Three Veteran Free Agents Who Could Help Ravens

The draft is within the books and the free company frenzy is final month’s information, however the Ravens’ roster building stays fluid.

Some of General Manager Eric DeCosta’s shrewdest signings final 12 months passed off throughout the summer time and even a couple of weeks into the common season.

With that in thoughts, The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer checked out a handful of free brokers the Ravens might nonetheless goal. Here’s a have a look at three, together with Shaffer’s feedback:

“News flash: The Ravens do not have a positive factor at left guard. Andrew Vorhees hasn’t performed in a recreation in 17 months, Sala Aumavae-Laulu hasn’t performed since an unimpressive preseason final 12 months, and Josh Jones hasn’t lined up at guard since Week 1.

“Risner, 28, is the most suitable choice remaining in a depleted guard class. He completed ninth amongst inside linemen in ESPN’s cross block win fee in 2023 and has began 73 video games over the previous 5 seasons. In 11 begins at left guard for the Minnesota Vikings final 12 months, he graded out poorly as a run blocker on Pro Football Focus. According to Sports Info Solutions, the 6-foot-5, 312-pound Risner fared much better as a blocker on hole runs (1.7% blown-block fee) than zone runs (3.9%).”

“Depending on his price ticket, Thomas might match the Ravens’ mould for a low-risk broad receiver signing. The three-time Pro Bowl choice hasn’t completed with greater than 450 receiving yards in a season since 2019, when he gained NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.

“Injuries have restricted Thomas, 31, to twenty video games with the New Orleans Saints over the previous 4 seasons. An ankle damage sidelined him in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, it was a foot damage. Before a season-ending knee damage in Week 10 final season, Thomas had 39 catches on 64 targets for 448 yards and a landing — however he was averaging a career-low 1.38 yards per route run, in response to TruMedia.”

“Lawson’s certainly one of a handful of notable edge rushers out there, together with Bud Dupree (6.5 sacks in 2023), Emmanuel Ogbah (5), Yannick Ngakoue (4) and Markus Golden (4). The return of Kyle Van Noy will give the Ravens a veteran presence on the place, however Lawson might be one other low-cost renovation venture. With David Ojabo and Malik Hamm combining to play simply three video games final 12 months, the workforce’s depth on the place is a query mark.

“Lawson, 28, completed final season with no sack for the primary time in his profession. He handled a again damage that sidelined him for a lot of the New York Jets’ coaching camp, and after returning he performed simply six video games, caught behind a deep group of cross rushers. In 2022, when Lawson performed in all 17 video games, he had seven sacks and 24 quarterback hits. The Ravens ought to know Lawson effectively, having confronted him usually throughout his early years with the Cincinnati Bengals.”

Head Coach John Harbaugh appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” yesterday. Here are some highlights of the dialog:

On the pass-heavy offense within the AFC Championship Game: “It undoubtedly wasn’t the purpose. I believe what the Chiefs principally determined to do, Steve Spagnuolo, their nice defensive coordinator, principally stated, ‘We’re gonna make you beat us in a sure means,’ and it was going to be by beating press protection with a loaded field. We have to make performs in opposition to that basically within the passing recreation with a view to do this, or we needed to pack the entire formation and simply play an old-fashioned, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust recreation, which we have executed earlier than, however that basically wasn’t our recreation plan getting in, that is not the best way we tried to do it. So the best way I have a look at it and the way Lamar [Jackson] seems at it, and he and I’ve had this dialog, is that we have got to construct ourselves up in ways in which we are able to deal with that sooner or later and principally make folks pay for taking part in us in that type of protection.”

Reflecting on the Jackson contract negotiations: “I’m proud about quite a lot of issues. Numerous issues get stated about your workforce, and about your selections and choices, and about your gamers. Sometimes it is hurtful. And after all you respect the truth that that is attainable, and you then get decided. You say, ‘OK, we’re gonna make this work and we’re gonna discover a option to overcome it.’ Whether it was a contract scenario, or whether or not it was that we did not have sufficient good cross rushers, or we did not have sufficient good receivers, or no matter it may be. And then whenever you do it, even that is not ok generally since you did not win the entire thing.”

How Derrick Henry suits within the offense: “It’s going to be what we do, and it will be Derrick Henry doing it inside the construction of what we have constructed round Lamar, and he will be simply tremendous. I believe what it will appear to be is what it is appeared like in Tennessee — him working for lots of yards. Maybe even in some methods we’ll create some alternatives as a result of we’re gonna presumably unfold the protection out just a bit bit extra. There will not be as many eyes on him, possibly not as many helmets directed towards him when he will get the ball, and we’ll be capable to create just a bit more room for him.”

Thoughts on first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins: “He’s received some issues he has to be taught, however the factor I preferred about Nate is that he is aware of that. He’s very self-aware. Here’s very reflective on the place he is come within the final three years, the place he must develop. I noticed some humility. We noticed a man with work ethic. I like the best way he performed — he performed exhausting. And he is tremendous gifted. I believed he was probably the most gifted cowl nook within the draft. He’s simply received pure cowl expertise. He’s not afraid to hit you. He’s not afraid to run underneath the ball. Those are issues we like in Baltimore.”