Category: AFC North News

NFL clears Ravens WR Zay Flowers of any violations of personal conduct policy

NFL clears Ravens WR Zay Flowers after February investigation by Baltimore County Police

According to the Baltimore Sun, a domestic violence investigation into Ravens second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers was suspended without criminal charges in February.

Now, the NFL is following suit, clearing Flowers of any violations of the league’s personal conduct policy and fully allowing the second-year wide receiver to participate in all football activities.

The original basis for the investigation centered around an alleged victim’s report to police in Acton, Massachusetts, about an alleged “violent domestic incident” in Owings Mills on Jan. 16, in which the “suspect’s brother also drew a firearm.”

An NFL spokesperson said last week that the league was in the “early stages” of reviewing the incident.

It remains to be seen if Flowers will face any discipline from the league.

Flowers just completed a rookie season in which he logged a team-best 77 receptions and 858 receiving yards, both of which are rookie records for the team.

Brandon Stephens earns $805K after rearching performance escalator for 2023 season

Ravens CB Brandon Stephens had the 13th highest performance based distribution after earning $805K in salary escalators

Brandon Stephens is $800,000 richer after earning a performance escalator for the 2023 NFL season.

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement ensures proven performance escalators for players drafted between rounds three and seven and signed to the typical four-year rookie contracts.

If those players can log snap counts of 35% or better in at least two of their first three seasons in the NFL (or play 35% or more of total snaps during those three years), they qualify for an increased base salary in their fourth year.

Stephens started 16 games at cornerback, and the converted safety logged two interceptions and a 65.5 grade in coverage.

Former Ravens left guard, and current New York Jets free agent signee John Simpson earned the biggest bonus.

2024 projected win totals for AFC North teams

We’re looking at a ranking of 2024 win total projections for all four AFC North teams

The Ravens (13-4) were the No. 1 seed in the AFC and had a first-round bye after navigating one of the NFL’s most demanding schedules.

With a first-place finish in 2023, the schedule will only get even more complicated, and after the late Sunday afternoon games, we have some unofficial idea of what the 2024 slate will look like.

Baltimore will play nine games on the road, eight at M&T Bank Stadium.

The schedule will be highlighted by matchups against their AFC North foes (Steelers, Bengals, Browns), the NFC East, AFC West, the AFC South champ, the NFC South champ, and the AFC East champion.

The league uses multiple factors to determine the year’s game schedule.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Offering an early glimpse into where the Ravens could finish this season, we’re looking at total win projection for all four AFC North squads.

Ranking all 32 teams (including the Ravens) by 2024 projected win totals

We’re looking at a ranking of all teams including the Baltimore Ravens by 2024 win total predictions

The Ravens (13-4) were the No. 1 seed in the AFC and had a first-round bye after navigating one of the NFL’s most difficult schedules.

With a first-place finish in 2023, the schedule will only get even more complicated, and after the late Sunday afternoon games, we have some unofficial idea of what the 2024 slate will look like.

Baltimore will play nine games on the road, eight at M&T Bank Stadium.

The schedule will be highlighted by matchups against their AFC North foes (Steelers, Bengals, Browns), the NFC East, AFC West, the AFC South champ, the NFC South champ, and the AFC East champion.

The league uses multiple factors to determine the year’s game schedule.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Offering an early glimpse into where the Ravens could finish this season, DraftKings revealed a 2024 win total prediction for all 32 teams, and Baltimore landed at No. 2 on the list.

Ravens to raise ticket prices at M&T Bank Stadium

The Baltimore Ravens will raise season ticket prices by an average of 13% for the 2024-25 season in a move that team officials said is necessary to stay “competitive” with the rest of the league.

The Baltimore Ravens will raise season ticket prices by an average of 13% for the 2024-25 season in a move that team officials said is necessary to stay “competitive” with the rest of the league.

Senior Vice President of Communications Chad Steele said that the Ravens have some of the cheapest tickets in the NFL, with the average ticket price ranking No. 24 out of 32 teams in 2024. The Ravens fell four spots from No. 20 in average ticket prices last year due to the lack of increases, though prices for one playoff game did surge to near-record highs.

“Our pricing is reviewed annually with consideration to being in line with other NFL teams, but we are in an every-other-year increase model,” Steele said.

Ravens season ticket holders received the news about the new ticket prices while learning about renovations to the stadium.

2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for the Ravens in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic 2024 NFL Draft options for the Baltimore Ravens in the first round

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Report: Jets are ‘highly motivated’ to sign edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney

The New York Jets have an intense interest in signing Ravens free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, according to Jordan Schultz

The New York Jets have retooled their offensive line, and they’re now looking to add a premier pass rusher to an already stout defense.

Jadeveon Clowney just visited the AFC hopefuls, and the Jets are “highly motivated” to finalize a deal, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Clowney starred in Columbia with the Gamecocks before becoming a consensus All-American and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

With the Ravens in 2023, he ranked fifth in pass-rush win rate among edge rushers. He tied his career high of 9.5 sacks and had 50 quarterback hurries, 10 quarterback hits and 69 quarterback pressures.

He had career highs in pressure rate, pass-rush win rate and total pressures in a season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=46916063]

Where do the Ravens rank in spending at each position after first wave of free agency?

We’re looking at where the Baltimore Ravens rank in positional spending after the first wave of NFL free agency

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

The talented running back could earn $20 million throughout the deal.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

The Ravens have $13,884,766 in available cap space, and they’re paying out over $113 million on the offensive side of the football.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re examining Baltimore’s positional spending ranking.

All figures are via OverTheCap.com and official NFLPA records.

Ravens to sign CB Arthur Maulet to a 2-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens are re-signing cornerback Arthur Maulet to a two-year free agent deal

Cameron Wolfe reports that the Ravens retained one of their free agents after agreeing to a two-year deal with cornerback Arthur Maulet.

Maulet signed with Baltimore after spending two years with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last season, Maulet played in 14 games and logged 37 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and five passes defended.

The 30-year-old Maulet will compete with Ar’Darius Washington for the slot cornerback role.

Ranking all 32 teams (including the Ravens) by cap space after first wave of free agency

The Baltimore Ravens $14,074,766 ranks 24th in the NFL in available salary cap space after the first week of NFL free agency

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

Baltimore will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore seemed to win the first wave of the free agency period after getting Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

The talented running back could earn $20 million throughout the deal. However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re looking at an updated ranking of salary cap figures for all 32 NFL teams.

All figures are via OverTheCap.com and official NFLPA records.