2020 NFL Draft: Top offseason needs for the Baltimore Ravens
Here are five needs that the Baltimore Ravens should address this offseason.
The 2019 NFL season was good to the Baltimore Ravens and their fanbase, as they finished the year boasting a 14-2 record. Second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson took major strides forward in his development, which eventually landed him the league’s MVP award. Their defense was among the NFL’s best units, ranking in the top ten in points allowed, yards per game allowed as well as pass and rushing yards allowed.
However, under coordinator Greg Roman, the Ravens also put together one of the best offenses in the NFL. While the Baltimore Ravens enjoyed a great regular season, their Super Bowl hopes were dashed in the Divisional Round of the 2019 playoffs versus the Tennessee Titans, sending them back to the drawing board for next season. Baltimore’s receivers struggled to catch the ball and the defense failed to generate sacks at a consistent rate throughout the game.
With a few positions struggling a number of impending free agents at positions such as linebacker, defensive tackle and at edge, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves with a few surprising needs going into the offseason. Currently, they possess over $32 million in cap space along with six draft picks, which could increase with the addition compensatory picks.
Looking to reload for another playoff run, here is an in-depth look at the Baltimore Ravens going into the 2020 NFL offseason.
1. EDGE
Pro Bowler Matthew Judon is set to become a free agent this March, meaning the Baltimore Ravens need to address the edge in some capacity this offseason. Even with Judon in town in 2019, the Baltimore Ravens failed to sack opposing quarterbacks on a consistent basis, ranking 21st overall in the NFL in sacks. And outside of Judon, the Baltimore Ravens edge group looks pretty bare.
Currently, the Ravens are rostering players such as former second-round pick Tyus Bowser, who saw his best statistical year in 2019, notching five sacks. Behind Bowser, there is now second-year edge Jaylon Ferguson, who flashed at times during his rookie season while managing to produce two quarterback sacks. Additionally, it’s unlikely that the Baltimore Ravens bring back veteran Pernell McPhee, who was having a solid year up until he sustained a triceps injury.
Given that the Baltimore Ravens have the money to do so, they could most likely go after a veteran pass rusher in free agency. Luckily for Baltimore, there are a number of options in this year’s pool of free agents. Guys such as Bud Dupree, Dante Fowler, Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney could all be targets for the Baltimore Ravens going forward.
Conversely, Baltimore may look to the 2020 NFL Draft for help at the position as there are a number of intriguing options in the class. While they’d certainly be out of the Chase Young sweepstakes, there a few names such as Alabama’s Terrell Lewis, Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos and Wisconsin’s Zack Baun could be targets for Baltimore in the back end of round one.