Two Vastly Different Takes on State of the Ravens

The Ravens are perhaps the biggest enigma in the NFL at this point in the offseason.

In The Ringer’s offseason power rankings, which are based on the state of each team heading into the offseason, the Ravens are ranked No. 6. On the opposite end of the spectrum, USA Today listed the Ravens as one of six teams “in jeopardy of crippling setbacks during the 2023 offseason.”

Given the uncertainty surrounding Lamar Jackson’s contract situation, the vastly different opinions on the state of the Ravens aren’t surprising.

“Though restored to the playoffs in 2022, they hardly seemed like legitimate contenders given the primary narratives surrounding this team were QB Lamar Jackson’s latest (turned out) season-ending injury and his ongoing contractual impasse,” USA Today’s Nate Davis wrote. “Per OverTheCap, Baltimore has nearly $25 million in salary cap space – yet that wouldn’t even cover the cost of a franchise tag (approximately $32 million) for Jackson, whose rookie contract is expiring, and most certainly not the roughly $45 million exclusive tag.

“And if talks with Jackson, who represents himself, remain stalled, it’s possible the Ravens would be inclined to trade him … which wouldn’t be likely to improve their position no matter how many first-round picks came back to them in return. Also, no second-round pick after last year’s trade for LB Roquan Smith. And it remains to be seen how the offense evolves, particularly as it pertains to Jackson’s uncertainty, under new coordinator Todd Monken.”

The Ringer’s Austin Gayle expressed a much more optimistic view regarding the Ravens, the Jackson situation, and the hiring of Monken.

“The addition of Todd Monken as the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator is huge for Lamar Jackson, whose contract status will be Baltimore’s biggest offseason story,” Gayle wrote. “Jackson has an athleticism and dynamism that can overshadow his ability as a dropback passer, and Monken, a…