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The Baltimore Ravens came into the offseason with a clear objective of improving their defensive line. After struggling against the run at times last season, the hope is that beefing up the trenches will improve upon the defense’s weakest unit and help guide the Ravens to a Super Bowl.
With the addition of Calais Campbell via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the signing of unrestricted free agent Derek Wolfe, Baltimore has done exactly that. When combined with the re-signings of Justin Ellis and Jihad Ward, the Ravens have signed contracts with defensive linemen totaling 1,222 pounds this offseason.
| Player | Height | Weight |
| Calais Campbell | 6-foot-8 | 300 pounds |
| Derek Wolfe | 6-foot-5 | 285 pounds |
| Justin Ellis | 6-foot-2 | 350 pounds |
| Jihad Ward | 6-foot-5 | 287 pounds |
When added to the size of Brandon Williams, Daylon Mack and Patrick Ricard, the Ravens have over 2,200 pounds available on their defensive line.
Winning consistently in football is tough to do but for offenses looking to run the ball effectively inside against the Ravens, they’ll have the difficulty of moving a defensive line that averages 316 pounds. If Baltimore wants to put their serious weight upfront in obvious run situations, they can use Ellis, Daylon Mack and Brandon Williams together to create a defensive front that totals in at 1,026 pounds. That has all the looks of an impenetrable wall already.
Of course, adding more size to the defensive line is just one portion of what the Ravens need to do to remedy their run defense. Finding good inside and outside linebackers either in the 2020 NFL Draft or free agency will take advantage of the wall of meat Baltimore has in the trenches. However, those players will now find it easier to set the edge and scrape down to make plays on the ball carrier without having to battle through offensive linemen.
Though maybe not intentional, the Ravens have also helped their pass defense as well and could create even more turnovers in 2020 thanks to the height of their signings. Campbell alone is 6-foot-8, which will lead to plenty of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage or tipped into the air. With Wolfe and Ward both standing at 6-foot-5, opposing quarterbacks will find throwing lanes more cluttered with the hands and arms of defenders.
Wolfe and Campbell are no slouches when it comes to providing a pass rush from the interior either. Last season, the pair combined for 13.5 sacks and 51 pressures over 28 total games Between their height potentially blocking short and intermediate receivers for quarterbacks and their ability to get penetration keeping passers from sitting in the pocket on deep throws, the Ravens have massively revamped their entire defense thanks to the big boys up front.
Sometimes, in the game of football, size matters. And now Baltimore has it in spades on their defensive line.
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