The Baltimore Ravens entered free agency with several key players set to hit the open market. While it was impossible to keep all of them, the only significant player to remain with the club as of this posting is defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. While a few players have yet to sign anywhere, the team already lost Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson, Morgan Moses, and will not bring Odell Beckham back. Despite this loss of talent, the free agency grade the Ravens received from Pro Football Focus implies that the analysts believe that the Ravens couldn’t have done much better given the limited resources.
In a recent article, Brad Spielberger handed out a grade for all 32 teams in free agency, and the Ravens earned a B. While this wasn’t the top mark in the league, it is a surprising grade seeing how much talent walked out the door.
PFF Gives Ravens ‘B’ Free Agency Grade
The Article
Spielberger’s article focuses on the positives of every single team and acknowledges that Justin Madubuike was the most important free agent on the Ravens. Calling his 2023 season “one of the best contract years in recent memory,” the PFF analyst justifiably rewarded Baltimore for retaining their key defensive lineman.
The article also seems to give the Ravens a good free agency grade for the Derrick Henry signing, which is a little considering this comes from PFF. The data-driven website does not believe in the value of running backs, yet Spielberger is enamored by what the power running duo of Henry and Lamar Jackson could do to defenses.
The Ravens finally get their man, with Henry a target at last year’s trade deadline as Baltimore geared up for a deep playoff run. The duo of Henry and Lamar Jackson in the backfield is going to be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses, and we can’t wait to see it in action.
There is no denying that this is going to be a fun combination to watch. However, was this a wise use of Baltimore’s resources? Running backs are a luxury position in today’s NFL, and while Henry should be dangerous with Lamar Jackson, one could question Baltimore’s decision to use their limited resources on a 30-year-old running back with over 2,000 touches to his name. Seeing as there are so many holes on the roster, this decision should have led to a lower free agency grade for the Ravens.
Why Did the Ravens Receive This Free Agency Grade?
Spielberger only mentions the positives, which means he only discussed the Derrick Henry and Justin Madubuike signings when breaking down the Ravens free agency grade. However, it’s impossible to discuss Baltimore’s offseason without discussing their losses, especially along the offensive line.
Long considered to be a team strength, Baltimore currently needs to find replacements for Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson, and Morgan Moses. The Ravens still have time to find solutions to these problems, as there are still some quality free agents out there and the the NFL Draft is still a month away. However, as of this posting, three of the five starting offensive line spots are up for grabs.
This doesn’t even take into account the potential loss of Jadeveon Clowney. The pass rusher could still return to Baltimore, but right now it appears as though he’s going to take his talents to a different organization. As mentioned earlier, the Ravens didn’t have the cap space to retain all of their players in free agency, but they should have a lower grade for not finding adequate replacements and using what little they had to target a running back.
Main Photo: Andrew Nelles – USA Today Sports
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