The first wave of free agency has subsided, but the Ravens' roster is far from complete.
As General Manager Eric DeCosta said at Trey Hendrickson's introductory press conference, there are still bounds of available free agents to evaluate and the draft to prepare for.
"We have a lot of work to do," DeCosta said. "… There are a lot of opportunities for us to get better, and we plan to do that."
One of the opportunities that DeCosta and the Ravens' brass will aim to capitalize on is shoring up the wide receiver room.
Zay Flowers headlines the returning group as he enters Year 4 with back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons under his belt. Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, and LaJohntay Wester also remain.
Meanwhile, Tylan Wallace is reportedly signing with the Browns and DeAndre Hopkins is still a free agent. That creates an opening for at least one new pass catcher to join the unit.
The largest cache of receivers becomes available in April, when the Ravens are projected to make 11 draft picks. Many pundits have Baltimore selecting a receiver with pick No. 14, including NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who has Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson tabbed as a Raven in his most recent mock draft. Other first-round receivers linked to the Ravens include USC's Makai Lemon, Ohio State's Carnell Tate, and Washington's Denzel Boston.
"I think it's a pretty strong year in the draft [for receivers]," DeCosta said. "There are some players that we would anticipate potentially being there in the first round at 14 or if we trade back in the first round."
Regardless of who the Ravens add through the draft, DeCosta remains high on Bateman, who is coming off a 19-catch, 224-yard campaign after a breakout season in 2024.
"I think [Bateman] is very, very excited about this year," DeCosta said in an interview with 105.7 The Fan. "Can't wait to see what Rashod does this year in this offense with [Offensive Coordinator] Declan Doyle running the show. Rashod has proven that in clutch situations, he can make good plays."
A former fourth-round pick, Walker finished last season with six receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns, playing 24% of the offensive snaps after 10% his rookie year.
"A guy I'm excited about is Tez," DeCosta said. "Tez Walker is a guy that showed flashes last year of being a home-run threat. Made some really, really nice plays for us. I would expect to see another jump this year."
The Ravens also won't be shy about digging around the free agent market. Former Raven Hollywood Brown said earlier this week that he was seriously considering coming back to Baltimore before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. There are several household names on the market who the Ravens could look into, including Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings.
The Ravens will look for well-rounded receivers who can help return the Ravens offense to form.
"You've got to have a flair for making the big play at the right time," DeCosta said.
