Tag: Gus Edwards

10 takeaways from the Ravens 2023 season

We’re looking at ten takeaways from the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL season

The Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Baltimore is 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $5 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros. And they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

With the NFL Combine set to begin, we’re looking at ten takeaways from the Ravens 13-4 regular season.

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: AFC North Edition

Listing one free agent from the Steelers, Ravens, Browns and Bengals who could be a fit for the Chargers.

The Chargers won’t be aggressive when it comes to signing free agents, as they’re currently $35 million over the projected salary cap.

While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Joe Hortiz will make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some.

That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

Next up is the AFC North.

Predicting the fates of Ravens free agents in 2024

We’re predicting whether Baltimore Ravens free agents should stay or go ahead of the NFL’s new league year

Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job. Anthony Weaver landed the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job, and 29 players are set to be free agents, headlined by Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $5,138,828 available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros.

With an urgent offseason underway, we’re looking at who should stay or go via Over The Cap.

Ravens given best odds to sign RB Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens are the early odds on favorites to sign free agent running back Derrick Henry when the new league year starts

The Baltimore Ravens enter an offseason of expected turnover at several positions. One such position is running back, where the Ravens could lose Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency.

Baltimore has only had one running back cross 1,000 rushing yards in the Lamar Jackson era, mainly due to a committee approach at the position. Could the Ravens buck that trend and go after a true workhorse back this offseason? The betting market appears to think so, as DraftKings Sportsbook has Baltimore with the best odds at +200 to sign veteran running back Derrick Henry.

Henry, 30, is expected to hit the open market after spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Fresh off a season in which he rushed for 1,167 yards, Henry still has gas left in the tank despite an extensive career workload.

Spotrac lists Henry with a calculated market value of $10.3 million for one year, which would be difficult to justify for the Ravens given the number of free agents set to hit the open market and a limited amount of cap space to dole out among various positions of need.

Even if it is not a sizable investment like Henry, Baltimore will need to add another running back to the roster, considering that only Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are set to return, and Mitchell is coming back from a torn ACL near the end of the 2023 season. Re-signing one of Edwards or Dobbins is a potential option, as is targeting someone else in free agency or selecting one in the draft.

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Ravens owe $8.3M in dead money after voiding four contracts

The Baltimore Ravens now owe $8.3 million in dead money after voiding four contracts and having those players enter Free Agency

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, the Ravens and 31 other NFL teams will start financially retooling to advance to the 2024-25 postseason.

Joel Corry of CBS Sports recently looked inside at key offseason dates starting with the first week of the 2024 league year, which begins March 13.

Some dates will free up cap space for Baltimore, while others will force GM Eric DeCosta to make hard decisions.

Baltimore had a 4:00 PM EST deadline to extend six players to face dead salary cap hits, and only Nelson Agholor agreed to a new deal. 

At 4 p.m. Monday, the contracts of four pending free agents — right guard Kevin Zeitler, running back Gus Edwards, safety Geno Stone and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin — will void.

Void years are a way for teams to manipulate the salary cap by placing fake years on the end of a contract to defer cap charges to the future.

Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-year, $15 million contract was recently reworked to remove void years. That allows the Ravens to designate Beckham as a post-June 1 release if an extension is not reached by March 16.

Baltimore will now carry nearly $10 million in dead money on their 2024 salary cap since none of those five players were re-signed.

5 RBs the Colts should target in 2024 free agency

Some intriguing free-agent RBs for the Colts to consider.

The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of positional needs entering free agency in 2024 and even though the running back position isn’t at the top of the list, some depth could be added.

With Jonathan Taylor returning in the first year of his new contract extension, the Colts know who the leader in the backfield is and should be. Zack Moss, who was impressive during his stint as a starter, is set to hit the market. They also have second-year back Evan Hull, but he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury.

Re-signing Moss is certainly an option the Colts should entertain, but they shouldn’t be willing to overpay. Moss may be seeking a chance to compete as a starter, but we also know the running back market is extremely down right now.

So for this article, we’re taking the mindset that Moss walks in free agency, and the Colts would need to find his replacement.

Here are five running backs the Colts should target in free agency:

Disclaimer: We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.

How different will the Ravens’ defense look under new DC Zach Orr?

We’re looking at five ways the Baltimore Ravens defense will look different under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr

The Ravens quickly replaced Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator, promoting inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.

Orr, who played for the Ravens from 2014-2016, is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017, save for one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was forced to retire because of a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year, finishing with 133 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

The Ravens introduced Orr to the media on Tuesday, and with the former NFL linebacker firmly entrenched, we’re looking at the multiple ways this defense will look different.

Studs and duds from the Ravens 2023 season

We’re looking at studs and duds from the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL regular season

The Baltimore Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Where things currently stand, Baltimore expected to have roughly $7,328,828 in cap space, via OverTheCap, which is the 20th most in the NFL.

That number could grow if the team opts to part ways with some expensive contracts (perhaps Ronnie Stanley and/or Marlon Humphrey.

With the offseason underway, we’re looking at studs and duds from the 2023 regular season.

4 RBs Titans should target in free agency

Four running backs the Titans should target in free agency this offseason.

This offseason, the Tennessee Titans are likely to see the departure of a franchise legend at the running back position, as Derrick Henry’s illustrious tenure in Nashville is seemingly coming to an end.

It appears that the Titans already have an heir-apparent in place in the form of electric rookie Tyjae Spears, who was one of the few bright spots for Tennessee on offense in 2023.

Nevertheless, Tennessee is going to need a complementary back for the Tulane alum, and chances are the Titans won’t break the bank to add one.

Who fits the bill? Lets break it down.

2024 NFL Free Agency: 7 Ravens that will flourish on other teams

We’re looking at seven Baltimore Ravens 2024 NFL Free agents that’ll flourish on another team

General manager Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome’s successor, has grown increasingly aggressive in handing out contracts, and he’s now built a Super Bowl hopeful for 2023 and beyond.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $7.3 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros. And they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

PFF recently did an early ranking of the top 50 free agents for 2024, and John Harbaugh’s squad had four players make the list.

The overall positional spending will change in the coming years after Lamar Jackson signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract extension, making him among the three highest-paid players on average in NFL history.

With the NFL offseason fast approaching, we’re looking at seven players that’ll flourish on another roster.