Ravens ‘Feel Great’ About Ar’Darius Washington’s Ability to Step in at Safety
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
“Ar’Darius has looked really good. I feel great about him,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said at the end of minicamp.
“He’s already established himself. He’s played in the games – every game he’s played in – he’s played well. He’s looked great in practice, and let’s get him out there and get him in some more games. That’s the goal.”
He played 78% of the defensive snaps in a Week 1 win against the Houston Texans. He played 95% of the snaps in a Week 2 win in Cincinnati. That was just seven fewer snaps than Geno Stone played those two weeks.
Through those first two games, Washington had tallied 11 tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits, and two passes defensed. He was the Ravens’ fifth-highest graded defender against the Texans, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It’s a big opportunity to go out there and compete with the guys to find a spot. It’s going out there doing what I’m supposed to do,” Washington said. “Whatever opportunities I get, I’m going to enjoy it and be out there and have fun with the guys.”
2024 NFL linebacker unit rankings: Jets and 49ers take the top spots
Gordon McGuinness, PFF
This is a challenging ranking. On one hand, Roquan Smith can rival Fred Warner to be the best linebacker in the league, coming off a season in which he earned an 83.2 PFF coverage grade. On the other hand, the untested Trenton Simpson is set to man the second linebacker spot. He flashed against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 but has just 49 NFL snaps to his name.
What should each NFL team be worried about entering camp? Picking one concern for all 32
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
Did they do enough to fill their defensive holes?
This offseason saw an exodus from arguably the league’s best defense in 2023. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and key position coaches Dennard Wilson and Anthony Weaver left for promotions elsewhere. The Ravens also lost outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, cornerback Ronald Darby and safety Geno Stone, among others, in free agency. They added some pieces in the draft and are confident several younger players will emerge at other spots. Still, their defensive depth, particularly at outside and inside linebacker and safety, could become a significant problem if injuries hit.
Can Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley return to All-Pro form?
Jamison Hensley, ESPN
With Stanley agreeing to a $7.5 million pay cut this offseason to remain in Baltimore, he enters the most pivotal season of his nine-year career. He was due to make $15 million this season, as part of a five-year, $98.75 million deal he signed in 2020, but he had to agree to a 50% pay reduction to stay.
Stanley was the best tackle in football in 2019 when he allowed a total of six pressures — the fewest by an offensive tackle in 14 years — during Jackson’s first NFL Most Valuable Player campaign. He became the first Ravens’ first-team All-Pro left tackle since Hall of Fame lineman Jonathan Ogden in 2003.
Last season, Stanley once again blocked Jackson’s blindside in an NFL MVP season, but he was far from the top of his game. He allowed five sacks and committed a career-worst 11 penalties. He also missed four games due to a right knee injury that diminished his strength and mobility.
The Ravens need Stanley to raise his level of play as one of two returning starters on a revamped offensive line. Last year, Stanley was the third-oldest offensive lineman in Baltimore. Now, at the age of 30, he is the second-oldest projected starter on offense, behind running back Derrick Henry.
Ranking the NFL’s top 10 returning head coaches entering 2024
Gordon McGuinness, PFF
3. JOHN HARBAUGH, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Before the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018, it looked like John Harbaugh could be on his way out as their head coach. The former Heisman Trophy winner helped turn things around, and Harbaugh has also improved as a coach in recent years. Harbaugh’s strength has been his ability to make the right decisions on coordinators, as the switch to Mike Macdonald in 2022 led to a defense that allowed an average of -0.134 EPA per play in 2023. On offense, he switched from Greg Roman to Todd Monken, which helped them bounce back to eighth in EPA per play in 2023. They have been the No. 1 seed twice in the Mahomes-Reid era in Kansas City but just haven’t been able to make it count in the playoffs yet.