Brandon Scherff Named a Veteran Free Agent to Consider for Ravens
While the Ravens' roster was recently ranked the second-most complete team, they're always looks for ways to improve. One potential addition is veteran free agent offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, arguably the best interior lineman left on the market.
Scherff spent the last three seasons in Jacksonville after spending the first seven years of his career in Washington.
"Brandon Scherff, by the time the 2025 season concludes, will be 34," Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport wrote. "But after battling injuries over seven seasons in Washington, he played in all 51 games over his three-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars."
Scherff was one of the NFL's best interior linemen last season, according to PFSN’s Kyle Soppe.
"Scherff didn't allow a single sack in 592 pass-blocking snaps this season," Soppe wrote. "Among guards, only Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs (665) had more pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack. Scherff will play most of next season at 33 years old (his birthday is December 26)."
However, Scherff hasn't always been as stout of a blocker in the run game, which could be why he remains unsigned.
"Admittedly, the five-time Pro Bowler wasn't as effective as a run-blocker a year ago—PFF graded him 97th among guards in that regard," Davenport wrote. "But there's a reason why he has been linked to a number of teams, including Super Bowl contenders such as the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. The more depleted the available offensive linemen become, the better Scherff looks. And he's likely mulling multiple offers."
The Ravens have a returning starter in right guard Daniel Faalele, and veterans Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland, as well as rookie Emery Jones Jr. once he's recovered from a shoulder injury, are expected to compete to replace Patrick Mekari at left guard.
Ravens' Offseason Priority? Securing Their Own
While considering outside signings and additions may be more entertaining, the Ravens' offseason priority, according to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, is re-signing their own crop of stars.
"The Ravens rightfully reworked Derrick Henry's contract earlier this month. Now it's time for the front office to hand out a few more extensions ahead of the regular season," Patra wrote. "The Baltimore brass has already acknowledged there have been talks about renegotiating Lamar Jackson's deal. Why wait another 10 months when getting it done early would be beneficial?
"The fifth-year option on Kyle Hamilton gives the club time, but the cost will only go up for the most versatile safety in the NFL. Tyler Linderbaum is headed to free agency next year after the team did not pick up his fifth-year option, which would have made him the highest-paid center in the NFL. That decision creates urgency to lock down the pivot long-term."
Media Note High Attendance at OTAs
Attendance for the Ravens' voluntary organized team activities was high last week, and many media members took notice.
The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer: "At quarterback Wednesday was Lamar Jackson, who missed the majority of the voluntary OTAs last year. His target was tight end Mark Andrews, who's entering the final year of his contract and whose playoff history has made him a lightning rod for criticism. In coverage was cornerback Marlon Humphrey, another well-paid veteran who could've spent the day training wherever he pleased."
Pressbox's Bo Smolka: "It's foolhardy to read too much into one OTA practice in May, but it's not unreasonable to think the Ravens dive into this spring period with a definite sense of urgency. They return nearly every starter from a team that fell two games short of the Super Bowl last year, and they know that next offseason will bring more upheaval than this past one did.
"After this season, the Ravens are almost certainly going to lose one of their standout tight ends, Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely. They probably will lose an accomplished edge rusher or two. Derrick Henry will be a year older, although he continues to scoff at the notion of Father Time slowing him down. As the Ravens began their first of three weeks of voluntary OTA workouts this week, nearly the entire squad was on hand, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose attendance at early spring workouts has been sporadic throughout the years."
The Ravens' new wide receiver and a running back returning back to form shined at OTAs.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
The Ravens' new veteran wide receiver made his presence felt in his first week on the job. Hopkins made a diving catch over the middle for his first grab, then multiple tough leaping and extended sideline snags, showing how valuable he can be as a big-bodied, contested-catch receiver. His top speed was one of the Ravens' fastest in the wide receiver room.
RB Keaton Mitchell
Mitchell didn't see much action last season coming off his major 2023 knee injury. He appears to be back to his rookie form this offseason, showing noticeably different explosion during individual drills and turning the corner on outside runs in team drills.
QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson came out sharp during the first week of OTAs. He delivered a beautiful long pass to rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, dropped one in a bucket to Dayton Wade despite double coverage down the sideline, and had a pinpoint long pass to Zay Flowers. Jackson set the tone for an offense that looked crisp from the jump.
OLB Odafe Oweh
Oweh looks like a player ready to wreck offensive lines after adding 15-20 pounds of muscle this offseason. Despite the additional weight, which should help him in the run and to finish with power at the top of his pass rushes, it looks like Oweh hasn't lost a step of his explosion.
OLB Adisa Isaac
The second-year outside linebacker struggled with injuries as a rookie but came back looking sharp. Isaac has a good size-speed combo and will look to break into the Ravens' rotation.
G Ben Cleveland
Cleveland shouldn't be forgotten in the competition to be the starting left guard. After being a presumed leader for the job last year, he didn't get many practice reps at the position. That has changed at the start of this year's OTAs as he looks to compete with Andrew Vorhees for a starting job.
WR Devontez Walker
Walker had one catch as a rookie – a 21-yard touchdown against the New York Giants. If Wednesday's practice is any indication, he could have a somewhat larger role in 2025. He was a busy man and made an impressive touchdown catch in the back of the end zone.
WR LaJohntay Wester
Wester can fly, and he showed that hauling in a long touchdown pass. He juggled it at first but held on for the score. The sixth-round pick also made a tough grab over the middle despite the pass being tipped by undrafted linebacker Jay Higgins.
ILB Roquan Smith
Smith is in good shape and showed off his range in pass coverage when he went 25+ yards down the sideline with running back Justice Hill to break up a wheel route pass. The Ravens' defensive leader is locked in already.
CB Nate Wiggins
It appears that Wiggins put on some bulk this offseason, which was one of his goals when he first came into the league. He looks like a second-year player who could have a breakout campaign putting him among the league's top corners.
Russell Street Report's Nikhil Mehta: "The near-perfect attendance was no accident, a message echoed by Harbaugh and multiple players after practice. They know their quest for an elusive Super Bowl win starts in Owings Mills in May, not in Buffalo in September."
Sports Illustrated's Joshua Reed: "One of the biggest takeaways from the three days of work was that, despite this being a voluntary portion of the offseason program where players aren't required to participate, the team's attendance was incredibly strong."
- PFF’s Ryan Smith released the site's highest-graded rookie from each team since its inception (2006); Safety Dawan Landry topped the Ravens' charts with an 89.9 grade. "Landry was a Day 1 starter on the best defense in football as a fifth-round pick out of Georgia Tech," Smith wrote. "He was elite in run defense and coverage, where he intercepted five passes, broke up four others and did not allow a touchdown all season."
