The Baltimore Ravens will look to improve their team in many ways during the 2022 offseason. They are one of the many talented teams in their conference, so they have to make sure they can keep up with everyone else.
When putting together to-do lists for every NFL team, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report put together three points that Baltimore can look to address in getting better in the trenches, bolster the secondary, and get an extension done with Lamar Jackson. When explaining why, Davenport listed out a few reasons, starting with Jackson’s extension.
“There’s no question what the dominant offseason storyline is for the Baltimore Ravens. With Lamar Jackson entering the final year of his rookie contract, locking up the 2019 NFL MVP long-term has to be at or near the top of general manager Eric DeCosta’s “to-do” list. That contract (and how it is structured) will go a long way toward dictating how the Ravens approach free agency.”
Davenport also talked about the Ravens’ defensive line and how it could look different in 2022.
“One thing is for sure: The Ravens have to get better up front on both sides of the ball. With veterans Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell headed for free agency, Baltimore’s defensive line could be in for big changes in 2022. Thanks in part to injuries, an offensive line that was one of the team’s strengths dropped outside the top 20 in the end-of-season rankings at Pro Football Focus.”
Finally, Davenport looked at Baltimore’s cornerback room.
“The team may also have a sizable hole in the secondary to fill—27-year-old corner Anthony Averett could command in excess of $12 million per season on a new contract, and if the Ravens choose to keep him, it could mean parting ways with veteran Marcus Peters, who missed the entire 2021 campaign with a torn ACL.”
Jackson’s contract has been a key talking point for many months now, although it’s unclear when a deal might get done if it happens this offseason. The defensive line and cornerback positions that the team could decide to upgrade, and there are multiple avenues to do so.