The NFL offseason is now in full swing with coaching changes, free agency and the NFL Draft reshaping the 2023 fantasy football landscape. With that in mind, the Fantasy Life squad is breaking down every NFL team to determine what went wrong in 2022 and identify paths to improvement. Let's hear from Jonathan about the next team on the list, the Ravens.

Team Summary

The Baltimore Ravens’ 2022 season got off to a strong start, with the team 7-3 through their first 10 games. From there, they limped to the finish line, going 3-4 in their final seven regular season games and failing to score more than 17 points in a game during that stretch. Their brief playoff run finished with a loss to the Bengals in the Wild Card round.

Unit

Yards/Game

Points/Game

EPA/Play

Offense

338.8 (16th)

20.6 (19th)

0.004 (17th)

Defense

324.3 (10th)

18.5 (3rd)

-0.002 (14th)

It’s no coincidence that the team’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when star QB Lamar Jackson got injured in Week 12. Now, Baltimore faces a difficult offseason of trying to negotiate with their franchise QB, who is acting as his own agent, while also attempting to refresh the offense under new OC Todd Monken.

The Ravens have a talented roster that can be a strong playoff contender with Lamar. Without him, they could be searching for their next franchise QB for quite some time. Figuring out the QB position is of course the most critical offseason business for Baltimore, but they must also upgrade the roster around him or they will continue to run into the same issues that have held them back in recent years.

Every offseason is important, but this one feels like it could be a real turning point for the Ravens organization depending how it plays out. If they are committed to competing for a championship in 2023, I have a few suggestions for the front office.

Fantasy Fixers Recommendations

Nov 27, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Sign Lamar Jackson to a Long-Term Deal 

Despite having pro bowl QB Tyler Huntley as their backup, the Ravens’ offense fell flat after Lamar’s injury. The team is rightfully trying to get the best deal for themselves, but they should not lose sight of the fact that every team in the league hopes to be in the position of extending the franchise QB they drafted.

 

With Lamar Jackson

With Tyler Huntley

Points per Game

25.1

13.1

Passing Yards per Game

202.8

160.3

Total Offense per Game

356.1

315.3

There isn’t much time left until the March 7th franchise tag deadline, but since I get to create the rules for this scenario, I can resolve the differences on both sides and get Lamar signed to a long-term deal quickly.

In reality, the franchise tag is likely to come into play. What remains to be seen is how Lamar will respond to being tagged and whether he will be an active part of the offseason program or not. There have already been rumors of a “hold in” situation if he doesn’t get a long-term deal and having an unhappy QB who isn’t engaged with his new teammates or offensive coordinator doesn’t set up well for success in 2023.  

Lamar is a unique talent who may be impossible to replace. There is definitely risk to giving him a massive deal, particularly if it is fully guaranteed, but it’s a whole lot riskier to let your 26-year-old franchise QB (and former NFL MVP) leave.  

Acquire a Proven Veteran WR (or two)

After signing Lamar Jackson, the second move to fix the offense is to upgrade his weapons. It’s safe to say the Ravens are aware of their shortcomings at the WR position. Wherever you place the blame, the bottom line is still that they need to upgrade their pass catchers. Considering they need a major impact player this year and currently have just five picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, an established veteran makes the most sense. 

The Ravens do have some pieces to work with, most notably Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman. Both are quality players, but have struggled with consistency and availability. A reliable receiver who can act as a true number one in the NFL is a must if the Ravens are going to compete in a loaded AFC.

The splashiest of moves would be to trade for a big-name WR. The two that make the most sense to me are DeAndre Hopkins and Mike Evans (who Monken coached as OC in Tampa Bay), and both have had their names floated as trade candidates in the offseason rumor mill. Either player would instantly upgrade the offense, but their cost might be prohibitive for a team lacking draft picks.

The WR free agent market is pretty bleak, so Baltimore will need to get creative if they are unable to land a premier talent in a trade. If they have to resort to signing unrestricted free agents, there are a pair of players who I think could help the Ravens offense.

The first is Odell Beckham Jr., who sat out last season to recover from the knee injury he suffered in the Super Bowl with the Rams. Beckham played for Monken in Cleveland and the two appear to have a good relationship. If Beckham is truly fully recovered and still looks like a quality NFL receiver during workouts, he could be an affordable weapon for them to add.

The other free agent WR who I think could make sense in Baltimore is Allen Lazard. He shouldn’t be too expensive and he brings size, reliability, and tenacious run blocking that would all benefit the Baltimore offense. There are reports that Monken wants to utilize more WRs, but the offense is also expected to remain a run-first system. Lazard is the perfect player to step in and give them the flexibility within personnel and formations of having a receiver who is an elite run blocker, both downfield and near the line of scrimmage.

There are a few different paths to upgrading the WR room, but however they do it, it should be priority #2 this offseason.

Draft for Defense

The Ravens have a solid overall roster, with just a handful of clear weaknesses. Based on the team’s upcoming free agents, an urgent need will be to address depth at defensive end and cornerback. They may add veterans at these positions, but they would also be wise to add young talent in the draft. 

The 2023 rookie class is considered strong at both DE and CB which means there should be good options for Baltimore when they are on the clock. With such limited draft capital, it may make sense for the Ravens to trade down from pick 22 and look to add more Day 2 draft assets, since they currently have just one other pick in the top 100.

Ravens Current Draft Picks:

  • Round 1, Pick 22
  • Round 3, Pick 86
  • Round 4, Pick 124
  • Round 5, Pick 150
  • Round 6, Pick 199

The Ravens know that to compete for a Super Bowl, they will need to beat teams like Kansas City, Buffalo, and Cincinnati. Having a good secondary and pass rush will be key to defending those teams. Continuing to stockpile young talent on the defense can help keep Baltimore’s championship window open for as long as Lamar is in town.

Dec 11, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; The Baltimore Ravens defense celebrates an interception by linebacker Patrick Queen (6) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

We have a lot of fixing to do. But we're on our way.

Teams we've “fixed”:

Fantasy Fixers