With Ravens players now starting to report for training camp in Owings Mills, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Spring serves as a good orientation for first-year players, but it’s always interesting to see how rookies respond to the speed and intensity of training camp, which serves as a separator for determining who has a real chance to contribute this fall. As Marshal Yanda always said, “Embrace the grind.”
2. We’ll soon learn of players placed on the physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists and inevitably make a big deal of it. Whether it’s a rehabbing player not ready to practice or someone failing the conditioning test, these procedural designations don’t yet mean much for the regular season.
3. Everyone has thoughts on Lamar Jackson’s contract saga, but I appreciated the simplicity of this Andrew Brandt piece. I understand other NFL teams aren’t remotely eager to follow in Cleveland’s fully guaranteed footsteps, but other young quarterbacks and their agents are sure rooting for Jackson to dig in.
4. Has there been less attention on one of the most lucrative outside free-agent signings in franchise history than Marcus Williams? Drafting fellow safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th overall pick had a lot to do with it, but I’m really looking forward to watching Williams play on the back end of this secondary.
5. Rashod Bateman will be under the microscope all summer, but it’s worth repeating the 2021 first-round pick played in only six full games with Jackson last year. According to Pro Football Focus, he averaged 1.58 yards per route with Jackson and just 1.03 yards per route otherwise.
6. Baltimore made a record six fourth-round selections, but how quickly will they contribute on offense or defense in reality? With that question and the passing game in mind, I wonder if we’re a little too high on the rookie tight ends and too low on 2021 fourth-round receiver Tylan Wallace.
7. Left guard will be one of the more notable battles, but if recent years have taught us anything, we shouldn’t read too much into who’s lining up there over the early weeks of camp. Based on spring workouts, I’ll go with Tyre Phillips over Ben Cleveland as my early favorite.
8. According to OverTheCap.com, the Ravens rank sixth in the NFL in 2022 offensive line spending. That’s perfectly fine, but I question how easily they can carry both Ben Powers and Ja’Wuan James — each owed roughly $2.5 million — as backups being so tight against the salary cap. Camp should provide clarity.
9. After injury-ravaged Baltimore set a record for adjusted games lost in 2021, it’s worth noting the NFL leader in the previous five seasons still ranked 21st or worse the following year. The Ravens are betting on a revamped training program, a new trainer, and better luck to reverse that trend.
10. Deshaun Watson suspension speculation is all over the place as the AFC North waits to know whether to prepare for him or Jacoby Brissett. Baltimore plays Cleveland in Weeks 7 and 15, Cincinnati sees the Browns in Weeks 8 and 14, and Pittsburgh faces them in Weeks 3 and 18.
11. As other teams reveal a second helmet option and throwback uniforms superior to their current ones, I just ask that the Ravens avoid anything involving more gold, mustard, or whatever you call that color. I wouldn’t mind seeing the black jerseys with the purple pants a little more often though.
12. As we witness Twitter beefs between star quarterbacks and disgruntled ex-players and whine about Madden ratings, I’m glad we’ll have actual football to discuss soon. The football world has a bit too much time on its hands this time of year, but business is about to pick up.
