Ravens Offseason: Can They Keep The Defense Intact?

After the changes the Baltimore Ravens defensive coaching staff has already undergone, will it lead to players leaving in free agency?

With sustained success comes other teams trying to replicate it. 

For the Baltimore Ravens, their success on defense after they allowed the fewest points per game (16.5), led the league in sacks (60) and tied for first in turnovers (31) culminated in members of their coaching staff landing prominent roles elsewhere. Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was hired as the Seattle Seahawks head coach, former defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson landed the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator job and former defensive line coach Anthony Weaver landed the same job with the Miami Dolphins. 

Patrick Queen / USA Today Sports

With those coaches gone, Baltimore's focus is likely set on making sure it doesn't experience the same turnover with its defensive players who are set to hit free agency. ESPN listed one burning question for each team this offseason, and for the Ravens, it was "How much more change will the Ravens' defense undergo?" 

"The Ravens, who led the NFL in fewest points allowed, have a new defensive coordinator in Zachary Orr after Mike Macdonald became the Seahawks' coach," ESPN writes. "Baltimore also lost defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson. Now, the Ravens have to figure out how much of their defensive personnel they can retain. There are 13 unrestricted free agents on the Baltimore defense, including two Pro Bowl players (defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and linebacker Patrick Queen) and their two most productive edge rushers (Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy)."

Keeping all their key contributors on defense will prove difficult for the Ravens, as they're projected to have around $6-8 million in cap space. Inevitably, they'll have to restructure contracts and cut players to make room to potentially re-sign defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and linebacker Patrick Queen. 

Madubuike and Queen couldn't have picked a better time to have the best seasons of their NFL career, as they were each in the final year of their rookie contracts. Madubuike set career highs and led the Ravens in sacks (13), tackles for loss (12), quarterback hits (33) and pressures (33). Queen had a career-best 133 tackles plus nine for a loss, 3.5 sacks, six passes defended and one interception.

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Keeping veteran pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, who combined for 18.5 sacks, will be a tall task unless they opt to take team-friendly deals. Baltimore will likely have to address that position through the draft and hope that young pass rushers like Odafe Oweh can continue to improve. 

If the Ravens want to ensure first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr hits the ground running, they'll need to keep the core of their defense together or, at the very least, have players ready to step up for those who may sign elsewhere. If the Ravens experience a similar exodus with their free agents on defense as they did with their coaching staff, their chances of getting over the hump next season will take a devastating hit.