Ravens LB Patrick Queen Addresses Extension Talks

As was the case with each of the other middle linebackers selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, Patrick Queen did not have his fifth-year option picked up this spring. As a result, his future with the Ravens beyond this season is in doubt.

Baltimore has expressed a desire to retain Queen past the 2023 campaign, and the 24-year-old has reciprocated that sentiment. However, the Ravens have trade deadline acquisition Roquan Smith on the books with a five-year, $100MM contract signed not long after his arrival, giving the team one major financial commitment at the position. A potential Queen replacement was also added via the draft in the form of third-rounder Trenton Simpson.

Those moves have led to the belief that Queen will price himself out of Baltimore if he delivers a strong season in his walk year. The record-setting Smith extension and the Simpson addition could have been a contributing factor to Queen’s offseason decision to scrub the Ravens from his social media accounts (a common sign of frustration with contract situations), but it was instead a lack of progress on extension talks which caused that course of action, as he recently revealed.

“There were talks and then some stuff fell through,” the LSU alum said, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (subscription required). “Obviously, you get upset. I’m probably going to be gone. That’s, at least, what I was thinking in my head. I’m thinking that I’m gone. Everybody reacts out of emotion to certain things.”

As Zrebiec notes, Queen’s mindset has shifted in a more positive direction since talks broke down, and he was a full participant in training camp. Still, it is difficult to imagine the Ravens making a second eight-figure-per-year commitment at the LB spot, something which will be required if Queen builds off his improved play late last year following Smith’s arrival. As a result, the former represents a logical trade candidate, but no consideration has been given to moving on before a potential free agent departure.

“I got to the point where I was like, ‘Look at who is on your team. Look at how they’re treating you. They’re not about to trade you.’ There were never trade talks or anything,” Queen confirmed. “It was always, ‘We believe in you, you’re our guy.’ It just fuels you and it makes you want to play well. Looking at everybody on the team, you have the chance to do something special here. Why not?”

Expectations will be high for Queen and the Ravens this season, and his individual performance will go a long way in determining his free agent value. They will also no doubt have an effect on the team’s willingness and ability to re-engage in negotiations for what could be a very lucrative second contract.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/4/23

Here are Monday’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: CB Quavian White

Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

The Giants are not certain to have Wan’Dale Robinson available in Week 1. The 2022 second-round pick just came off the team’s active/PUP list, a sign the team believes he can return at some point during the season’s first four weeks. Beasley did not make the Giants’ 53-man roster but resided as a possible P-squad elevation option as Robinson protection. This moves nixes that path, as Beasley cannot play until Week 5.

Morrow has gone from potential Eagles starting linebacker to a player who did not make the defending NFC champions’ active roster. But the team still has the former Raiders and Bears starter in its plans. Morrow, who had signed a one-year deal worth the league minimum this offseason, is now positioned as a depth piece who could be elevated ahead of Week 1. Teams can use two P-squad elevations each week, in addition to standard promotions — which require corresponding roster moves — ahead of the Saturday-afternoon deadline.

Better known as the player chosen with the second-round pick obtained for DeAndre Hopkins, Blacklock moved from Houston to Minnesota via trade in August 2022. But he did not make the Vikings’ 53-man roster this year. The fourth-year D-lineman will be a depth option for the Jaguars.

Ravens Name John Simpson Starting LG

The left guard spot was the only one up for grabs this offseason along the Ravens’ offensive front. A slew of candidates received a look at the left guard spot, but a decision has been made ahead of the season opener.

[RELATED: Recapping Ravens’ Offseason]

Head coach John Harbaugh named John Simpson the starter at the LG spot, putting an end to the competition at that position (video link). Simpson represented the most experienced option who took significant reps during training camp and the preseason, especially compared to the other finalist for the gig, sixth-round rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laula.

It came out shortly before Baltimore’s preseason finale that the left guard battle was down to Simpson and Aumavae-Laula. The latter saw time at both tackle and guard during his time at Oregon, but is viewed as a long-term developmental option. Simpson – who has 21 NFL starts to his name – is, by contrast, much more of a known commodity at this point in his career. The latter will take on first-team duties in 2023 for the first time since he lost a starting role with the Raiders last season.

The Clemson alum started all 17 contests in 2021, and he remained the first choice left guard for the first two games the following season. By December, however, he found himself on waivers with one year remaining on his rookie contract. Simpson earned a PFF grade of 59.5 in 2022, an underwhelming mark which helped explain Vegas’ decision to move on (although it was the highest of his brief NFL career).

Ben Powers excelled at the left guard spot during his walk year last season, pricing himself out of Baltimore in free agency. The former fourth-rounder inked a four-year, $52MM deal with the Broncos, making him part of the team’s major investment project up front. Powers’ absence was first thought to pave the way for 2021 third-rounder Ben Cleveland to ascend to a starting role, and the latter was indeed one of the initial contenders for the role. He underwhelmed in the summer, though, and it was in doubt during roster cutdowns that he would even make the initial 53-man squad.

That will lead to questions about Cleveland’s future with the Ravens beyond 2023. In the meantime, attention will turn toward Simpson’s ability to succeed between former All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley and 2022 first-round center Tyler Linderbaum in his first full year in Baltimore. Replicating Powers’ level of play from last year would go a long way in helping Simpson’s prospects with the Ravens or another team on the open market, while helping the team maintain a strong offensive front.

Ravens GM Discusses J.K. Dobbins Contract, Wants To Keep RB In Baltimore

After being activated from PUP earlier this month, J.K. Dobbins assured that he’d be leading the backfield heading into the 2023 campaign. However, his status beyond this season continues to be in doubt.

[RELATED: Ravens Have Discussed Extension With RB J.K. Dobbins]

There were some whispers that Dobbins’ absence from OTAs and minicamp could be related to his expiring contract, and the two sides reportedly engaged in extension talks earlier this month. However, there’s been no progress since that time, and it looks like Dobbins will hit free agency following the upcoming campaign.

Despite his uncertain future status in Baltimore, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made it clear that the two sides are interested in a long-term arrangement.

“We love J.K.,” DeCosta told reporters yesterday (via Brian Wacker and Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun). “When he’s played, he’s been a warrior. He’s played through injuries when he’s been able to. Very talented guy, great attitude. He’s a leader, he’s respected. I’ve got a strong affinity for him personally.

“We’re excited to see what he’s gonna do this year. I know he wants to be here. We want him here.”

As the Baltimore Sun reporters note, Dobbins previously danced around the question of whether he skipped OTAs because of contract or injury concerns.

“That’s a tough question,” Dobbins said late last month. “I was just being cautious. My teammates need me, so I want to be there for my teammates. That’s all it was. My teammates understood what was going on.”

It’s not a huge surprise that the Ravens are remaining patient before handing Dobbins a new deal. After all, the former second-round pick missed the entire 2021 campaign while recovering from a major knee injury. He required another cleanup procedure during the 2022 campaign, limiting him to only eight games overall (plus another playoff game).

Dobbins’ camp could point to the RB’s production before and after the cleanup procedure. Before, Dobbins averaged 3.51 yards on his 35 attempts. In the four games after his return, he averaged 6.96 yards on his 57 carries, and he had 105 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches in the playoffs.

The declining RB market likely means Dobbins will be hard pressed to earn a lucrative pay day. Considering his injury-marred 2021 and 2022 seasons, it makes sense for both sides to wait it out and see how Dobbins holds up for the entire 2023 campaign.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/23

Following a busy roster deadline day on Tuesday, teams continue to reshuffle their rosters. Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Placed on IR: TE Stephen Sullivan

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

The Ravens brought back a trio of veterans to their 53-man roster. Brent Urban is probably destined for the biggest role, with the veteran lineman serving as the top backup to Broderick Washington at defensive end. Urban got into 16 games for Baltimore last season, collecting 21 tackles and one sack. Veteran QB Josh Johnson will slide behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on the depth chart, and Kevon Seymour will continue his role as a key special teamer.

The Cardinals are temporarily losing some production with offensive lineman Dennis Daley and linebacker Myjai Sanders being placed on IR. Daley joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal this offseason after starting 15 of his 17 appearances for the Titans in 2022. Sanders had a productive rookie campaign, with the third-round pick collecting 23 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

Julian Okwara has turned into a productive pass-rushing option in Detroit. The former third-round pick has collected seven sacks over the past two seasons, but he’ll now be sidelined for the start of the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during in the preseason finale.

Ravens Sign RB Melvin Gordon To Practice Squad

AUGUST 30: Gordon is among the players the Ravens retained on Wednesday by signing him to their taxi squad. A move sending him elsewhere could have been in the cards, however. The Score’s Jordan Schultz reports that the Vikings, Dolphins and Colts each inquired about the two-time Pro Bowler. Instead of taking a deal with those clubs, Gordon will instead look to earn an elevation to Baltimore’s active roster, one which currently includes four backs.

AUGUST 29: Melvin Gordon joined the Ravens in a bid to find a 53-man roster spot and help get his career back on track. That has not worked out as planned, however; the veteran back has been released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Gordon signed in Baltimore last month in a bid to earn a depth spot in the team’s backfield. The Ravens are rostering J.K. DobbinsGus Edwards and Justice Hill, so many considered it a longshot for Gordon to carve out a role. With Dobbins absent for much of the offseason amidst unhappiness with his contract status and all three incumbent backs having missed considerable time in their careers, though, the team still entered training camp with some uncertainty at the position.

Dobbins has since reported to camp, and Baltimore is expected to have a fully-healthy stable of backs to begin the season. As a result, Gordon’s only path to a continued tenure with the Ravens will come via the practice squad. He could elect to take that route, as he did at the end of last season with the Chiefs following his Broncos release. For the time being, the Ravens will move forward without the two-time Pro Bowler in the fold.

Gordon signed for the veteran minimum in Baltimore, and no guaranteed money was included on his deal. The team will therefore see $1.12MM in cap savings with this release. The Wisconsin product had eclipsed 1,100 scrimmage yards and scored 10 total touchdowns in each of his first two campaigns in Denver, marking a succesful follow-up to his time with the Chargers. Fumbling issues led to his release midway through the campaign last year, though, and Gordon could be hard-pressed to find a notable role in the near future.

Amongst the rookies who have drawn praise through training camp and the preseason for Baltimore is undrafted running back Keaton Mitchell. The news of Gordon’s release could signal that Mitchell will find himself on the 53-man roster when the dust has settled, but it remains to be seen if the Ravens will carry four active running backs. In any event, Gordon’s future is now uncertain.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BengalsBrownsRavens and Steelers moves are noted below.

Cincinnati Bengals

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Baltimore Ravens

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Cleveland Browns

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Released:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Ravens Set 53-Man Roster

The Ravens did a bit of work in the days leading up to the roster cut deadline, including the announced release of veteran running back Melvin Gordon. Still, there was a bit of work left to be done today. Here’s the remaining moves Baltimore made in order to get down to 53 players:

Waived:

Released:

The most surprising moves here come at cornerback. Especially with the recent injury trouble facing star corner Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens choice to not only cut two reliable backups in Seymour and Worley but also to waive the fifth-round rookie draft pick Kelly is shocking. The team did reinforce with several free agent veterans like Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby, and Arthur Maulet, and they’re hoping to see strong seasons from second year cornerbacks Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis, both of whom were limited in their rookie seasons due to injury. Look for them to attempt to retain Seymour and Worley on the practice squad. Kelly will have to clear waivers in order to return, a tough ask for a fifth-round talent. Williams is expected to be placed on injured reserve following the deadline, opening a door for Worley or Seymour to return to the active roster.

Brown and Johnson put forth valiant efforts throughout the preseason, essentially allowing starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and primary backup Tyler Huntley to escape the preseason without really being touched. Unfortunately, neither made a strong enough case to remain on the regular season roster. Brown is surely a candidate to return to the practice squad, if he clears waivers.

Baltimore’s tradition of scouting undrafted talent continued this year as the team saw two free agent rookies make the initial 53-man roster. Former East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell gave some strong impressions that helped him beat out Gordon and fellow undrafted signee Wright. Malik Hamm, Lafayette’s all-time sack leader, makes the team behind as of yet unproven pass rushers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, veteran Jadeveon Clowney, and fellow rookie Tavius Robinson, a fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss.

Outside linebacker Tyus Bowser remains on the non-football injury list to start the season alongside long snapper Nick Moore, rookie guard Andrew Vorhees, and cornerback Trayvon Mullen. He’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/23

We are less than 24 hours from the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players. Here are the latest moves teams have made as they pare their squads down toward the in-season limit:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Tino Ellis

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Show all