General manager Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome’s successor, has grown increasingly aggressive in handing out contracts, and he’s now built a Super Bowl hopeful for 2023 and beyond.
Baltimore currently has about $6,150,461 in cap space per Over The Cap, and they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.
The Ravens also have 27 players scheduled to hit free agency, and some tough decisions will be made regarding who returns to Baltimore.
PFF recently did an early ranking of the top 50 free agents for 2024, and John Harbaugh’s squad had two players make the list or land on the honorable mentions.
The overall positional spending will change in the coming years after Lamar Jackson signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract extension, making him among the three highest-paid players on average in NFL history.
6. DI JUSTIN MADUBUIKE, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Madubuike lands high on the list and likely out of Baltimore’s price range.
Madubuike has a strong case for being the player to earn himself the most money in 2023. With at least half a sack in 11 of 13 games this season, Madubuike has already doubled his prior season high — and he may double his total pressure output by the end of the season, as well. His effort and intensity on backside pursuit plays have always been there, and now an improved arsenal of moves with a more explosive first step has Madubuike set to cash in big time.
Top free agent comparison: Javon Hargrave, 2020
Player Run-defense grade Pass-rush grade True pass set pass-rush grade Pass-rush win rate APY as % of Cap at signing
Justin Madubuike 67.2 71.9 79.3 10.8% ?
Javon Hargrave 81.3 77.5 79.8 12.2% 6.5%
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signingContract Projection: Four years, $92 million ($23 million per year), $60.25 million total guaranteed
32. G KEVIN ZEITLER, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Zeitler makes the list as a potential player to bring back.
The Ravens adding Zeitler as a street free agent in 2021 after he was a cap casualty of the New York Giants has provided tremendous value, as he is on pace for more than 1,000 snaps played in every year with the team. The stalwart is still going strong at 33 years old, earning a pass-blocking grade above 80.0 for the second consecutive season in 2023.
The Ravens let left guard Ben Powers walk last offseason on a big contract, so perhaps they keep Zeitler around to pair on the right side with another stalwart veteran in Morgan Moses at right tackle, pushing to lift a Lombardi Trophy before the two hang it up.
However, Baltimore also didn’t appear to engage in extension talks this offseason as Zeitler skipped some activities. In their defense, they were a bit preoccupied with Lamar Jackson’s monster deal, among other matters.
Top free agent comparison: Josh Sitton, 2018
Player Pass-block grade True pass set pass-block grade Positive run-block grade percentage APY as % of Cap at signing
Kevin Zeitler 83.5 75.9 10.9%
Josh Sitton 90.8 89.3 14.5% 3.8%
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signingContract Projection: Two years, $15 million ($7.5 million per year), $9.5 million total guaranteed
40. EDGE JADEVEON CLOWNEY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Clowney has been outstanding and could return to Baltimore.
Clowney is having a career year with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald dialing things up for him, deploying simulated pressures and exotic blitzes out of various fronts.
It seems Clowney will probably ride out the rest of his career on successive one-year deals that fluctuate based on his production the year prior, and he certainly earned himself a raise this season. He is on pace for his highest pressure rate, highest pass-rush win rate and most total pressures in a season.
Top free agent comparison: Brian Orakpo, 2015
Player Pass-rush grade True pass set pass-rush grade Pass-rush win rate Run-defense grade APY as % of Cap at signing
Jadeveon Clowney 75.9 79.8 14.0% 73.1
Brian Orakpo 69.8 75.5 10.3% 72.5 5.4%
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signingContract Projection: One year, $9 million, $8 million guaranteed
45. LB PATRICK QUEEN, BALTIMORE RAVENS
It is hard to see Baltimore retaining Queen and Madubuike.
Queen’s prowess as a pass-rusher is not captured below (much like Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu highlighted above), but it carries significant value in addition to his strong play against the run and in coverage over the last two seasons. His 35 quarterback pressures and eight sacks over the last two seasons are both second among off-ball linebackers.
With Baltimore’s addition of linebacker Roquan Smith — the highest-paid player at the position after last year’s extension — and several other pending free agents, Queen should get to test the market and potentially do quite well for himself.
Top free agent comparison: Jamie Collins, 2017
Player Run-defense grade Coverage grade in the box Forced incompletion rate Run-stop rate APY as % of Cap at signing
Patrick Queen 70.8 66.7 3.5% 6.6%
Jamie Collins 74.7 67.5 3.7% 9.0% 7.5%
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signingContract Projection: Four years, $72.5 million ($18.125 million per year), $50.25 million total guaranteed
