The Baltimore Ravens failed to live up to expectations as they previously concluded an underwhelming campaign for the 2021 season. Marred by injuries, John Harbaugh and his squad failed to book a spot in the playoffs with an 8-9 record.
Without a doubt, settling as the cellar-dwellers of the AFC North wasn't really included in any of the team's plans. After seeing their performance, the front office will have to acquire more talent to beef up their roster heading to season. Luckily, they have a huge stash of draft picks for the upcoming draft as they currently possess a total of nine picks in the first four rounds.
Above all, the team must prioritize staying healthy in order to get back to their previous form and return as a playoff contender in the near future. With that said, let's take a look at three fixes that the Ravens must do in order to make it to the NFL Playoffs in 2022.
Ravens Offseason Moves
3. Add depth in the secondary
One of the units that were greatly hit with injuries was the Ravens' secondary which saw Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey, Tavon Young, Khalil Dorsey, and DeShon Elliott miss time through the course of the season. Surely enough, this prevented Baltimore from successfully containing their opponents on the field, especially in the passing game.
A key player that they should retain for next season would be cornerback Anthony Averett who is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. In 2021, he led the team with three total interceptions in 14 games played.
The Ravens can also look to use their 14th overall pick to select a young ballhawk in the 2022 NFL Draft. If they want a more experienced talent then they can opt to acquire a proven veteran in free agency led by J.C. Jackson, Joe Haden, and Stephon Gilmore.
2. Improve the pass rush
Heading to the season, the Ravens were known to have a significantly weaker pass rush due to the departure of Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward. They tried to fill the hole with the addition of outside linebacker Justin Houston who concluded the season with 4.5 sacks.
However, the Ravens' pass rush didn't get to be effective throughout their campaign as they only recorded 34 total sacks in 2021. After seeing lackluster performances, the front office will surely aim to bolster the group with significant additions in the offseason. Tenured veterans like Jadeveon Clowney, Randy Gregory, and Haason Reddick are all intriguing players that the Ravens must look to add for next season.
1. Strengthen the offensive line
The departure of All-Pro tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was a huge hit to the offensive line as they have yet to fill the void that he left since then. Things got even worse as Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley almost missed the entirety of the 2021 season due to an ankle injury.
In 2021, the group failed to protect their gunslingers who were sacked for a total of 57 times this season. With such a huge hole to fill, the Ravens can also consider using their 14th overall pick to acquire a promising lineman in the upcoming draft. Texas A&M's Kenyon Green, Mississippi State's Charles Cross, and Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum are all realistic targets for Baltimore in the first round.
Hopefully, having a much improved offensive line can allow Lamar Jackson to get back to his previous form and elevate their offensive attack moving forward.
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