Before the season, the Ravens were regarded as having the best NFL roster or, at the very least, being second only to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
How did a talented team, that many thought would make it to the Super Bowl, end up with a 8-9 record, and miss the playoffs.
ESPN’s Ben Solak stated that the Ravens had some depth issues, despite having some of the top players in the NFL.
Solak argued that the Ravens roster-building strategy of drafting and developing their own players, while adding free agents at a low cost, can be flawed.
You build around your cornerstones, Lamar Jackson and Kyle Hamilton. Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley are also good choices. Solak told FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams Show” that everything else has been about draft and develop. “Save for Derrick Henry the last major free-agent deal they signed was like 2016.” They don’t spend a lot of money on outside players. That’s fine. This is a very professional way to build and it’s a long-term approach. I get it.
You can’t draft a team this good. You can’t only retain your players. You’ll eventually have two or three bad seasons if all you do is develop, extend and draft your own guys, even if you are a great GM and don’t lack talent. The Ravens are blessed with such blue-chip players. They do have stars. The problem comes when you reach the second or third tiers of players.”
Solak said that Baltimore would have been better served by signing free agents at offensive guard, but he contradicts himself when stating that Baltimore should have signed its own free agents.
Solak: “We’re talking Kevin Zeitler signing a one-year, $9 million contract with the Tennessee Titans,” Solak stated. Solak said: “And remember that they had Patrick Mekari, Ben Powers, and John Simpson in the building. There are guys who signed second and third-tier contracts, such as Powers and Simpson with the Broncos. They say that they can draft and develop.
“Man, even though you could, if 85% of the person who just left the building was able to be replaced, it would add up over all the positions. You have problems with your linebacker 2, edge rusher, guard, and you also have too many holes on your roster. Once Lamar breaks his leg, the whole season is over. You need to take the second and third tiers of your roster more seriously.”