There’s so much lying in wait for the Ravens’ offseason

It’s all quiet surrounding the Ravens, but there’s a mountain of work still to come.

The Baltimore Ravens accomplished much this offseason. Re-signing their own, adding a few outside free agents, making coaching changes and building for another year of Super Bowl contention. Now, just over two weeks from the NFL Draft, so much remains unresolved for the Ravens.

NFL’s Investigation of K Justin Tucker, Ravens’ Reaction

This one will go only at the NFL’s pace, which is historically slow. The investigation will take “as much time as it needs” and the ensuing punishment will follow. Afterward, the Ravens will then decide to take action, be it releasing Tucker or otherwise.

Mark Andrews’ Status: Trade or contract extension

The Ravens didn’t send Andrews elsewhere during the early days of free agency to create around $11 million in free agency. He remained on the roster on March 17 when is $4 million roster bonus activated. But the Ravens could still trade him. It’s unlikely, yes, but there’s still a realm in which a tight end needy team is willing to part with a valuable draft pick to land a surefire star tight end. If so, the Ravens may be sending Andrews elsewhere and running with up-and-coming budding star Isaiah Likely.

But if the Ravens want to keep Andrews, a contract extension is the bonafide way to do so. Securing the franchise’s receiving touchdowns leader would be the be-all, end-all on the matter. However, there could be a wrench thrown in that after Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride reset the market for the position last week.

Lamar Jackson Contract Extension

The Ravens learned in their last negotiation with Jackson that the longer it takes, the harder and more expensive it becomes. Both sides were frustrated. Jackson at one point requested a trade. General Manager Eric DeCosta has been public in the challenge of negotiating with Jackson.

The best avenue is to sign Jackson to an extension, and the earlier the better. Certainly with his back-to-back seasons of $74.5 million looming in 2026-27.

Derrick Henry Contract Extension

The Ravens landed Henry for a modest two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens. This season, he’s playing on an $8 million AAV deal, which ranks No. 12 among running backs. After only Saquon Barkley out-rushed him last season, it’s all but certain Henry wants to get a re-worked deal or extension, seeing as Barkley is being paid $20.6 million AAV, more than twice what he is earning.

Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum Fifth-Year Options, Extensions

By May 1, the Ravens will have to make decisions on whether to exercise the fifth-year option on both 2022 first-round picks.

Both will cost the maximum on their options as both earned two Pro Bowls with their original team. Hamilton is due $18.6 million. Meanwhile, Linderbaum would earn $23.4 million, which would shatter the center market by more than $5 million.

An extension is likely for Linderbaum to secure the Ravens’ center long-term and not be doing so at an egregious cost. But what will the Ravens do with Hamilton?

Ar’Darius Washington Tender

On March 12, the Ravens applied the lowest-valued tender on Washington, which from Washington’s social media, didn’t appear to go over well.

However, it’s unresolved Washington signs the tender or more comes of the matter.

Potential For New Contracts

Rashod Bateman, WR

In 2023, Bateman did not report to training camp and thus became ineligible for a fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Because of this, the Ravens had all the leverage in potential contract negotiations. Nonetheless, the Ravens signed him on April 29 to a two-year, $12.87 million deal with $8.25 million guaranteed.

When meeting with media a month later in May 2024, Bateman shared he was shocked by the contract extension. And now, there’s a case for Bateman to make that he deserves a better deal after racking up 756 yards and nine touchdowns, along with stepping up in the playoffs with touchdowns in both games.

Kyle Van Noy, EDGE

For a second straight season, Van Noy has shattered his career best in sacks as he totaled 12.5 for Baltimore in 2024 en route to his first career Pro Bowl. But the deal he’s playing on could be one he’s not too thrilled about.

Van Noy is set to make $6.125 million in 2025, which ranks No. 59 among all edge rushers this season. Van Noy finished the 2024 season graded as the No. 26 edge rusher by pass rush grade according to PFF, and No. 25 by overall defense grade. More importantly, he was fourth in the NFL for sacks, surpassed only by Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and Nik Bonitto.

If Van Noy doesn’t want to play under the current deal, he could hold out. He also could retire, which further impacts the Ravens’ thin outside linebacker room.