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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Jones convened the staff of her Canton spa in early January for a refresher meeting about their protocol for responding to inappropriate behavior from clients during massage sessions. They talked about ways to protect themselves and how to ask for help when in uncomfortable situations. “Being in this industry … you have to have that type of protocol, no matter what,” said Jones, who holds such meetings periodically. Jones is the general manager of Even Keel Wellness spa, which she said has no ties to the recent public allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior made by at least nine massage therapists against Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. Six massage therapists from five high-end spas accused the Ravens kicker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments” between 2012 and 2016, The Baltimore Banner reported last month. Three more therapists came forward after the initial report, accusing Tucker of similar inappropriate behavior in interviews with The Baltimore Sun and The Banner. In a statement posted on X after the initial report, Tucker called the allegations “unequivocally false.” His attorneys also told The Banner it was “not news” that his genitals might have been exposed during massage sessions. In a statement to The Sun on Wednesday, the attorneys clarified that the “not news” comment “did not refer to the accounts from the sources themselves or to an allegation of repeated intentional exposure” but instead to the “reasonable conclusion that accidental exposure” is possible during more than 10 years of therapy sessions. They also provided a separate statement to The Sun Wednesday on Tucker’s behalf. “I absolutely respect the profession and more so the individuals who work as massage therapists,” Tucker’s statement said. “I recognize the importance of professional bodywork, especially as a professional athlete. By investing my time and resources over many years to restorative bodywork during the times when I’m most active as a football player, I have experienced the health and athletic performance benefits. Physical therapy and massage therapy are [a] large part of why I’ve been consistently healthy and available during the football season. I abhor mistreatment of any kind and in no way condone the victimization of this profession. Massage therapists deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment and should never have to tolerate misconduct of any kind.” No criminal or civil actions had been filed against Tucker as of Wednesday, according to Maryland case search. In interviews with The Sun, Baltimore-area spa owners and massage therapists pushed back against the notion that any level of genitalia exposure is a given in their industry, which they said is too often the victim of a hyper-sexualized stigma that is damaging to the integrity of the profession and the safety of its workers. “People question you about, ‘Oh, how many times have people come on to you?’ Like, can we be done with this?” Michelle Krause, a licensed massage therapist in Severna Park, told The Sun. Massage therapy as a practice in holistic healing methods has been around for over 5,000 years. Its current form as a licensed profession in 45 states began in Ohio in 1916, according to massageschoolnotes.com. Maryland enacted licensing requirements in 1996 — one of 17 states to take that step in the 1990s. The profession, rooted in healing by physical touch, has long been dogged by a perception that sexual behavior is welcomed within a massage room. Krause, who has worked in the industry for two decades and has no connection to Tucker, referenced a suggestive massage therapy episode of the sitcom “Friends” as well as cavalier usage of the outdated term “masseuse” — which she heard on the radio last week — as frustrating data points in massage therapists’ struggle to rid assumptions of sexual activity. At Even Keel, if a client acts inappropriately in a room, the therapists are trained to immediately terminate the service, find either Jones or the receptionist, and remove themselves to the opposite end of the building. Police are then contacted and the client is removed and banned. For Krause, who works at Vital Fitness Holistic Center in Anne Arundel County, video calls with clients to discuss expectations as well as a form of prepayment are nonnegotiable. Allegations against Tucker aren’t the first against NFL stars. Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was the subject of a 2021 lawsuit for sexual misconduct during massage sessions that resulted in an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine. In 2019, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pleaded not guilty to charges of solicitation as part of an investigation into possible prostitution at a Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor. Watson settled his nearly two dozen civil lawsuits in 2022 while Kraft issued a public apology and charges were eventually dropped. When such stories go public, it perpetuates the stigma. “Massage therapists are dedicated healthcare professionals who uphold high standards of ethics, training, and client care,” the American Massage Therapy Association said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “Their role in promoting health and wellness should never be overshadowed by the misconduct of individuals who violate professional boundaries.” It’s a delicate conversation and one that many Baltimore-area spas didn’t feel comfortable having for publication. But one employee said the mere mention of working in massage therapy is often met by a side eye or wisecrack that they’re quick to shut down. Another admitted calls looking for sexual favors come in frequently. Jones said that most of those calls from people with “nefarious tendencies” looking for “illegal spa services” won’t make it past the request for identification information. Krause said she’s aware of multiple illegitimate massage spas in Maryland that are owned by therapists who are not properly certified under state law and operated as fronts for prostitution. As recently as 2020, arrests have been made in Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. Folks who take extensive training for proper licensing in the $21.6 billion industry can be left feeling delegitimized in the public eye. The AMTA pointed out several state and national requirements: hundreds of anatomy, physiology and hands-on training, complemented by licensing exams and board certifications. With all that in a massage therapist’s back pocket, it’s discomfiting to be demeaned by clientele. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Justin Tucker accusers face legal headwinds, but it’s important they came forward, experts say Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker faces more allegations of inappropriate conduct Baltimore Ravens | If Ravens decide to release Justin Tucker, here’s when they might do it Baltimore Ravens | How might the NFL handle allegations against Ravens kicker Justin Tucker? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens kicker Justin Tucker denies allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ at high-end spas A survey of 1,200 massage therapists in 2018, shared by The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, found that nearly two-thirds of massage therapists have experienced unwanted sexual advances from clients. “By recognizing the expertise and integrity of licensed massage therapists,” the AMTA said, “we can continue to support a profession committed to healing, wellness, and ethical practice.” The flip side of such allegations, feeding the stereotype that massage spas are fronts for prostitution and sex trafficking, is that all professional athletes use their celebrity and wealth in inappropriate ways, which also isn’t true. Krause spoke glowingly of a former Raven who she treated years ago. He showed up to an introductory call explaining his neck issues in good faith. “That’s why I brought him in,” Krause said. “He was legitimately searching [for help]. He wasn’t going, ‘Hey, I’m having inner thigh issues.’ Or ‘do you do draping?’” Krause kept circling back to the lack of accountability with such high-profile allegations, noting that a negative response in the court of public opinion isn’t justice (sexual impropriety allegations are difficult to address in court). After allegations against Watson, Krause gave a state-of-the-profession interview to The Associated Press. She recently wondered, “What ever happened to that guy?” and was floored to learn Cleveland made him the highest-paid player in NFL history when Krause said she knows women who have lost their jobs after reporting misconduct. “I don’t believe there are that many people in the world that are doing it,” she said. “We do publicize the negative a lot because the news is going to put out dirty laundry. But somehow the massage therapist ends up being the dirty laundry.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

When the 2025 NFL draft begins in late April in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Ravens will be busy. With 11 projected selections, including four compensatory picks, Baltimore has a treasure trove of assets to fill out a roster that has relatively few holes. It’s a big reason Lamar Jackson and company are among the early betting favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl. But how will they spend those picks? Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator and taking into consideration Baltimore’s needs, here’s a look at how it could all shake out: Note: The order of draft picks past the first round is unofficial until the league finalizes compensatory selections. TRADE: Ravens trade pick Nos. 27 overall (first round) and 245 (seventh round) to New York Giants for pick Nos. 34 (second round), 155 (fifth round) and 2026 fourth-round selection In this mock scenario, quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders went off the board with the first two picks, leaving the Giants to take two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 3 overall. Desperate to leave the first round with a new signal-caller (and the valuable fifth-year option that comes with it), New York finds a willing trade partner in Baltimore to move up seven spots and select Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart. On the Fitzgerald-Spielberger trade value chart, which assigns each pick a number value based on the expected performance of that selection, this move is an overpay for the Giants but still plausible considering New York’s strong desire for a quarterback and the pressure on general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll to keep their jobs. For the Ravens, picking up a few extra picks and dropping into the second round of a draft lacking blue-chip talent at the top makes sense, too. Also considered: Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr., Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas CB Jahdae Barron Round 2, No. 34 overall: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina With Brandon Stephens entering free agency coming off a disappointing season, the Ravens are likely to be in the market for a new starting cornerback. They get a relative discount here in Revel, who was expected to become a first-round pick before he tore his ACL in September. Assuming good health, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Revel has the size, speed and physicality to form an enviable young duo on the outside alongside 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins while veteran Marlon Humphrey continues to man the slot. The Ravens would be taking a risk considering the lingering questions about Revel’s knee, but it could pay off handsomely given what the 22-year-old has shown on tape when healthy. Also considered: Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Notre Dame S Xavier Watts, Alabama LB/EDGE Jihaad Campbell Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson could fill in at left tackle or left guard. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) Round 2, No. 59: Donovan Jackson, OT/G, Ohio State Ronnie Stanley’s bounce-back season probably pushed him out of Baltimore’s price range, opening the door for a new left tackle. With Patrick Mekari also entering free agency, the Ravens might need to find a new left guard, too. The versatile Jackson could step in at either position after playing two seasons at left guard and filling in at left tackle for the national champion Buckeyes when potential first-round pick Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury. The 6-4, 320-pound Jackson struggled in his first start against Penn State star Abdul Carter but quickly became one of the linchpins of Ohio State’s championship run with his stellar play down the stretch. Also considered: Texas OT/G Cameron Williams, Toledo DT Darius Alexander, Utah State WR Jalen Royals Round 3, No. 91: Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville As the Philadelphia Eagles showed in their dominant Super Bowl victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, you can never have too many pass rushers. While Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are coming off career seasons, they are far from superstars, and the Ravens don’t have a lot of promising depth behind them. The 6-3, 275-pound Gillotte recorded 25 1/2 sacks and 39 1/2 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Cardinals, following up an All-American junior season with perhaps an even stronger senior campaign. He posted a staggering 20.9% pass-rush win rate in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, and recorded 60 pressures while lining up both inside and outside the tackles. The Ravens could use that kind of punch up front. Also considered: Georgia G Tate Ratledge, Alabama EDGE Quandarrius Robinson, Maryland DT Jordan Phillips Virginia Tech defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles is undersized but explosive. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot) Round 4, No. 127: Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech Listed at 6-1 and 290 pounds, Peebles doesn’t have the size you’d expect for a standout interior lineman. But his explosiveness and natural power make him an intriguing prospect. Peebles recorded the sixth-most pressures in the country among interior defensive lineman last season (37) and backed that up with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. With Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones playing most of the snaps inside, Peebles could be a valuable addition as a situational pass rusher while he grows into an expanded role. Also considered: UCLA EDGE/LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, UConn OT Chase Lundt, Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr. TRADE: Ravens trade pick Nos. 135 (fourth round; compensatory) and 183 (sixth round; via Carolina) to Los Angeles Rams for wide receiver Cooper Kupp For Jackson and the Ravens to finally break through and win the Super Bowl, it’s time to get aggressive. The salary-cap math is tricky, and the Ravens might believe that giving up two mid-round picks for a 31-year-old wide receiver is too expensive, but it’s fun to think about what Kupp would look like playing a secondary role in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. While Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely are under contract, Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace are entering free agency and tight end Mark Andrews could be on his way out in a cost-cutting move. Kupp is no longer a triple-crown threat, but he’s still a productive receiver and relentless blocker who could thrive in the Ravens’ ecosystem. Baltimore reportedly wanted to take him in the 2017 draft before the Rams swooped in. If Los Angeles is willing to pay a large portion of Kupp’s remaining contract — $29.7 million and $27.3 million due in 2025 and 2026, respectively — this trade would make sense for both sides. Round 5, No. 155 (via NY Giants): Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State There’s a chance that pending free agents Malik Harrison and Chris Board both return to the Ravens after stepping into bigger roles next to All-Pro Roquan Smith. Trenton Simpson, a 2023 third-round pick, still has potential despite being benched. But the Ravens should be thinking long-term with Smith entering his age-28 season. The 6-2, 235-pound Simon was one of the leaders of the nation’s top defense, recording a team-high 112 tackles along with seven sacks and 12 1/2 tackles for loss in his fifth season. His experience and athleticism should help him acclimate quickly to the next level. Also considered: Ohio State CB Denzel Burke, Western Kentucky S Upton Stout, Penn State LB Kobe King Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers could be a valuable insurance policy. (AP Photo/Annie Rice) Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory): Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech Andrews, Likely and Charlie Kolar are all under contract for just one more season. While it’s certainly possible that all three remain in Baltimore beyond 2025, the Ravens need to plan ahead at such a crucial position in their offense. After stops at Oklahoma and Arizona State, the 6-4, 265-pound Conyers recorded 29 catches for 308 yards and five touchdowns for the Red Raiders in 2024. He also lined up in Wildcat packages, throwing a touchdown pass and rushing for 28 yards and a score, while his run-blocking grades ranked first in the Big 12 among all tight ends and wide receivers. Also considered: LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson, Georgia Tech DT Zeek Biggers, Oregon OT Ajani Cornelius Round 6, No. 203: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon With Tre’Davious White and Trayvon Mullen hitting free agency, Jalyn Armour-Davis struggling to stay healthy and T.J. Tampa coming off an injury-hampered rookie season, the Ravens probably need to bolster their depth at cornerback. Given his pedigree, there’s a decent chance that Muhammad is off the board well before the Ravens make this selection. Although undersized at 5-10 and 183 pounds, the transfer from Oklahoma State and Washington is an aggressive playmaker with a nose for the ball. He could spell Humphrey in the slot on occasion and play a similar role that Arthur Maulet once thrived in with the Ravens. Also considered: Maryland WR Tai Felton, Boston College DT Cam Horsley, Clemson S R.J. Mickens Round 6, No. 209 (compensatory): Logan Brown, OT, Kansas The Ravens have invested a lot of draft picks on interior offensive linemen in recent years, but 2024 second-round pick Roger Rosengarten was their first hit at tackle since taking Orlando Brown Jr. in 2018. This draft offers an opportunity to restock the cupboard. The 6-6, 315-pound Brown is a former five-star recruit who put together his best season with the Jayhawks after four seasons at Wisconsin. With his size and movement skills, he’d be a worthwhile developmental prospect. It’s worth noting that while he’s a Type-1 diabetic — like Andrews — Brown said at the Senior Bowl that it’s under control because of his diet and routine. Also considered: Syracuse EDGE Fadil Diggs, Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler, Eastern Washington WR Efton Chism III Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., a former Mount Saint Joseph star, would give the Ravens a vertical threat. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Round 6, No. 213 (compensatory): Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee Excluding the proposed trade for Kupp, the only wide receivers under contract for next season are Flowers, Bateman, 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, veteran Anthony Miller and undrafted free agent Dayton Wade. That leaves room for some competition. The 6-5, 214-pound Thornton is plenty familiar with Baltimore after a standout high school career at Mount Saint Joseph, where he became a four-star recruit and a top-100 player. In two seasons at Oregon and two with the Volunteers, the speedy Thornton was a big-play threat, averaging 21.9 yards per reception. He could challenge Walker to be that outside X receiver who takes the top off the defense. Also considered: Florida DT Cam Jackson, Georgia LB Smael Mondon Jr., Florida State CB Fentrell Cypress II 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

Justin Tucker remains the Ravens’ kicker. Whether it stays that way after at least nine therapists from five Baltimore area spas and wellness centers accused him of inappropriate behavior between 2012 and 2016 remains to be seen, though there’s been no indication to the contrary so far. But if Baltimore were to release the most accurate kicker in NFL history, five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection, what would that mean for its special teams going forward and how would the Ravens replace him? There are a few different paths they could take if they ultimately part ways with the 35-year-old and their only kicker since 2012. Draft a kicker Whether the Ravens move on from Tucker this year or sometime beyond that, it would be a surprise if they found his replacement through the NFL draft. For one, it’s the one position Baltimore has never utilized a draft pick on in the 29-year existence of the franchise. The Ravens aren’t alone in that non-pursuit, either, with only three kickers drafted each of the past two years. In 2022 and 2021, only one kicker was chosen each year, and you have to go back to 2012 to find the last time that as many as four kickers were drafted. Put another way, teams rarely use a pick on kickers and it’s been that way since the early 1990s. Baltimore did, however, use a fourth-round pick in 2022 on punter Jordan Stout. He hasn’t attempted a field goal for the Ravens, though he did convert 16 of 23 attempts his senior year at Penn State. Over the past 10 years, only 21 kickers have been drafted with perhaps the best of them being the Cincinnati Bengals’ Evan McPherson, who was taken in the fifth round in 2021. Undrafted free agent For all of Tucker’s success on the field, he was not drafted by the Ravens. Instead, they did what most teams do and waited until after the draft to sign him when Tucker was not among the four kickers (Randy Bullock, Greg Zuerlein, Blair Walsh and John Potter) who were selected in 2012. Of that group, only Zuerlein was still kicking in the league last year, with Potter having the shortest career at just nine games over two seasons. A college career also isn’t necessarily indicative of what an NFL career will be. While at Texas, Tucker made 83.3% of his kicks, which ranked third-best in school history. He also knocked in the game-winning field goal against rival Texas A&M in 2011 as time expired. But he did not earn an invite to the East-West Shrine Game, Senior Bowl or NFL scouting combine. His arrival in Baltimore was also somewhat fortuitous. In January 2011, the Ravens signed Billy Cundiff to a five-year, $15 million deal following a Pro Bowl season. But a year later, he missed a 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the AFC championship that would have tied the game against the New England Patriots. A month after the draft in 2012, Tucker signed with the Ravens and won the job in preseason, spelling the end of Cundiff’s three seasons in Baltimore. Could the same fate ultimately await Tucker? Before the accusations emerged, there was no plan to move on from him, even as he had easily his worst season at 73.3% of his kicks made. “He finished the season strong,” general manager Eric DeCosta said at the team’s end-of-season news conference. “We’ll have those discussions [about bringing in a kicker to compete], but I think I have every expectation that Justin’s going to be a great kicker for us next year and moving forward.” Packers kicker Brandon McManus is a possible free agent addition for the Ravens. (Matt Slocum/AP) Free agency Going the free agent route to find a kicker provides something drafting one does not: familiarity. The market is small, however. This offseason, there are only 10 kickers currently scheduled to be unrestricted free agents, along with two more exclusive rights free agents and one restricted free agent. Still, there are some reliable names among the unrestricted group, though they are more Band-Aids than long-term investments. Despite turning 40 in November, Nick Folk made 21 of his 22 attempts, including all six from 50 yards and beyond, for the Tennessee Titans. The Green Bay Packers’ Brandon McManus, 33, was right behind him, knocking in 20 of 21 tries, including all three from 50 and beyond. And Austin Seibert was performing well, making 27 of 30 kicks for the Washington Commanders, before a hip injury sidelined him in late November. Trade Another rarity is teams trading for a kicker. It happens, but not often and for not much. Last season, for example, Cade York was the lone kicker to be dealt, when the Browns shipped him to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a 2025 conditional seventh-round draft pick. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Way-too-early 2025 NFL power rankings: Ravens still among the elite Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Which Oriole would benefit most from a standout spring training? Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens are among the betting favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens | Justin Tucker accusers face legal headwinds, but it’s important they came forward, experts say Baltimore Ravens | Josh Allen’s NFL MVP win over Lamar Jackson stirs debate: ‘He was robbed’ In the 2023 offseason and preseason, a handful of kickers were dealt but all involved future seventh-round picks. The most notable names moved were Folk, who went from the New England Patriots to the Titans, and Dustin Hopkins, whom the Browns got from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2025 seventh-rounder. The Ravens also traded a kicker in recent years. In 2018, they signed Norwegian punter Kaare Vedvik as an extra leg for training camp, where he showed off powerful field goal kicking skills as well. But Vedvik was assaulted before the start of the season, spent the year on injured reserve and eventually traded the following summer to the Minnesota Vikings for a fifth-round pick. That pick ended up being defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

With the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, the 2024 NFL season is officially over. Now it’s time to turn the page to 2025. But before we even get to the draft and free agency, here’s a way-too-early look at where all 32 teams stack up entering next season. Regular-season unit rankings (by FTN Fantasy’s DVOA), notable pending unrestricted free agents and projected draft picks (via Tankathon) are included. 1. Philadelphia Eagles How 2024 ended: 14-3, Super Bowl champion Unit rankings: No. 13 offense, No. 1 defense Notable free agents: LB Zack Baun, G Mekhi Becton, EDGE Josh Sweat, DT Milton Williams, EDGE Brandon Graham, RB Kenneth Gainwell Draft picks: Nos. 32, 64, 96, 129, 162, 166, 169 The Eagles left little doubt that they’re the best team in the league with a dominant Super Bowl victory over the two-time defending champs. With Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown returning on offense and Vic Fangio remaining as defensive coordinator to lead a unit that just embarrassed Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, there’s a good chance that Philadelphia hoists the Lombardi Trophy again next year. Baun, Becton, Sweat and Williams might have become too expensive to keep after their respective performances this season, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for a team that consistently finds talented players in the draft and free agency. This could be the beginning of a new dynasty. 2. Ravens How 2024 ended: 12-5 regular season, AFC divisional round loss Unit rankings: No. 1 offense, No. 6 defense Notable free agents: LT Ronnie Stanley, OL Patrick Mekari, CB Brandon Stephens, FB Patrick Ricard, WR Nelson Agholor, CB Tre’Davious White, LB Malik Harrison Draft picks (projected compensatory selections marked with *): Nos. 27, 59, 91, 128, 136*, 176*, 178*, 185, 205, 213*, 245 Maybe 2025 is finally the year that Lamar Jackson and company win that elusive title. With relatively few holes to fill on the roster, the return of running back Derrick Henry and the retention of coordinators Todd Monken and Zach Orr, the Ravens should once again be in Super Bowl contention behind their MVP-caliber quarterback. How aggressive they are this offseason when it comes to seeking upgrades (perhaps trading for a wide receiver like Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel or DK Metcalf or a pass rusher like Jadeveon Clowney) and retaining expensive veterans (such as cornerback Marlon Humphrey and tight end Mark Andrews) will ultimately determine Baltimore’s ceiling. But as long as the Ravens keep putting a solid roster around him, it seems like only a matter of time before Jackson gets over the hump in the postseason. 3. Kansas City Chiefs How 2024 ended: 15-2, Super Bowl loss Unit rankings: No. 8 offense, No. 12 defense Notable free agents: G Trey Smith, S Justin Reid, LB Nick Bolton, WR Marquise Brown, WR DeAndre Hopkins, RB Kareem Hunt, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, EDGE Charles Omenihu, DT Tershawn Wharton Draft picks: Nos. 31, 63, 66, 95, 132, 256 With dreams of the NFL’s first three-peat crushed pretty much by halftime Sunday, the Chiefs will have a long offseason to stew over delivering their worst performance of the season at the worst possible time. With several key contributors entering free agency and tight end Travis Kelce undecided about returning, Kansas City’s roster could look much different next year. Mahomes and Reid will enter every season as championship contenders as long as they’re together, but this is the first time since a 31-9 loss to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 that the Chiefs face questions about how they’ll bounce back, especially on the offensive line. MVP quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills have to find a way to beat Kansas City in the postseason. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) 4. Buffalo Bills How 2024 ended: 13-4, AFC championship game loss Unit rankings: No. 2 offense, No. 11 defense Notable free agents: WR Amari Cooper, CB Rasul Douglas, S Damar Hamlin, DT Austin Johnson, WR Mack Hollins, FB Reggie Gilliam, RB Ty Johnson Draft picks: Nos. 30, 56, 62, 108, 131, 171*, 175*, 179, 206, 208 What will the next iteration of the Bills look like after yet another playoff defeat against Kansas City? Von Miller could be a salary cap casualty after a relatively disappointing stint in Buffalo, opening the door for more pass rush help, while the search continues for another playmaker to complement reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen and running back James Cook. It might be time for the Bills to make another big swing (Myles Garrett? Cooper Kupp? Deebo Samuel?) to try and vanquish the rival Chiefs. 5. Detroit Lions How 2024 ended: 15-2, NFC divisional round loss Unit rankings: No. 3 offense, No. 5 defense Notable free agents: G Kevin Zeitler, CB Carlton Davis, EDGE Marcus Davenport, DT Levi Onwuzurike, WR Tim Patrick, OT Dan Skipper, CB Emmanuel Moseley, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu Draft picks: Nos. 28, 60, 101*, 132, 198, 227, 230, 246 With the return of star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and better health next season, the young and talented Lions are expected to once again compete for a Super Bowl title. But after losing coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching opportunities, it might be a bumpy ride. There’s also some added anxiety about whether quarterback Jared Goff is the long-term answer after a disappointing postseason performance. Keeping the team on track and in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed again will be coach Dan Campell’s toughest test yet. 6. San Francisco 49ers How 2024 ended: 6-11 Unit rankings: No. 9 offense, No. 13 defense Notable free agents: DT Javon Hargrave, CB Charvarius Ward, LB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga, CB Isaac Yiadom Draft picks: Nos. 11, 43, 75, 99*, 112, 138*, 139*, 189, 228, 232, 255* Brock Purdy has cemented himself as the quarterback of the future. The only question is how much he’s worth. While an extension appears likely, the 49ers can wait another year if they want to make some win-now moves while Purdy is still cheap. Left tackle Trent Williams and tight end George Kittle aren’t getting any younger, but there’s still plenty of talent in the building led by a coach in Kyle Shanahan who has a proven track record of success. The return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator should help stabilize that unit, too. The future looks bright for the Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels. (Seth Wenig/AP) 7. Washington Commanders How 2024 ended: 12-5, NFC championship game loss Unit rankings: No. 6 offense, No. 23 defense Notable free agents: LB Bobby Wagner, S Jeremy Chinn, TE Zach Ertz, CB Benjamin St-Juste, CB Noah Igbinoghene, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., WR Olamide Zaccheaus, WR Dyami Brown, WR Noah Brown, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, P Tress Way, K Zane Gonzalez, QB Marcus Mariota Draft picks: Nos. 29, 61, 79, 148, 207, 238, 249 Led by the selection of star quarterback Jayden Daniels and some shroud veteran signings, the Commanders have nailed the rebuild under coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. But a lot of those veterans are hitting the open market again, creating some holes across the roster. Keeping offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for another year should help Daniels thrive, though it’s clear that the Offensive Rookie of the Year needs some help along the offensive line and at wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. This offseason will be just as important as last year’s in shaping the direction of the franchise. 8. Green Bay Packers How 2024 ended: 11-6, NFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 4 offense, No. 7 defense Notable free agents: C Josh Myers, RB A.J. Dillon, CB Eric Stokes, LB Isaiah McDuffie, LB Eric Wilson, K Brandon McManus Draft picks: Nos. 23, 54, 87, 123, 160, 200, 239, 251* The Packers have been consistently good under coach Matt LaFleur, who is still seeking a postseason breakthrough. GM Brian Gutekunst has put together some strong drafts over the years to fill out a talented young roster, but Green Bay has routinely failed to find a true difference-maker in the first round and will be without Christian Watson (torn ACL) for most of the season. Perhaps an aggressive trade (Garrett? Maxx Crosby?) or a splashy free agent signing (Tee Higgins? Chris Godwin?) could help the offense take the next step behind quarterback Jordan Love or help secure an impact pass rusher they’ve long been seeking. 9. Minnesota Vikings How 2024 ended: 14-3, NFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 15 offense, No. 2 defense Notable free agents: QB Sam Darnold, LT Cam Robinson, CB Byron Murphy, S Cam Bynum, S Harrison Smith, CB Stephon Gilmore, RB Aaron Jones, QB Daniel Jones, G Dalton Risner, CB Shaquill Griffin, EDGE Patrick Jones II Draft picks: Nos. 24, 97*, 140, 161 A dream season for quarterback Sam Darnold ended with two poor performances, perhaps signaling that the Vikings should pivot to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. Whoever ends up under center will have a strong supporting cast, led by one of the top wide receiver duos in the league in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and reigning Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell. Brian Flores remains the defensive coordinator, which is crucial for a unit that faces a lot of turnover and could use an infusion of young talent. 10. Los Angeles Rams How 2024 ended: 10-7, NFC divisional round loss Unit rankings: No. 10 offense, No. 26 defense Notable free agents: LT Alaric Jackson, WR Demarcus Robinson, LT Joseph Noteboom, EDGE Michael Hoecht, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, WR Tutu Atwell, DT Bobby Brown III, LB Christian Rozeboom Draft picks: Nos. 26, 90, 100*, 126, 203, 204 All signs point to quarterback Matthew Stafford returning next season, but wide receiver Cooper Kupp is likely on his way out. That would put even more pressure on Puka Nacua to stay healthy after showing flashes of brilliance in his first two injury-hampered seasons. Chris Shula has helped build an ascending defense and a healthy Stafford with coach Sean McVay is always a threat, but the Rams have to once again thread the needle in the draft and free agency to keep this roster in Super Bowl contention. The Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow will seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season. (Jeff Dean/AP) 11. Cincinnati Bengals How 2024 ended: 9-8 Unit rankings: No. 5 offense, No. 27 defense Notable free agents: WR Tee Higgins, DT B.J. Hill, CB Mike Hilton, RT Trent Brown, EDGE Joseph Ossai, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, TE Mike Gesicki, RB Khalil Herbert Draft picks: Nos. 17, 49, 81, 118, 154, 195 It can’t get any worse than last year, right? The Bengals are counting on new defensive coordinator Al Golden to help transform a unit that held back one of the best offenses in the league. But even the offense has question marks, most notably in the form of Tee Higgins’ looming free agency. While Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are good enough to keep Cincinnati in the playoff hunt every year, there’s plenty of work to do this offseason and beyond to build a more complete team around them. 12. Denver Broncos How 2024 ended: 10-7, AFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 16 offense, No. 4 defense Notable free agents: DT D.J. Jones, RB Javonte Williams, LB Cody Barton, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, LB Justin Strnad, FB Michael Burton Draft picks: Nos. 20, 51, 85, 121, 193, 199, 209 Coach Sean Payton reminded everyone why the Broncos traded for him in the first place, helping quarterback Bo Nix put together a solid rookie season and pushing Denver back into the playoffs for the first time since they won the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning. The defense was perhaps even more impressive, with cornerback Pat Surtain II winning Defensive Player of the Year honors to anchor a unit that also led the league in sacks. It’s tough to compete with the Chiefs in the AFC West, but the Broncos’ outlook is bright. 13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers How 2024 ended: 10-7, NFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 7 offense, No. 16 defense Notable free agents: WR Chris Godwin, LB Lavonte David, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, EDGE Anthony Nelson, DT Greg Gaines, G Ben Bredeson, LB K.J. Britt, WR Sterling Shepard Draft picks: Nos. 19, 53, 84, 120, 158, 237 The Buccaneers have quietly become one of the steadiest organizations in the league, transitioning from the Tom Brady era to win a fourth straight NFC South title. The loss of offensive coordinator Liam Cohen means that Baker Mayfield will once again have to learn a new offense after the departure of Dave Canales last offseason, but he’s earned enough trust to keep that unit on track. Whether Godwin returns and Mike Evans continues to play at a high level are the biggest questions for an offense now led by play-caller Josh Grizzard. 14. Houston Texans How 2024 ended: 10-7, AFC divisional round loss Unit rankings: No. 26 offense, No. 3 defense Notable free agents: WR Stefon Diggs, WR Robert Woods, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, S Eric Murray, G Kendrick Green Draft picks: Nos. 25, 58, 89, 127, 167, 243 While the Diggs trade didn’t work out, the offensive line crumbled and quarterback C.J. Stroud took a relative step back after a breakout rookie season, the Texans still returned to the divisional round thanks in large part to an exceptional defense. Led by a stellar young secondary and standout pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., coach DeMeco Ryans’ unit should remain near the top of the league. But after firing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and hiring Nick Caley, the Texans’ focus should be on improving the offensive line and finding another receiver to complement Nico Collins. If they do, Houston will be a serious threat. 15. Los Angeles Chargers How 2024 ended: 11-6, AFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 12 offense, No. 9 defense Notable free agents: EDGE Khalil Mack, CB Asante Samuel Jr., RB J.K. Dobbins, DT Morgan Fox, CB Kristian Fulton, C Bradley Bozeman, CB Elijah Molden, WR Josh Palmer, DT Poona Ford, LB Denzel Perryman, DT Teair Tart Draft picks: Nos. 22, 55, 86, 124, 159, 177*, 183, 201, 215*, 220, 253* Coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season was a huge success before a playoff meltdown against the Texans. While that performance can be chalked up to an uncharacteristically bad day for Justin Herbert, it showed that the Chargers need to pour more resources into improving the infrastructure around their talented quarterback. Whether it’s investment at running back, wide receiver or tight end, they could use more playmakers on offense, as well as some impact pieces on coordinator Jesse Minter’s ascendant defense. Coach Mike Macdonald has the Seahawks poised to take another step forward next season. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images/TNS) 16. Seattle Seahawks How 2024 ended: 10-7 Unit rankings: No. 18 offense, No. 10 defense Notable free agents: LB Ernest Jones, DT Jarran Reed, G Laken Tomlinson, CB Josh Jobe, DT Johnathan Hankins Draft picks: Nos. 18, 50, 82, 137*, 173*, 187, 212*, 236 When coach Mike Macdonald had a chance to settle in and figure things out midseason, the Seahawks took off, winning six of their last eight games to almost sneak into the playoffs. While the defense is expected to improve, especially if Seattle can find a reliable linebacker and another pass rusher, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is tasked with building a more consistent unit around veteran quarterback Geno Smith. With wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba set to take on a larger role, what the team decides to do with DK Metcalf will be fascinating. 17. Pittsburgh Steelers How 2024 ended: 10-7, AFC wild-card round loss Unit rankings: No. 19 offense, No. 8 defense Notable free agents: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, RB Najee Harris, LT Dan Moore Jr., CB Donte Jackson, LB Elandon Roberts Draft picks: Nos. 21, 52, 83, 122, 163, 225, 231, 247 Team owner and president Art Rooney II said that he would prefer to sign Fields or Wilson while acknowledging that it’s unlikely the team signs both. No matter who returns, the Steelers need to figure out who’s going to be touching the ball with Harris hitting free agency and wide receiver George Pickens becoming even more unreliable. A strong defense and an improved offensive line with 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu back in the mix should keep coach Mike Tomlin’s team relevant, as always, but Pittsburgh might need to be more aggressive this offseason to become a legitimate contender. 18. Arizona Cardinals How 2024 ended: 8-9 Unit rankings: No. 11 offense, No. 14 defense Notable free agents: LB Kyzir White, C Evan Brown, RT Kelvin Beachum, EDGE L.J. Collier, EDGE Baron Browning, WR Zay Jones, K Matt Prater, DT Roy Lopez Draft picks: Nos. 16, 47, 78, 114, 153 A 2-4 start followed by a 2-5 finish kept Arizona off the national radar, but the Cardinals quietly took a major step forward in Year 2 under coach Jonathan Gannon. Quarterback Kyler Murray enjoyed a bounce-back season, Trey McBride became one of the league’s best tight ends and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. flashed his immense potential, creating plenty of optimism for next season. If GM Monti Ossenfort can find a few more impact players in the draft and put more than $70 million in cap space to good use, the Cardinals could be a playoff team. 19. Dallas Cowboys How 2024 ended: 7-10 Unit rankings: No. 25 offense, No. 24 defense Notable free agents: G Zack Martin, EDGE Demarcus Lawrence, LB Eric Kendricks, WR Brandin Cooks, CB Jourdan Lewis, DT Osa Odighizuwa, RB Rico Dowdle Draft picks: Nos. 12, 44, 76, 150, 170*, 172*, 174*, 190, 211*, 250 It turned out to be a lost season for Dallas once quarterback Dak Prescott got injured, and it led to Brian Schottenheimer taking over as coach for Mike McCarthy. While it was probably time for that regime to end, it’s not guaranteed that the Cowboys will be back in the playoff mix just because they changed their staff. How Schottenheimer fills out an offense in need of a featured running back, a No. 2 wide receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb and a potential replacement for a future Hall of Famer at right guard in Martin will determine Dallas’ ceiling. The Bears made the splashiest coaching hire of the offseason, luring Ben Johnson away from the division rival Lions. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS) 20. Chicago Bears How 2024 ended: 5-12 Unit rankings: No. 27 offense, No. 22 defense Notable free agents: WR Keenan Allen, G Teven Jenkins, C Coleman Shelton, G Matt Pryor, EDGE Darrell Taylor Draft picks: Nos. 10, 39, 41, 72, 149, 197, 235, 242 The Bears made the splashiest hires of the offseason, luring Ben Johnson away from the division rival Lions to build a contender around promising quarterback Caleb Williams and signing former Saints coach Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator. If Chicago can nail its early draft picks and find some reliable contributors on both the offensive and defensive lines — not to mention use its nearly $54 million in cap space to fill out the roster — there’s a chance that it can go from worst to first in perhaps the league’s toughest division. 21. Miami Dolphins How 2024 ended: 8-9 Unit rankings: No. 22 offense, No. 19 defense Notable free agents: S Jevon Holland, DT Calais Campbell, LB Tyrel Dodson, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, G Robert Jones, C Liam Eichenberg, S Jordan Poyer Draft picks: Nos. 13, 48, 98*, 115, 135*, 151, 156, 226, 233, 252* Another concussion suffered by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa contributed to a disastrous 2-6 start that ultimately ruined the Dolphins’ season. With the former Alabama star entering the second year of a $212.4 million extension, Miami can only hope that he stays healthy long enough for the offense to return to form. It looks like Tyreek Hill is staying, too, which puts pressure on coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier to retool the roster and make the Dolphins a legitimate playoff contender. This team, as presently constructed, is running out of excuses. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars How 2024 ended: 4-13 Unit rankings: No. 17 offense, No. 31 defense Notable free agents: S Andre Cisco, G Brandon Scherff, QB Mac Jones Draft picks: Nos. 5, 36, 70, 88, 106, 125, 143, 184, 196, 223 After firing coach Doug Peterson and longtime GM Trent Baalke and then hiring Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen, there’s some optimism that the Jaguars can turn things around quickly. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence should benefit from a scheme that helped transform Tampa Bay’s running game, while Brian Thomas Jr. has the look of an elite wide receiver. If Jacksonville can use its bounty of draft picks to shore up its offensive line and add some key pieces on defense, it could contend for the AFC South title. 23. Atlanta Falcons How 2024 ended: 8-9 Unit rankings: No. 14 offense, No. 29 defense Notable free agents: EDGE Matt Judon, S Justin Simmons, WR Rondale Moore, EDGE Lorenzo Carter, CB Mike Hughes, CB Dee Alford, C Drew Dalman Draft picks: Nos. 15, 46, 117, 244 With quarterback Kirk Cousins expected to be cut or traded, the Falcons will turn to 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. to lead the franchise. Running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and a solid offensive line form a strong supporting cast, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson should have much more of the playbook at his disposal with a quarterback who can actually move. If coach Raheem Morris can improve his defense with the addition of a stud pass rusher and a few new starters in the secondary, Atlanta should be in the mix to win the NFC South. The Patriots have the cap space and draft picks to rebuild quickly around promising young quarterback Drake Maye. (Greg M. Cooper/AP) 24. New England Patriots How 2024 ended: 4-13 Unit rankings: No. 30 offense, No. 30 defense Notable free agents: CB Jonathan Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, EDGE Deatrich Wise, RT Chukwuma Okorafor, TE Austin Hooper, K Joey Slye Draft picks: Nos. 4, 38, 69, 77, 105, 145, 219, 222, 240 The hiring of coach Mike Vrabel should raise the Patriots’ floor, especially if quarterback Drake Maye takes an expected step forward in his first full season as the starter. But there is plenty of work to do to improve the roster, most notably finding a No. 1 wide receiver, an impact pass rusher and several new starters on the offensive line. A projected $112 million in cap space and a bounty of high draft picks allow New England to build a competitive team around its budding young star Maye. 25. Carolina Panthers How 2024 ended: 5-12 Unit rankings: No. 24 offense, No. 32 defense Notable free agents: S Xavier Woods, CB Michael Jackson Sr., WR David Moore, TE Tommy Tremble, S Jordan Fuller, CB Caleb Farley Draft picks: Nos. 8, 57, 74, 110, 113, 141, 147, 164, 229 After being benched early in the season, quarterback Bryce Young showed tremendous improvement down the stretch to solidify his status as the starter. Whether the 2023 No. 1 overall pick can play at a consistently high level over a full season remains to be seen, but the Panthers at least have some optimism for the first time in a while. On defense, they need a lot of help to fix a unit that fell to the bottom of the league. 26. Indianapolis Colts How 2024 ended: 8-9 Unit rankings: No. 20 offense, No. 15 defense Notable free agents: C Ryan Kelly, G Mark Glowinski, S Julian Blackmon, LB E.J. Speed, EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, TE Kylen Granson, TE Mo Alie-Cox, QB Joe Flacco Draft picks: Nos. 14, 45, 80, 116, 152, 191, 234 First and foremost, the Colts need to determine what they have in quarterback Anthony Richardson and whether he can be the franchise leader they envisioned when they picked him fourth overall in 2023. Giving him another pass catcher — perhaps a rookie tight end such as Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland — will be key in his evaluation as the franchise seeks some quarterback stability for the first time since Andrew Luck retired. 27. Las Vegas Raiders How 2024 ended: 4-13 Unit rankings: No. 29 offense, No. 18 defense Notable free agents: S Trevon Moehrig, EDGE Malcolm Koonce, LB Robert Spillane, DT Adam Butler, LB Divine Deablo, CB Nate Hobbs, RB Alexander Mattison Draft picks: Nos. 6, 37, 68, 73, 107, 144, 182, 214*, 218*, 224 The addition of veteran coach Pete Carroll and the increasingly larger presence of part-owner Tom Brady in football operations adds some legitimacy to a franchise that has been mostly irrelevant since losing the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. With several high draft picks and a projected $85 million in cap space, there’s a chance the Raiders get back to being competitive sooner than later. Who they decide to target at quarterback, either in the draft or around the league, will be fascinating. 28. New York Jets How 2024 ended: 5-12 Unit rankings: No. 21 offense, No. 20 defense Notable free agents: EDGE Haason Reddick, CB D.J. Reed, DT Javon Kinlaw, TE Tyler Conklin, LT Tyron Smith, RT Morgan Moses, S Chuck Clark Draft picks: Nos. 7, 42, 92, 109, 146, 157, 188, 210 With the Jets reportedly expected to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, new coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey have a blank slate to work with as they seek to end the longest playoff drought in American professional sports. Tyrod Taylor is under contract and could get another chance to start, or perhaps a veteran like Russell Wilson, Derek Carr or Jameis Winston will make their way to New York. Either way, there are several holes to fill on both sides of the ball as some high-priced veterans hit the open market. 29. New Orleans Saints How 2024 ended: 5-12 Unit rankings: No. 23 offense, No. 21 defense Notable free agents: EDGE Chase Young, TE Juwan Johnson, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, CB Paulson Adebo, EDGE Payton Turner, LB Willie Gay Jr., S Will Harris, G Lucas Patrick Draft picks: Nos. 9, 40, 71, 93, 111, 130, 186, 254* Perhaps no team feels more adrift than the Saints, who once again face a bloated cap sheet (projected $59 million over the cap) and have few core building blocks on both sides of the ball. There’s a reason they’re the last team to hire a coach, with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore reportedly expected to take the job after the Super Bowl. What happens with Carr will signal how willing New Orleans is to rebuild the roster. 30. Tennessee Titans How 2024 ended: 3-14 Unit rankings: No. 31 offense, No. 17 defense Notable free agents: LB Jerome Baker, S Quandre Diggs, RT Dillon Radunz, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR Tyler Boyd, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, K Nick Folk, QB Mason Rudolph Draft picks: Nos. 1, 35, 102, 119, 142, 169, 180, 241 With the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, the Titans have an opportunity to accelerate their rebuild. But will they pick a quarterback, a potential two-way star in Travis Hunter or a dynamic pass rusher like Abdul Carter? Coach Brian Callahan and new GM Mike Borgonzi should get some time to figure things out, but ownership seems to be impatient after pushing out Vrabel and then firing GM Ran Carthon after just one season. Maybe a veteran quarterback like Rodgers or Darnold is the preference to get things back on track. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski faces a challenging rebuild. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) 31. Cleveland Browns How 2024 ended: 3-14 Unit rankings: No. 32 offense, No. 25 defense Notable free agents: RB Nick Chubb, WR Elijah Moore, LT Jedrick Wills, QB Jameis Winston, LB Devin Bush, RT Germain Ifedi Draft picks: Nos. 2, 33, 67, 94, 103, 165, 181, 194, 202, 216*, 217*, 257* Garrett’s trade request explains just how badly things have gone for Cleveland since making the ill-fated deal for Deshaun Watson, who is not even in next season’s plans after tearing his Achilles tendon twice. With the Browns a projected $38 million over the cap, the draft is their best hope of rebuilding the roster and perhaps finding a long-term answer at quarterback. Coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz are two of the best in the business, but they’re facing an uphill battle to make this team competitive next season. 32. New York Giants How 2024 ended: 3-14 Unit rankings: No. 28 offense, No. 28 defense Notable free agents: WR Darius Slayton, G Greg Van Roten, S Jason Pinnock, CB Adoree’ Jackson, EDGE Azeez Ojulari, QB Drew Lock, LB Isaiah Simmons Draft picks: Nos. 3, 34, 65, 104, 134*, 155, 221, 248 There’s a world in which the Giants find a competent quarterback and enjoy a dramatic turnaround next season with a healthy roster, but all signs are pointing toward coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen being out of a job at this time next year. Even if the front office can replicate the success it had in last year’s draft, there are simply too many question marks across the roster to believe in New York’s viability to compete in a division with three much better teams. 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

With football season behind us, it’s officially baseball season. Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota, Florida, on Wednesday to begin spring training, and after reaching the postseason two straight years but failing to win a playoff game, the team faces plenty of questions. Which Orioles player would benefit the most from a standout spring training? After you vote, tell us why in the comments 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

While the Ravens were likely frustrated watching the Eagles hoist the Lombardi Trophy this season instead of themselves, Baltimore has the roster and coaching continuity to make a run at the title next season. Betting odds suggest as much. DraftKings gives Baltimore +700 odds (wager $100 to profit $700) to win the Super Bowl in 2026, the second-shortest odds of any team in the NFL. The Eagles are the favorite, holding +600 odds to win a second consecutive Super Bowl after dispatching the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The Chiefs and Bills hold the same odds as the Ravens with +700 odds to win the championship. The Detroit Lions (+900) round out the teams with odds shorter than +1000. Jayden Daniels and the upstart Washington Commanders are listed at +1800 to win the title in the quarterback’s sophomore year. Baltimore is set to return quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Award winner, as well as additional standouts on both sides of the ball. Running back Derrick Henry will return next fall, as will tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who missed Baltimore’s postseason games because of an injury, will also be back. Several offensive linemen are slated to return, including center Tyler Linderbaum. Jackson, who finished second to Bills quarterback Josh Allen in MVP voting this year, is the betting favorite to win next season’s MVP Award on DraftKings. He holds +500 odds to win the award, with Allen being listed at +550 and Mahomes at +750. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow (+750) and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (+1000) are the only other players with odds of +1000 or shorter. Defensively, the Ravens are expected to bring back defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton from a group that improved as the 2024 season progressed. Baltimore doesn’t lack star power, and coach John Harbaugh and both his offensive and defensive coordinators (Todd Monken and Zach Orr, respectively) will return next season. The Ravens are built to contend for a Super Bowl in 2025-26, although they’ll need to dethrone a Chiefs team that has won three consecutive AFC championship games. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The massage therapists accusing Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of sexual misconduct could have difficulty in suing him or pursuing criminal charges, if they choose to do so, but it’s still important that they came forward, according to legal and mental health experts. Tucker is accused of acting inappropriately with at least nine massage therapists at four luxury spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis, and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments.” The incidents, first reported by The Baltimore Banner, are alleged to have occurred between 2012 and 2016. Tucker has denied the allegations, calling them “unequivocally false.” Lawsuits must typically be filed within three years of the occurrence in question. There are some limited exceptions for extra time if evidence is found later that no reasonable person could have discovered by the filing deadline, according to Thomas J. Maronick Jr., a local defense attorney not involved in the case. “One of the most difficult areas of this for any attorney is trying to find a way around the statute of limitations,” Maronick said. “You really have to have a good reason as to why no suit was filed sooner.” Nonetheless, the therapists could still file a civil lawsuit based on the conduct Tucker is accused of exhibiting and its alleged contribution to creating an uncomfortable workplace environment for the women. “Under any circumstances, he allegedly was doing things that were totally inappropriate, and the allegation that they didn’t want to work with him at all, if that were true, that’s clearly something they could sue Tucker and/or the establishments,” Maronick said. “There could be a lot of potential lawsuits particularly if the establishments knew about it or should have known about it and didn’t take appropriate action. It seems as though the establishments took action and removed the therapists from working on him.” Michael Belsky, an attorney representing some of the massage therapists, declined to comment. Many victims of sexual misconduct come forward not for compensation, but because they want the issue to be exposed and for people to know about what happened to them, according to David Ellin, a local plaintiff attorney who is not involved in the case. “We hear that all of the time from clients: ‘I want this out there because I want to make sure this doctor doesn’t do this again, this salon doesn’t do this again, this driver doesn’t do this again,'” Ellin said. LaKeita Carter, CEO of the Institute for HEALing in Owings Mills, said the women showed courage by coming forward with the allegations because they were opening themselves up to scrutiny and making public what was, if true, a difficult time in their lives. It can be challenging to make allegations against a likable high-profile person, Carter said. The general public often doesn’t believe victims, she added. “Every allegation might be [viewed as] false,” Carter said. “Tucker is a beloved Baltimore Raven because he is the best kicker in the history of the NFL. People feel like they know him. They feel like they can trust him. That’s what also makes the allegation hard to come forward with.” One accuser who said she gave Tucker massages at the QG massage center said she feared going public with allegations against such a popular figure. “I’ve never been in a situation like that before,” the former massage therapist told The Baltimore Sun. “I didn’t want to be the first one. A friend told me, ‘You’ll be the most hated woman in Baltimore.’” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Josh Allen’s NFL MVP win over Lamar Jackson stirs debate: ‘He was robbed’ Baltimore Ravens | How Bills QB Josh Allen beat out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ex-Ravens Suggs and Yanda are Hall of Fame worthy, but not yet | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Bills QB Josh Allen wins NFL MVP Award over Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2025 Hall of Fame enshrinement She continued: “He was a high-end client. … I really needed the job, I was a single mother. I made good money there. I was young and naive.” Holly Ann Schiff, a clinical psychologist at South County Psychiatry in Rhode Island, said that for many victims, speaking out can provide relief from something that has burdened them for some time. Speaking out may also give others the courage to come forward, something that creates a larger conversation, she said. Coming forward also can help provide a sense of psychological closure and to let go of any lingering guilt or shame that might have kept them from sharing their story earlier. For some, “they are finally releasing the weight of the secret they have been carrying,” Schiff said. “They are also reclaiming their voice and their story, which can be quite empowering. Coming forward is also part of the healing process. Sharing their truth can validate their experiences, help emotionally resolve some trauma and offers the opportunity to feel less isolated and actually acknowledged by others.” Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

When Josh Allen was named NFL Most Valuable Player for the 2024 regular season Thursday night at the league’s annual awards show, it came as a surprise to many. While the Buffalo Bills quarterback entered the night as the betting favorite to take home the award for the first time, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was considered a strong candidate to win it a second straight time and third overall following a record-setting year. In the closest race since Matt Ryan beat out Tom Brady in 2016, Allen got 27 first-place votes to Jackson’s 23. Allen also finished third on one ballot, and Jackson was fourth on another, but that had no impact on the winner. For the past 11 seasons, being named the AP first-team All-Pro quarterback — as Jackson was last month — was a prelude to winning the MVP award. But this marked just the third time since the AP started handing out the award in 1961 that a player won at least a share of the MVP after not being voted first-team All-Pro. The debate between Allen and Jackson was already contentious among both Ravens and Bills fans, and that boiled over Thursday night and into Friday when fans, players and media members learned the results. Here’s a sample of some of the reaction: Josh Allen “I was pretty surprised, yeah,” Allen said at his news conference Thursday night. “Given what we know about how typically voting goes. Lamar was very deserving of this award as well. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for his game. He’s a great steward of the game, and every time we share a field, I’m very fortunate to be mentioned in the same breath as him.” Jonathan Ogden, former Ravens left tackle and Hall of Famer “I get it,” Ogden told TMZ. “Cause [Josh] is a great quarterback, he hadn’t won one — Lamar had two. And they’re like, ‘Let’s just give him one.’ “But that’s the wrong reason. But it’s all good. What are you going to do? But they made the wrong choice. But that’s all good. “I don’t want it to sound like I’m hating on Josh because the brother is a tremendous quarterback. But he didn’t have the year Lamar had.” Rashod Bateman, Ravens wide receiver “He was robbed. He was robbed,” Bateman said on a podcast with NBC Sports ahead of Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. “I hope I don’t get in trouble for this … It’s definitely more behind-the-scenes of what’s going on. That’s just the world we live in. Because it’s night and day. Lamar was All-Pro, and he doesn’t win MVP? “He had him beat in every category, so like, bro, what are we looking at? Even if he was my teammate or wasn’t my teammate, it’s like, bro, what are we looking at? “Respect to Josh, we all know that he’s an amazing player. But, I mean, when you’re watching the game and looking at the numbers, what are we valuing to give these people the accolades and make it feel earned and deserved? Right now it’s just handed out everywhere.” Robert Griffin III, former NFL quarterback “There is no reason for a MVP Voter and All-Pro Voter to split their votes on Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen,” Griffin posted on X. “If you voted Josh Allen as the MVP, he should have gotten the 1st team All-Pro vote. “If you voted Lamar Jackson 1st team All-Pro, he should have gotten the MVP vote too. “Splitting the vote and explaining value vs better makes zero sense because if it’s about value then Patrick Mahomes would in MVP every year. Mahomes is the most valuable player to his team.” Torrey Smith, former Maryland star and Ravens wide receiver “I’d like to start a petition to remove Jim Miller’s MVP voting privileges,” Smith posted on X. “Choosing Josh over Lamar, crazy but understandable. “Having Lamar Jackson at 4th place….CRIMINAL!” Mina Kimes, ESPN analyst and MVP voter “It was a dead heat. It was extremely close,” Kimes said on ESPN’s “NFL Live” from New Orleans. “The only wrong take on MVP is that it was obvious between these two guys, because it was not obvious and it came down to the wire. “I will say, the reason why I voted for Lamar really quickly: 4,000 passing yards, 900 rushing yards, first quarterback to ever do that. Almost broke the record for [single-season] passer rating. Played a harder slate of defenses and then in their head-to-head matchup came out on top [35-10 in Week 4]. That was the difference for me. “I know with the Bills, people point to Allen being more valuable because of the pieces around him … I do think people underrate how good that [Bills] offensive line is. I do take that into consideration. But like I said, this was very close.” Dan Orlovsky, ESPN analyst, former NFL quarterback and MVP voter “The Bills were the No. 2 seed. Josh had a 40-touchdown, 8-turnover, 14-sack season,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday. “The Bills didn’t have an elite defense. The Bills had a very good run game, not a great run game. They didn’t have elite perimeter players in any regard. The way that Josh played this season, and the different style that he played, brought tremendous value to their football team. “Lamar’s season was absolutely sensational. He was probably the best player in football this year; or Ja’Marr Chase; or Saquon Barkley. But value, and how much you impact your team, who you do it with and who you do it against — that’s where I thought Josh Allen had the upper hand.” Dominque Foxworth, ESPN analyst, Maryland graduate and former NFL cornerback In reply to Orlovsky on ESPN’s “Get Up”: “I’m glad we have Dan here to defend him and the people who did this but it does feel like you’re trying to split the baby. You don’t got the heart to say what you actually want to say. I think both of them had MVP-caliber seasons, but it feels like you are trying to find some little semantics trap door. You can give this to him and that to them, because you don’t actually want to say what you really want to say. “This is the semantics foolishness that we do. This is what you do. You say ‘value’ and the cool thing about value gives us on these shows a way to argue because you can twist it and turn it any way you want. Normally, MVP means ‘who is the best damn dude in the league’ and to me, obviously, Josh Allen had an MVP-caliber season, but the best damn dude in the league this year was the guy who was first-team All-Pro.” Emmanuel Acho, Fox Sports host, former NFL player and MVP voter “It’s the Most Valuable player,” Acho posted on X. “Not the “best player,” that’s the All Pro. “Not the “best damn dude award,” that’s made up. “Not the “most outstanding player,” that’s the Heisman.” Jordan Schultz, Fox Sports NFL Insider “I was digging through last night’s voting results, and I still can’t wrap my head around this — someone actually had Lamar Jackson fourth on their MVP ballot. Fourth?! That’s beyond ridiculous,” Schultz posted on X. “There might not be a clearer sign of voter fatigue than that.” Lindsay Jones, The Ringer staff writer/editor and MVP voter “Ultimately, this year it came down to the two quarterbacks, and it felt impossible to choose,” Jones wrote in a piece for The Ringer explaining her reasoning for splitting her vote between All-Pro and MVP. “I am confident that (a) both Jackson and Allen were deserving of the league’s highest individual honor, and (b) MVP is not strictly an award for the best quarterback, so voting one of them for All-Pro didn’t mean he automatically had to be my MVP. The phrasing of “Most Valuable” is extremely vague, and open to plenty of interpretation of what it actually means. To me, the MVP award is open to narrative considerations, a player’s career arc, the roster decisions made around him, and expectations for any particular season, in a way that — again, to me — All-Pro voting is not. In considering (and considering and considering) Jackson vs. Allen, I opened myself up to the possibility that some great quarterback plays and moments carried more weight than others this season. … So splitting my ballot was my way of acknowledging that Jackson played quarterback better than anyone this season, while Allen was the defining, and yes, most valuable, football character of the regular season.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Justin Tucker accusers face legal headwinds, but it’s important they came forward, experts say Baltimore Ravens | How Bills QB Josh Allen beat out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ex-Ravens Suggs and Yanda are Hall of Fame worthy, but not yet | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Bills QB Josh Allen wins NFL MVP Award over Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2025 Hall of Fame enshrinement Aaron Schatz, FTN Fantasy writer and MVP voter “My All-Pro Ballot article included a long discussion of why I voted for Lamar Jackson over Josh Allen as my first-team All-Pro quarterback. The short version is that while many advanced stats had the two players neck and neck, DVOA and DYAR had Jackson with a clearly more valuable season,” Schatz wrote. “I’m open to arguments that Jackson has better teammates and therefore Allen has to do more to carry his team, but I don’t know how valid they are. Yes, I’m about to vote for Derrick Henry for Offensive Player of the Year (spoiler alert) but James Cook is also very good. The Ravens probably have better receivers than the Bills, but they don’t really have great receivers or a deep receiver room. The Ravens and Bills were third and fourth, respectively, in ESPN’s pass block win rate, so that doesn’t seem like a big difference between the teams. Maybe the difference in teammates makes up a small gap in DYAR, but this was a much larger gap.” Justin Penik, Jomboy Media host “Lamar Jackson just had one of the most unique and awesome QB seasons we’ve ever seen and didn’t win MVP simply because voters probably didn’t want to give him the award on back to back years and preferred to give it to a first time winner? Pretty sure majority of the NFL world would agree Lamar deserved it,” Penik posted on X. The Associated Press contributed to this article. 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

NEW ORLEANS — For the past 11 seasons, being named the AP first-team All-Pro quarterback was a prelude to winning the NFL’s MVP award. There was some logic to that with quarterbacks providing the most value to a team and the same panel picking the All-Pro team and all of the awards. There was a rare flip this year with Buffalo’s Josh Allen narrowly edging Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson in the MVP voting announced Thursday night after finishing second in All-Pro voting revealed last month. This marked just the third time since the AP started handing out the Most Valuable Player award in 1961 that a player won at least a share of the MVP after not being voted first-team All-Pro. (The AP had a Most Outstanding Player award from 1957-60 and those winners also were first-team All-Pros). So how did it happen this season. The All-Pro votes Let’s start with the All-Pro votes where Jackson had the edge. He received 30 of the 50 first-team All-Pro votes from a national panel of media members and 19 second-place votes. Allen got 18 first-place and 24 second-place votes, while Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow got the last two first-place votes, along with nine second-place votes. What switched for MVP? Several voters viewed the MVP vote differently. While Jackson and Allen finished 1-2 on 48 of the 50 ballots (Burrow and Saquon Barkley each got one second-place vote), Allen had the edge when it came to the top spot, gaining nine additional first-place votes from the All-Pro team with Jackson losing seven. Allen also finished third on one ballot, and Jackson was fourth on another, but that had no impact on the winner. Allen finished with 383 points based on scoring that gives out 10 points for a first-place vote, followed by five, three, two and one for the last four spaces. Jackson had 362 points. How did Offensive Player of the Year play a role? The AP also has several other awards, including Offensive Player of the Year. While that award has been given to non-quarterbacks the last five seasons, Jackson garnered significant support there. He finished second to Barkley in that voting and got 12 first-place votes to the one for Allen, who came in sixth. Nine of the voters who picked Jackson as the top offensive player chose Allen as MVP, accounting for almost all of the switched votes from the All-Pro team. Jackson became the first player to finish second in both awards since Drew Brees in 2018. Has this happened before? There were two other seasons when a player won MVP after not being a first-team All-Pro. In 2003, Peyton Manning was the first-team All-Pro but shared the MVP with Steve McNair, who finished second in All-Pro voting. Voters only selected first-place in the voting back then and both quarterbacks got 16 MVP votes after Manning had a 28½-16½ edge in All-Pro voting. It also happened in the 1987 season with John Elway winning MVP after finishing second to Joe Montana in All-Pro voting. There were 84 MVP votes that season and San Francisco had two candidates drawing support after Jerry Rice set an NFL record with 22 TD catches despite one game getting canceled because of a player strike and Rice sitting out three games with replacement players. Elway also sat out all three replacement player games, while Montana crossed the picket line and played in two of them. Elway got 36 votes for MVP, followed by Rice with 30 and Montana with 18. View the full article

Two of the Ravens’ greatest players missed out Thursday night on being named Pro Football Hall of Famers. That’s OK, because while both will make it at some point, neither was worthy of being chosen on the first ballot. That should be reserved for players who revolutionized their position, changed the game schematically or took the NFL to new heights. Neither Suggs nor Yanda did that. “Absolutely, both will get in,” said former Ravens star Jonathan Ogden, the most dominant left tackle in the history of the game and first-ballot entry in 2013. “When you look at what they meant to the game, to the Ravens organization and how they dominated, it is inevitable.” Suggs not being chosen was disappointing because of his overall body of work, but he didn’t change the position like Hall of Fame outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The former New York Giants star made the game miserable for left tackles by lining up on their outside shoulder. He changed the way tackles would cheat in their stance by dropping their outside leg back, which is why there are still so many illegal formation calls in the league. That’s impact. Former Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis changed the game because he could run sideline to sideline. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders had an impact because he could shut down one side of the field and no quarterback challenged him. Neither Suggs nor Yanda were in that class. Ogden was because he was a freak athlete at 6 feet 9 and 345 pounds and could run as well as any guard. Once he locked into his pass set and got one hand on you, it was over. Suggs has the criteria to make it to Canton, Ohio. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 (12 sacks, six forced fumbles) despite starting only one game and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 (70 tackles, 14 sacks). Suggs finished with 139 sacks, which is eighth all-time. The resume looks good, but it’s not first-ballot material. “Of the two players, Suggs and Yanda, Suggs had the most impressive resume, and that happens with defensive guys,” Ogden said of Suggs, whose last season with the team was in 2018. “When he was the Defensive Player of the Year, no one was more deserving. Sizzle had the ability to learn and improve.” That’s important and one of the things overlooked about Suggs. He was a showman who loved to clown around in the locker room, from turning up his music too loud to hijacking late owner Art Modell’s and current owner Steve Bisciotti’s golf carts. His Darth Vader impersonations never got old, and neither did his fake fights in training camp with former outside linebacker and roommate Jarret Johnson. On the field, he was always studying. He spent his first couple of years learning his trade from Lewis, a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection in 2018, and outside linebacker Peter Boulware, who held the team’s all-time sacks record with 70 until Suggs came along. The difference between them was that Boulware had such speed off the edge, which Suggs could match, but Suggs had amazing strength. He could stop instantly, switch directions and throw offensive linemen. Suggs commanded respect from opposing quarterbacks such as Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and New England’s Tom Brady, but he didn’t win seven Super Bowl titles like Brady or carry the NFL into the household of average citizens like quarterback Johnny Unitas did with the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 championship game against the Giants. Granted, there is no Joe Namath, who pulled what some still consider the greatest upset in league history, in this 2025 class, but they wouldn’t get my vote either. I need something special like former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, not his younger brother Eli, who was on the ballot for the first time. Suggs was great, just not a lock. There weren’t too many in this current class. “The first couple of days here as a rookie, I said, ‘Dude, you have to redefine your game,’” Ogden said of Suggs, whose resume also includes seven Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro selections and two Super Bowl titles. “Suggs was like 20 years old, maybe the youngest guy in the league. He matured and learned a lot playing with the other leaders on the team. And that’s why he eventually became a top leader.” Is that enough to make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer? He was a great player, but my standards are higher. Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore SunFormer Ravens guard Marshal Yanda was inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor in 2022. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Yanda’s personality was far less entertaining, but his game was almost as dominant. Unlike Suggs, who was a first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in 2003, Yanda was a third-round pick out of Iowa in the 2007 draft. In his rookie season, he played in all 16 games and started nine. In 2016, he was selected the 37th-best player in the NFL by his peers, which was exceptional for a guard. Yanda was all business. He smiled occasionally, but the focus always seemed to be on football. In 13 seasons, he started 166 of 177 games. He was called for holding only 11 times and had just 28 false start penalties. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Bills QB Josh Allen beat out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens | Bills QB Josh Allen wins NFL MVP Award over Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2025 Hall of Fame enshrinement Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM’s wife supports Trump’s order excluding trans athletes from women’s sports Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker He was twice selected as a first-team All-Pro, made eight Pro Bowl teams and was a starter on Baltimore’s most recent Super Bowl championship team in 2013. Yanda’s game was finesse, and he learned that from his coach at Iowa, Kirk Ferentz, who coached the Ravens’ offensive line in 1997 and 1998. Ferentz also coached current Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum at Iowa. With Ferentz, the game was always about tenacity and consistency. That’s vintage Yanda. Unfortunately, the last guard to get in on a first-ballot entry was Dallas’ Larry Allen in 2013. “Larry Allen was so dominant, so strong, he mashed people,” Ogden said. “He was Larry Allen. I wasn’t Larry Allen.” Neither was Yanda. He wasn’t Gene Upshaw or John Hannah either, both guards who were voted in during their first year of eligibility. Upshaw, a former Raiders star, could pull and run as well as any lineman in the league. Hannah might have been the Allen of his day. “For an undersized guard, Marshal Yanda had great toughness, grit and perseverance,” Ogden said. “He helped lead that offensive line to the Super Bowl with Joe Flacco. “Eventually, both Suggs and Yanda will get in. They were some of the best ever at their positions.” It’s true, but first-ballot players? Nah, but it will happen eventually. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Josh Allen edged out Lamar Jackson again. Nearly three weeks after the Bills quarterback led Buffalo to a victory over the Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs to end Baltimore’s season, Allen was named The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player for the first time Thursday night. He edged out Jackson, who won the award during the 2019 and 2023 seasons, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. It marked the first time that the AP first-team All-Pro quarterback, which Jackson was named last month, didn’t win the award since 2012, when Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was named NFL MVP over Denver Broncos star Peyton Manning. Allen received 27 of 50 first-place votes, while Jackson got 23 in the closest MVP race since Matt Ryan beat out Tom Brady in 2016. Allen received 22 second-place votes and one third to finish with 383 points. Jackson got 26 second-place votes and one fourth for a total of 362 points. “I feel like my teammates wanted this more for me than I did, but I’m very honored,” said Allen, who was drafted in the 2018 first round alongside Jackson. Jackson also lost out on NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, finishing second to Barkley after the former New York Giants star rushed for 2,005 yards — 100 shy of Eric Dickerson’s league record — in his first season in Philadelphia. Barkley received 35 of the 50 first-place votes. Jackson got 12 first-place votes. The 28-year-old Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 in the same season. He set career highs in passing yards (4,172), touchdown passes (41), yards per attempt (8.8) and passer rating (119.6). He also had a career-low four interceptions and led the Ravens to a 12-5 record and the AFC North title. But when it came to being named MVP for a third time, voters instead gave the nod to Allen, 28, for his own gaudy season. Allen, who led the Bills to a 13-4 record, the AFC East title and to the AFC championship game before narrowly losing to the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns with a career-low six interceptions. He also ran for 531 yards and 12 scores on 102 carries. A runner-up for the award in 2020 to then-Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and in 2023 to Jackson, Allen perhaps had his MVP moment in a snowy December blowout of the San Francisco 49ers in which he threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, catching a lateral from wide receiver Amari Cooper before diving over the pylon for a touchdown. Jackson, meanwhile, had no singular, defining moment, though he had plenty of eye-popping highlights. The most indelible perhaps came during a Christmas Day romp over the Texans in Houston, in which he broke Michael Vick’s NFL record for career rushing yards by a quarterback with 87 yards on four carries and accounted for three touchdowns, including a 48-yard run on which he reached a career-high top speed of 21.25 mph, per Next Gen Stats. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, and Bills quarterback Josh Allen embrace after an AFC divisional round playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 19 in Orchard Park, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Some also undoubtedly viewed Allen as having done more with less when comparing him with Jackson. After signing former All-Pro running back and two-time NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry in the offseason, Baltimore became the first team to rush for at least 3,000 yards and pass for at least 4,000 in the same season. Henry’s 1,921 yards rushing were second-most in the league and his 18 total touchdowns (16 rushing, 2 receiving) tied for second-most. Henry’s 5.9 yards per carry were also a career-high and came in his age-30 season, all of it helping propel him to finishing fourth in the balloting for Offensive Player of the Year, an award he took home in 2020 after rushing for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. He received one first-place vote, finishing behind Barkley, Jackson and Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Baltimore’s offense was loaded with plenty of other talent, too, including Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers (74 catches, 1,059 yards, 4 touchdowns), tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and receiver Rashod Bateman, whose nine receiving touchdowns were second on the team to only Andrews’ 11. By comparison, Buffalo did not have a 1,000-yard receiver, no player had more than five touchdown catches and running back James Cook’s 1,009 yards rushing ranked 16th in the league — though his 18 total touchdowns tied with Henry behind only Detroit Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. Still, Jackson was often at his best against the best during the regular season, which is what the awards are based upon. Of the 10 playoff teams the Ravens faced in 2024, they beat seven of them. Two of the losses came at the hands of the Eagles and Chiefs, who will meet in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday in New Orleans. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Bills QB Josh Allen beat out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ex-Ravens Suggs and Yanda are Hall of Fame worthy, but not yet | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda fall short of 2025 Hall of Fame enshrinement Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM’s wife supports Trump’s order excluding trans athletes from women’s sports Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker But Jackson is also the only multiple-time winner of the MVP Award to have never reached a Super Bowl, and only once has he gotten as far as the AFC championship game. Had he won the award for a second straight year, he would have become just the seventh player to be named MVP at least three times. The other six are all current or future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Manning (five), Rodgers (four), Brady (three), Brett Favre (three), Johnny Unitas (three) and Jim Brown (three). Jackson also would have joined Favre as the youngest players to win three MVPs. But the Ravens quarterback has long dismissed individual honors, saying several times through the years — including on the night Baltimore drafted him with the 32nd overall pick in 2018 — that he only cares about winning a Super Bowl. While he’ll have to wait yet another year for another attempt at getting to his first, there’s at least little doubt about his place within this team. Said Ravens coach John Harbaugh late in the season: “He’ll always be my MVP, I promise you that.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Here are the winners from NFL Honors on Thursday night: AP NFL MVP: Josh Allen, Buffalo AP NFL Coach of the Year: Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Detroit AP Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia AP Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Surtain II, Denver AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jayden Daniels, Washington AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams AP Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Walter Payton Man of the Year: Arik Armstead, Jacksonville View the full article

Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda were integral members of the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl team and racked up a litany of accolades during what were long and storied careers in the NFL. But when it comes to being bestowed with the game’s highest individual honor, they will, for now, have to wait. Though both were among this year’s 15 finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, neither was selected for enshrinement Thursday night. Instead, four players — defensive lineman Jared Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, cornerback Eric Allen and tight end Antonio Gates — were chosen for this year’s class, which will be inducted this August in Canton, Ohio. As for Suggs and Yanda, both of whom were in their first year of eligibility, it is at most only mildly surprising that at least one of them did not get in. Suggs was the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and ranks eighth on the all-time sack list. The seven players ahead of him — Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Julius Peppers, Chris Doleman, Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor — are already all in, so it figures only a matter of when, not if. In addition to being the 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-Pro in 2011 and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Suggs was a stout run defender and had at least 10 sacks in seven of his 17 years in the league. Terrell Suggs was the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) By comparison, Taylor, who was enshrined in his first year of eligibility in 2017, played 15 seasons, had a half-sack more than Suggs and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Yanda’s case isn’t as glaring, as is usually the case when it comes to offensive linemen and especially for those on the interior. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Bills QB Josh Allen beat out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ex-Ravens Suggs and Yanda are Hall of Fame worthy, but not yet | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Bills QB Josh Allen wins NFL MVP Award over Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens GM’s wife supports Trump’s order excluding trans athletes from women’s sports Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker The last guard to get into the Hall of Fame on his first try was Larry Allen in 2013. He was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection, 11-time All-Pro, chosen for the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s and 2000s as well as its 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys. Still, there’s a strong case for him to get in at some point. Yanda was twice a first-team All-Pro, a five-time second-team All-Pro and was chosen to the Pro Bowl in eight of his last nine seasons. He was also a unanimous choice on the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s and versatile enough that he was able to seamlessly move from right guard to left guard after hurting his lead blocking shoulder in 2016. But with a wide-open class of parity, it ultimately became difficult to get the 80% of votes needed for enshrinement — for now. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, he had at least one prominent Ravens fan cheering the change. Lacie Litz DeCosta, the wife of Ravens general manager and executive vice president Eric DeCosta, took to social media to show her support. “It’s a great day for Women’s sports!” she wrote on the social media platform X. “Trans women are women. Trans girls are girls,” Ravens editorial director Ryan Mink responded in a thread. “Ryan Mink we don’t have to agree. I have played sports my entire life. I was an All American lacrosse player. Many girls don’t see this as a trans issue but a fairness issue. I will always fight for fairness when it comes to girls in sports,” Lacie Litz DeCosta said. DeCosta, a Baltimore native, played lacrosse in college at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where she earned All-American status in 1998, per the university. DeCosta was a former Ravens employee herself when she met Eric DeCosta, who was a talent scout at the time. They married in 2001 and have three children. Though Lacie Litz DeCosta is no longer employed by the Ravens, she remains active in the sports world. On X, she said in response to another commenter that she gives annually to her college’s lacrosse team and a scholarship at her high school in her family’s name. The George G. Litz Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship Award Fund at Maryvale is named after her father and benefits a student lacrosse player annually, according to Maryvale’s website. The Baltimore Ravens did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fans wrestle with allegations of inappropriate behavior by superstar kicker Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Eagles or Chiefs? Here’s who fans are picking to win Super Bowl 59. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens headline NFL Honors show, from Jackson and Henry to Suggs and Yanda Baltimore Ravens | If Ravens decide to release Justin Tucker, here’s when they might do it Baltimore Ravens | Ravens announce contract extension for offensive coordinator Todd Monken Responses to the post among fans were divided. Some expressed dismay, with posts saying “ohhh this is sad to see as a fan” and “Being transphobic ain’t a great look Ravens PR can’t sweep this one under the rug.” Others agreed with DeCosta, with one fan saying, “As a father of 2 GREAT young ladies…..it is indeed a GREAT day!!!” Another wrote: “IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR WOMEN’S SPORT!!” The executive order signed by Trump on Wednesday, coinciding with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, referred to trans women as men and barred them from competing in women’s sports in schools receiving federal funding under Title IX. The order stated that any schools receiving federal funds that allow trans women to compete will have the funds revoked. The executive order said that allowing trans women to compete with cisgender women was “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.” In response to the executive order, the NCAA on Thursday changed its participation policy and banned trans women from competing in women’s sports. Fewer than 10 transgender athletes competed last year in the NCAA, the college sports association’s president, Charlie Baker, told Congress in December. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. View the full article

Has a kicker ever meant more to an NFL city? Justin Tucker arrived in Baltimore in the spring of 2012, as the city was still reeling from a missed field goal and a lost trip to the Super Bowl for its beloved Ravens. The Houston transplant drove field goal after field goal his first season, until he and his teammates celebrated a championship under confetti rain in New Orleans. That would have been enough to cement Tucker as a hero in his new hometown, but he kept getting better. Over 13 seasons, he made field goals at a higher rate than anyone in NFL history, including a record 66-yarder to pull out a miracle win in Detroit in 2021. Tucker, now 35, wasn’t just the guy who split the uprights with superhuman efficiency. He was the telegenic pitchman who peddled Royal Farms chicken during every other commercial break, the amateur opera belter who sang “Ave Maria” at a Catholic Charities Christmas Festival to raise money for adults with intellectual disabilities, the romantic who won fans’ hearts and his girlfriend’s (now wife) with his candlelit proposal atop Baltimore’s Four Seasons Hotel. Those images of Tucker are incongruous with recent allegations by nine massage therapists of inappropriate sexual behavior from Tucker between 2012 and 2016. The Baltimore Banner reported last month that six massage therapists, who worked for four high-end spas around the Baltimore area, had accused the Ravens kicker of “exposing his genitals, brushing two of them with his exposed penis, and leaving what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments.” Three more therapists subsequently accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior in interviews with The Baltimore Sun and The Banner. Tucker called the allegations “unequivocally false” in a statement posted on X, and his attorneys told The Banner it was “unremarkable” and “not news” that his genitals might have been exposed during massage sessions. Tucker’s denials did not make it any easier for fans to process the allegations. “You want to like the guy,” said Carson Green, a Ravens fan who grew up in Catonsville and lives in Frederick. “And my reaction is: Why would six people lie, with pretty detailed reports all lining up?” Like many, Green struggled to square the star kicker who’s entwined in the fabric of Baltimore sports with the person described in the accounts of alleged misbehavior. “It’s really hard to hear,” Green said. It’s a cognitive dissonance that arises whenever a beloved athlete suddenly becomes the subject of ugly headlines. “In addition to just feeling sad about it, you feel kind of betrayed,” said Bob Dorfman, a San Francisco-based sports marketing analyst. “It’s a guy you’ve liked and followed for years, a local institution. You’re seeing him in commercials all the time locally, he seems to be a good Catholic — one of those players who crosses himself before he kicks, a family man, all of those things. So you develop a trust. You feel like he’s a friend. And then you hear something like this, and you just feel cheated. It definitely hits harder.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | If Ravens decide to release Justin Tucker, here’s when they might do it Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Tucker faces more allegations of inappropriate conduct Baltimore Ravens | Ravens kicker Justin Tucker denies allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ at high-end spas Of all the Ravens, Tucker has been here longest, the last remaining member of the 2012 team that swept to an unexpected Super Bowl championship. He was the fresh-faced rookie kicker from Texas, undrafted and mostly unknown until he started driving footballs through the uprights again and again in clutch moments. From there, he became perhaps the greatest ever to practice his craft, filling Baltimore with provincial pride when he was profiled on “60 Minutes,” with reporter Jon Wertheim asking: “Since when have you heard this kind of swooning over a kicker?” Commentators spoke of him as the rare kicker who’d breeze into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tucker’s No. 9 jersey became almost as familiar a sight at M&T Bank Stadium as Ray Lewis’ No. 52 or Lamar Jackson’s No. 8. He spoke with heart on sleeve about what that bond with the public meant to him. Before the Ravens hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game last season, Tucker said: “I’m getting to play in my hometown stadium, where my home is. Getting to play for a championship in that way is really, really special.” In denying the accusations against him, he touched on his reputation around town, writing: “I have always made a conscious effort to be considerate and respectful in all of the interactions with the community that I love so much.” Over the past week, online discourse has run the gamut, with some fans urging the Ravens to cut ties with Tucker immediately and others arguing he deserves the benefit of the doubt given his denials and the fact that he currently faces no criminal or civil charges. Justin Tucker celebrates after making a field goal against the Bengals in 2019. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff file) Radio host Cordell Woodland, who has talked about the allegations on his 105.7 “The Fan” show, said the majority of fans who have called in believe the reports and want to see Tucker released if the stories are found to be true. Others ask, “Why now?” Woodland said, because the nine therapists who have spoken out all said Tucker’s alleged inappropriate behavior happened years ago. “One of my callers pointed out how Tucker is a very likable guy, which makes the story tough to believe,” Woodland added. “Which is probably something that a lot of fans are struggling with, separating the guy they root for every week from the guy that may have done all these awful things.” Some fans believe Tucker’s denials precisely because they don’t think the allegations fit the figure they’ve observed over the past 13 years. “That guy seems like just a straight-and-narrow guy,” said Eric Cuppett, of Perry Hall. “I don’t know where to go with it.” Cuppett added that his view could change if more information comes to light. “I mean, if it’s true, these women need justice, and he needs to be punished,” he said. “If it [is found to be] true, I feel like he should be cut. I mean, there is no tolerance for that kind of behavior.” Kathleen Cahill, a Towson-based attorney who handles sexual harassment and misconduct cases, described herself as a “huge Ravens fan” and former Tucker fan but said it’s important for the public to understand the courage it took for the kicker’s accusers to speak out against a prominent hometown figure. “It is a very complicated and ongoing experience that they’re subjected to,” Cahill said, noting the potential for doxxing and the unlikelihood of financial benefit given the statutes of limitations in the case. “Hats off to these women. These are important stories to tell.” The Ravens’ Justin Tucker is considered by many to be the greatest kicker ever. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) It’s too early to know whether Tucker will face legal actions from his accusers. Whether he’ll face discipline from the NFL after Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that the league will look into the “serious” allegations against him. Whether he’ll ever again kick for the Ravens, who said in a statement they “take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.” If past cases are instructive, answers to some of these questions might not come for months. What seems clearer is that Tucker’s legacy in Baltimore will never again be as uncomplicated as it was before last week. Eight days before allegations against Tucker were made public, Ravens coach John Harbaugh recounted a conversation he’d had with the kicker as they reviewed a difficult 2024 season in which Tucker made a career-low 73.3% of his field goal attempts. “We had a great conversation yesterday, a really long, honest conversation, and it was great, because we talk all the time, and he’s really a good guy, a mature guy, a thoughtful guy,” Harbaugh said. “Maybe we all saw that Justin Tucker is human. Maybe we got a chance to see that. 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, but it’s something that probably had to happen in terms of his growth as a player and even as a performer.” What Ravens fans would give to go back to that time, when they could simply debate Tucker’s chances to regain his effectiveness as a kicker. Talking about him is more difficult now. It’s apparent in the pained pauses as fans search for the right words, in the fact many don’t want to talk about this story at all, at least not for publication. One phrase kept coming up again and again as they took to Reddit, X and Facebook to share their feelings: “This hurts.” Baltimore Sun reporters Jacob Calvin Meyer and Matt Weyrich contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

We asked readers who will win Super Bowl 59 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in New Orleans. Here are the results from our online poll: Philadelphia Eagles — 65% (201 votes) Pass rush — 35% (107 votes) Here’s what some fans told us (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): With apologies to the late, great Jim Croce, picking the Eagles would be akin to tugging on Superman’s cape while simultaneously spittin’ into the wind. It’s once again the Chiefs’ game to lose. — Laurence Berbert 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