Offseason Analysis Series: Baltimore Ravens

Meaningful Additions: DB Kyle Hamilton, DB Marcus Williams, OT Morgan Moses, C Tyler Linderbaum, CB Kyle Fuller, EDGE David Ojabo

Meaningful Losses: WR Marquise Brown, WR Sammy Watkins, DB Anthony Averett, C Bradley Bozeman, LB Chris Board, DB Tavon Young

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What Happened Last Year?

(8-9) Fourth in AFC North

Offense

2019 MVP Lamar Jackson had his worst season as a starter in 2021. The Ravens offense was never fully healthy and Jackson's play suffered because of it. Struggling with turnovers for the first time in his career, Jackson threw for 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while also rushing for 767 yards and two touchdowns in 12 starts. Jackson was under constant pressure and did not have much to lean on outside of All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews and the speedy Marquise Brown. Both had the best season of their careers, but Andrews was the true standout and was recognized by being named first team All-Pro and bringing in 107 receptions for 1361 yards and 9 touchdowns. A lot of Andrews' production actually came late in the season when backups Josh Johnson and Tyler Huntley had to fill in for an injured Lamar Jackson. During those five games, Andrews averaged a ridiculous 110 receiving yards a game and totaled 43 catches for 550 yards and 4 touchdowns. In four spot starts for Jackson, Huntley proved that he is a top level backup who I think should get a shot as a starter on another team soon.

Considering Lamar Jackson's ability as one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history, it is no surprise that the Ravens finished the 2021 season with the third most rushing yards in the NFL. Baltimore's ground and pound offense has been extremely effective with Jackson at the helm. If the year was 2016, the Ravens would have had the best backfield in the NFL. However, Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, and Le'Veon Bell were much less effective than their former selves. Freeman led all Ravens running backs with 576 yards on 4.3 yards per carry while Murray followed with 501 yards and 4.2 yards per carry.

Defense

The Ravens secondary was the worst in all of football last season. They allowed the most passing yards in the league and were unable to stay healthy. Starting corner and two time first-team All-Pro Marcus Peters went down before the season started with a torn ACL and the Ravens lack of depth in the secondary was exposed. First Team All-Pro Marlon Humphrey had a down year and also missed time at the end of the season with a torn pec.

On the other hand, Baltimore's rush defense was the best in the NFL. Up front, Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards and the third fewest yards per carry. This bodes well for the Ravens moving forward as their young front seven consisting of Tyus Bowser who led the team in sacks with seven and Odafe Oweh who showed powerful burst as a rookie edge rusher. Second year linebacker Patrick Queen took an important step forward in his development and looked much more comfortable in his role while leading the Ravens with 10 tackles for loss.

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What's Changed?

Healthy Players

The Baltimore Ravens will win the AFC North this season. The defending AFC champion Bengals are not going away, however with a healthy roster the Ravens should be back to hitting on all cylinders. Baltimore was the most banged up team in 2021 and it showed. Their roster was ravaged by injuries before the season even started, losing running backs JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and corner Marcus Peters before the season kicked off. As the year progressed, things did not get any better for the Ravens. All-Pro Left Tackle Ronnie Stanley injured his ankle in week one and missed the rest of the season while Lamar Jackson went down with a bone bruise that kept him out of the final four games of the season. All-Pro corner Marlon Humphrey also missed the last five games of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Getting all of these blue chip players back at 100% will put the Ravens in place to be a Super Bowl contender in 2022. Too many people are caught up with the Bengals after their big run to the Super Bowl and are overlooking the Ravens. On paper, Baltimore's healthy secondary is the best in the NFL and I expect their offense to return to form. There is a lot of outside concern that Lamar's lack of weapons will lead to the Raven's downfall. However, Mark Andrews is playing at an All-Pro level and second year wide receiver Rashod Bateman is more than capable of being Lamar's WR1. With a healthy stable of backs and his bookend left tackle back protecting his blindside, Lamar will be back in the MVP conversation.