Baltimore Ravens Among 'Worst Offseasons' Ahead of 2024 Draft?

The Baltimore Ravens have lost a plethora of free agents, but does that land them among the teams who have had bad offseasons?

Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (6). / Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Few teams have experienced more turnover with their roster this offseason than the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have lost many key contributors to a team that was the No. 1 seed in the AFC and advanced to the conference championship game for the first time since 2013.

Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (6). / Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Former linebacker Patrick Queen signed with the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and safety Geno Stone also stayed in the AFC North after signing a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Jadeveon Clowney, who was second on the Ravens in sacks, also signed elsewhere after agreeing to a deal with the Carolina Panthers.

The architect of a Baltimore defense that was among the NFL's best, former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, is also gone after getting hired as the Seattle Seahawks' head coach.

On offense, the Ravens lost three of their five starting offensive linemen, with guard John Simpson signing with the New York Jets and offensive tackle Morgan Moses following him via trade. Kevin Zeitler signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is likely signing elsewhere.

With the surplus of changes this offseason, Bleacher Report ranked Baltimore among the teams that have had the worst offseason, noting the amount of talent it has lost since last season.

"Championship-caliber teams can find it tough to keep rosters together, and Baltimore had a lot of free agents this offseason," Bleacher Report writes. "It was still strange to see the Ravens part with so many pieces of a roster that came within a game of the Super Bowl when they weren't cap-strapped and still have $12.3 million remaining."

Not all was lost for the Ravens, though, as they added a dynamic threat to the running game with Derrick Henry and re-signed Kyle Van Noy after he had nine sacks last season.

There are a few ways to look at General Manager Eric DeCosta's approach to the offseason. The Ravens either have replacements in-house who are ready to step up in place of the free agents they lost, or the NFL Draft has depth in positions like linebacker, offensive line and pass rusher and they feel they can eventually get the same production on cheaper deals, which is a necessity given quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract.

The Ravens are among the NFL's elite when it comes to drafting and developing players to replace departing free agents. One doesn't need to look further than the impact second-year safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum had last season.

It's fair to question how Baltimore will be able to replace the amount of talent it has lost. If the Ravens don't skip a beat and remain among the NFL's elite, then DeCosta's plan for replacing them was right. But if Baltimore struggles out the gate or has to claw its way into the playoffs after being one of the NFL's more dominant teams last season, then it's more than fair to question its approach this offseason.