John Harbaugh continues his dominant leadership of the Ravens into their 18th season under head coach John Harbaugh with QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry among many other key players, leading multiple playoff appearances under him. To remain competitive in free agency negotiations and stay ahead of their competition, Harbaugh recently made an important move during this free agency period – signing offensive lineman Brandon Coleman away.
Ronnie Stanley extended his contract for three more years at an estimated value of $60 Million with Baltimore Ravens organization, turning down interest from other NFL clubs such as Chiefs, Commanders and Patriots despite their offers – likely leaving behind greater earnings opportunities elsewhere – by choosing them instead despite leaving larger paydays behind; his new deal ranks 8th among tackles by annual average salary.
With this extension, Lamar Jackson sees his offensive line strengthened, especially important given the free agent status of left guard Patrick Mekari. Last season, Stanley excelled, ranking 12th in the league with a 92.5% pass block win rate among tackles. Despite grappling with injury issues that led to 36 missed games over five seasons, Harbaugh expressed during the NFL Combine the team’s commitment to keep Stanley.
However, another challenge arises with the situation surrounding kicker Justin Tucker. Facing allegations of misconduct, Tucker’s future in the league is uncertain, prompting the Ravens to consider drafting a kicker in the 2025 NFL Draft. Given Tucker’s legacy as one of the greatest kickers, marked by the NFL record for the longest field goal at 66 yards and an 89.1% career field goal percentage, finding a suitable replacement will be no small task.
Ravens seeking a replacement for Lamar Jackson’s teammate
As the Ravens strive to find their next kicker, their draft prospects include Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald, Tyler Loop of Arizona’s UofA team and Miami native Andres Borregales; Ben Sauls from Pittsburgh has also become key candidates. Senior Special Teams Coach Randy Brown will evaluate these players with Tucker leaving significant shoes to fill. In particular he needs to consider rookie field goal scoring rates being generally lower compared to league average.
Lamar Jackson is eager to kickoff this year and secure his first Super Bowl victory, hoping these strategic moves by Ravens can position them for continued success throughout this upcoming campaign.