OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry was the most notable addition of the offseason, but the Ravens offense still has room to improve through the air in 2024.
After all, Baltimore already sported the NFL’s top-ranked ground attack in the aggregate last season (and over most of the last six years with Lamar Jackson at quarterback), so continuing to diversify how the offense can score points remains paramount to the ultimate goal. Yes, it’s all about winning in January for a team that’s finished with the league’s best record twice in the last five years and still fallen short of the Super Bowl, so Jackson, Henry, and everyone else will ultimately be judged by what they do in the postseason.
On his way to his second MVP award in five years, Jackson set career highs in yards per pass attempt, completion percentage, and passing yards in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s first season, so it will be interesting seeing where the passing game goes from here. Though still a lower-volume operation ranking 30th in attempts in 2023, Baltimore finished third in yards per pass attempt and fifth in passing DVOA, significant improvement from the struggles at the end of the Greg Roman era.
Jackson is obviously going to throw often to three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews and second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers, but opportunities for the rest of the pass-catching group are up for grabs, especially in the wake of Odell Beckham Jr. — who finished second on the team in targets and receiving yards last year — not being re-signed.
A consistent No. 3 option emerging behind Andrews and Flowers will be important with 2021 first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman and third-year tight end Isaiah Likely being the candidates possessing the most upside.
We all know Bateman’s story as injuries limited him to 18 games over his first two years and he and Jackson struggled to find on-field chemistry last season. Bateman showed the ability to run good routes and consistently separate from defenders in 2023, but “the ball didn’t find him” in the words of wide receivers coach Greg Lewis. Both Jackson and Monken acknowledged last week that they need to do a better job getting Bateman involved after the 6-foot-1, 197-pound receiver made 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last season.
Having recently signed a modest extension through 2026, Bateman says he’s just happy to enjoy a healthy spring and summer, which will hopefully include building a better on-field connection with Jackson.
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“I’m not worried about how many balls I get. I’m not worried about if Todd Monken calls the play for me,” Bateman said. “The only thing that I can control is what I can control, and that’s getting open when I can [and] blocking when I can. I don’t play quarterback. I’m not the O.C. I’m not the [offensive] line. Anything else outside of that, I’m just here. I’m going to help this team out the best way out the best way possible.”
The case for Likely emerging as the No. 3 pass-catching option is more nuanced after he filled in for Andrews at a high level last season, catching 21 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns over the final six regular-season games when the veteran suffered a serious ankle injury in November. Seven of Likely’s eight career touchdowns as well as his five best receiving yardage totals have come in games in which Andrews exited with an injury or didn’t play at all over the last two seasons. That’s not exactly surprising, but the problem has been the 2022 fourth-round pick all but vanishing from the offense when Andrews is healthy, something you don’t want after watching his playmaking ability last season.
That’s why many are calling for Monken to use more formations featuring both tight ends on the field, something Andrews predicted is “going to be special” in 2024. It’s hardly a novel concept, but ironing out spacing, finding the proper route concepts, and making sure there’s sufficient overall speed on the field are keys to optimizing the approach. Likely said that’s the work the Ravens are focusing on in organized team activities right now.
“I’m finding my way in the offense as a chess piece just seeing where I can fit in,” said Likely, who caught a touchdown in the playoff victory over Houston last January. “Having all of us on the same field at the same time, you don’t know whether it’s going to be run or pass, and you don’t know where the explosive play can come from.”
It’s all about further diversifying the offense and maximizing conflict for the opposing defense.
