HEADLINES

Ravens Rumors

Ravens Not Expected To Trade Back Out Of First Round?

April 13th, 2024 at 5:07pm CST by Ely Allen

Those who have followed the Ravens over the past several years may be a little surprised to hear that, sitting at the back end of the first round, the Ravens are not expected to trade back out of the first round. Team writers Clifton Brown and Ryan Mink noted after a pre-draft press conference this week that it would take a “premium” trade offer for the team to move down.

Trading back was a common practice for former general manager Ozzie Newsome, whether just moving back later into the first round or outside of the first round altogether in order to acquire more draft capital. Eric DeCosta, Newsome’s successor, has taken a bit of the opposite approach, twice trading players to obtain an extra first-round selection. DeCosta has been shown to value the fifth-year option that is standard on the contracts of first-round draft picks much more highly than Newsome did.

The Ravens aren’t in desperate need for more draft picks (they have nine at this point in the process), but the franchise has been notorious for hitting on early-Day Three picks. The team is also known for ignoring positions of need in favor of the “best player available” mentality. If they don’t feel the players available by the time their pick rolls around are worth their draft slot or are “must have” players, Baltimore still may opt to move down. Regardless, DeCosta has hopes that a player ranked in their own top-20 rankings finds their way down to the 30th pick. If not, the team would look for a team willing to give up a good haul to move back into Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

So, what are the Ravens going to be looking for at their draft slot? The team has reportedly been continuously linked to offensive tackles and wide receivers so far in the pre-draft process. While those are positions of need in most people’s eyes, those are also the positions that the team’s analysis tells them will have the most-valuable prospects still around that late in the draft. Proof of that thinking can be found in their approach to a first-round cornerback. Cornerback is also a glaring need for the Ravens, but the depth of the position likely won’t keep the draft’s better cornerbacks available that late into the first round, so Baltimore will focus more on the line and receiving corps.

Another position they may go to at No. 30 overall is edge rusher. The team knows that the top-end pass rushers will not be around late in the first round, so they are doing their homework on the second-tier players at the position. A few of those second-tier guys rank from the 25th to the 45th best prospects on the Ravens’ board, so DeCosta could hope to land one at 30 or 62, depending on the value available.

Lastly, DeCosta told the media that there is a “strong chance” that Baltimore will draft a running back at some point in the draft. The signing of veteran bell-cow Derrick Henry certainly reduced the need to draft a rusher early, but a lack of significant depth at the position makes adding a rookie a likely scenario. The rookie back will join Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell, coming back from knee surgery, behind Henry on the depth chart.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024

April 10th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Ravens To Sign WR Deonte Harty

April 10th, 2024 at 4:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 10: Harty’s visit has indeed produced a contract. The parties agreed to a one-year deal on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Harty will now enter the draft as Baltimore’s leading candidate for both the kick and punt returner gig, and he could see rotational usage on offense as well. His role in the latter department will of course be affected by any rookie WR additions made later this month.

APRIL 5: In need of depth at receiver and a new return specialist, the Ravens are looking into an option capable of filling both roster holes. The team is hosting Deonte Harty, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Baltimore saw Devin Duvernay depart in free agency, leaving the team in need of a new returner. Harty could contribute in that regard, having earned All-Pro acclaim during his rookie season with the Saints owing to his special teams work. The 26-year-old spent his first four seasons with New Orleans, posting 570 yards and three touchdowns on offense in 2021.

When the Bills signed him last offseason, though, they did so with the intention of having him serve in a depth receiver role while making a larger third phase impact. Harty signed a two-year deal early in free agency, and the season-ending injury suffered Nyheim Hines allowed him to serve as the Bills’ primary returner. Harty averaged a career-high 12.4 yards per return on punts, highlighted by a 96-yard touchdown. He was among the many Buffalo players released in a cap-cutting move ahead of free agency, however.

The Baltimore native only returned one kickoff, a figure which comes as little surprise given the increasing trend of touchbacks around the NFL in recent years. Given the rule changes aimed at increasing return rates, though, teams are likely to prioritize returners compared to years past. Harty could take on both kick and punt return duties, although receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Justice Hill represent other options in that capacity with Duvernay no longer in the fold.

Of course, the latter’s absence as well as that of Odell Beckham Jr. leaves the Ravens in the market for a complementary wideout addition. Harty made just 15 receptions with the Bills last year, logging a 15% offensive snap share. He could see a slightly larger workload in Baltimore, a team which retained Nelson Agholor and will likely make at least one receiver selection in the upcoming draft. The Ravens entered Friday with $12MM in cap space, and it will be interesting to see if Harty’s visit produces an agreement.

RB Derrick Henry Addresses Ravens Deal

April 10th, 2024 at 4:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Derrick Henry is in place atop the Ravens’ depth chart entering 2024, after he became one of several running backs who quickly found new homes in free agency. When reflecting on his Baltimore deal, he confirmed that was his preferred destination.

“For the record, Baltimore was always my No. 1 option,” Henry said during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show (audio link). “That’s always where I wanted to go. And like I said, I know the trade talks [during the season], it was almost going to happen, but I didn’t know once free agency started if they still felt the same way until I talked to my agent to see what was really going on.”

Indeed, the Ravens remained a top suitor for the former Offensive Player of the Year. Team and player worked out a two-year agreement worth up to $20MM in short order, giving Baltimore a new lead back. Henry had contemplated a deal sending him to the Cowboys, owing to the fact he lives in Dallas during the offseason and the departure of Tony Pollard. The Cowboys never made contact about a deal, however, leaving the 30-year-old free to join a Ravens team known for relying on a run-first offense.

“I just felt like it fit, their culture, what they’re all about,” Henry added. “I feel like it fits my style of play, and I just felt like it was going to be destined at some point… You know you feel like you’ve got a feeling about something, it just feels like it’s meant to be? That’s what I felt about Baltimore.”

Henry, a two-time rushing champion, will handle lead back duties in 2024 on a Ravens team which lost Gus Edwards and has seen J.K. Dobbins go unsigned well into free agency. The team does have Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell on the books, though the latter is rehabbing an ACL tear. As a result, the Ravens could very well be in the market for a backfield addition later this month.

General manager Eric DeCosta confirmed during a Tuesday press conference (via the team’s website) there is a “strong chance” Baltimore drafts a running back this year. Other positions – such as offensive line, cornerback and edge rusher – represent more urgent roster priorities as things stand. With nine selections, though, the Ravens will have the chance to use Day 2 or 3 to add a rookie behind Henry in the team’s new-look backfield.

Lamar Jackson Involved In Ravens’ Draft Preparation

April 8th, 2024 at 10:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Preparing for the draft following a free agent period in which several starters departed, the Ravens are in need of multiple rookies capable of providing an impact in 2024. The team’s front office and coaches are obviously central figures in the ongoing scouting process, but they are not alone in that regard.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson has provided head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta with his input on receiver and tight end prospects in the 2024 class, as detailed by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. This marks the second straight offseason in which the reigning MVP has done so.

“He is looking at guys now,” Harbaugh said at the league meetings (via Hensley). “He and I agree on a few guys. We haven’t disagreed on anybody yet. We’re sharing our vision together.”

Specifically, Jackson – a native of Pompano Beach, Florida – has given his thoughts on local pass-catching prospects. In the case of last year’s draft, that meant supporting the selection of Zay Flowers in the first round. The latter (who grew up in Fort Lauderdale) enjoyed the most productive rookie season in franchise history with a 77-855-5 statline. South Florida Ravens connections at the position also date back to Marquise Brown, Baltimore’s top pick in 2019.

The Ravens own pick No. 30 in 2024. After losing three starters along the offensive line this offseason, a selection aimed at providing reinforcements up front would come as little surprise. Edge rush and cornerback have also been named as potential positional targets for the team’s top selection. Still, there will be a number of wideouts available late on Day 1, and Jackson’s thoughts on those from his backyard will be taken into account.

Other franchise passers, of course, have varying degrees of input in roster-making decisions around the NFL. In the case of the Ravens, Jackson is being given sway in the overall direction of the team’s offense. As such, it comes as little surprise his perspective on local pass-catching options will receive consideration. In need of at least a depth addition at the receiver spot, it will be interesting to see if Baltimore makes a move influenced in part by Jackson’s recommendations.

Washington OT Troy Fautanu Generating Interest

April 8th, 2024 at 5:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Troy Fautanu is turning into a popular name on the workout circuit. The Washington offensive tackle will travel to Jacksonville tomorrow to take a top-30 visit with the Jaguars, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

[RELATED: Bengals Host Washington OT Troy Fautanu]

In addition to his previously reported visit with the Bengals, the projected first-round pick has also met with the Ravens. Fautanu is expected to take future top-30 visits with the Steelers and Eagles.

Fautanu spent the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors while blocking for Michael Penix Jr.. That performance helped put the lineman in the first-round conversation for the 2024 draft. Fautanu has generally been lauded for his speed and athleticism, and the six-foot-four, 317-pound lineman certainly has the physical attributes to compete as an NFL offensive tackle.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is still expected to be the first lineman off the board. Fautanu will likely be competing with the likes of Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and Alabama’s JC Latham to be the second OT selected.

Considering the league-wide need for offensive tackle depth, it’s not a surprise that the Washington product is generating plenty of interest from NFL teams. Besides the Ravens, all of the teams connected to Fautanu are currently picking in the teens or earlier 20s. While the prospect may be hard pressed to crack the top-10, he’ll likely hear his name called during the first night of the draft.

NFL Draft Rumors: Cowboys, McCarthy, Robinson

April 6th, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys hosted a number of 2024 NFL Draft prospects for “top 30” visits this week. The visiting group included potential first-round targets like Taliese Fuaga, Graham Barton, and Darius Robinson as well as projected Day 2 selection Junior Colson.

Fuaga, an offensive tackle out of Oregon State, and Barton, a projected interior offensive lineman out of Duke, make sense considering the Cowboys’ losses on offensive line this offseason of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. If Fuaga is able to start, this would allow Dallas to keep Tyler Smith at guard, where he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. In order to land Fuaga, though, the Cowboys would likely have to trade up earlier into the first round. Barton played left tackle for the Blue Devils for the last couple of years, but his early college film at center shows the versatility that he could bring at the NFL level.

Robinson, a defensive end out of Missouri, feels like the typical Cowboys pass rusher selection and adds depth to a position that saw Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler follow former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington. A bigger defensive end, Robinson could provide some versatility across the defensive line and may be available long enough for the Cowboys to trade back to collect some extra picks and still select him. Colson, a linebacker out of Michigan, would be a nice addition to a position that could use some attention with Micah Parsons spending more time at end. While he’s likely a second- or third-round pick, he’s worth note as he’s expected to be the first linebacker off the board.

Here are a couple of other rumors making the rounds in the weeks leading up to this month’s draft:

  • We have seen the draft stock of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy soaring over the last few weeks. Once considered a tier-two quarterback behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, the polarizing McCarthy has somehow found himself in consideration for the No. 2 overall draft selection. While his stock continues to inflate, Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan pointed out some of the red flags that have some scouts feeling less than confident about the former Wolverine. McCarthy has been compared to former Steelers’ first-round pick Kenny Pickett “due to his inability to drive the ball down the field.” His strong sense of timing made up for a lack of arm strength in college, but some worry that it will prevent him from being able to make some throws at the NFL level. While he’s almost guaranteed to be a first-round pick due to the top-heavy nature of the position this year, many don’t have a first-round grade on McCarthy.
  • Chop Robinson is set to be the next pass rusher out of Penn State to be selected in the first round. The projected Day 1 edge rusher had already taken visits with the Eagles, Ravens, and Saints, but Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz informs us that visits with the Giants and Jets were scheduled for this past week, as well. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that the Texans have Robinson firmly on their radar after meeting with him at the NFL scouting combine.

Ravens Did Not Attempt To Retain LB Patrick Queen

April 4th, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, a number of free agents have departed the Ravens this offseason. Last year’s top seed in the AFC faced the prospect of losing a number of starters, and linebacker Patrick Queen was among those who quickly found a new home on the open market.

The 2023 Pro Bowler signed with the division-rival Steelers on a three-year deal which was agreed to on the second day of the negotiating period. Queen’s pact carries an annual average value of $13.67MM, the fifth-highest figure in the league amongst inside linebackers. After 2024, though, the deal is essentially set up as a year-to-year agreement, marking a surprising lack of long-term security for the second-team All-Pro.

Especially against that backdrop, it is also noteworthy the Ravens remained consigned to the idea of Queen leaving on the open market. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes Baltimore “made no effort this offseason” to retain the 24-year-old (subscription required). The team had a number of other priorities to deal with, and as one of the top free agents on the defensive side of the ball Queen was positioned to command a large market. Even though he worked out a relatively small deal (at least in terms of upfront guarantees), the Ravens clearly turned their attention elsewhere.

Of course, three key decisions made by the team signaled an end to Queen’s time in Baltimore. The Ravens acquired Roquan Smith midway through the 2022 campaign, inking him to a $20MM-per-year deal shortly thereafter. That contract remains at the top of the LB market, and making a similar commitment to Queen would have proven to be a steep financial challenge. Baltimore also elected to decline Queen’s fifth-year option last spring, a move which fell in line with the other linebackers from the 2020 class but nevertheless set up 2023 as a walk year.

Lastly, Baltimore selected Trenton Simpson in the third round of last year’s draft. That provided the team with a potential Queen successor, and Simpson is indeed currently positioned to take over as a starter alongside Smith. The latter is on the books through 2027, but the Ravens could of course use the 2024 draft to add a depth option at the linebacker spot.

Queen will face substantial expectations as a key member of the Steelers’ defense moving forward, and annual contests against Baltimore will provide fodder for storylines centered on him. While it is little surprise he will be suiting up for a new team in 2024, the Ravens will see Queen at least twice next season after conceding his departure well before free agency.

OL Notes: Jets, Alt, Titans, Jones, Steelers, Shelton, Rams, Jones, Ravens, Giants, Hawks

April 4th, 2024 at 9:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Once the draft moves past its quarterback stage, wide receivers are expected to be the focus. This draft also features a few high-level tackle prospects that should go off the board soon after, potentially breaking up the QB-WR string that could lead off this year’s event. Arguably the top tackle available, Joe Alt, has begun his run of pre-draft visits. The Jets and Titans used “30” visits on the Notre Dame tackle this week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. A first-team All-American in back-to-back years and the top tackle on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board (No. 8 overall), Alt should not need to wait long before his name comes off the board.

The Titans (No. 7) and Jets (No. 10) figure to be two prime suitors. The Jets are not as needy here compared to the start of free agency, having reacquired Morgan Moses via trade and signed Tyron Smith. The All-Decade blocker is among the NFL’s most injury-prone players, and with both Smith and Moses going into age-33 seasons, a tackle-in-waiting would benefit a Jets team that has encountered regular issues up front over the past several years. The Titans cut Andre Dillard and have not added a tackle, potentially making them the Alt floor. Though, the Chargers should not be entirely ruled out — now that Jim Harbaugh is running the show — of a first-round tackle investment to pair with Rashawn Slater.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks around the league:

Ravens To Re-Sign OLB Kyle Van Noy

April 4th, 2024 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens expressed interest in re-signing Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, after both became surprising contributors despite signing late in the year. After Clowney bolted for a Panthers proposal, Van Noy is staying in Baltimore.

Van Noy will stick with the Ravens on a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Pat McAfee. After signing in late September last year and ripping off a nine-sack season anyway, Van Noy will be back to help out the defending AFC North champions’ edge-rushing corps. Van Noy’s second Ravens deal will be worth $9MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. He will see $5.25MM in Year 1, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds.

A productive pass rusher — as more of a hybrid player who has spent plenty of time as a traditional linebacker — Van Noy had never topped seven sacks in a season prior to 2023. Although he did not suit up for the Ravens until October, the former Patriots cog established a new career high with nine sacks. Van Noy got there in 14 games, teaming with Clowney to form a free agent-driven OLB crew. Clowney totaled 9.5 sacks but had a head-start, having signed with the Ravens during training camp.

This will be Van Noy’s first multiyear deal since a two-year, $12MM Patriots pact in 2021. The Pats bailed on that accord after one season, leading Van Noy to the Chargers. Filling in for the again-injured Joey Bosa in 2022 (as a May signing), Van Noy continued his string of five-plus-sack seasons by registering five. Van Noy also has not played with the same team in back-to-back seasons since his first Patriots stint (2016-19) ended.

The versatile veteran now has six seasons with at least five QB drops. While the Ravens will probably keep looking for edge help, the team has one box checked via this re-signing. Clowney was a bit more consistent than Van Noy last season, notching 19 QB hits to Van Noy’s nine. He is now tied to a $10MM-per-year deal. But the 33-year-old vet provided strong supplemental work for a Ravens team that led the NFL in scoring defense.

Certainly benefiting from the Ravens’ offense creating leads for most of the season, Van Noy notched two-sack games in Baltimore blowouts over Detroit and Seattle. He rejoins recent draftees Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Neither of the homegrown players has panned out yet, with injuries slowing Ojabo. The Ravens also cut the injury-plagued Tyus Bowser earlier this offseason, which still makes it likely the team makes another move — perhaps early in the draft — for an edge.

At worst, Van Noy profiles as a quality rotational rusher. But he started 13 Ravens games last season. Baltimore has relied on mid- or late-offseason signings here during Oweh’s tenure, using Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul in prominent roles following Matt Judon‘s 2021 free agency departure. It will be interesting to see if another veteran will be en route or if a homegrown option will join the 2021 first-rounder.

Load More Posts