The Baltimore Ravens’ offense led the NFL in scoring last season, while also breaking a 41-year old record for single-season rushing yards. Add that to the laundry list of personal achievements and records for MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and it displays just how impressive Baltimore’s offense was in 2019. But what’s even more impressive is the value the Ravens are getting from their offensive playmakers.
Despite all their accomplishments, Baltimore’s starting lineup of skill players is set to earn just $19.28 million against the salary cap this season.
| Player | 2020 cap hit |
| QB Lamar Jackson | $2.58 million |
| RB Mark Ingram | $5.33 million |
| WR Marquise Brown | $2.68 million |
| WR Miles Boykin | $889,232 |
| TE Mark Andrews | $959,165 |
| TE Nick Boyle | $6.83 million |
| Total | $19.28 million |
Through all their records, the Ravens only spent $12.5 million on the same group last season.
| Player | 2019 cap hit |
| QB Lamar Jackson | $2.15 million |
| RB Mark Ingram | $3.33 million |
| WR Marquise Brown | $2.14 million |
| WR Miles Boykin | $709,232 |
| TE Mark Andrews | $833,665 |
| TE Nick Boyle | $3.33 million |
| Total | $12.5 million |
Of course, this tends to happen when teams draft successfully. Of the six skill players on this list, four are still on their rookie contracts, having been drafted over the last three years. But Baltimore has done well to find value players through the free-agent process as well. Ingram’s $3.33 million cap hit last season was an absolute steal. Boyle might not be massively productive on the stat sheet but his blocking is paramount to the Ravens’ successes and he barely cost Baltimore much more than their rookies last season. With an offensive line that is also made up of a bunch of players still on their rookie contracts, the Ravens’ starting offense is finding high-level success without breaking the bank.
That value is important because it’s allowing Baltimore to spend nearly double on their defense. The Ravens are spending just $64.54 million of their 2020 salary cap on offense while dropping $120.48 million on defense.
Though Baltimore will have to pay some big-name players in the coming years, starting with left tackle Ronnie Stanley, the salary cap is expected to explode next year thanks to the new CBA. That should allow the Ravens to retain many of their biggest playmakers while potentially having enough money to add some other talent along the way.
Of course, if Baltimore can continue to draft so well, they might not need free agency to keep their offense humming.
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