OTAs this week

[oldno82]

Yes...I'm excited about this draft class too, especially Vega and the 4 receivers. We have to remember that the year we got Ogden and Ray we had two first round picks and were picking high because we stunk the year before.

I also think the running back pick in this year's draft may turn out to be a sleeper.

Concerned about O-line meshing but the new line coach has a good reputation and coaching could well have been the downfall for us last year as well as Lamar's injuries.

We are looking good, so far, in the skill positions so it will be interesting to watch how the whole team evolves. It's good our opening schedule is a little soft because it will give the team time to develop the new additions and draft picks.

We'll start to see how things are going in just a couple more weeks.

Seems to me like it's been a long off-season and I'm ready for some football!

[tsylvester]

Dont overlook Hibbner, he should make some great contributions

[oldno82]

Yeah, I was including him as one of the 4 receivers we drafted...two of them are TE's and reports have been positive about them so far.

[tsylvester]

I know I pushed a lot on Serrat pre draft, but this team needs a player like him at the receiver position, tough, great hands, fabulous after the catch big bodied guy. I'm pulling for him

[papasmurfbell]

17 hours ago, oldno82 said:

Yes...I'm excited about this draft class too, especially Vega and the 4 receivers. We have to remember that the year we got Ogden and Ray we had two first round picks and were picking high because we stunk the year before.

I also think the running back pick in this year's draft may turn out to be a sleeper.

Concerned about O-line meshing but the new line coach has a good reputation and coaching could well have been the downfall for us last year as well as Lamar's injuries.

We are looking good, so far, in the skill positions so it will be interesting to watch how the whole team evolves. It's good our opening schedule is a little soft because it will give the team time to develop the new additions and draft picks.

We'll start to see how things are going in just a couple more weeks.

Seems to me like it's been a long off-season and I'm ready for some football!

You have to thank bill for the Ray pick.  That was his move while still in Cleveland.

[oldno82]

Nonetheless, having 2 first round picks in the draft is usually going to be a boon to any team, especially one like the Ravens. I give credit to Bellichek for making the recommendation for Ray though. And, Bill was the coach when the Browns went 5-11 that last season he was their coach.

[oldno82]

11 hours ago, tsylvester said:

I know I pushed a lot on Serrat pre draft, but this team needs a player like him at the receiver position, tough, great hands, fabulous after the catch big bodied guy. I'm pulling for him

I agree with your assessment and I was happy with that pick.

[papasmurfbell]

54 minutes ago, oldno82 said:

Nonetheless, having 2 first round picks in the draft is usually going to be a boon to any team, especially one like the Ravens. I give credit to Bellichek for making the recommendation for Ray though. And, Bill was the coach when the Browns went 5-11 that last season he was their coach.

You are misunderstanding.  Bill made the trade in 95 that turned into the pick Ray was.  The 5-11 got us Ogden.  That season was over once art singed the contract.  Everyone on that team gave up.

[tsylvester]

Any thoughts on Joe Flacco being in the ring of honor?

[oldno82]

Joe belongs there easily in my opinion...he was a good QB here and won us a Super Bowl with that fantastic playoff run.

[papasmurfbell]

The bar for the ring is much lower.  He should be in.  I would throw sharpe, Adams, Gregg, cj, Jermaine, and I’m sure others I could think of if I looked.

[oldno82]

Latest on Namdi from The Sun:

"

Ravens’ Eric DeCosta provides encouraging update on Nnamdi Madubuike

‘Everything looks to be pointed in the right direction,’ general manager says of star defensive tackle

Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike hasn't played since suffering a neck injury in Week 2 last season. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

By Brian Wacker

PUBLISHED: July 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM EDT

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

After months of little-to-no comment from Ravens officials and coaches on the status of Nnamdi Madubuike, general manager Eric DeCosta provided the most encouraging insight to date on the defensive tackle and his neck injury.

“I think everything looks to be pointed in the right direction, but you’re talking about a different type of injury, a different type of circumstance,” DeCosta said during an interview Thursday with 105.7 The Fan. “I’m excited about where Nnamdi is, and I think we’ll have more information in the coming weeks. In the next two weeks, I think we’ll have a lot more information that we’ll be able to share with people.”

Madbuike, 28, hasn’t spoken with reporters since suffering a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 last year.

The injury was serious enough that it was believed to have been career-threatening, though there have been encouraging signs in recent weeks and months, including a neck surgery in April that could put him in line to return for the upcoming season. Madubuike, who led all interior defensive linemen with 13 sacks in 2023 and subsequently signed a four-year, $98 million contract extension in 2024, has also posted workout videos to social media and has been participating in parts of the offseason program, coach Jesse Minter said last month.

DeCosta was even more positive about linebaker Teddye Buchanan, who suffered a torn ACL against the Bengals in Cincinnati in mid-December.

Buchanan, a second-year fourth-round pick out of California who started in 13 games as a rookie, is expected to be back in time for training camp.

“I’m optimistic about both guys,” DeCosta said. “I’m not going to get into all the specifics, but I think you’ll see Teddye sooner than later. He has done a great job. I mean, top 1% of rehabs that I’ve seen in my time here.”

This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1."

 

[tsylvester]

Buchanan started to make some good plays as the season went on. When it first started, through the first 5 or 6 games, I was thinking, & saying he was a bust for the most part. But he started to string together plays each week up to his injury.

Now, with a new dc, and a better front 3/4, he should make the jump.

Madds, he would be gravy on the potatoes if he comes back healthy and at full strength. 

[tsylvester]

20 hours ago, papasmurfbell said:

The bar for the ring is much lower.  He should be in.  I would throw sharpe, Adams, Gregg, cj, Jermaine, and I’m sure others I could think of if I looked.

I agree on both, this ring of honor just doesnt seem to hold the same, what's the word, awe, as it should. But since there are others, put Joe in, even though I don't think he played long, a major sticking point for me, here.

[papasmurfbell]

Length isn’t even the issue.  He was ok at qb.  Nothing spectacular.  

[tsylvester]

48 minutes ago, papasmurfbell said:

Length isn’t even the issue.  He was ok at qb.  Nothing spectacular.  

Only limited by the pass poor offensive lines he played behind. They guy proved how good he was by playing a half on a torn up knee, not too mentioned his playoff run

[oldno82]

The quality of his receivers didn't help him any. He Wasn't a 'great' quarterback but he was good enough if he had had more talent around him. And don't forget the quality of the OC's he had in those days.

[papasmurfbell]

There are definitely contributing factors in not lighting it up.  But the experiment didn’t show results over a number of yrs.

[tsylvester]

True, but you cant draft and pay a pocket passer if you refuse to provide a pocket from which to pass from

[papasmurfbell]

Always invest in the trenches.