'Scary' Ravens! Zay & Rookies Report to Camp Amid Bold Super Bowl Prediction
Declaring winners and losers of the offseason is a subjective matter, and one that can vary depending on views of roster building. That being said, it is hard to see the Baltimore Ravens - with rookies reporting to camp on Thursday in Owings Mills - as anything other than one of the NFL's biggest winners heading into the season.
They retained superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, signing him to a record-breaking contract extension that will keep him in Baltimore. Not stopping there, they got Jackson help after signing receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and drafting another in Zay Flowers.
With such an eventful offseason for the Ravens, Ryan Clark named them one of the biggest storylines in the league in a recent interview with SBNation's Baltimore Beatdown.
“I would say the biggest storyline going into the NFL, this season, is what the Baltimore Ravens are going to do,” Clark said. “You add Odell Beckham Jr. You go out and you get Zay Flowers in the first round. You give Lamar Jackson 185 million, guaranteed."
"That has to equal wins, and if it doesn’t equal wins, and this team’s not contending for a Super Bowl, they’re going to say it’s a waste. But I also think it falls at the feet of Lamar Jackson, so people will be paying attention to that.”
Yes, some responsibility does fall at the feet of Jackson. In the last two seasons for the Ravens, he's only made 12 starts in each. When healthy, though he is an MVP-caliber quarterback - having won the award in 2019 after throwing for 3,127 yards with 36 touchdowns and six touchdowns while rushing for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns.
So, with the potential for Jackson to be fully healthy for all 17 games and the talent they've added this offseason, the Ravens are in a good position. Add a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, and Clark is high on Baltimore this season.
“My actual bold prediction is that the Baltimore Ravens will win the Super Bowl,” Clark said. “I just think it’s about who Lamar Jackson has been, without having help. So now you give him help. ... You give him a new offensive coordinator, and along with that, you have a defense that improves the entire season. I think they’re going to be a scary team.”
The talent is undoubtedly there for the Ravens, from Jackson to the duo of Beckham and Flowers. And the vets will get their camp chance when they report on July 25. But for now? It's the rookies' opportunity to get acclimated and to maybe become part of the "scary.''
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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