After their 14-2 regular season campaign that saw them pegged as Super Bowl favorites by many, the Baltimore Ravens were shown the door in the playoffs by the Tennessee Titans, losing 28-12 in the divisional round. While the Ravens proved to everyone that they have the talent to compete with any team in the NFL, being ousted from the playoffs after one game for the second year in a row has raised a lot of questions about this team.
In order to get over the hump and make a push for a Super Bowl, Baltimore is going to need to focus on a few key aspects. From players to scheme, let’s take a look at the six biggest questions the Ravens face this offseason.
Wide receiver corps
Baltimore has changed their wide receiver room each offseason for the last two years heading into this season. Two years ago they let Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace go. Last year, they let Michael Crabtree and John Brown walk. While Marquise Brown, Willie Snead and Miles Boykin are all returning for 2020, it’s safe to say Baltimore needs to get Lamar Jackson some more help on the outside.
Both Seth Roberts and Chris Moore are some of the Ravens’ pending free agents and I wouldn’t expect either to be back. Moore has never really made the most of his opportunities and after being supplanted as the team’s deep threat by Brown, it’s difficult to tell what his role would be if re-signed. There are more scenarios where Roberts could come back but a huge drop against the Titans will be fresh in Baltimore’s mind if they sit down at the negotiating table. After being selected in the 2018 NFL draft, Jaleel Scott has been active in just three games and has caught just one pass for six yards. He’ll likely return for training camp but he’s in real danger of being cut if he can’t impress early and often.
At his end of the season press conference, coach John Harbaugh noted that they have their eyes on two different style of wide receivers this offseason.
Harbaugh on FA and draft WRs:
"We kinda have a really good feel for the type of receivers we want to bring in."
"We want a certain type of guy and another certain type of guy that fits us"
— MatthewStevens (@MatthewS_NFL) January 17, 2020
Though he failed to expand upon what they were or if they’d be draft prospects or free agents, there’s plenty of room for the Ravens to add talent.
If Baltimore decides to keep six wide receivers on the 53 man roster like they did in 2019, the Ravens would have three wide-open spots if Roberts, Moore and Scott don’t return. The Ravens will have to ask themselves if they want to bring in free agents like A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders or Robby Anderson, or look towards the early rounds of the NFL Draft with players like Henry Ruggs III, Justin Jefferson or Tee Higgins to fill the void.