Jackson’s fourth nod and Henry’s fifth. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and left tackle Ronnie Stanley were named as injury replacements last week and are set to compete alongside fullback Patrick Ricard, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton. Tight end Mark Andrews, inside linebacker Chris Board (special teams), guard Daniel Faalele, long snapper Nick Moore and kicker Justin Tucker were all voted as alternates, should any other players opt out. Zay Flowers, who became the Ravens’ first Pro Bowl selection at wide receiver, will not participate after suffering a knee injury in the regular-season finale and missing Baltimore’s two postseason games. He’ll be replaced by Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Jackson lost the Pro Bowl starting nod to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen, but the 27-year-old superstar was named first-team All-Pro and is a finalist to win a second straight and third overall NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Allen, who led Buffalo to a 27-25 divisional round win over Baltimore, will also not participate after the Bills’ AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and will be replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Russell Wilson. This year marks the third Pro Bowl Games, which will finish with a seven-on-seven flag football game between the AFC and NFC on Sunday with Peyton and Eli Manning coaching the two conferences. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The NFL draft begins in Mobile, Alabama, as the Senior Bowl likes to say. This week, the top upperclassmen from around the country will gather for a week of practice and an annual exhibition that serves as the unofficial kickoff of draft season. For the Ravens, the draft is perhaps the most important piece of offseason business. After another season ended short of the Super Bowl following a divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills, the decisions to retool the roster around star quarterback and potential three-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson will shape the team for years to come. And with an expected 11 picks in April’s draft, including No. 27 overall, the Ravens will have plenty of chances to add impact players. Here’s a look at 18 Senior Bowl prospects the Ravens could target, with a focus on positions of need — offensive line, cornerback, edge defender and wide receiver — as well as a look at defensive line, safety and inside linebacker. (Note: First-round prospects not listed for some positions based on current projections.) Offensive line First round: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon With Ronnie Stanley entering free agency, the Ravens could be in the market for a new left tackle. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Conerly has rare athleticism for his size and has been incredibly dependable for the Ducks, allowing just two sacks during his entire college career. The only problem? If he performs well this week and then tests off the charts at the NFL scouting combine, he could rise up draft boards and out of the Ravens’ range. Day 2: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State For prospects who come from the lower levels of college football, the Senior Bowl and other all-star events are a huge opportunity to prove their worth against elite competition. The 6-6, 305-pound Zabel played exclusively left tackle this past season for the powerhouse Bison, but he lined up mostly at right tackle in 2023 and has experience at left guard and center. That versatility could help him get on the field early for a Ravens team expecting more offensive line shuffling. Sleeper: Charles Grant, William & Mary The 6-4, 300-pound Grant has been a dominant force at the Football Championship Subdivision level, including a 90.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade this past season when he allowed just two sacks on 372 pass-blocking snaps. This week of practice will be a good gauge of whether he can hold up against bigger and better linemen in one-on-one drills. Others: Armand Membou, Missouri; Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona; Marcus Mbow, Purdue, Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; Wyatt Milum, West Virginia; Tate Ratledge, Georgia Cornerback First round: Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State NFL Network analyst and former Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah had the Ravens selecting Thomas in the first round of his first mock draft, calling the Seminoles star “a smooth, fluid athlete.” With the Ravens likely saying goodbye to free agent Brandon Stephens, the 6-2, 198-pound Thomas (first name pronounced uh-ZAR-ee-yay) would form a strong young tandem alongside Nate Wiggins on the outside. Day 2: Darien Porter, Iowa State The 6-2, 197-pound Porter has an alluring combination of size and speed with 33-plus-inch arms and a 100-meter time of 10.6 seconds, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He’s a standout special teams player, too, recording four blocked punts in his college career. Sleeper: Jacob Parrish, Kansas State Although undersized at 5-10 and 195 pounds, Parrish has earned plenty of praise for his speed and toughness, missing just five tackles this past season, per PFF. He was spotlighted before the Senior Bowl by Brugler, who wrote that Parrish “competes with surprising play strength in all areas” and “loves to play press man and challenge receivers” despite not playing cornerback until he arrived at Kansas State. Others to watch: Trey Amos, Ole Miss; Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky; Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku ranked second in the country with 16 1/2 sacks and fourth with 20 1/2 tackles for loss this past season. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) Edge defender First round: Mike Green, Marshall Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy are penciled in as the starters for next season, but the Ravens have every reason to add depth and look for upgrades at outside linebacker. Green measured in at 6-3 and 251 pounds with 32-plus-inch arms, alleviating some concerns about his size. Everything he’s shown on tape has made him a near-lock to be selected in the first round after a breakout season in which he led the nation with 17 sacks while recording 32 quarterback hurries and 22 1/2 tackles for loss. Day 2: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Ezeiruaku has been flying under the radar despite ranking second in the country with 16 1/2 sacks and fourth with 20 1/2 tackles for loss. The 6-2, 248-pound Eagles star also has 34-plus-inch arms, which he uses well to set a hard edge. Ezeiruaku led the Power 4 conferences with 30 run-defense stops, according to PFF. Sleeper: Josaiah Stewart, Michigan Only potential No. 1 overall pick Abdul Carter of Penn State earned a higher PFF grade among edge rushers in the Power Four this past season, so perhaps it’s unfair to call Stewart a “sleeper.” But at a listed 6-1 and 245 pounds, he’s been labeled undersized and is ranked just inside the top 100 on the consensus big board. His potential is evident, though, with his 27% pass rush win rate (how often he beats his block within 2.5 seconds) leading the nation. Others to watch: Landon Jackson, Arkansas; Jordan Burch, Oregon; Kyle Kennard, South Carolina; Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M; Nic Scourton, Texas A&M; Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss Wide receiver Day 2: Savion Williams, TCU For the Ravens, taking a chance on a boom-or-bust prospect like Williams might be worth it. Few athletes move as well as the 6-5, 225-pound Horn Frogs star, who forced more missed tackles (43) than any other wide receiver in the country this past season by a considerable margin. Drops are a major concern, as is his ability to separate and run consistent routes, but he’s shown a knack for making contested catches and could also be a playmaker out of the backfield after taking snaps at running back. Sleeper: Jalen Royals, Utah State With nuanced route running, strong hands and an enticing ability to pick up yards after the catch, the 5-11, 210-pound Royals could become a worthy No. 3 target next to Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. He was on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season before a foot injury ended his 2024 campaign, recording 55 catches for 839 yards and six touchdowns while forcing 17 missed tackles in just seven games. Others to watch: Elic Ayomanor, Stanford; Tez Johnson, Oregon; Xavier Restrepo, Miami; Jayden Higgins, Iowa State; Jaylin Noel, Iowa State Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander, right, is an under-the-radar prospect who could be a good fit for the Ravens. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Defensive line First round: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss The Ravens have a formidable duo up front in Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones but little depth behind them. In a deep class of interior defensive linemen, Nolen jumps out because of his ability to wreak havoc. The 6-3, 305-pound Texas A&M transfer put together his best season in 2024, recording 6 1/2 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hurries while earning an 88.9 PFF grade. Day 2: T.J. Sanders, South Carolina The 6-4, 290-pound Sanders is a gifted athlete who shows promise both defending the run and rushing the passer. He’s recorded 8 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss over the past two seasons and has the length to be a difference-maker along the interior. Sleeper: Darius Alexander, Toledo Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said that Alexander has a chance to be the highest-drafted player from the Group of Five this year while hinting at a lofty comparison for the Mid-American Conference star. The 6-3, 304-pound Alexander ranked third nationally with a 90.2 PFF grade and ranked sixth among that group with 37 pressures this past season. Others to watch: Shemar Turner, Texas A&M; Ty Robinson, Nebraska; Deone Walker, Kentucky; Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee; Alfred Collins, Texas Safety Day 2: Sebastian Castro, Iowa With Marcus Williams expected to be released and unproven depth behind Kyle Hamilton and restricted free agent Ar’Darius Washington, the Ravens are likely to add a safety this offseason. The 5-11, 205-pound Castro is already 24 years old, but with that age comes experience. He’s a versatile, instinctive player who lined up mostly in the slot for the Hawkeyes. A strong tackler and run defender, he’s comfortable in the box and defending tight ends. Sleeper: Jonas Sanker, Virginia The 6-1, 210-pound Sanker fits the Ravens’ mold as a physical, downhill player who rarely misses tackles in the open field. He finished the 2024 season as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leader in solo tackles (66) and led the Cavaliers with 8 1/2 tackles for loss. Others to watch: Lathan Ransom, Ohio State; Andrew Mukuba, Texas; Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan, Centennial teacher starts GoFundMe for charity supported by Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win a championship first: Ravens or Orioles? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly finalizing contract extension with OC Todd Monken Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Answering questions about Mark Andrews, free agency and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly part ways with inside linebackers coach in first shake-up of offseason Inside linebacker Day 2: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA Ravens 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson was benched midseason in favor of Malik Harrison and Chris Board, who are both entering free agency. If the Ravens want to upgrade, Schwesinger would be a good fit. The 6-2, 225-pound Bruins star is a former zero-star recruit who walked on at UCLA and became the anchor of the defense, ranking third nationally with 136 tackles this past season. His ability to rush the passer, run sideline-to-sideline and drop into coverage would be a welcome addition. Sleeper: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina The 6-2, 245-pound Knight is PFF’s highest-ranked linebacker prospect and could rise up boards with a strong showing this week. The Charlotte transfer became a fan favorite with the Gamecocks not only for his stellar play but his commitment to his two children and his refusal to give up the game ball after a rivalry win over Clemson. Others to watch: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon; Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

A Ravens fan wanted to return the favor. A week after two Buffalo Bills fans started a GoFundMe to raise money for a charity supported by Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews following a crushing loss to Buffalo, a teacher at Centennial High School did the same for Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, who dropped a fourth-down pass in the final two minutes of Sunday’s AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “That was stuck in my head, what Bills fans had done for Mark,” 34-year-old German teacher Will Funk-Heiser told The Baltimore Sun on Monday. “It was really cool.” The Chiefs held on to win, 32-29, to advance to their fifth Super Bowl in six years as they try to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight championships. The loss, meanwhile, left Kincaid fighting back tears. “It was hanging up there and I just wasn’t able to catch it,” the second-year tight end and former first-round draft pick told reporters Sunday night. “Right now it obviously hurts a lot, and it’s going to linger for a while, but eventually you’ve got to move on. And hopefully you grow from this, and I believe that will be the case, but for the time being, it’s going to hurt a lot.” In the wake of the defeat, the darkest corners of social media reacted predictably and malevolently with a slew of vitriol directed toward Kincaid, who’d made a diving attempt at quarterback Josh Allen’s last-ditch heave before the ball bounded off his outstretched arms and fell incomplete. The two moments involving Andrews and Kincaid and the response of the Bills’ fans struck a chord with Funk-Heiser, who grew up in College Park, is a Maryland alum and is a married father of three young boys, who, along with his wife, are all big Ravens fans. “I’d been thinking about it,” he said. “One of the best things about sports is turning something that’s negative into a good thing.” Which is what prompted him to try to raise money for The Summit Center in Getzville, New York, an organization that provides behavioral health and autism services. Kincaid has been an advocate since 2023 and chose to represent the center as part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” in each of the past two seasons. According to the center, there was an outpouring on social media to make donations in support of Kincaid after the game from fan bases of the Bills, Ravens and Chiefs. More than 160 donors had done so as of Monday morning, according to WKBW-7 TV in Buffalo. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win a championship first: Ravens or Orioles? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly finalizing contract extension with OC Todd Monken Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Answering questions about Mark Andrews, free agency and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly part ways with inside linebackers coach in first shake-up of offseason Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is it time for John Harbaugh to go? | COMMENTARY So far, Funk-Heiser’s GoFundMe has raised more than $1,700 from over 80 donors with a goal of $5,000. He’s hoping it will continue to grow. Nicholas Howard and Ryan Patato, the two Canisius University sophomores who started the fundraiser in the wake of Andrews’ drop and Baltimore’s loss to Buffalo earlier this month, eventually raised more than $143,000 for Breakthrough T1D, a type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization that Andrews, who has type 1 diabetes, supports. “I thought we could try to return the favor,” Funk-Heiser said. “I was hoping it would be something people would be really interested in. “Nobody’s really rooting for Mahomes and the Chiefs to three-peat, anyway.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens are a week into their offseason after yet another playoff run that ended in disappointment. The same could be said for the Orioles, who in October were swept out of the postseason for the second straight season. Both franchises have elite talent and their competitive windows are still wide-open but neither had not gotten over the hump in the playoffs yet. We want to know what you think: Which Baltimore team will win a title first? After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The architect of the NFL’s top offense is sticking around Baltimore a little longer. The Ravens and their offensive coordinator Todd Monken are reportedly finalizing a contract extension, ESPN reported. The deal comes after Monken directed Baltimore to the league’s No. 1 offense for the first time and helped pave the way for quarterback Lamar Jackson’s best season numerically. The Ravens were also the first team in league history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 3,000 in the same season and ranked first in the league in passing and rushing efficiency, according to FTN, en route to racking up the third-most total yards in history in a single season. That Baltimore is able to keep Monken, who will turn 59 next month, is significant for a team that expects to contend for a championship every year and the first step toward what the organization hopes will be its first Super Bowl appearance since 2013. In Monken’s two seasons, the Ravens have averaged the second-most yards (397.6) and are second in scoring (29.4 points per game) in the league during that span. This season, Baltimore was No. 1 in yards per game (424.9) and yards per play (6.8) and third in points per game (30.1). Coach John Harbaugh lauded Monken’s work the past two seasons during last week’s season-ending news conference. “He’s an old-school football coach with kind of a new-school and creative mind,” Harbaugh said. “I really am excited about 3.0, that iteration of this offense going forward, because we found ourselves through the last offseason and into this season, in terms of how we want to organize the offense and tie it all together and use the different platforms that you can use.” No one has thrived more than Jackson, of course. This past season he became the first player in history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 in the same season. He also set a franchise record for touchdown passes (41) in a season against just four interceptions, was named an All-Pro for the third time and is the favorite to be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for a third time after also winning the award last season. That helped propel the Ravens to a 12-5 record during the regular season, a second straight AFC North title, and a divisional-round appearance in the playoffs before falling to the Buffalo Bills. Last season, Baltimore reached the AFC championship game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Answering questions about Mark Andrews, free agency and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly part ways with inside linebackers coach in first shake-up of offseason Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is it time for John Harbaugh to go? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Monken, who came to Baltimore after three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Georgia and back-to-back national championships, has also drawn NFL head coaching interest each of the past two years. Last year, he interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers. This year, he interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears before those jobs were filled. Though Monken has never been a head coach in the NFL — his lone head coaching job was at Southern Mississippi from 2013 to 2015 — Harbaugh believes he’s more than capable. “Todd is one of those guys that can apply his experience, along with the fact that he’s always thinking ahead,” Harbaugh said. “He’s always trying to come up with the next idea, and then he’s also very much [a] collaborator. … To me, sometimes a young coach does a good job of that, sometimes an experienced guy understands the value of that and is able to utilize those people really well around him. It’s the guys that last. Those are the guys that kind of prove themselves over time I think, and Todd is one those guys.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

It’s been just over a week since the Ravens’ season came crashing to a halt in a divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Kansas City Chiefs will play in their fifth Super Bowl in six years, while Baltimore, which boasted the NFL’s top offense en route to a 12-5 record and a second straight AFC North title, is left to wonder why its regular-season brilliance failed to carry over to the postseason again. The Ravens are just 4-7 in seven playoff appearances since their 2012 title season and haven’t won more than one game in the same postseason during that span. What do they need to do to break that streak? Baltimore Sun reporters Brian Wacker, Childs Walker and Sam Cohn and columnist Mike Preston weigh in on this year’s playoffs, Mark Andrews and the future. What do the Ravens need to do to get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl? Wacker: Aside from “hold onto the f—ing ball,” as quarterback Lamar Jackson passionately put it after the loss to the Bills? The Ravens are 0-12 when turning the ball over more than their opponents in the playoffs, and 18-2 when it’s at least even. The reason the Chiefs have won as often as they have is because of talent and coaching, yes, but also by not overcomplicating things when opportunities present themselves and not making costly mistakes at critical junctures. Baltimore not scoring a touchdown on first-and-goal from the Bills’ 2-yard line is a great example of the former, and tight end Mark Andrews getting stripped in the fourth quarter and Jackson simply losing his grip on the ball inexplicably trying to switch hands in the second speak to the latter. When you’re a game or two from the Super Bowl, the margins are typically thin and even the smallest mistakes can be damaging. The Ravens have too much talent not to get to a Super Bowl with Jackson, but the only way they will is by figuring out a way to be precise when the stakes are at their highest or by being fortunate enough to not face teams like the Chiefs or Bills. Walker: This is the existential question facing a franchise that flexes its muscles in almost every aspect of team building, only to come up maddeningly short with the finish line in sight. And there is no good answer. The Ravens were more talented than the Bills. Their offense soared, even in the cold and snow with an enemy crowd blaring. Their leader, Jackson, seemed elated with the team’s form going into the game and not the least bit daunted by the scrutiny he’d face in his matchup with MVP co-frontrunner Josh Allen. No defense, including Buffalo’s, could fully account for both Jackson and Derrick Henry. Second guessing is the reflex move for any fan base after a crushing defeat, but really, what could they have done better in assembling the roster and preparing for the playoffs? The Ravens lost because two of their best players couldn’t hang onto the ball, while the Bills played a clean game. The only thing Jackson and friends can do is keep giving themselves chances until they get it right. That doesn’t satisfy our human needs to assign blame and grasp for control, but it’s the truth. Preston: While watching a lot of teams in the playoffs, one thing I’ve noticed is that they all dial it back a little and become more conservative, especially if you are one of the top seeds in each conference. Both Kansas City and Buffalo have done that in their playoff games, and the Bills kept quarterback Josh Allen on a tight leash during their entire game against Baltimore. Maybe the Ravens need to play in a similar fashion. In the AFC championship game a year ago, a 17-10 loss to Kansas City, the Ravens forgot to run the ball and then became pass happy in the second half. Against the Bills, they didn’t establish running back Derrick Henry until the third quarter despite him running for almost 200 yards in the first meeting earlier in the season, a lopsided Ravens victory. One of Jackson’s strengths is making something out of nothing, and that results in the big play. But in the postseason, when teams are similar in talent, the lack of ball security hurts. I understand the nature of big plays, but there is always a risk with them. After so many playoff losses, the Ravens might consider a different strategy or coach John Harbaugh needs to try a different approach as far as preparation. Cohn: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid need to announce a joint retirement. In all seriousness, the Ravens are no longer measured by their regular-season success while Jackson is still their quarterback. It’s their shaky playoff resume that people care about. And the difference will be whether the turnover-less football they play from September to December can continue in January and February. Easier said than done, but it’s been their biggest hitch. Since 2018, they have 16 turnovers in nine playoff games (seven interceptions and four fumbles). Health would be the 1B issue. Last year, it was Andrews who wasn’t healthy until the AFC championship game. This year, Zay Flowers had plans to come back at the same time. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is entering the final year of his contract. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Tight end Mark Andrews is entering the final year of his contract. Should the Ravens bring him back for the long-term? Wacker: Jettisoning Andrews now wouldn’t make sense on any level and would be a bad look. Team brass has already said they expect the franchise’s leader in touchdowns to be a “huge” part of next year’s plans, too. Still, the Ravens are in a tough spot for a player who will turn 30 in September, has endured his own dubious playoff foibles and is due to count $16.9 million (fifth among tight ends) against the salary cap. Further complicating matters is that ascendent Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are both entering the final year of their respective rookie deals. My guess is they will be creative, give him an extension and find a way to keep at least two of the three tight ends for at least a couple more seasons. Walker: General manager Eric DeCosta as much as said they will make that decision after next season, not now. The Ravens could save $11 million by dumping Andrews this offseason, but they’re trying to win the Super Bowl next season, and he’s still Jackson’s top red-zone target. It would also be a soulless piece of business considering Andrews is a locker room pillar who has, as he put it on Instagram, poured “every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible.” He’ll be in the Ravens Ring of Honor one day. That said, Andrews is going to want and deserve to be one of the highest paid tight ends in the league. In Likely, who will also be up for an extension after next season, the Ravens have a younger (by five years) alternative who could replace most or all of Andrews’ production. They will probably have to choose one or the other, and Likely makes more sense for the long term given their goal of contending throughout Jackson’s prime. Don’t shove Andrews out the door, but make the rational call when it arises naturally. Preston: If the Ravens can keep both, they will and DeCosta will probably come up with a way to get it done. They won’t get rid of Andrews because of the fumble or the dropped 2-point conversion attempt. He is one of the hardest working players in team history. Speed wise, he isn’t as fast as he used to be, but I like what the Ravens can do with a two tight end set that includes Likely. The set balances up a defense and that’s a key for most offenses. The guess here is that Andrews stays for another season, but Likely is the tight end of the future. That scenario was discussed at the end of the 2023 season in the Ravens’ front office, and it will be front and center in 2025. But to get rid of Andrews at this point would look so bad for a player who has meant as much to this franchise as former tight end Todd Heap. Cohn: As it stands, it feels like the most likely scenario is the Ravens don’t make any big decisions in the tight end room this offseason. Andrews and Likely both have one year left on their contracts. Andrews is 29 and destined for the Ring of Honor; he’s been a security blanket for Jackson since 2018. But Likely is five years younger and ascending quickly. It would be a slight to extend one and not the other this summer. It would be a mistake to sign Andrews and let Likely walk. And it would be expensive to extend both. Heart says stick with the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader. Mind says pivot to Likely if forced to pick one now. Crystal ball says we’re having this conversation again in a year (unless one regresses). With only about $13 million in projected salary cap space and with 17 unrestricted free agents, including left tackle Ronnie Stanley, left guard Patrick Mekari, fullback Patrick Ricard and cornerback Brandon Stephens, what should Baltimore’s focus in free agency be? Wacker: The biggest priority among their own players should be bringing back Stanley, though it can’t be at any cost given a tight salary cap, impending extensions for safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum and other needs. If a desperate team throws a boatload of cash at the rejuvenated Pro Bowl selection, c’est la vie. The Ravens could slide Roger Rosengarten from right tackle to left, re-sign the cheaper Mekari to play right tackle, give Andrew Vorhees another crack at left guard and then draft a tackle in the first round. Outside of their own players, they should explore defensive back, pass rusher, inside linebacker and wide receiver. Some of those needs will get filled through the draft, of course. Walker: This offseason is going to be more about keeping the Ravens’ young stars home than making splashy additions. Stanley presents the most immediate dilemma. If the Ravens could bring their longtime left tackle back on a short, modest deal, they should, because protecting Jackson will always be a premium concern. But they can’t afford to win a bidding war. Trying Rosengarten at left tackle and adding another young tackle on Day 1 or 2 of the draft would be the alternative, and DeCosta showed last spring he’s willing to be aggressive with these choices. Mekari and Ricard are probably more valuable to the Ravens than on the open market, so don’t be surprised if they’re back. A veteran edge rusher, a safety who can cover and a cornerback who can play on the outside are also on the shopping list, though with 10 or 11 draft picks coming, DeCosta can leave some of that business for his favorite weekend of the year. Preston: If Stanley doesn’t cost a fortune, sign him to a two-year extension. The Ravens, though, need to sign Linderbaum and Hamilton to contract extensions, so it will be a busy offseason. Ricard will probably get a nice contract offer, even though he is perfect with Henry. If Rosengarten has a strong offseason in the weight room (and he will), I have no problem with the Ravens moving him to the left side. But Mekari is better at guard than at tackle, which is more isolated and takes more of a thumping without getting help from both sides. I suspect that is why Mekari stayed healthy for most of the regular season. The Ravens can re-sign him with a decent offer, but they are in desperate need of a pass rusher. Those sack totals by the outside linebackers were built against average teams, but where were those players against the Bills in the playoffs? The Ravens also need a corner to start opposite Nate Wiggins, as well as more defensive backs. In the NFL, there is no certain number that guarantees a team will make it through the season without injury. Cohn: If the Ravens can sign Stanley without selling the farm, that should be the top priority. He made his first Pro Bowl since 2019 and was an important figure in helping develop Rosengarten. It would be beneficial to bring back Ricard, who forged a strong relationship with Henry and was a crucial contributor to Baltimore’s run game. We heard last week that there’s interest from both player and front office in having Ricard retire as a Raven. Beyond that, Baltimore’s focus should be on adding a defensive back and pass rusher — two spots that could also be addressed via the draft. But this Super Bowl window won’t be open forever. Ravens punter Jordan Stout holds while Justin Tucker kicks off against the Browns. Tucker could face competition this offseason after struggling in 2024. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Should the Ravens bring in another kicker to compete with Justin Tucker in training camp? Wacker: While Tucker seemed to solve his ills in the second half of the season, it couldn’t hurt to bring in another leg. Better to do so too soon than too late. Tucker has been around a long time and is strong enough in his own belief that it wouldn’t be detrimental. That said, I don’t see the Ravens moving on from one of the greatest kickers in the history of the sport just yet. He was bound to have a down season at some point, just as many of the greats before him did, and there’s little reason to think he won’t return to being one of the top kickers in the league in 2025. Walker: No. If there’s a young kicker they like, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look. But they should in no way treat it as a competition. They trusted Tucker to work through his problems during the season, and he did so. There’s no reason to pull back from that trust now. Preston: Yes. Case closed. Competition is a good thing, and the Ravens always bring in extra kickers. Tucker, as I suspect, will respond appropriately. Cohn: Because of how well Tucker ended the season — perfect since the bye week with a pair of makes through tough conditions in Orchard Park, New York — I’d say no. Players and coaches alike called it a slump and they were confident the most accurate kicker in league history would make the necessary corrections. Well, he did. Keep the option of bringing in competition in your back pocket. Just don’t play that card yet because the old guy’s still got it. Baltimore will have the 27th overall pick in April’s draft and is projected to have 11 picks total, including five in the first four rounds. What should the Ravens’ focus be with their early selections? Wacker: Offensive tackle, pass rusher, cornerback and wide receiver. One thing the Chiefs and Bills have that the Ravens don’t: Great tackles. Stanley was very good this season, but not elite. Baltimore also needs to find a game-wrecker on defense (another thing Kansas City and Buffalo both have), either along the line or on the edge. Those guys are cost prohibitive on the free agent market, so finding one in the draft would be the way to go. We’ve also seen that they can never have enough cornerbacks or wide receivers, the latter a position that was awfully thin beyond Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly part ways with inside linebackers coach in first shake-up of offseason Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is it time for John Harbaugh to go? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how fans graded the Ravens’ 2024 season Walker: They need a potential starter at tackle and a young defensive back — either an outside corner or one of the top safeties — to supplement the four starters expected to return in the secondary. They probably won’t be in position to draft a plug-and-play edge rusher, so they’ll have to take another developmental shot there, even though that approach has missed more than it has hit. They draft a wide receiver every year, so that feels like a given in the middle rounds. And they won’t stop at adding one offensive lineman with a starting guard spot also possibly up for grabs this summer. Preston: Offensive tackle, if Stanley isn’t re-signed, and go get a big-name pass rusher, even if they have to trade up. They will need a cornerback as well, maybe two, and also a weak-side linebacker. Trenton Simpson took a step back this season, and Malik Harrison, another free agent, is limited. He can go straight ahead, but has problems moving sideline to sideline. Despite the claims about how the defense improved this season, there are still some gaping holes. Cohn: Much of this will become clear once we see how free agency plays out. The Ravens should look for an offensive lineman with their first or second draft pick. Some of that is dependent on whether Stanley stays in Baltimore; if not, they’ll scour for a tackle. If it’s Mekari who isn’t re-signed, they’ll be in the market for a guard. Surely, the Ravens will be eyeing defensive backs, too. DeCosta said last week that he already had his eye on a safety, which would be a big help for Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington after a carousel there this season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens have parted ways with inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone, according to KPRC-TV. The move is the first change to coach John Harbaugh’s staff this offseason. Under DeLone, Baltimore’s inside linebackers had an uneven year. Though Roquan Smith was eventually named an All-Pro, he struggled in coverage early in the season alongside second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson. Eventually, Simpson, who had his own struggles against the pass and run, was benched and replaced by the veteran duo of Malik Harrison and Chris Board. The group’s play settled down and Smith went on to have the fifth-most tackles in the NFL. DeLeone had replaced Zach Orr after Orr was promoted to defensive coordinator following the departure of Mike Macdonald to become the Seattle Seahawks’ coach. The 36-year-old came to Baltimore from the University of Kansas, where he was a defensive analyst. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is it time for John Harbaugh to go? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how fans graded the Ravens’ 2024 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry named finalists for NFL awards He’d also worked in several roles around the NFL, including as inside linebackers coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, the Chicago Bears in 2019 and 2020 — alongside Smith — and the Detroit Lions in 2021. In his season-ending news conference Wednesday, Harbaugh said he was still “pretty early” in the process of determining what changes there could be to his staff. “Of course, I’d love to keep them,” Harbaugh said. “I tell them, I say, ‘I’m rooting for you, and I’ll definitely tell people how great you are, because you deserve it, but if it doesn’t work out for you, I’m really happy that you’re staying with us.’ And our players, I’ve talked to a lot of our players, and I know our players feel the same way.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston answers fans’ questions throughout the Ravens’ season. After a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round on Sunday night, Baltimore is left to sort through another disappointing playoff exit. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) Year after year, the Ravens lose in the playoffs in just what seems to be the most brutal fashion. Lamar’s pick-6 in Buffalo, the Huntley fumble, the Flowers fumble, the Andrews fumble and drop. With Lamar and the amount of talent we have, our Super Bowl window is certainly open, but how long will that remain to be the case? Have you ever seen a team consistently underachieve in terms of execution despite having rosters that are on par with Super Bowl-winning organizations? Is there a fix? Is there any reason for optimism? — Frustrated Fan from North East There is always room for optimism, even for a Frustrated Fan from North East. Fortunately, the Ravens will retain the nucleus of the team they’ve had for the past two seasons, and that means they will be in the hunt again. A year ago against Kansas City in the AFC championship game, the Ravens abandoned the run and got away from their game plan too quickly. Sunday night against Buffalo, the great players didn’t deliver great plays in the big game. You are correct, it’s always something with this team. Maybe the third year is the charm. Maybe they’ll put it all together in 2025 with this great offense and an improved defense under second-year coordinator Zach Orr. It’s hard to win the Super Bowl, which is why there are 12 franchises that have never done it. I’m not a fan of any team, but a fan of the game itself. I suspect there are still a lot of disappointed fans in Baltimore, but that will change when training camp starts in late July or early August. As Ray Lewis used to say, there are 31 teams that are ticked off at the end of the season because only one can win the Super Bowl. I agree. OK, is it time for Harbaugh to go? He’s been great, but maybe it’s time for some new life at the castle. — Rich in Atlanta (from Baltimore) Rich, Rich, Rich. Whenever the Ravens lose, regardless if it’s in the regular season or in the postseason, there are fans who want Harbaugh fired. It’s like death and taxes. I get it because he has been here in Baltimore since 2008. But overall, he is one of the five best coaches in the NFL and the Ravens are usually in contention for the title. Do I agree with Harbaugh’s game day decisions? Hell no. But at this point, I pretty much can predict how he will react to certain situations and it doesn’t bother me. He stays with his philosophy, and that’s good because he is consistent. He has only one year left on his current deal and it will be interesting to see if owner Steve Bisciotti offers him a new contract or if Harbaugh wants to possibly move on from coaching and get into TV as an analyst. I don’t agree with the idea that if Harbaugh moves on there aren’t better coaches available. That’s ridiculous. Quality organizations hire good coaches. The Pittsburgh Steelers have for decades, and so have the Ravens in moving on from Ted Marchibroda to Brian Billick to Harbaugh. We will see how this plays out, but Harbaugh has and continues to do well during his tenure in Baltimore. What, if any, assistant coaching changes might occur with the Ravens? Or do you anticipate the entire staff being retained? — Ed Helinski in Auburn, New York The major question is about offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who is believed to be a candidate for the coaching jobs in Las Vegas and Jacksonville. At age 58, Monken probably needs to be hired this offseason because that’s considered old in the NFL these days. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken speaks with wide receiver Rashod Bateman during an October practice. Monken is a candidate for a couple open NFL coaching jobs. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) There is speculation that Monken is the “fall back” or Plan B option in Jacksonville and that he would go there because he at least has a quarterback to build around in Trevor Lawrence. The Raiders have no one. In the big picture, Monken’s departure would be a step back for Jackson because he developed well in Year 2 under Monken. The assumption here is that there won’t be as many departures as a year ago, when the Ravens lost three top defensive assistants. Anthony Weaver and Dennard Wilson went on to become coordinators for other teams, while Mike Macdonald became coach in Seattle. During the Bills game, after scoring a TD, Harbaugh elected to go for 2 and we failed, leaving the score 21-19. Subsequently the Bills kicked 2 FGs to make the score 27-19, making it necessary for the Ravens to score a TD and a 2-point conversion. Had Harbaugh just kicked the extra point we would have trailed 21-20. After the Bills scored 2 FGs, we could have tied the game with our late TD and extra point. Why go for 2 when it was totally unnecessary at the time? What am I missing? — Jan in Naples, Florida It was a bad decision, Jan, but again, one that I expected. Harbaugh likes to gamble because he has a lot of offensive talent led by Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and receiver Zay Flowers. Harbaugh needs to improve his game day decisions. Instead of trying to be too aggressive based on analytics, he needs to rely more on gut instincts and what is going on in the game at the current time. From his very beginning with the Ravens, you have been a believer in Ar’Darius Washington. Is he their safety of the future or just a stop-gap for this year? And in the long run, is the Ravens’ defense better with a safety Kyle Hamilton playing closer to the line where he has a better chance to create havoc on opposing offenses? — Brian Washington can be the starter, but the Ravens also need to draft another safety or sign one via free agency. As for Hamilton, the Ravens need to be able to move him around because it keeps other teams guessing. I like his versatility and the ability to attack an offense in different ways. Of the 17 unrestricted free agents entering this offseason, which ones do you think should be brought back and which ones should be let go? Also, what is the cap space outlook in 2025? It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do on the offensive line. Two unrestricted free agents are left tackle Ronnie Stanley and left guard Patrick Mekari. Stanley will draw interest, but as I’ve mentioned before the Ravens might opt to move rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten to left tackle, move right guard Daniel Faalele back to his natural position at right tackle and insert Andrew Vorhees at one of the guard positions. The Ravens have some options. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens reportedly part ways with inside linebackers coach in first shake-up of offseason Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how fans graded the Ravens’ 2024 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry named finalists for NFL awards Mekari, though, can play any position on the offensive line and he stayed relatively healthy for most of the 2024 season. Another player to watch is fullback Patrick Ricard. He might earn big money from some teams focusing on the running game again. As for cap space, the Ravens have a projected $13.8 million available, according to Over The Cap, but that to me is never a big issue until the season starts. Teams have time to restructure contracts to find more money. Do you have any book recommendations to keep us busy during the offseason? — Nate Read The Bible. It works for me. P.S. Thanks for the questions this season. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

When the Pro Bowl rosters were announced earlier this month, the Ravens had a league-high nine selections. Add two more to the list. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy were added to the AFC squad Thursday as injury replacements, giving Baltimore 11 representatives in the annual all-star event. Stanley takes the place of Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil, while Van Noy jumps in for Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt. This season marked a bounce-back year for Stanley, who took a pay cut in the offseason before starting every game for the league’s top offense. He’ll turn 31 in March and enter free agency this offseason, perhaps drawing a lucrative contract from another team. Van Noy, 33, posted a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in his second season in Baltimore to earn his first Pro Bowl selection. The two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots is under contract through 2025. Raven running back Derrick Henry, fullback Patrick Ricard, inside linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton were previously named starters, while quarterback Lamar Jackson, wide receiver Zay Flowers, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and cornerback Marlon Humphrey also made the team. Tight end Mark Andrews, inside linebacker Chris Board (special teams), guard Daniel Faalele, long snapper Nick Moore and kicker Justin Tucker were all voted as alternates. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how fans graded the Ravens’ 2024 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry named finalists for NFL awards Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY Jackson lost the starting nod to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen, but the 27-year-old superstar was named first-team All-Pro and is a finalist to win a second straight and third overall NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Jackson could get the chance to start, however, if Buffalo defeats the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Sunday and advances to the Super Bowl after knocking out Baltimore, 27-25, in the divisional round. Jackson last competed in the Pro Bowl in January 2020, earning Offensive MVP. Flowers, who became the first homegrown Ravens wide receiver to receive a Pro Bowl selection, will not play after missing Baltimore’s two playoff games with a knee injury he suffered in the regular-season finale. He’ll be replaced by Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr. This year marks the third Pro Bowl Games, which feature weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game. It will take place in Orlando, Florida, and finish with a seven-on-seven flag football game between the AFC and NFC at Nicholson Fieldhouse at the University of Central Florida on Feb. 2 with Peyton and Eli Manning coaching the two conferences. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Mark Andrews broke his silence. The Ravens’ highly regarded, veteran tight end did not speak to reporters Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York, after dropping a potential game-tying 2-point conversion in Baltimore’s AFC divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills, nor did he make himself available to reporters the following afternoon at the team’s locker room clean-out in Owings Mills. Andrews collected his thoughts in an Instagram post uploaded Thursday afternoon to address what he called a “shock and disappointment unlike anything I’ve felt before.” His three-picture carousel included a close-up of a stoic Andrews with eye-black under his focused eyes, a locker room dap up with Lamar Jackson and a photo of Baltimore’s all-time touchdowns leader peeking out of a locker stall dramatized by a black and white filter. Andrews’ caption, in part, reads, “It’s impossible to adequately express how I feel. I’m absolutely gutted by what happened on Sunday. I’m devastated for my teammates, my coaches and Ravens fans. I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible, because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it’s taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly.” In the hours and days that followed Andrews’ heartbreaking drop in the corner of the end zone, his teammates offered praise and words of encouragement. They tried to put the moment in perspective. Despite the vitriol from dark corners of the internet, teammates and coaches humanized Andrews. Some Bills fans even started raising money toward a charity for juveniles with diabetes that Andrews supports. As of Thursday evening, more than $100,000 had been raised from roughly 3,500 donations. “One of my messages to him was we are not where we’re at throughout the course of the season or in the game without the contributions of Mark,” coach John Harbaugh said, later adding, “Mark is a huge part of our future.” His drop has turned into a days-long news story, in part because the Ravens now have three tight ends each with one year left on their contracts: Jackson’s security blanket, Andrews; Isaiah Likely, a quickly ascending pass catcher; and perhaps the best blocking tight end of the trio, Charlie Kolar. The final year of Andrews’ contract is slated to carry the team’s fourth-highest salary cap hit at $16.9 million. Tough decisions loom. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how fans graded the Ravens’ 2024 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry named finalists for NFL awards Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY General manager Eric DeCosta said Wednesday during his and Harbaugh’s end-of-year news conference, “We’re blessed to have, in my opinion, the best tight ends room in the league and we’ll be blessed this year on the field as well.” Andrews finished the regular season with 673 yards on 55 catches for 11 touchdowns — among the best of his career — and became the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader. Much of it will be remembered for a fourth-quarter fumble and the late drop in Sunday’s loss. “I refuse to let the situation define me,” he wrote. “I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward. … Even when the moment seems darkest, perspective can reveal that there’s still a lot of light in this world. I’m now going to do my part to bounce back and contribute to it.” His teammates and Ravens fans flooded the comments section with support. Unless Andrews pops up on a podcast in the near future, it’s likely the Instagram caption will be his only time addressing the matter until OTAs in April or May. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

We asked readers how they would grade the Ravens’ 2024 season after Baltimore fell to Buffalo in the AFC divisional round. Here are the results from our online poll: A — 17% (153 votes) B — 58% (511 votes) C — 16% (143 votes) D — 4% (37 votes) F — 5% (41 votes) Here’s what some fans have told us about the team (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): The Ravens get a “D” from me because of the 0-2 start and games that were given away that they should have won. The Bills game sealed the deal for me. The Ravens allowed once again for the opposing team to take them out of their game. The Ravens the previous week destroyed the Steelers with RPOs and precision passing. The game against the Bills, the Ravens were outcoached once again. The worst thing about this is Lamar Jackson has never won two playoff games in the same season while Jayden Daniels has done it in his rookie season for the Commanders. Not a good look overall for the Ravens. — Kareem The Ravens get a “B” because they didn’t complete the mission, and “A-” isn’t an option, but I blame the Week 18 schedule for that. Why did we play before the Steelers? If the Steelers had played first, then we could have rested Zay Flowers and avoided the dreaded injury that he suffered. I’m so proud of how Lamar has settled down and improved his accuracy. — Thomas The Ravens are a good or very good team year in, year out. Top 10 of 32 teams, it’s hard to complain too much. It’s hard to be this good drafting at the back of the NFL draft year after year. We are somewhat spoiled. The offensive line jelled, the defense came together and the Ravens charged on for a great second half of the season. Jackson and Mark Andrews each had a difficult half in the same game, which is a tough circumstance. Next year looks great. — Joseph LaFleur The Ravens sure faced adversity during the year. There were changes to the offensive line in the beginning of the year and the defensive secondary after the second Cincinnati game. The Ravens made up a two-game deficit with Pittsburgh with six games remaining — so that states something about their character. The nucleus of the team is intact. The Ravens are the NFL equivalent to the Washington Capitals of the NHL. They hang around in the playoffs until they eventually fall. Eventually the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Here’s hoping the same fate for the Ravens as well. — Dan from Elkton I gave the Ravens an “A” along with Andrews and Jackson despite the final game’s outcome and miscues on a snowy, frozen field. I watch football as a true Baltimore fan, but mostly for its entertainment value and there was no NFL team this year more exciting and entertaining than the Ravens. — Paul H. Belz Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kyle Van Noy added to Pro Bowl roster Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews addresses playoff drop on Instagram: ‘I’m devastated’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry named finalists for NFL awards Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY Once again, the Ravens beat themselves. All the talent in the world and probably the best team in football, but when the stakes are the highest, this team just can’t get over the hump. All-world quarterback who makes mistakes when it matters the most! Thoroughly entertaining, but equally disappointing season. — Stuart The Ravens rate a “B” in general but a “C” based on expectations. They lost games they should not have and could’ve had a higher seed. They had the team to get into, if not win the Super Bowl, so it’s a disappointment to (again) get eliminated so early in the playoffs. — Sonny Taragin For all the issues with turnovers, the Ravens’ defense cost them the Bills game. The Bills ran right through the front line, and the Ravens were unable to effectively bring Josh Allen down. Considering they scored 25 points, if this were the 2000 or 2012 teams we would have won. The team still lacks a meaningful pash rush or coverage on deep passes. Sure, you can point to the turnovers, but if the defense had played better none of it would have mattered. This needs to be the priority heading into next season. — Scott Williams The Ravens receive a solid “B.” They jelled as a complete team when it counted … heading toward the playoffs. They were dynamic with the run-pass option. The defense got their act together under our new coordinator, Zach Orr. Justin Tucker worked through his issues. Some of the play calls were head-scratchers, but I get trying to establish offensive balance and preserving the health of our two biggest weapons against overuse and wear and tear. Next season I will be very excited with another season under Jackson’s belt. In Lamar we trust! — John Hughes The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson are finalists for The Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award. Barkley, Burrow and Jackson also are finalists for Offensive Player of the Year and Burrow is also in the running for Comeback Player of the Year. The winners will be announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 6. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Here are the finalists, in alphabetical order, for the eight AP NFL awards: Most Valuable Player Allen helped the Bills win their fifth straight AFC East title. He threw for 3,731 yards, 28 TDs and had six picks for a 101.4 passer rating. He also ran for 531 yards and 12 scores. Barkley ran for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history. He sat out Philadelphia’s final regular-season game when he needed 101 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record. Barkley helped the Eagles win the NFC East and advance to the conference championship game. Burrow led the NFL with a career-high 4,918 passing yards and 43 TDs, but the Cincinnati Bengals finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Goff threw for 4,629 yards with 37 TDs and nine interceptions to lead Detroit to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Lions were eliminated in the divisional round by Washington. Jackson, the reigning winner, is seeking his third MVP award after leading the Ravens to an AFC North title. Jackson had career highs with 4,172 passing yards, 41 TDs (to just four interceptions) and a 119.6 passer rating, which led the NFL. He was a first-team All-Pro for the third time and also ran for 915 yards and four TDs. The Ravens were knocked out of the divisional round by Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Offensive Player of the Year Barkley, Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Derrick Henry and Jackson are finalists for the award. Chase won the receiving triple crown, leading the league with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards and 17 TDs. The Bengals’ star wide receiver was a unanimous selection for All-Pro. Henry, the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, had 1,921 yards rushing and 16 TDs in his first season with the Ravens. Defensive Player of the Year Eagles linebacker Zack Baun went from mostly playing special teams for the Saints to earning All-Pro honors in his first season in Philadelphia. All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, had 14 sacks for the Cleveland Browns. Bengals All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks. Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II allowed just 37 receptions, had four picks and opposing quarterbacks had a 61.1 passer rating throwing against him. Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, the 2021 winner, had 11 1/2 sacks and forced six fumbles. Offensive Rookie of the Year Raiders tight end Brock Bowers set a rookie record with 112 receptions and his 1,194 receiving yards were the most by a first-year player at his position. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels led the team to an eight-win improvement and has them one win away from a Super Bowl appearance. He threw for 3,568 yards and 25 TDs and posted a 100.1 rating. Daniels also ran for 891 yards and six scores. Giants receiver Malik Nabers had 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven TDs. Broncos QB Bo Nix helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time in nine years. He had 3,775 passing yards with 29 TDs and 12 picks and ran for 430 yards and four scores. Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 TDs. Defensive Rookie of the Year Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions. He had five pass breakups and quarterbacks had an 82.2 passer rating against him. Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske led the team and all rookies with 8 1/2 sacks. He had 51 pressures, two forced fumbles and recoveries, 10 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell allowed 40 receptions, had nine pass breakups and quarterbacks had an 87 passer rating against him. Dolphins edge Chop Robinson, a Quince Orchard native who started his college career at Maryland before transferring to Penn State, had six sacks, 20 pressures and eight tackles for loss. Rams edge Jared Verse had 4 1/2 sacks but led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56). He also had 11 tackles for loss. Coach of the Year Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell, Denver’s Sean Payton, Washington’s Dan Quinn and Kansas City’s Andy Reid are the finalists. Campbell guided the Lions (15-3) to the NFC’s No. 1 seed. O’Connell led the Vikings (14-4) to the playoffs despite the departure of Kirk Cousins in free agency and losing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Payton helped the Broncos (10-8) overcome salary cap woes stemming from the decision to release Russell Wilson and ended a nine-year playoff drought. Quinn took over a 4-13 team and turned the Commanders into a 12-win playoff team. Reid had the Chiefs (16-2) back atop the AFC as the No. 1 seed in a quest for a record third straight Super Bowl victory. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ season-ending news conference Baltimore Ravens | With core expected to return, Ravens enter offseason facing ‘not as many tough decisions’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on adding another safety: ‘It would be really good for us’ Assistant Coach of the Year Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Lions OC Ben Johnson made the list. Glenn and Johnson were recently hired as coaches of the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively. Comeback Player of the Year Burrow, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Bills safety Damar Hamlin are the finalists. Dobbins, a 2020 second-round draft pick by the Ravens, rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with Los Angeles after an injury-hampered career in Baltimore. Over the previous three years, he was sidelined for 42 of 51 games because of injuries, including 16 games in 2023 after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1. Dobbins missed all of 2021 after tearing the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, in the preseason finale, and he missed half of 2022 after another knee surgery. View the full article

To say Jayden Daniels might be the best rookie quarterback in modern NFL history isn’t an exaggeration. After being picked No. 2 overall in April, the 24-year-old former LSU and Arizona State star led the Washington Commanders to a 12-5 record — their best mark since winning the Super Bowl 1991 — and a spot in the postseason for just the second time in nine years and the sixth time since 2000. But he hasn’t stopped there. By leading Washington to a thrilling 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a last-second field goal in the wild-card round and a stunning 45-31 upset victory over the top-seeded Detroit Lions, Daniels has the reinvigorated franchise in the NFC championship game for the first time in 33 years. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only five rookie quarterbacks have started a conference championship game: Shaun King (2000), Ben Roethlisberger (2005), Joe Flacco (2009), Mark Sanchez (2010) and Brock Purdy (2023). None have ever won. Daniels, whose Commanders are 6 1/2-point underdogs against the host Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, would have to engineer another upset to become the first rookie to start the Super Bowl. Sixteen years ago, Flacco was on a similar path. After being picked 18th overall out of Delaware, then in Division I-AA, the rookie beat out 2003 first-round pick Kyle Boller and former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to become the Week 1 starter and never relinquished the job (at least until Lamar Jackson came along). Though his numbers were far from spectacular — 2,971 passing yards, 14 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions with 180 yards and two scores on the ground — Flacco’s big arm and preternatural poise helped Baltimore finish the regular season 11-5 and second in the AFC North to earn a wild-card berth. In the postseason, it was the Ravens’ dominant defense led by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott and Haloti Ngata that led the way, intercepting Chad Pennington four times — including a 64-yard pick-six by Reed — in a 27-9 wild-card win over the Miami Dolphins and forcing three turnovers in a 13-10 win over the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco became the first rookie to defeat a No. 1 seed when he helped Baltimore defeat the Titans, 13-10, in the AFC divisional round on Jan. 10, 2009. (Staff file)Flacco played a big role in the win over Tennessee, however, throwing a 48-yard pass to Derrick Mason for the game’s only touchdown to give Baltimore a 7-6 lead in the first quarter. A 23-yard pass from Flacco to tight end Todd Heap on third down — despite the play block being expired at the snap — set up the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. The nine-play, 51-yard march ended with a 43-yard field goal by Matt Stover with 57 seconds left. “It’s the same as any other drive,” said Flacco, who earned the nickname “Joe Cool” during his career for his calm and stoic demeanor. It sounds like it could be a quote from Daniels, who has received the same praise for his unflappable play that belies his age. When Washington beat Tampa Bay earlier this month on a kick from Zane Gonzalez that bounced off the upright and in, Daniels barely showed any emotion but a wry smile as he watched from the bench. Maybe he knew what was to come. Unlike Flacco, who completed only 11 of 22 passes for 161 yards in that upset win over the Titans, Daniels roasted the Lions’ defense, finishing 22-for-31 for 299 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 16 times for 51 yards. With that brilliant performance, he joined Flacco as the only rookie quarterbacks to defeat a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. “I always believed that we could achieve more than people gave us credit for it, but you got to go out there and put in the work,” said Daniels, who is expected to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year after passing for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 891 yards and six scores during the regular season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ season-ending news conference Baltimore Ravens | With core expected to return, Ravens enter offseason facing ‘not as many tough decisions’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on adding another safety: ‘It would be really good for us’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ finale recap: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson goes from belief to pain This weekend, he’ll try to walk where Flacco and his fellow rookies have stumbled. In the AFC championship game 16 years ago, Flacco completed just 13 of 30 passes for 141 yards with three interceptions in a 23-14 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who went on to win the Super Bowl over the Arizona Cardinals. “With a windchill of 15 degrees at Heinz Field, the NFL’s top-ranked defense turned Joe Cool into Joe Cold,” then-Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley wrote. After becoming the first rookie to win two playoff games, Flacco ran out of magic against a bitter division rival. But it was only the beginning for him and coach John Harbaugh, who four seasons later would hoist the Lombardi Trophy after Flacco put together one of the most impressive postseason runs by a quarterback in league history. “This is our beginning. This is where we start,” Harbaugh said after that loss to the Steelers. “This is not an end by any stretch. We’re excited to go forward and take the next step.” No matter the result in Philadelphia on Sunday, the Commanders will hope this is just the start for Daniels, too. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens went 12-5, won the AFC North for a second straight season and advanced to the divisional round before losing the Buffalo Bills. Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position this season: Quarterback Lamar Jackson set career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdown passes (41) while becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 900 in a single season. He is an incredible talent, a pure pleasure to watch. It’s uncanny the way he can escape, make and extend plays. There is no doubt he is the best running quarterback ever and has made significant progress as a passer, especially in the red zone. With running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens have the perfect combination of players who can run inside and out. There were many magical moments from Jackson this season, and the Ravens loaded up by giving him playmakers such as Henry, first-round wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. But the Ravens failed to make it back to the AFC championship game. Until proven otherwise, that will be the major criticism of Jackson, just as it was for former quarterback greats such as Buffalo’s Jim Kelly and Miami’s Dan Marino. After seven years, he has two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards (and potentially a third coming soon), but no Super Bowl titles. Jackson is 3-5 in the postseason, fumbling seven times and throwing 11 interceptions. Maybe someday soon he’ll be able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, because that’s the only thing missing from his impressive resume. Grade: A Running backs Henry was the beast that this team missed for several years, but even he couldn’t get the Ravens to the Super Bowl. The former Tennessee Titans star rushed 325 times for 1,921 yards during the regular season, the second-highest total of his nine-year career. He also had a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns and another three in two postseason games. There were a lot of games in which he was unstoppable, such as at Dallas in Week 3, vs. Buffalo in Week 4 and the final two games against Pittsburgh. There were some who thought Henry could have been used more, but the Ravens kept him healthy for an entire season at the age of 31. He could make big plays from anywhere on the field and showed surprising speed once he turned the corner. The Ravens probably should have used him more in the playoff loss to Buffalo, in which he had only 84 yards on 16 carries, but overall he was exceptional. The Ravens also got a strong effort from backup running back Justice Hill, who finished with 228 yards on 47 carries. He was a threat out of the backfield in passing situations, finishing with 42 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns. He also blocked well when he was involved in pass protection. It’s hard to put a value on a player like him. The Ravens also had the game’s best fullback in Patrick Ricard. There wasn’t a better lead blocker in the NFL, and he would destroy opponents on wham blocks. With the possible emphasis being back on the running game after this season, Ricard could sign a big contract with another team as a free agent. Grade. A Offensive line The Ravens got more than anyone expected out of this group. First of all, a lot of credit goes to George Warhop, a late training camp addition after the death of longtime offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris. Warhop had to come in and learn a new system, as well as the players. The Ravens made an early transition, moving veteran Patrick Mekari from right tackle to left guard and starting rookie Roger Rosengarten in place of Mekari. Rosengarten played well most of the season and has a lot of upside once he gets a full offseason in the weight room. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Ravens moved him to left tackle if they don’t re-sign veteran Ronnie Stanley. Daniel Faalele made progress at right guard, but he needs to improve his offseason diet and weight training to get ready for the next training camp. Tyler Linderbaum had another strong season, and he is one of the more mobile centers in the NFL. His only weakness is holding up against bigger defensive tackles when they line up directly in front of him. Mekari was surprisingly healthy for most of the season, and technique-wise he was one of the better linemen on the team. Stanley was solid and dependable; it will be interesting to see what interest he might draw on the open market. He reshaped and rebuilt the bottom half of his body. The Ravens were good — dominant at times — but still struggled in pass protection. Jackson bailed them out quite a few times with his elusiveness, taking just 23 sacks. Overall, it was a good year and this group can only get better. Grade: B Wide receiver Zay Flowers became the star of the passing game, but a knee injury cost him a chance to play in the postseason. (Staff) Receivers First of all, let’s get this out of the way. Since the Ravens began play in Baltimore for the 1996 season, there has only been one player — Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis — who worked harder in practices than Andrews. He dropped the 2-point conversion that would have tied the game in Buffalo late, but that has happened to all the great ones. They aren’t perfect, just human. Andrews had a strong regular season after a slow start, finishing with 55 catches for 673 yards and 11 touchdowns. By late in the season, he had become Jackson’s go-to receiver again. The Ravens had a pleasant surprise in fourth-year player Bateman, who had 45 catches for 765 yards and nine touchdowns, and he became another weapon for Jackson in the red zone. Backup tight end Likely also became a contributor in the team’s multiple attacking offense as he finished with 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. The player who made the passing offense work was second-year receiver Flowers, who missed both playoff games with a knee injury. Flowers was a weapon as a runner, in the slot or outside. He could make big plays from anywhere on the field on routes across the middle or quick screens. He had 74 catches for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, and his absence was a key reason the Bills had success against Henry in the postseason. Without Flowers, Buffalo didn’t fear anyone who could beat one of their safeties deep and they could crowd the line of scrimmage. Without Flowers, the Ravens lacked a significant playmaker. Grade: B Defensive line Despite several injuries, this group held up and played well. Heading into the postseason, most teams failed to run the ball against Baltimore. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike got off to a slow start, but he was relentless and dominated throughout the second half of the season. He finished eighth on the team in tackles with 43, including 21 solo, and had 6 1/2 sacks. Travis Jones was only one tackle behind Madubuike despite being bothered by lower leg injuries. Fellow lineman Broderick Washington had 21 tackles, including two sacks, and nose tackle Michael Pierce, despite missing several games with injuries, still finished with 19 tackles. Pierce also became a rare inside pass rusher, finishing with two sacks, and had an unforgettable interception against the Browns. Reserve lineman Brent Urban had 20 tackles in 15 games. The only downside for this group was getting pushed around by the Bills, as Buffalo rushed for 147 yards on 36 carries. That’s not good enough in the postseason. Grade: B Linebackers Smith led the team in tackles with 154, but that’s nothing new. On most defenses, the middle or weakside linebacker as well as the strong safety usually lead the team in tackles. Smith had a good season, but he struggled through the first eight or nine games. Opposing teams attacked Smith in the passing game before the Ravens used him more consistently with blitzes in the second half of the year. Trenton Simpson, the 2023 third-round draft pick out of Clemson, was a disappointment. He started several games early before losing his spot to Chris Board and Malik Harrison. Simpson, though, finished with 70 tackles. Both Board and Harrison were upgrades, but Harrison (46 tackles) was limited because he is more of a straight-ahead player than one who can run sideline to sideline. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy led the team in sacks with 12 1/2 and had 41 tackles, but those numbers were built up against weak offensive tackles. Against the better ones in the NFL, he would disappear. Odafe Oweh, the starter on the other side, was less effective than Van Noy. He had 10 sacks and finished with 39 tackles, but he hasn’t lived up to his first-round status. The Ravens need more dynamic and productive outside linebackers, even though Tavius Robinson shows some promise. Grade: B- Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was the leader of a secondary that struggled at times throughout the season. (Staff) Secondary The Ravens made improvements throughout the season, especially after shifting strong safety Kyle Hamilton more toward the back end and replacing Marcus Williams at free safety with Ar’Darius Washington. Hamilton was second on the team in tackles with 107 and was still a force off the edge at times. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, playing mostly in the slot, had one of his best seasons in years as he finished with 67 tackles and led the team with six interceptions. Regardless, the Ravens still struggled on the outside. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins played aggressively, but he was too hands on at times, which showed he hadn’t yet made the transition from college to the pros. On the other side, the Ravens had Brandon Stephens, who always seemed to be in great position but never turned to find the ball. Opposing teams picked on Stephens every week as well as his replacement, midseason pickup Tre’Davious White. The Ravens’ defensive stats near the end of the season were inflated because most of their opponents, such as Pittsburgh (twice), Philadelphia, the New York Giants, Houston and Cleveland, were incapable of throwing the ball downfield consistently. I still can’t forget watching the looks on Smith’s or Hamilton’s faces when the Ravens gave up big plays. It was astounding. Grade: C Special teams It was a weird season, especially when kicker Justin Tucker started missing field goal attempts. He finished 22-for-30 but also missed two extra point tries. Tucker, though, redeemed himself in the postseason, converting both of his attempts, including a 47-yarder in Buffalo. The Ravens tried several punt returners, but none of them showed good hands. In fact, there were times when you held your breath. By the end of the season, the Ravens had found a strong kickoff return specialist in Keaton Mitchell, but there weren’t a lot of good things to say about the special teams this year. Jordan Stout averaged 46.4 yards on 55 punts and placed 22 inside the 20-yard line. Grade: D Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ season-ending news conference Baltimore Ravens | With core expected to return, Ravens enter offseason facing ‘not as many tough decisions’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on adding another safety: ‘It would be really good for us’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ finale recap: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson goes from belief to pain Coaching Overall, coach John Harbaugh did a good job while having to deal with the death of D’Alessandris during training camp, retooling his offense with coordinator Todd Monken and then hiring a new defensive coordinator in Zach Orr. Harbaugh can build a team because the Ravens always have chemistry and a strong work ethic. He made a good move bringing in Dean Pees as a consultant for Orr, a first-time play caller. Pees was able to patch up some communication issues for a defense that was missing three top assistants from the 2023 season. Communication needs to be emphasized again in 2025 because the Ravens gave up too many big plays. The special teams, which had been outstanding in previous years, were inconsistent at best. Harbaugh needs to improve his game day decision-making. Instead of trying to be too aggressive based on analytics, he needs to rely more on gut instincts and what is going on in the game at that time. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

As the Ravens continue to assess the fallout from their crushing playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh met with local reporters Wednesday to review the ending of a largely triumphant season and preview the road forward. Here are five things we learned. The Ravens will take their next shot at the Super Bowl with a similar team For the third time in six seasons, the Ravens had a team clearly good enough to win the Super Bowl. In each instance, they went home licking wounds from a loss created by shaky play at crucial moments. Does this pattern call for an overhaul, some splashy change to break a postseason disappointment loop that has clouded the wildly successful Lamar Jackson era? The short answer is no. The Ravens had one of the deepest, starriest rosters in the league in 2024, led by a coaching staff that schemed up historic offensive efficiency and fixed significant defensive shortcomings midway through the season. Harbaugh and DeCosta spoke as if their goal is to take another shot in 2025 with as much of that roster and staff intact as possible. They were asked about a succession of key stars — Mark Andrews, Derrick Henry, Marlon Humphrey — headed into the last year or two of their current contracts. In almost every case, Harbaugh and DeCosta spoke bullishly about moving forward with what they have, at least in the short term. Harder economic decisions might confront them after next season. They might eventually lose offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whom Harbaugh praised as a perfect blend of wise hand and innovator. (Monken is still a candidate for head coaching jobs in Las Vegas and Jacksonville.) But their hope is to enter next season with a “3.0” version of the team that captured the AFC’s No. 1 seed last year and rallied to win another AFC North title this year. “I’m disappointed. John’s disappointed. We’re all disappointed. Our team’s disappointed,” DeCosta said. “We had higher aspirations, and we didn’t achieve those aspirations and goals, but I think it was a successful season. I’ve already moved on. I’ve started watching tape: I’m immersed in college and pro scouting, talking about contracts and negotiations.” Harbaugh, too, has learned from hard experience that it’s possible to have the team you want, prepare it exactly as you want and still lose the big game. “That’s what makes it so interesting; you can’t predict anything that’s going to happen,” he said. “You can’t really afford too many negative plays, because they can make the difference. You look at our team this year and for the past 17 years, you don’t see us getting blown out. You don’t see us falling apart. You always see us fighting back. I think that’s the real measure of this team, not the narrative that you can’t do this, you can’t do that.” That’s not what a lot of fans want to hear. For them, it’s almost more painful that the Ravens are obviously good enough, and then not for four or five plays on a single, decisive night in January. But Harbaugh and DeCosta aren’t wrong. Every metric said their team was as good as any of the four that will play for a trip to the Super Bowl this weekend. They have one of the top two or three players in the world at quarterback, and he showed all the resilience and leadership you’d ever want to see as they dug out of a hole in Buffalo. The Ravens’ top decision makers aren’t lying to themselves when they say they’re a few plays away from ultimate satisfaction. And that’s how they’re going to proceed. Mark Andrews has the support of everyone in the building, but his long-term future is less certain Andrews hasn’t spoken about his fumble and drop that sealed the Ravens’ fate against the Bills. Harbaugh became the latest Raven to stand up for the three-time Pro Bowl tight end. “Nobody cares more about the success of this football team than Mark Andrews,” he said. “He made numerous plays in the game up until the plays that everyone’s talking about. And in the season. One of my messages to him was we are not where we’re at without contributions from Mark … He’s also a very tough-minded individual. So he takes it hard, because he cares so much. I loved Mark Andrews, Eric loves Mark, all of our players love Mark. Mark is a huge part of our future, and we’re there for him.” Andrews came in with Jackson, and they’ve developed a football telepathy that was evident again this season, when Andrews bounced back from ankle surgery and a scary car accident to catch a career-high 11 touchdown passes. There’s no argument that the 2025 Ravens would be better without No. 89. Ravens players and coaches were quick to defend tight end Mark Andrews after his fumble against the Bills in the AFC divisional round. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) But there is a money squeeze coming, with Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar all going into the last years of their deals. The Ravens could save $11 million this offseason by cutting the 29-year-old Andrews, which means it’s time to think about an extension or about a future with Likely, whose immense talent again shined through in the loss to Buffalo, as the team’s top tight end. “We’ll have some decisions to make going forward,” DeCosta said. “Not as many tough decisions this year, which I’m thankful for. A year from now, we’ll have some tough choices and decisions to make. … We’re blessed to have, I think, the best tight ends room in the league, and we’ll be blessed this year on the field as well.” Andrews’ playoff agony won’t factor in the Ravens’ calculations. His track record is too substantial. But for the first time, it’s possible to envision a future with him in a different uniform. The Ravens didn’t think they’d have to fix their secondary on the fly. They don’t expect a repeat in 2025. Marcus Williams was supposed to play every down of the season at safety. Asked about him Wednesday, Harbaugh and DeCosta still did not have a detailed explanation for what went wrong with a player who signed a $70 million deal going into the 2022 season. “Yeah, it was a tough season for Marcus,” Harbaugh said before praising Williams’ professionalism in the wake of his benching. DeCosta put the most positive spin possible on the situation, crediting Harbaugh, defensive coordinator Zach Orr and the rest of their staff for turning to Ar’Darius Washington when it was time to solve the problem. “It really turned our season around,” he said. He added that he “probably failed” in the other prong of his plan at safety, not recognizing that Eddie Jackson “didn’t want to accept” a reserve role. In other words, the plan — which also involved Brandon Stephens taking another step forward at cornerback — did not come together. Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens was one of the team’s defensive weak points. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Williams won’t be back. Stephens, headed for free agency, probably won’t. The Ravens will draft and sign defensive backs to supplement their core of Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Kyle Hamilton and Washington (he’s a restricted free agent, but DeCosta said he’ll be back). If they add an accomplished safety, Hamilton might go back to his 2023 role as a multi-faceted playmaker closer to the line of scrimmage. Dean Pees, who in Harbaugh’s words “reconnected us to our roots in terms of the structure of our defense,” will maintain a role as a part-time consultant to Orr. Harbaugh and DeCosta seemed confident they have figured out what ailed them and won’t cope with the same growing pains in 2025. They’re still two or three moves away from completing the picture. The offensive line might see the most change, again DeCosta steered into a youth movement last offseason, when he moved on from veterans Kevin Zeitler and Morgan Moses, opening starting spots for second-round draft pick Roger Rosengarten, converted tackle Daniel Faalele and cherished utility lineman Patrick Mekari. That overhaul went better than many expected, and we might see round two over the next several months with Mekari and Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens’ top left tackle since they drafted him in the first round in 2016, headed for unrestricted free agency. Tackle Ronnie Stanley watched a drill during practice at Ravens training camp. (Amy Davis/Staff) Stanley took less money going into 2024, betting he could stay healthy and play well enough to set himself up for a significant deal in a market that never has enough above-average starting tackles. He did his part, starting every game for the first time in his career and pass blocking at an elite level in the playoffs. The Ravens probably wouldn’t mind having Stanley back on a short, modest deal, but he’s not going to give them a massive discount, and he might have just played himself out of their price range. Rosengarten was good enough as a rookie starter at right tackle that we could envision him switching to the other side (he protected lefty Michael Penix Jr.’s blind side at Washington). The Ravens will almost certainly try to draft another potential starter at tackle. Which means that even if Stanley sticks around in 2025, a transition is afoot. DeCosta said nothing Wednesday to shoot down that notion. “We knew we’d have a few growing pains. I think we had a few, but looking back on it, I think it was absolutely the right thing to do,” he said of the change that began a year ago. “We are aware that we have some guys whose contracts are up, and we’ll look at that and certainly have some discussions with players. We’ll look at potentially bringing back our guys, we’ll look at the draft, we’ll look at free agency. We’ll overturn every rock to find as many good offensive linemen as we can.” Justin Tucker’s job is secure headed into the offseason We talked about the secondary, but Tucker’s midseason malaise was probably the crisis the Ravens least expected to confront in 2024. They’re so used to setting their watches to his greatness. By November, fans wondered if the team could afford to go into the postseason with Tucker — widely viewed as the best of all time — lining up for clutch field goals. He allayed most of those concerns by making all his field goal and extra point attempts, most of them right down the middle, after the Ravens returned from their bye week in early December. His form and swagger were vintage, and he drilled a 47-yarder in the freezing air in Buffalo. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Jayden Daniels joined Joe Flacco in NFL rookie QB lore. Can he finish the job? Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Final grades for 2024 season | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | With core expected to return, Ravens enter offseason facing ‘not as many tough decisions’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on adding another safety: ‘It would be really good for us’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ finale recap: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson goes from belief to pain Harbaugh and DeCosta were asked if they plan to bring in a younger kicker to compete with Tucker this summer. “We’ll have those discussions, but I think I have every expectation that Justin’s going to be a great kicker for us next year and moving forward,” DeCosta answered. Harbaugh went further, suggesting Tucker needed to go through struggles this year to get to the next great phase of his career. “Maybe we all saw that Justin Tucker is human. … It’s hard to be a great kicker in this league and be as consistent as he’s been, and he ran into that — this adversity — probably a lot later in his career than most of these guys do,” he said. “To pull himself out of that was going to be the test, and the fact that he went through that, pulled himself out of it … Because it was only him. Only he can do it. He’s the only one in his mind that can do that.” It was a compelling take based on what Harbaugh called a “really long, honest conversation” with his kicker. Will Tucker’s greatness be treated as a given, like it was through most of his first 12 seasons in Baltimore? No. But he has convinced the Ravens it’s not over. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The end of the Ravens’ season wasn’t even 72 hours old Wednesday morning as general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh emerged inside the team’s auditorium for another end-of-year news conference that came too soon. The sting of a painfully familiar mistake-filled defeat in the postseason — this time to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round after reaching the AFC championship game last season — still resonates. Yet, the first steps to try to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 season are already underway, and there is reason to believe Baltimore will be back on the precipice in 2025. Mostly because many of the same core elements of a team that went 12-5, won the AFC North, boasted the NFL’s top offense and put together league’s best defense over the final two months of the regular season will largely still be in place. That, of course, starts with the coach himself. With Harbaugh entering the final year of his contract, he is in line for an extension. It’s highly unlikely that owner Steve Bisciotti would make a change, and he has shown in the past that he does not like to have a lame duck situation. While Harbaugh didn’t get into specifics, something figures to be worked out soon. “I’m happy, man,” Harbaugh said when asked about his contract. “However that goes, I trust God. I trust the people I work with every day who I love, who are my friends, but more importantly, we’re on a mission together, and as long as that goes, as long as God permits that to go, I’m all about it. I’m fired up for it, and I’m not worried about those kinds of things. They take care of themselves.” There is much else for Baltimore to take care of in the offseason as well, though, after what was a “successful season,” as DeCosta called it, but also a disappointing one. “We’re all disappointed,” DeCosta said. “We had higher aspirations and we didn’t achieve those aspirations and goals, but I think it was a successful season. I’m very proud of the team, the players, the coaches, support staff, everybody, and I’ve already moved on.” That’s perhaps easier said than done for some, from fans to tight end Mark Andrews, who hasn’t spoken since a costly fourth-quarter fumble and dropped 2-point conversion attempt inside the final two minutes against the Bills that proved to be the difference in the 27-25 defeat. Plenty have come to the defense of the veteran, former All-Pro and franchise leader in career touchdowns, though. Teammates stuck up for Andrews in the hours and days after the game, with several players noting that a lifetime of achievement won’t be undone with one play. A Bills fan group even started a fundraiser for a diabetes charity Andrews supports in the wake of all the vitriol that has been directed his way. On Wednesday, Harbaugh and DeCosta both said they’ve spoken to Andrews and likewise were effusive. “One of my messages to him was we are not where we’re at throughout the course of the season or in the game without the contributions of Mark, specifically in the game and the plays that he made, spectacular plays all season and then the unsung aspect of all the blocking he did in line and on the perimeter,” Harbaugh said. “Mark Andrews is a great football player and he’s also a very tough minded individual. He takes it hard. “I love Mark Andrews, Eric loves Mark, all of our players love Mark. Mark is a huge part of our future.” That future, however, has some uncertainty to it, however, with Andrews entering the final year of his contract, which currently is slated to carry the team’s fourth-highest salary cap hit at $16.9 million. Fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are also entering the final year of their rookie deals. How Baltimore manages keeping the group remains to be seen. “We’ll have some decisions to make moving forward,” said DeCosta, who added that he preferred to keep his conversation with Andrews between the two. “Not as many tough decisions this year looking at it, which I’m thankful for, but obviously as we look out we’ll have some tough decisions after next season, so a year from now we’ll have some tough choices and decisions to make regarding players. “We’re blessed to have, in my opinion, the best tight ends room in the league and we’ll be blessed this year on the field as well.” “However that goes, I trust God. I trust the people I work with every day who I love, who are my friends,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of his contract, which expires after next season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The tight ends are just one group of players he has to worry about. The Ravens have 17 unrestricted free agents. Most notable among that group are left tackle Ronnie Stanley, left guard Patrick Mekari, All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard and cornerback Brandon Stephens. While Stanley had a resurgent season, he will turn 31 in March, has a lengthy injury history and will likely command a salary in the ballpark of $15 million a year. “We made a tough call last year to go younger and have some younger guys play, and we knew we’d have a few growing pains,” DeCosta said. “We’ll look at potentially bringing back our guys. We’ll look at the draft, we’ll look at free agency, we’ll overturn every rock to find as many good offensive linemen as we can, and I think we have some good young players on the team.” What Baltimore does will be worth watching. If the Ravens didn’t bring back Stanley, they could move right tackle Roger Rosengarten to the left side, re-sign Mekari (who would cost significantly less than Stanley) and move him to right tackle and start Andrew Vorhees at left guard. They could also draft a right tackle or find one in free agency. One player they don’t have to worry about losing on offense, of course, is running back Derrick Henry. His contract runs through next season, and in his age-30 season he still proved he has plenty left in the tank with his 1,921 rushing yards ranking second in the NFL and his 16 rushing touchdowns tying for the most in the league. Offering Henry an extension is something Baltimore will look at, DeCosta said. Either way, the Ravens won’t have the same exodus they had after last season, when they lost players and several notable coaches, including defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, and front office staff to promotions elsewhere. Their biggest concern on that front would be losing offensive coordinator Todd Monken. But with only the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars the only teams with head coach openings, it’s far from a guarantee that he will get plucked. Under Monken, quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense have thrived. Jackson was the NFL Most Valuable Player last season in Monken’s first year on the job and is in line to receive the award again this year after becoming the first player to pass for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 900 in the same season while also throwing 41 touchdown passes to just four interceptions. Harbaugh, naturally, would be more than happy to have Monken back. “I think it’s awesome and great that these coaches have gotten an opportunity over the last few years, you know, I’m kind of proud of that,” Harbaugh said. “Of course I’d love to keep them, you know, and if, if I tell him I say, you know I’m I’m rooting for you, you know I’ll and I’ll definitely tell people how great you are because you deserve it but if it doesn’t work out for you, I’m really happy that you’re staying with us and I think our players talk to a lot of our players and I know feel the same way.” One slight change, however, is that Dean Pees, who was hired as a senior adviser five games into the season to help right a struggling defense under first-year coordinator Zach Orr and then took on a full-time role the second half of the season, will take a step back in his level of involvement. “He’s interested in in continuing in some sort of a role,” Harbaugh said of the 75-year-old. “He’s at that stage of his life where it’s probably not gonna be that full-time thing.” While Pees’ hiring worked out well for a Ravens defense that was the best in the NFL the last two months of the season, not all of their moves did. Specifically, the additions of wide receiver Diontae Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson were disastrous. Both had a brief and turbulent stay. “We understood the risks and the rewards,” DeCosta said of Johnson. “We knew that it wasn’t 100% going to be a slam dunk. It didn’t work out. We always try to mitigate our risks. One of the jobs of a general manager is to mitigate your risk and look at the downside and the upside and see how it works out. In that particular situation, I really didn’t see a lot of downside. I think we understood what the downside might be — that he would be unhappy with his role, potentially.” The same was true of former Chicago Bears star Jackson, whom the Ravens cut bait with in late November for similar reasons. “Eddie, he’s a veteran player, and sometimes when you add veteran players, as a GM you’ve got to look at the player and figure out, ‘Is this player going to be happy in his role?’” DeCosta acknowledged. “Eddie was a two-time Pro Bowl safety earlier in his career, and it really comes down to probably I failed. This was a guy who didn’t really want to accept his role as a backup safety and a special teamer, and I understand that. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on adding another safety: ‘It would be really good for us’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ finale recap: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson goes from belief to pain Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2025 offseason guide: Free agency, biggest needs, notable dates and more Baltimore Ravens | Restaurant chain supports Ravens TE Mark Andrews by offering free food for life Baltimore Ravens | Bills fans start GoFundMe for charity supported by Ravens TE Mark Andrews “I think sometimes, if I’m guilty of mistakes, it’s finding value but not always considering how that player is going to handle the situation that he’s being forced into. Eddie just wasn’t happy with his role; he wanted to play football.” And now DeCosta will turn his attention elsewhere. In many ways, he already has. He said that he has started watching tape of draft-eligible players. He is “immersed” in college and pro scouting. He’s dealing with contracts and negotiations. “I think that’s one of the blessings of my job,” DeCosta said. “It’s very seasonal. I’m in now one of my most favorite seasons, which is the offseason. It’s a misnomer, because it’s my busiest time of the year, but I love being a part of the solution, and that’s what we’ll be.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

For a position group with as many twists and turns as the Ravens’ secondary, be it personnel or on-field production, there was plenty for general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh to parse through in their season-ending news conference. The Ravens brass ping-ponged answers assessing the disappointment of an early exit while looking forward to what DeCosta called his favorite time of year. The time to find answers. “I am actually, ironically, looking at a safety upstairs right now in the draft,” DeCosta said. Harbaugh, sitting to his right, turned to antagonize his boss. “You wanna tell us who that is?” he grinned. DeCosta smiled back, “No, but we’ll look at all the players and we’ll rank the board like we always do. If the best guy is a free safety at that pick then we’ll take him and we’ll be very happy.” It took 11 weeks for these Ravens to nail down a safety combination that clicked. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr settled on Ar’Darius Washington, a plucky 5-foot-8 undrafted free agent unafraid to stick his nose into oncoming traffic. He was an effective partner to All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, helping spin the defense to a league leader. Before Washington, who’s set to be a restricted free agent this summer, it was the now-jettisoned Eddie Jackson. Jackson was a training camp pickup who lasted nine games in Baltimore. DeCosta called his November release a “roster decision” and took some onus in looking past the fact that an All-Pro veteran might be vying for a role greater than backup safety and special teamer. “It was good value for us to get him the way we did,” DeCosta said. “And I think sometimes, if I’m guilty of mistakes, it’s finding value but not always considering how that player is gonna handle the situation he’s being forced into. He just wasn’t happy in his role.” Before Jackson it was Marcus Williams, whom the Ravens handed a five-year, $70 million contract in 2022 that made him the fourth-highest paid safety in football. Williams was benched by Week 8 and a healthy scratch through the final stretch of the season. Harbaugh sidestepped any direct reasoning beyond that Williams “faced a lot of adversity that kind of came with production.” The longtime coach praised the 28-year-old veteran for how he handled the situation. Should the Ravens cut Williams before June 1, they would incur a $13.446 million dead cap but create $4.623 million in cap savings, per OverTheCap. With Williams benched and Jackson out of the building, in stepped Washington to revive a wobbly back end. “Ar’Darius is a great example of a guy who got a chance and ran with it,” DeCosta said, later adding, “He’s gonna be a restricted free agent this year for us and we’re fortunate that we have him back next year.” Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington, right, performed well alongside Kyle Hamilton in 2024. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) That still leaves Baltimore thin at safety after Hamilton and Washington. It’s hard to tell what Baltimore has in Day 3 draft pick Sanoussi Kane and undrafted free agent out of the University of Maryland via River Hill High School, Beau Brade. The rookies played 22 and 11 defensive snaps, respectively. “If we can add another safety, obviously it would be really good for us,” DeCosta said. “It gives us that multiplicity on defense, the ability to do a lot of different things.” Should they bring in another safety, either in free agency or late April at the NFL Draft, it would likely come with the hope of returning Hamilton from deep safety closer to the line of scrimmage where he’s more of a “jackknife,” DeCosta called him. When asked inside the visiting locker room at Highmark Stadium after a narrow loss to Buffalo in the AFC divisional round, cornerback Marlon Humphrey said plainly, “This team is done. Obviously, there’s a message to go, but when I look at it, some guys will be here, [and] some guys won’t – who knows what.” This was after the type of performance that the veteran, who led the AFC in interceptions this season, called “a bad time to kind of revert back to some old ways,” referring to the secondary’s dead-last NFL ranking in pass defense through the first 11 weeks of the season. Humphrey is entering the final non-guaranteed year of his five-year, $97.5 million deal signed in 2020. After an injury plagued 2023, he returned to All-Pro form this season. DeCosta said, “he’s another guy that we’re very fortunate that we have on a contract next year.” Like Hamilton and Washington behind them, the Ravens could pair the All-Pro Humphrey next to ascending cornerback Nate Wiggins, who impressed with an interception and forced fumble in his rookie campaign. The Clemson product’s college playing weight was around 160 pounds. He revealed during locker room clean-out that was up to 176 or 178 this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ finale recap: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson goes from belief to pain Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2025 offseason guide: Free agency, biggest needs, notable dates and more Baltimore Ravens | Restaurant chain supports Ravens TE Mark Andrews by offering free food for life Baltimore Ravens | Bills fans start GoFundMe for charity supported by Ravens TE Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens | 6 potential targets for Ravens with 27th pick in 2025 NFL draft “He’s got a very, very bright future because he can do some things that other guys can’t do. And I think eventually, like how far he develops, is really gonna be up to him,” DeCosta said. “His future is unlimited because he can do some things that are very unusual and unique at his position and I can’t wait to see what a good offseason does for him.” Wiggins would be a natural replacement should the Ravens move on from Brandon Stephens, who will be a free agent this offseason. Pro Football Focus ranked Stephens 101 out of 118 cornerbacks with a coverage grade of 49.4. DeCosta said Wednesday that Stephens’ attitude never wavered despite a down season for the fourth-year pro. “We’ll have to see what happens with him,” DeCosta said. “He’s probably going to have a chance to test the market and see what his value is, but he’s helped us win a lot of games over the last couple of years. He’s been a big part of our success, and I’m proud of him for that.” The Ravens’ secondary won’t undergo a total reshuffle this offseason. But even for a group that started slow and took noticeable leaps to end the regular season, there’s bound to be some movement worth watching. After their 45-minute season-ending news conference, DeCosta walked off stage right. Probably to go look at that safety draft prospect. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens are back on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for the first time since the venerable series’ 2001 premiere season, this time sharing each hour with their AFC North neighbors. The eighth and final episode of this in-season look at the division debuted Tuesday night, going behind the scenes as the Ravens and superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson prepared for their season-ending playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Key Ravens scene It was the end of the Ravens’ season and of this edition of “Hard Knocks,” so the most intense drama naturally flowed from Jackson experiencing the loss in Buffalo. He could not have projected more confidence in the days leading up to his climactic meeting with Bills franchise quarterback Josh Allen, and that did not appear to change after he turned the ball over twice in the first half. “That’s me, bro,” he said on the sideline after he fired an interception in the face of pressure from Bills linebacker Matt Milano. “I seen them send a blitz. They go single-high, but [wide receiver Rashod Bateman] killed ’em so bad, so I’m like, I just throw it. I didn’t hold the safety.” In a painful twist, Jackson urged his teammates to “protect that ball, hold that ball” moments before he lost his grip on a fumble that led directly to a Buffalo touchdown. But the episode captured how Jackson was the one lifting his teammates on the sideline, making them believe he would lead a comeback, which he did. After tight end Mark Andrews fumbled to cut short a potential go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, Jackson told his most trusted target: “You have my back, I got your back.” His message did not change after Andrews dropped a pass that would have tied the game at 27 with less than two minutes left. The tight end sat by himself on the bench, head down. “It’s all of us,” Jackson told him. “We a team, bro. It ain’t just you.” He did not hide his pain and frustration, usually directed inward, in the postgame locker room. “I ain’t gonna be alright,” Jackson said. The result wasn’t what any Baltimore fan wanted, and Jackson played his part in that. At the same time, he carried himself like a guy who’s finally on the verge of dragging his team over the hump in one of these epic playoff games. Maybe next year. Other Ravens tidbits Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin made an interesting point early in the episode, saying, “I treat the Buffalo Bills as a member of the AFC North.” By that he meant that for Jackson to reach a Super Bowl, he’s going to have to get past Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, the other MVP-level quarterbacks who play outside the Ravens’ division. “Hard Knocks” stayed locked on Jackson throughout the week of preparation. “Just stay with it,” he said of his mindset in topsy-turvy playoff games. “Don’t get complacent. Don’t get out of it. Don’t let nothing mess with your mind. Don’t let up, just next play.” When coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens would be practicing inside on the Friday before the Bills game because their outdoor fields were still frozen, Jackson said: “We can’t go outside?” “We could try,” Harbaugh said. “That’s not a bad idea.” Jackson laughed off those who thought he might be daunted by freezing temperatures and snow in Buffalo. “That’s what we fixin’ to do; we fixin’ to have fun,” he said as the Ravens ran through their final workout in the less chilly air of Owings Mills. “I don’t know what they talkin’ about.” “What do you think they’re going to do defensively? What would you try to do?” Harbaugh asked. Ravens coach John Harbaugh hasn’t advanced to a Super Bowl since 2012. (Kim Hairston/Staff) “Try to bring pressure here and there, try to get us off track,” Jackson replied. “I’m ready. We’re ready.” He met with CBS announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo the day before the game. “I get mad at myself more than anybody,” he told them. “Even my mom, she could be on me, and I’m like, ‘I’m madder than you.'” Nantz compared watching Jackson to highlights of Chicago Bears great Gale Sayers he remembered from childhood. Jackson wasn’t in the mood for such frivolity. “We better win this game,” he said. Much of the rest of the episode focused on the Ravens’ plans for Allen, one of the few players in Jackson’s league at creating something out of nothing. “You can defend everything right. You can do everything right,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “And the guy still finds a way.” He counseled his pass rushers never to leave their feet. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh added that it would not be a day for freelancing. Every defender needed to stick to his part. To that end, the Ravens drilled hard on their “plaster” concept for sticking with Allen’s receivers during his inevitable scrambles. “Where are their receivers going?” Harbaugh said from the back row of a defensive meeting. “Deep. It’s vertical plaster. Where are our eyes? On our man.” Safety Kyle Hamilton explained plaster as “kind of like being white on rice.” “If we didn’t practice anything else this week, if we practiced that, it would be the most important thing,” Harbaugh said. Despite losing, the Ravens did limit Allen to one explosive pass play early in the game. The episode ended on the Ravens’ final team meeting Monday in their auditorium. Harbaugh called it a “sobering day.” At the same time, he told his players, “I hope I can remind you of that joy we had this year.” Best non-Ravens scene This was a Ravens episode but did feature a few brief scenes of the Steelers packing up and processing their resounding playoff loss in Baltimore. “Tough conversations need to be had,” edge rusher T.J. Watt said. “You can’t keep doing the same things and expecting different results. That starts with myself.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2025 offseason guide: Free agency, biggest needs, notable dates and more Baltimore Ravens | Restaurant chain supports Ravens TE Mark Andrews by offering free food for life Baltimore Ravens | Bills fans start GoFundMe for charity supported by Ravens TE Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens | 6 potential targets for Ravens with 27th pick in 2025 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens end-of-season betting notes: Trends that defined their 2024-25 season “I never, ever prepare for failure to be honest with you,” coach Mike Tomlin said of his sixth consecutive playoff loss. “It’s a waste of time. I can’t hurt too long, because then it jeopardizes what’s ahead.” Tomlin left no doubt that he’ll back in the AFC North fray with renewed enthusiasm come September. “I need this,” he told his team. “It ain’t always good, but man, it’s me. I love it even when it’s miserable.” Episode MVP Jackson was the player of the year in the AFC North, and he was the main character in the “Hard Knocks” finale. His skill and belief had the Ravens in position to chase a Super Bowl, and there was no doubt who remained the centerpiece, even as they coped with terrible, final disappointment. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

Ravens All-Pro fullback Pat Ricard believes that All-Pro quarterback and likely NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson will one day capture football’s ultimate prize. “It’s inevitable,” he said as he dumped piles of clothing into a large, black garbage bag inside Baltimore’s locker room Monday afternoon. “He’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it.” It just won’t be this year after the Ravens’ season came to a crashing and dispiriting halt in a 27-25 divisional-round loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in which Jackson threw an interception and lost a fumble and tight end Mark Andrews was stripped and dropped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion with just over 1 1/2 minutes remaining. And now that the offseason is suddenly here, the organization begins the lengthy journey all over again. General manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh will meet with the media Wednesday in Owings Mills, where plenty of questions will be asked about this year and the offseason ahead. Baltimore has made the playoffs every year but once since it drafted Jackson in 2018 (and the one year it didn’t he suffered a season-ending injury). But the Ravens have not reached a Super Bowl and have only one AFC championship game appearance in that span. With 17 unrestricted free agents, among other roster decisions and salary cap concerns, along with an expected 11 picks in this year’s draft, the work to return to the game’s biggest stage for the first time since 2013 is already under way. Here’s a look at that and more as the Ravens head into the offseason. Free agents Baltimore’s four most notable unrestricted free agents are veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley, Ricard, versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari and cornerback Brandon Stephens. Of that group, what the Ravens do with Stanley will be most intriguing. As Jackson’s blindside protector and after a rejuvenated season, it would make a lot of sense to try to bring the former All-Pro back. But Stanley will also turn 31 in March, has a long injury history and will likely command a salary around $20 million a year or more on the open market. Will a desperate team with a young quarterback that believes it’s one or two key players away from being a contender make him an offer he can’t refuse after his deal was reworked and he took a pay cut this past season? The Ravens are projected to have $17.1 million in salary cap space, though that number will shrink to about $6.5 million in effective space after signing at least 51 players and their projected rookie class, per Over The Cap. That number will grow with inevitable contract restructures and other moves, but it remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreeable arrangement after Stanley allowed just two sacks and 35 pressures on 575 pass blocking snaps. Here are the rest of Baltimore’s unrestricted free agents: Quarterback: Josh Johnson Wide receiver: Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty, Steven Sims Offensive line: Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones Defensive line: Brent Urban Linebacker: Malik Harrison, Chris Board, Kristian Welch Cornerback: Trayvon Mullen, Tre’Davious White Baltimore also has a handful of restricted, exclusive rights and street free agents: safety Ar’Darius Washington and cornerback Christian Matthew (RFA); running back Owen Wright (ERFA) and tight end Qadir Ismail (SFA). Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, right, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Coaching and staff changes Last offseason, the Ravens’ coaching staff and front office were plundered. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became the Seattle Seahawks coach, defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson took defensive coordinator jobs with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans and director of player personnel Joe Hortiz was plucked to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ general manager. There will undoubtedly be changes this year, too, but nowhere near as many. The most significant loss, of course, would be offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He has already interviewed with the Chicago Bears (who have since hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson) and Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly plan to talk to him as well. Monken, 58, is more than 10 years older than what was the average age of a head coach at the start of the 2024 season. His only experience as a head coach was also a brief stint at Southern Mississippi from 2013 to 2015. But in his second year in Baltimore he was the architect of the league’s top offense this past season with the Ravens the first team in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in the same season. Given his success at Georgia, he could be a popular choice in nearby Jacksonville, where he could perhaps be viewed as the cure to quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s ills. While neither the Jaguars nor Raiders are ideal or even well-run organizations, his chances of becoming a coach in the NFL are fleeting with each year that passes so no one would blame Monken for jumping at any opportunity. Salary cap As mentioned, Baltimore will have about $17.1 million in cap space and a little more than one-third of that in effective space. That ranks just 22nd in the league, with the New England Patriots easily leading the way with more than $112 million in effective space. Put another way, the Ravens can’t afford to be big players in the free agent market. But they almost never are, nor will they be anytime soon with Jackson’s contract chewing up $43.65 million in salary cap in 2025, though his deal could be restructured to free up at least some room. He’s also not the only big ticket player with All-Pro nickel cornerback Marlon Humphrey ($25.37 million), All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith ($23.71 million) and tight end Mark Andrews ($16.9 million) all counting significantly against the cap. With Andrews entering the final year of his deal and no more guaranteed money left on it nor on Humphrey’s, it will be worth watching how they handle those two veteran stars. Biggest needs Pass rusher: While Kyle Van Noy (12 1/2 sacks) and Odafe Oweh (10) became the first Ravens duo to rack up double-digit sacks since Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil in 2014, Baltimore ranked just 29th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN Analytics. The Bills, by comparison, were sixth. Baltimore is still strong up front with linemen Nnamdi Madubuike (6 1/2 sacks) and the young and ascending Travis Jones (1), but Van Noy will turn 34 in March and fellow outside linebacker David Ojabo hasn’t shown in his first three years that he can stay healthy and/or be a meaningful contributor. The Ravens drafted outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round last year, but his potential is unknown after a hamstring injury dating to before he was chosen by the Ravens derailed his rookie season. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had a career year, but the Ravens could still use more capable pass rushers for the 2025 season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Offensive line: With Stanley and Mekari both free agents, the Ravens could be looking to replace two starters up front after having to fill three openings last offseason. If Baltimore doesn’t bring back Stanley, it could shift Roger Rosengarten, who had a nice rookie season starting at right tackle, to the left side and then draft someone to step in on the right side. If they re-sign Mekari, they could use him at right tackle and go with Andrew Voorhees, who started the year at left guard before being replace by Mekari, or another player to fill Mekari’s vacated spot. Whatever the Ravens choose to do, they’ll undoubtedly use the draft and free agency to bolster a group that struggled early but settled in nicely once they found their starting five. Cornerback and safety: After blossoming into a dependable cornerback in 2023, Stephens took a step backwards this past season to the point where teams were targeting him. He obliged and allowed 906 yards and four touchdowns to go with a 106.1 passer rating against. Woof. The good news for Baltimore is that Nate Wiggins showed during his rookie year that he can be an every-down cornerback on the outside, and there’s still Humphrey. There’s also T.J. Tampa, whom they drafted in the fourth round last year. Still, DeCosta is fond of loading up on cornerbacks and it’s a position he will look to add to in the draft as well as free agency. Baltimore will also need to add at safety. Even if the Ravens are presumably able to keep Washington, they have an opening with the soon-to-be jettisoned Marcus Williams. Perhaps Beau Brade or Sanoussi Kane, both rookies this past year, will be contributors next season, but given Washington’s injury history and questions about everyone except Kyle Hamilton they’ll want to strengthen this group as well. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Restaurant chain supports Ravens TE Mark Andrews by offering free food for life Baltimore Ravens | Bills fans start GoFundMe for charity supported by Ravens TE Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens | 6 potential targets for Ravens with 27th pick in 2025 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens end-of-season betting notes: Trends that defined their 2024-25 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews absent as players clean out lockers after season ends Key dates Jan. 30: East-West Shrine Bowl (Arlington, Texas) Feb. 1: Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) Feb. 24-March 3: NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis) March 4: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players March 10-12: Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents March 12: The start of the new league year at 4 p.m. All 2024 player contracts expire and clubs can begin officially signing free agents and making trades. March 30-April 2: Annual league meeting (Palm Beach, Florida) April 7: Start of offseason workouts for teams with new coaches April 16: Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview, or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its club facility April 18: Last day for teams to match offer sheets for restricted free agents April 21: Start of offseason workouts for teams with incumbent coaches April 23: Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets April 23: Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls), or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location April 24-26: NFL draft (Green Bay, Wisconsin) Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

While Ravens tight end Mark Andrews dealt with online vitriol following his dropped pass on a key 2-point conversion in Sunday’s playoff loss to the Bills, there’s a contingent of Ravens fans strongly supporting the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader. Count Mezeh Mediterranean Grill among his fans. The Maryland-born restaurant chain, which has 14 locations in the state and 52 nationwide, announced Tuesday that it is offering Andrews free meals at any of its locations — for life. “As Coach Harbaugh said after last weekend’s playoff game, the Ravens wouldn’t have been there without Mark,” Saleh Mohamadi, founder and CEO of Mezeh, said in a news release. “Mark has been a fan favorite and one of the team’s most valuable players since he arrived in 2018. We love him and we’re showing it with this invitation to eat at Mezeh whenever he likes, on us. For the rest of his life.” The offer likely won’t lessen the sting of the loss for Andrews, who wasn’t available to speak to the media Sunday or Monday after the Bills loss. His otherwise stellar season — he caught a career-high 11 touchdown passes — ended on a sour note. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Bills fans start GoFundMe for charity supported by Ravens TE Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens | 6 potential targets for Ravens with 27th pick in 2025 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens end-of-season betting notes: Trends that defined their 2024-25 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews absent as players clean out lockers after season ends Baltimore Ravens | Inside the Ravens’ somber and reflective locker room clean-out Mohamadi thinks the majority of Ravens fans are more appreciative of Andrews’ career-long efforts than the three-time Pro Bowl selection may realize. “Whether you’re in the mood for a flatbread wrap, rice or salad bowl or anything else on our flavor-packed menu, we’ll be ready to show our appreciation for all you’ve done for Ravens fans over the years, Mark,” Mohamadi said. “I know our loyal guests would love to do the same. We hope you’ll take us up on our offer soon … and often!” Even Buffalo fans supported Andrews in the aftermath of Sunday’s postseason battle. A pair of Bills fans created a GoFundMe to raise money for a charity close to Andrews’ heart: Breakthrough T1D. The organization raises money to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 diabetes, which Andrews has. The page has raised more than $35,000 as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Sunday’s performance was heartbreaking for Andrews, but strangers have been quick to share support for the former All-Pro tight end. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Two Canisius University sophomores who run a Bills blog saw the endless vitriol directed toward Ravens tight end Mark Andrews online and wanted to help. Andrews’ drop on a potential game-tying 2-point conversion in Baltimore’s AFC divisional round loss has dominated discourse since late Sunday night. The ensuing death threats and one vile hashtag – an indictment on the darkest corners of sports internet fandom – sprung the college buddies into action through their webpage, The Buffalo Brief. Nicholas Howard and Ryan Patato started a GoFundMe on Monday morning with the goal raising $5,000 toward, Breakthrough T1D, raising money to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 diabetes. Andrews, who has Type 1 diabetes, supports the charity. As of Tuesday at 3 p.m., the fundraiser has topped 570 donations accumulating over $13,000. Howard and Patato started their site, The Buffalo Brief, only six months ago. It was a passion project before the start of the season as a way to create content surrounding their favorite team. Howard said this kind of response isn’t abnormal for Bills Mafia. Buffalo’s fan base also raised money when quarterback Josh Allen’s grandmother died in 2020. Howard chose his sports management major because of the Bills. He’s currently working with the Buffalo Sabres’ promotional team. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native has family in Buffalo and was sitting in the opposite end zone beside his dad for Sunday’s playoff game. Since moving to Western New York himself, he’s become fully ingratiated in the fan base. The Buffalo Brief has gotten some assistance from other dominant fan accounts online. They’ve watched the fundraiser for Andrews spread quickly, nearly tripling their original goal. “At first, it was just Bills mafia,” Howard told The Sun. “But as it grew and grew, I’ve gotten a lot of Ravens fans, Texans fans, all kinds of fans donating to the fundraiser. I’ve gotten Ravens fans hitting up our DMs on Instagram saying, ‘We love what you’re doing. We appreciate it. As much as we don’t like the Bills, we appreciate it.’ It’s very heartwarming getting those messages.” When contacted by The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, Andrews’ agent said his client was not available for comment, though he has been made aware of the GoFundMe page. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 6 potential targets for Ravens with 27th pick in 2025 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens end-of-season betting notes: Trends that defined their 2024-25 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews absent as players clean out lockers after season ends Baltimore Ravens | Inside the Ravens’ somber and reflective locker room clean-out Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season? Andrews was not made available to the media following the Bills game. He also did not appear during the hour-plus long media availability the next day at the team’s practice facility in Owings Mills, though was in attendance for exit meetings earlier on Monday. “I know he is going to be hurting for a while,” fullback Pat Ricard said. “He is going to continue to do great things. In my eyes, he’s going to be a Hall of Famer, just an all-time Ravens. I think time will heal all things.” Andrews isn’t the first Raven to experience the agony of committing such a costly gaffe. Kicker Billy Cundiff as well as wide receivers Lee Evans and Zay Flowers have all made similar mistakes when the lights were brightest. If there were a support group for athletes experiencing that kind of thing, the line would be a mile long. Even famed Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer chimed in on X, writing “Different sport, but I can relate.” Palmer recalled he didn’t pitch well in final game of the 1982 season. Palmer let up a run in each of the first three innings, including two homers, in a series-deciding loss. “Stuff happens and you move on,” Palmer added. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Another early playoff exit means another long offseason for the Ravens. After a season with Super Bowl expectations ended with a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round Sunday night, work begins to retool a roster built around star quarterback Lamar Jackson. That work, as always, will be focused on the draft. Baltimore’s class of free agents this offseason is not particularly deep, but several key contributors could be on the way out. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a pending free agent, as is fullback Patrick Ricard, offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, wide receiver Nelson Agholor, cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Tre’Davious White and linebackers Malik Harrison and Chris Board. Safety Marcus Williams, who was benched near the end of a five-year, $70 million deal he signed in March 2022, is expected to be released. Those are not huge gaps for general manager Eric DeCosta and the front office to fill, but for Baltimore to keep ascending and finally get over the hump in the postseason, an influx of young, cost-controlled talent is a must. With that in mind, here’s a first look at some potential targets for the Ravens at pick No. 27 overall when the first round begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin: Marshall edge rusher Mike Green The Ravens got a career year out of 33-year-old Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh recorded double-digit sacks for the first time and Tavius Robinson showed improvement in his second season, but there’s plenty of room for another pass rusher on this roster. Green has been a fast riser after recording a nation-leading 17 sacks this past season, displaying an explosive first step and rare bend off the edge. Though a bit undersized at 6 foot-4 and 248 pounds, he’s a strong run defender, posting a 90.1 Pro Football Focus run-defense grade to go with a stellar 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade. With 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo yet to live up to expectations and 2024 third-round selection Adisa Isaac coming off an injury-hampered rookie year, Green would be a welcome addition to coordinator Zach Orr’s defense. Other EDGE options: Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison Marlon Humphrey returned to a Pro Bowl level this season and rookie Nate Wiggins looks like a rising star, but there are plenty of questions about how the Ravens will handle their outside cornerback position this offseason after a disappointing year from Stephens. Morrison comes with some concerns after suffering a season-ending hip injury in October, but when he’s been on the field, the 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback has been a star. As a true freshman in 2022, he finished seventh nationally with six interceptions, then led Notre Dame with 10 pass breakups and ranked second with three interceptions in 2023. He had 20 tackles and four pass breakups in six starts before getting injured this year. With long arms, excellent recovery speed and good instincts, Morrison would give the Ravens a budding young tandem alongside Wiggins and allow Humphrey to maintain his standout role in the slot. Other CB options: East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr., Texas’ Jahdae Barron, Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston Oregon offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. could be a long-term solution at left tackle. (Amanda Loman/AP) Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Whether or not Stanley re-signs, the Ravens need a long-term plan at left tackle. This draft could be the best time to address it. A former five-star recruit, Conerly took his game to another level in his second season as a starter. The 6-4, 315-pound left tackle allowed just 10 pressures on 521 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, while earning a 78.0 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets. While still raw, his athleticism will have teams buying into his potential as a future star. He might very well rocket up draft boards before the Ravens have a chance to pick him. Other OT options: Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, Texas’ Cameron Williams, Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery Arizona guard-tackle Jonah Savaiinaea With the versatile and dependable Mekari hitting the open market, the Ravens could have holes to fill at both left tackle and left guard. Savaiinaea could play either spot. After lining up exclusively at right guard in 2022, the 6-5, 330-pound Savaiinaea spent time at both tackle spots over the past two seasons with the Wildcats. He took a big step forward in 2024, posting a career-high 83.4 PFF pass-blocking grade while allowing just 16 total pressures on 738 pass-blocking snaps. The question will be whether his game is better suited for the interior, where he can use his power and quickness to displace defenders. Other OT/G options: Missouri’s Armand Membou, West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum, Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor had 63 catches for 831 yards and six touchdowns this past season. (Michael Reaves/Getty) Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor If the Ravens are thinking about filling out their wide receiver room like a basketball team, Ayomanor is the type of player they’re missing. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, he’s bigger and taller than both Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers with enticing ball skills to win one-on-one matchups on the outside. Playing in a Stanford offense that was one of the worst in major college football this past season, Ayomanor still had 63 catches for 831 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked 23rd in the country with 14 contested catches, according to PFF, winning nearly half of the 50-50 balls thrown his way (48.3%). His one-handed grab against Syracuse was one of the best across the sport all season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens end-of-season betting notes: Trends that defined their 2024-25 season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews absent as players clean out lockers after season ends Baltimore Ravens | Inside the Ravens’ somber and reflective locker room clean-out Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens head home, trying to make sense of another disappointing ending The redshirt junior rose to the occasion in big moments, too. In Stanford’s comeback win over Colorado in 2023, Ayomanor finished with 13 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns – all in the second half. More impressively, seven of those catches and two of those scores came against two-way star and future Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, perhaps the top overall player in this year’s draft. Other WR options: Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Texas’ Matthew Golden, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell The loss of Patrick Queen opened the door for Trenton Simpson to step up as Roquan Smith’s running mate, but the 2023 third-round pick was eventually benched in favor of a combination of Harrison and Board. With both of those players hitting free agency, there might be a desire for an upgrade at inside linebacker. With his size, speed and ability to rush the passer, Campbell might be a perfect fit in Baltimore. The 6-3, 245-pound linebacker led the Crimson Tide in tackles (117), tackles for loss (11 1/2), sacks (5) and forced fumbles (2) while recording an interception and two pass breakups. If he improves in coverage, Campbell could help the defense take another step forward in Year 2 under Orr. Other LB options: Georgia’s Jalon Walker, UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens’ season came to a disappointing end Sunday, as they fell to the Buffalo Bills, 27-25. The playoff loss featured significant heartbreak, as the usually reliable Mark Andrews fumbled and dropped a 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. Baltimore fans and star quarterback Lamar Jackson won’t be pleased with the final outcome, as anything short of a Super Bowl is largely considered a failure for a team with an NFL Most Valuable Player-caliber quarterback. As the Ravens regroup after a devastating playoff exit, let’s take a glance at a few betting stats that help explain the Ravens’ many successes and painful failures: Two losses as a big favorite While Andrews and others will receive blame for Sunday’s loss to the Bills, the Ravens should be kicking themselves for September and October mistakes. Baltimore was an 8 1/2-point home favorite in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Ravens held a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Baltimore squandered the game by giving up 13 straight points, eventually losing by a field goal in its home opener. On Oct. 27, the Ravens visited the Cleveland Browns and struggled to slow down Jameis Winston. A 29-24 loss was easily avoidable, especially with Baltimore opening the game as a 7-point favorite against a lowly opponent. Losing two games as a touchdown favorite might not seem correlated to Baltimore’s AFC divisional round loss, but the Ravens finished one game behind the Bills in the AFC standings despite a head-to-head victory. Even if Buffalo won in Week 18 in an alternate universe — the Bills lost to the subpar Patriots when resting many of their best players — the Ravens could have secured the AFC’s No. 2 seed and home-field advantage against the Bills simply by avoiding sloppy losses to the Browns and Raiders. Those teams went 7-27 this year. The Bills are now 10-0 at home this season and 5-4 on the road, including a 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 4. Speaking of alternate realities, playing in Baltimore could have been the difference between a playoff win or loss. Buffalo and Kansas City both went undefeated this season when favored by a touchdown or more. Baltimore’s two losses when favored by at least a touchdown are more than the Bills, Chiefs, Commanders and Eagles have combined (one) this season. The NFL’s best typically handle teams competing for draft positioning. Favored in 18 games This won’t calm the frustrations of Ravens fans, but betting oddsmakers loved Baltimore. The Ravens were favored in every game this season, except when it was about a field-goal underdog in Week 1 against the Chiefs. Power ratings and advanced analytics, including DVOA, considered the Ravens the best team in the NFL by season’s end. FanDuel’s hypothetical odds available before Sunday’s game with the Bills had the Ravens as a road favorite against the Chiefs in the AFC championship game, had they advanced. If Baltimore had advanced to the Super Bowl, it would’ve been favored to beat either the Eagles or the Commanders. The Ravens, on paper, were as dangerous as any team in the NFL. Turnovers were the team’s undoing in the postseason, as Baltimore coughed the ball up three times in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. The betting markets and power rankings didn’t account for Jackson and Andrews faltering in key moments after nearly flawless seasons. That’s why they play the games. 13 regular-season overs Of Baltimore’s 17 regular-season games, 13 went over the projected point total. The stat speaks to both the Ravens’ historic offense and the defense’s struggles through Week 10. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews absent as players clean out lockers after season ends Baltimore Ravens | Inside the Ravens’ somber and reflective locker room clean-out Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens head home, trying to make sense of another disappointing ending Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 27-25 postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 3,000 in the same season. The duo of Jackson and running back Derrick Henry delivered on preseason hype, as Jackson is on the verge of winning his third NFL MVP Award and Henry nearly topped 2,000 rushing yards in the regular season. Defensively, the Ravens improved dramatically in the final weeks of the season. Before those improvements, Ravens games were a treat to watch for unbiased observers — and over bettors. Baltimore battled the Commanders to a 30-23 win, outdueled the Buccaneers, 41-31, on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” and won a pair of shootouts (41-38 and 35-34) over the Bengals. All four of those scoring bonanzas occurred before Thanksgiving. For fans of offense, the Ravens were must-watch TV. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article