Mink: The Ravens' defensive line was a definite strength of the team last season, and I expect that to continue this year. Baltimore ranked first in the league in run defense and it wasn't close. The Ravens held opponents to 80.1 rushing yards per game. The second-ranked Minnesota Vikings gave up 93.4 yards per game.
Baltimore's run defense took a hit this offseason with the retirement of Michael Pierce, who was still playing at a high level. However, it's worth noting that Pierce played 231 defensive snaps last season compared to 640 in 2023. The man who stepped into a primary role was Travis Jones, who took 53% of the defensive snaps last season and played very well.
I don't know how you can justify calling Jones and Broderick Washington underachievers. Jones, a third-round pick, was the NFL's 16th-best interior run defender last season, per Pro Football Focus, despite playing through an ankle injury. His best days are yet to come and he's already a really, really good player. Washington, a fifth-round pick, earned a second contract from the Ravens and has been a durable, key piece of the defensive line mix.
The fact of the matter is the Ravens often use two defensive linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs. You need depth on the defensive line, but the Ravens are in very good shape with Nnamdi Madubuike and Jones anchoring their defensive front and a handful of quality rotational role players behind them. That said, I would not be surprised if they still add a big-bodied veteran nose tackle to replace Pierce, as General Manager Eric DeCosta suggested after the draft.
Ryan: I wouldn't rule out a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney. The Ravens have a history of adding veterans late in the offseason, like they did with Clowney in 2023 before he posted a career-high 9.5 sacks in Baltimore.
The Ravens have a deep outside linebacker group, with every player returning from last year's team and the addition of second-round pick Mike Green. Baltimore was second in the NFL with 54 sacks last season, led by Kyle Van Noy (12.5) and Odafe Oweh (10).
Still, DeCosta is always looking to add in the trenches, and signing Clowney this late in the offseason wouldn't count towards Baltimore's 2026 compensatory picks.
Mink: I'll stay on the defensive linemen and toss out a few unrestricted free agents who could make sense. I'd point to Maurice Hurst, John Jenkins, and Linval Joseph. The Ravens signed 6-foot-6, 340-pound defensive lineman Jayson Jones as an unrestricted free agent from Auburn. He will compete with C.J. Okoye, a 6-foot-6, 315-pounder, for an interior defensive lineman role. I believe that 53-man roster spot will most likely go to a TBD veteran addition.
To your second question, I believe Tyler Linderbaum is the Raven most likely to get an extension before the season starts. The framework is there with the recent extension for Eagles center Cam Jurgens and the fact that the Ravens declined Linderbaum's fifth-year option sped up the timeline for getting a deal done. Though Linderbaum said he’s not focused on his contract, it makes the most financial sense to strike a deal before or during the 2025 season.
Ryan: I'm going with seven primetime games and the possibility to be flexed into more.
I think games against the Chiefs and Bills are primetime locks, and I expect Baltimore to play about three primetime games against AFC North foes. Outside of that, matchups with the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Houston Texans are strong options for nationally televised games.
The Ravens were scheduled for seven primetime games in 2024 and played eight after their Week 18 game was moved into a standalone slot. The Ravens are one of the biggest attractions in the NFL with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and I think Baltimore's primetime games will reflect that.
