ESPN's Ben Solak Says Ravens Have Roster Construction Problem
The prevailing opinion among pundits before the season was that the Ravens either had the best roster in the NFL or, at worst, were second only to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
So how did a team with so much talent, one that many predicted would finally get over the Super Bowl hump, end up with an 8-9 record and not make the playoffs?
ESPN's Ben Solak said that while the Ravens have some of the best players in the league, they had some depth concerns.
Solak contended that the Ravens' roster-building philosophy of drafting, developing, and extending their own players while making economical free-agent additions can be flawed.
"You have your cornerstones – Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Ronnie Stanley – you build around these guys. Everything else around them has been draft and develop," Solak said on FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams Show." "Save for Derrick Henry, the last big free-agent contract they signed was in like 2016. They do not spend big money on outside guys. That's fine. That's very professional and a long-term way of building. I understand that.
"But you can't draft this good. You cannot only keep your guys. When all you do is draft, develop and extend your own dudes, at some point you're going to catch two or three bad years even if you're a good GM, and you just don't have enough talent. The Ravens have such good blue-chip players. They have the stars, they absolutely do. [The problem is] when you get to the second and third tier of players."
Solak cited offensive guard as a position in which the Ravens would have been better off by signing free agents, though he strangely contradicts himself by saying Baltimore should have re-signed its own pending free agents.
"We're talking about Kevin Zeitler signing for one year, $9 million with the Tennessee Titans," Solak said. "And remember, they had Patrick Mekari in the building, Ben Powers in the building, John Simpson. They've had dudes there who have gone on to sign second-tier to third-tier level contracts – Simpson with the Jets and Powers with the Broncos – and they say, 'We can draft and develop.'
"Man, even if you can, if you get 85 percent of the guy that just left the building, that accumulates over all these positions. You have a linebacker 2 problem, you have an edge rusher problem, you have a guard problem, and there are too many holes in your roster, so that once Lamar hurts his leg, like the season is lost. You have to be more serious about that second and third tier of the roster."
Zay Flowers Did Something No Wide Receiver Has Done in Nearly 50 Years
An outstanding performance by wide receiver Zay Flowers was one of the positive takeaways from Sunday night's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With his 50- and 64-yard touchdown receptions in the fourth quarter, Flowers became the first player to catch two touchdowns of 50+ yards in the fourth quarter since Baltimore Colts wide receiver Roger Carr in 1978, per ESPN Research.
Flowers finished the game with four catches for 138 yards and the two touchdowns to continue his hot stretch.
Over the final five games of the season, Flowers had 26 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns, and an 18-yard rushing touchdown. He also had a 36-yard touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 called back for a questionable offensive pass interference call.
The two-time Pro Bowler wasn't perfect during that span, as he did fumble twice, but he took another step forward this season and solidified his status as the Ravens' No. 1 wide receiver and one of the best in the league.
Flowers posted career-highs in catches (86) and yards (1,211), and his five touchdown catches matched his career-best. He ended the season seventh in the league in receiving yards and tied for fifth in 40+ yard catches (four).
Chargers Signed Ben Cleveland to Practice Squad
While Ben Cleveland's former Ravens teammates were cleaning out their lockers Monday, the veteran guard was signed to the practice squad of the Los Angeles Chargers, who will face the New England Patriots in a Wild-Card playoff game Sunday.
Cleveland will see plenty of familiar faces in the Chargers' facility.
Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz was the Ravens Director of Player Personnel when Baltimore selected Cleveland in the third round in 2021. Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman held the same position with the Ravens during Cleveland's first two seasons.
Cleveland's former Ravens teammates who are now with the Chargers include center Bradley Bozeman, safety Tony Jefferson, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips, center Sam Mustipher (practice squad), and safety Marcus Williams (practice squad).
The Ravens waived Cleveland last week when he was eligible to return from a three-game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. He played three offensive snaps in 10 games this season.
