Eagles Interested In James Urban
The Eagles are interested in Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban as a candidate for their offensive coordinator vacancy, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Urban has been credited with developing Lamar Jackson into one of the league’s premier quarterbacks and he could be ripe for a move up the ladder.
Urban also offers familiarity with the organization. Prior to joining the Ravens, he spent years in Philly on Andy Reid‘s staff. Ironically, he went on to become part of the Ravens’ braintrust that pushed for a trade up with the Eagles in the 2018 draft to select Jackson. The Eagles, who then had both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles under contract, had no real place for Jackson.
The Eagles surprised many when they fired offensive coordinator Mike Groh earlier this offseason. Since then, they’ve been researching OC candidates including former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, as well as former Redskins OC Kevin O’Connell.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/15/20
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Aaron Adeoye
- CB Terrell Bonds
- G/T Will Holden
- G/T R.J. Prince
- DE Ufomba Kamalu
- DE Michael Onuoha
- WR Sean Modster
- WR Antoine Wesley
- TE Charles Scarff
Denver Broncos
- OT Tyler Jones
Green Bay Packers
- DB DaShaun Amos
Houston Texans
- LB Davin Bellamy
- LB Nate Hall
- CB Anthony Chesley
- WR Chad Hansen
- RB Karan Higdon
- OT Rick Leonard
- OT Kyle Murphy
- S Shalom Luani
- S Jonathan Owens
- QB Alex McGough
Minnesota Vikings
- RB Tony Brooks-James
- QB Jake Browning
- WR Davion Davis
- WR Dillon Mitchell
- TE Brandon Dillon
- CB Mark Fields
- CB Kemon Hall
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Brian Allen
- WR Penny Hart
- WR Cody Thompson
- LB Sutton Smith
- LB Pita Taumoepenu
- DT Shakir Soto
Ravens Notes: Carr, Skura, Pierce
Here’s a look at the Ravens as they get set for the offseason ahead:
- Ravens defensive back Brandon Carr told reporters that the “ball is in [the Ravens’] court” when asked about his future (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). Carr, 34 in May, is under contact for 2020, but the Ravens can create $6MM by releasing him. For his part, Carr wants to return – he called the 2019 season one of the “best rides” of his 12-year career. Carr has not missed a single game since 2008 and has started in every appearance. The durable veteran finished out 2019 with two sacks, 49 tackles, and six passes defensed.
- Ravens center Matt Skura, who is on crutches after knee surgery, said there is no timetable on his return (Twitter link via Hensley). After tearing his his ACL, PCL and MCL, he hopes to be back for training camp.
- Interior defensive lineman Michael Pierce is headed towards unrestricted free agency, but he hopes to return to the Ravens in 2020 (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). Pierce, 27, is due for a raise after starting in 14 games for Baltimore in 2019.
Updated 2020 NFL Draft Order
The stage has been set for the conference championships. The Titans, Chiefs, 49ers, and Packers are moving on to the semifinals, while the Texans, Seahawks, Ravens, and Vikings will begin planning for the offseason ahead. Unfortunately for the Texans, their first round pick belongs to the Dolphins.
Here’s an updated look at the 2020 NFL Draft order from Nos. 1-28:
1. Bengals (2-14)
2. Redskins (3-13)
3. Lions (3-12-1)
4. Giants (4-12)
5 Dolphins (5-11)
6. Chargers (5-11)
7. Panthers (5-11)
8. Cardinals (5-10-1)
9. Jaguars (6-10)
10. Browns (6-10)
11. Jets (7-9)
12. Raiders (7-9)
13. Colts (7-9)
14. Buccaneers (7-9)
15. Broncos (7-9)
16. Falcons (7-9)
17. Cowboys (8-8)
18. Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)
19. Raiders (via Bears 8-8)
20. Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)
21. Eagles (9-7)
22. Bills (10-6)
23. Patriots (12-4)
24. Saints (13-3)
25. Vikings (10-6)
26. Dolphins (via Texans 10-6)
27. Seahawks (11-5)
28. Ravens (14-2)
Marshal Yanda Considering Retirement?
The Ravens’ terrific season came to a sudden and surprising end at the hands of the Titans on Saturday night, which leaves Baltimore looking ahead to the 2020 campaign much sooner than it would have liked. And at some point in the near future, the team could be saying goodbye to its longest-tenured player.
Right guard Marshal Yanda, who was named to the eighth Pro Bowl of his career for his typically excellent work in the trenches in 2019, is under contract through the 2020 season. However, many of Yanda’s teammates believe he may have already played the last game of his career, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets.
Yanda, 35, did not publicly commit to playing in 2019 until he inked a one-year extension in April of last year, and with a Super Bowl ring and two First Team All-Pro nods to his credit, he may choose to hang up the cleats and move on to the next stage of his life.
La Canfora cautions that Yanda will take his time with the decision, but if he does choose to retire, the Ravens will have a massive hole to fill on their offensive line. Selected by Baltimore in the third round of the 2007 draft, Yanda has quietly put together a potential Hall of Fame career with his toughness and intelligence, and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ running backs would surely miss him.
If he does come back next year, Yanda stands to earn $7MM, a pittance relative to his importance to the team.
Mark Ingram Expected To Play In Divisional Round
After missing the first two Ravens practices this week, Mark Ingram worked out in a limited capacity Thursday. The Ravens expect their starting running back to play against the Titans on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
A calf strain sidelined Ingram in Week 16. He joined select Baltimore starters in sitting for Week 17 but was practicing during the team’s bye week. However, a setback during those workouts shelved the ninth-year veteran for much of this week’s practices.
Ingram returning certainly represents good news for the AFC’s top seed. The Ravens running back gained 1,018 yards in his age-30 season, joining Lamar Jackson in spearheading the team’s record-setting ground attack. Jackson, Ingram and Gus Edwards each surpassed 700 yards this season. It is not clear if Ingram will receive a full workload against the Titans, making Edwards a potentially bigger factor in the game plan.
The longtime Saints back signed a three-year, $15.5MM contract in March and rewarded the Ravens on their investment in Year 1 of the deal. Ingram played in 15 games, surpassed 100 rushing yards four times and scored a career-high 15 touchdowns. This 1,000-yard season (5.0 per carry) was Ingram’s third over the past four seasons.
Mark Ingram Suffered Calf Setback
- The NFL’s other purple-wearing team will likely go into its second-round game with backfield uncertainty. Previously expected to return for the Ravens‘ playoff opener, Mark Ingram has missed both Ravens practices this week. Ingram experienced a setback with his injured calf last week, leading to the Ravens to shut him down for a bit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). The Ravens are indicating there is a “realistic chance” Ingram plays. Baltimore backup Gus Edwards‘ 5.2 yards per carry ranked third in the NFL this season.
Ravens Sign T Andre Smith
The Ravens have signed veteran tackle Andre Smith, the team announced. Yesterday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweeted that Baltimore worked out Smith, along with 
younger linemen Darrell Williams and Tyler Jones, and obviously the team liked what it saw in the more experienced Smith.
Smith, 32, has not played since November, when the Bengals ended their latest stint with the former top-10 pick. He played in six games this season, starting five, for an embattled Cincinnati offensive line. The team waived the 11th-year veteran in late November, but no team claimed his contract. The Cardinals used Smith as a starter for much of 2018 but cut him during the season, leading the longtime Bengal back to Cincinnati. Smith has started 90 games during his career, but his prime obviously ended years ago. The Texans also auditioned Smith since his latest Bengals departure but did not sign him.
The Ravens opened practice for Saturday’s divisional-round game against the Titans without a tackle on their injury report, but Smith provides veteran insurance in case something should happen to starters Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown during their playoff run. James Hurst had served as the swing man behind Stanley and Brown, but he is probably more effective at guard.
Guard Parker Ehinger, who sat out Tuesday’s practice with a shoulder malady, has been placed on IR in a corresponding move.
Giants To Interview Don Martindale
The Giants have set a date for their interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. They’ll meet on Saturday, as Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Latest On Eli Manning’s Plans]
Martindale has no head coaching experience, but he has guided Baltimore’s top-rated defense in each of the past two seasons. The league has taken notice and Martindale seems likely to land a head coaching job, if that’s what he wants. The veteran coach has expressed a desire to stay in Baltimore, but you’ll often hear a similar refrain from coordinators weeks before they accept a head coaching gig elsewhere.
If the Giants hire Martindale, he’ll reportedly tap LSU passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Joe Brady as his offensive coordinator. Martindale, naturally, would keep the majority of his focus on the other side of the ball.
The Giants need help everywhere, essentially, so they’re casting a wide net in their search. Former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy are among the candidates to replace Pat Shurmur as the head coach of the G-Men.
Cowboys Eyeing Greg Roman?
Some Cowboys officials have Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman in mind for the head coaching position, if it comes available (Twitter link via Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports). As of this writing, the Cowboys still have Jason Garrett as their head coach, so they have not requested an interview with Roman. 
Roman’s stock has skyrocketed this year along with the play of quarterback Lamar Jackson. While Dak Prescott is a different type of player, the pro-Roman crowd in Dallas believes that the Baltimore OC can jumpstart the offense with his run-dominant concepts.
Under Roman’s tutelage in 2019, Jackson threw for 3,127 yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns – all in just 15 games, since he was rested in Week 17.
Since breaking into the NFL in 2011, Roman has served as the OC of the 49ers, Bills, and the Ravens. He has never served as a head coach at the collegiate or professional level.