With the free agency frenzy period slowing down, but the draft still a month away, now seemed like a good time to reset where the Ravens depth chart stands, and what their strategy at each position should be.

Discuss your thoughts on this topic on our message board.

Offense

Quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

Whether or not Lamar Jackson will sign an extension is a muddy situation. The Ravens have said they are moving at Lamar’s pace. And Lamar doesn’t seem to be doing anything. This isn’t the article to discuss it, but the recent 5/$230M fully guaranteed contract the Browns gave Deshon Watson could be trendsetting. Or not. It’s the first of it’s kind since Kirk Cousins signed a “trendsetting” fully guaranteed deal in Minnesota in 2018. Watson is getting $46M per year, meaning Jackson would likely seek $50M per. He is set to make just north of $23M this season on the 5th year option. If franchise tagged next season, he would make an estimated somewhere over $30M. I say all that to say, that Jackson is betting on himself in 2022 if he’s willing to play on his current contract.

Draft strategy: It wouldn’t hurt to use one of their five, 4th round picks here. It’s not a good quarterback class at the top and they don’t need Malik Wills or Kenny Pickett. But we now know who Tyler Huntley is, and the answer is “not it.” Huntley should get some preseason competition and earn his spot. Lamar Jackson’s future, though not immediate future, also hangs in the balance. If they were to not agree on a number entering 2023, talks go the way of former Packers wideout Davante Adams, who refused to play on the franchise tag and was subsequently traded to the Raiders, the haul for Jackson would include a number of first round picks over the next few years, one of which could be used to get their next guy. I would still get a fresh face to challenge Huntley, and best case scenario, motivate Jackson to negotiate.

Running backs: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Nate McCrary, Ty’Son Williams

The first three names on the list are all coming back from injuries that cost them all of 2021. Hill will likely be more of a special teams player, especially with Anthony Levine retiring, and Chris Board moving on to Detroit. He’ll be relied upon in that department. Otherwise, injuries be damned, let’s go!

Draft strategy: Pass. Dobbins and Edwards have two years left on their current contracts, and Dobbins definitely looks like the type you want to extend. Remember he led the league in yards per carry in his rookie season. I expected a breakout 2021 season and my expectations haven’t changed despite the setback.

Fullback: Patrick Ricard, Ben Mason

Welcome back, Patrick Ricard. He signed a three-year deal to stay in Baltimore, making him the second highest paid fullback behind former Raven, Kyle Juszczyk in San Francisco. Ben Mason will need to make the team as a special teamer, or he’ll be cut for the second time in as many years.

Draft strategy: Pass. Should have passed on Ben Mason, but I’ve beat that drum enough.

Offensive line:

Starters: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Patrick Mekari (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)

Backups: Ben Cleveland (LG), Trystan Colon (C), James Murray (C), Tyre Phillips, (RG/RT), Ja’Wuan James (RT), Jaryd Jones-Smtih (T)

I’m happy with the interior of the line. Guards were solid in 2021, and Cleveland offers depth at LG. Mekari can play all spots. Ronnie Stanley’s health is a concern. But he should be able to get a full training camp in, not be rushed back for week 1. Morgan Moses is the newcomer at right tackle. I worry about his pressure rate allowed; it was the same as Alejandro Villanueva (7.2%), who played turnstile for most of 2021 before retiring. But he also protected a rookie quarterback most of the year in Zach Wilson who maybe held the ball for far too long. If Moses is an upgrade over Villanueva, and Stanley is 100%, then this has the makings of one of the top O-lines in the league.

Draft strategy: Draft Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa, in round 1. What could make this O-line really special is adding what some call a generational talent at the center position. Checking in at 6’2”, 296 pounds at the combine, will give some teams pause though as by today’s standard, that could be seen as under-sized by some teams. You know who else was under-sized? Ray Lewis. But watch Linderbaums tape. Adding Linderbaum means Mekari, who plays all three positions, can back up anyone, and allows you to easily cut Tyre Phillips who hasn’t shown well even once in two seasons now. So much of the Ravens offense is dependent on the O-line. Make it as strong as you can. I’m also targeting a tackle somewhere in day 2. The afore mentioned Phillips cannot be relied upon, and we don’t know what James brings to the table after such a long injury layoff. Some regression from Ronnie Stanley still means he’s likely a Pro Bowler if not an All-Pro anymore.

Tight ends: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver, Tony Poljian

You can obviously pen Andrews and Boyle in the top two spots, barring injury. Oliver and Poljian will compete for the third spot.

Draft strategy: Use one of the five, 4th round picks on a TE. They usually need a year to get acclimated to the pro game, learning blocking and route running at this level. Oliver and Poljian are just guys. Boyle offers $6M in cap savings in 2023 if the Ravens chose to cut ties. That’s not a small number. Especially if you have a promising TE2 entering his second season.

Wide receivers: Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, Tylan Wallace, Miles Boykin, Binjimen Victor, Jaylon Moore.

For once, the Ravens don’t need to the address the position with mid-tier free agent disappointments like Sammy Watkins, Mike Wallace, Lee Evans, and a host of others. Bateman, Duvernay, Proche, and Wallace have shown A+ catching ability, and Marquise Brown brings special speed to the table when used correctly. The Ravens like Boykin as a run blocker, but he barely saw the field last year. They entertained trading him but to no one’s surprise, looks like no takers. Victor and Moore are just guys.

Draft strategy: Pass. Everyone but Brown has multiple years in front of them. Considering Christian Kirk and Allen Robinson just signed for AAV’s of $18M and $15M respectively, picking up Hollywood’s 2023 5th year option for a little over $13M seems like a bargain.

Defense

Defensive line

Ends: Derek Wolfe, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington

Nose: Michael Pierce, Isaiah Mack, Xavier Kelly, Khalil McKenzie, Aaron Crawford

It’s a lot of names, but not a lot of depth. Welcome back Michael Pierce. He steps into Brandon Williams role, but what Williams never brought was a pass rush. Pierce opted out of the 2020 season, but notched 16 pressures in 2021 with Minnesota. That matched his 2019 total in Baltimore, but he did it in less than half the pass rush assignments last year. In today’s game, you have to generate pressure, not just eat space. If the Ravens can start getting home with a four-man rush, they will be well on their way to an elite unit with the secondary they have built.

Draft strategy: Multiple 3rd or 4th round picks need to happen here. The Ravens have a propensity of turning water into wine in the middle rounds, and even in the undrafted market where Pierce originally came from. Small school guys like Brandon Williams that are under the radar, the Ravens find a pulse there. Different position, but Matt Judon is another example. Like I said, not a lot of depth past what would be the starting three or four, and Wolfe missed all of 2021 with a back injury that turned into hip surgery. No telling what 2022 will look like for him. They need more depth and as the days go by, it doesn’t look like Calais Campbell is returning, though still on the market.

Inside linebackers: Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch.

Queen immediately got better when he switched to the weak side and Josh Bynes, who is still available to return, stepped into his place on the strong side. The Ravens have made a bevy of free agent moves and with about $5.6M in cap space, can still get Bobby Wagner, or Anthony Barr, so Queen can stay on the weak side where he flourishes. Bynes return would be fine, but not game changing. Harrison was probably originally thought of as the weak side backer to Queen’s strong side. Welch is your special teamer.

Draft strategy: Sign Wagner or Barr so you can pass! I don’t want the responsibility of a strong side backer going to a rookie, and I don’t trust Queen to slide back into that role he struggled in. I don’t trust he’ll magically figure it out. There isn’t a premium on inside backers like there is on edge rushers and corners, so maybe throw a day 3 dart, grab plenty of undrafted guys, and find out in camp who can do what. Another team’s camp casualty in August might be someone who the Ravens can snag on the cheap if it comes to it. On a budget, I’d bring Bynes back if I had to. L.J. Fort is still on the market as well, but once again, was in the weakside rotation in 2020 before injury ended his 2021 season before it started.

Outside linebackers: Odafe Oweh, Tyus Bowser, Jaylon Ferguson, Daelin Hayes

Oweh is poised for a breakout season, while we cross our fingers that Bowser will be ready for 1 as he rehabs a week 18 torn Achilles this offseason. Ferguson isn’t wowing anyone, and Hayes only played four snaps last season. Ideally, Za’Darius Smith would have honored his counteroffer that the Ravens accepted and Bowser could be a third rusher who also excels in coverage. After Von Miller got $120M though, Smith backed away seeking more, and a hole we thought was filled, once again, is vacant.

Draft strategy: Day two pick is a must, assuming you go with Linderbaum in round 1. Edge rushers are deep in this draft, and at a premium position, it pays to have young and cheap OLBs. You could get a guy in round two that in another draft class that isn’t as deep, may have been a first rounder. A guy with great looking explosion numbers at the combine is Arnold Ebiketie out of Penn State. For what its worth, Ravens GN, Eric DeCosta, is at Penn State’s Pro Day today. Ferguson is as good as gone, in my opinion. You lack bodies, and Bowser’s foot in question for the start of games makes it even more of a priority to address.

Cornerbacks: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Iman Marshall, Robert Jackson, Kevin Tolliver

Once again, a top heavy position that lacks depth. I don’t even know who plays nickel right now. Tavon Young was released, and Jimmy Smith will only entertain playing for the Ravens, or retiring, But will the Ravens entertain him?

Draft strategy: If you don’t go Linderbaum at center in round one, try to get Ahmad “Sauce” Gardener, Cincinnati. Prototypical size for a corner (6’3”). Allowed zero touchdowns in his college career. He allowed college quarterbacks to amass just a 31.2 passer rating in his direction. You have a better rating spiking the ball in the dirt every play. If you get Gardener, Humphrey can play nickel where he did quite a bit in 2019 and 2020. You probably need another one in day 3 of the draft as well. Marcus Peters is now in his contract year after all.

Safeties

Strong: Chuck Clark, Tony Jefferson, Geno Stone

Free: Marcus Williams, Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington

Marcus Williams was the headline free agent signing for the Ravens, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $70M. He fills a giant need. Stopping the big play from happening. He’s got a nose for the football with the highest “Ball Hawk” rate according to Next Gen Stats. Chuck Clark will be more comfortable back on the strong side. Tony Jefferson is a returning vet, and we saw a little of Geno Stone and Brandon Stephens last year. Guys were fine, room for improvement, but not bad. Interested in seeing Ar’Darius Washington this pre-seasons. One of Pro Football Focus’ darlings, #44 on their big board in 2021, went undrafted because he’s 5’8”.

Draft strategy: Pass. There is a good mix a veteran talent and youth with upside here.

Special Teams

Future Hall of Famer Justin Tucker, check. Old reliable Sam Koch, check. Able bodied long snapper Nick Moore, check.

Let’s go! The only possible question here is Sam Koch. He is 40. He may not be as sharp as he once was. Damn good holder though. Still don’t think I’ve ever seen a botched hold on his part. He is in the final year of his contract and would be $2.1M in cap space savings if the Ravens wanted to go in another direction. But you’d have to replace him so it really amounts to maybe $1.1M give or take in savings. Looks like a lock he’s here in 2022.

Draft strategy: You’re joking, right?

To recap, the Ravens have the following draft picks, and here’s what I would do with them in rounds 3+, in no particular order. Obviously a fluid situation.

Round 1 – Tyler Linderbaum (C) or Ahmad Gardner (CB)

Round 2 – Arnold Ebiketie (Edge)

Round 3 – Tackle

Round 3 – Defensive line

Round 4 – C or CB. Whichever you didn’t get in round 1.

Round 4 – Defensive line

Round 4 – Quarterback

Round 4 – Tight end

Round 4 – Cornerback

Round 6 – Strong side linebacker

Mike Randall
Mike Randall

Ravens Analyst

Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at [email protected].

X