Baltimore Beatdown
Ranking the Ravens shopping list for the offseason
With the combine starting and the negotiating window just around the corner, the offseason is just beginning. The Ravens will have a couple of weeks to manipulate the roster as much as possible and reduce their needs heading into the draft. So what are the biggest needs for the Ravens this offseason?
With Justin Tucker under investigation by the NFL for allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct, there’s a potential need at kicker. Even outside of the allegations, Tucker’s performance in the last couple of seasons hasn’t been stellar. Headed into 2024, the last two seasons in 2022 and 2023 were both bottom four seasons for Tucker at 86% and 86.5% respectively. More concerningly though, Tucker was only 52% through 2022 and 2023 from 50-plus yard range, an area that Tucker normally dominated in and what made him the best kicker in the league.
Tucker followed up those concerns with his worst career year in 2024. He kicked a career-low 73.3% on field goals and 96.8% on extra points, the second worst in his career. He didn’t improve from 50-plus either, going 6-for-11. Expect a Day 3 pick or a highly touted undrafted free agent to be brought in.
For once, it feels like there aren’t many questions surrounding the wide receivers heading into the season. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are the clear 1A and 1B of this receiving room. The Ravens will probably expect Devontez Walker to take a pretty big leap and more snaps in 2025. Despite those guys, there is nobody else on the roster, so bodies will need to be added. Tylan Wallace is a free agent and somebody I’d expect the Ravens to want back as depth and a special teams ace. They may bring back Nelson Agholor, or a player at a similar level as insurance.
Expect a draft pick and one or two signings that don’t blow you away but add value, similar to a Snead, Agholor, or Robinson type-signings.
The defensive line was a big strength for the Ravens last year. Along with delivering constant pressure and pushing pockets, they were a huge part of the Ravens' effort to be the top rush defense in 2024. And in 2025, the Ravens will be returning almost all of the contributors with only Brent Urban not returning. The Eagles' Super Bowl run proved the importance of talent and depth along the trenches on both sides of the ball. After not drafting anybody along the line in 2024, expect multiple picks along the defensive line in what is shaping to be a draft littered with defensive line talent.
With more important needs this offseason and the room filled out most of the way already, don’t expect much in the way of free agency outside of Brent Urban having a probable return.
The inside linebacker play...
