2023 NFL Season: Four teams who crushed the offseason
By Ryan McCrary
4. Baltimore Ravens
Entering this offseason, the Ravens had a chance to finally agree to a contract extension with their star quarterback, which they had struggled to do over the last year or so. They couldn’t come to an agreement, though, and they placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson. This led Jackson to request a trade in March.
This was a scary time for the Ravens, as they would be in great danger of becoming a mediocre team without their MVP quarterback. Luckily for them, they were able to bring Jackson back, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $260 million.
That’s not the only thing they did. They also added a lot of talent to their receiving core, as they drafted Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal. They’re also getting Rashod Bateman back from injury, meaning their receiving core should look a lot better than it has the last couple of years.
We already know just how good Lamar Jackson can play, as he was a unanimous MVP back in 2019. However, we haven’t seen him replicate that level of play since, mainly because the Ravens haven’t had enough receiving talent. That has changed now, and with the Ravens getting a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, we could see the Ravens soar to new heights next season. Perhaps they can even make the AFC championship. Only time will tell.