Baltimore Ravens' reasoning for key offseason departures becoming clearer

Baltimore Ravens' reasoning for key offseason departures becoming clearer

The Baltimore Ravens have some question marks all over the roster heading into the 2024 NFL season, but perhaps none bigger than the offensive line.

The Ravens experienced a lot of turnover on the offensive line this offseason, with players like Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson leaving in free agency while trading Morgan Moses.

That leaves the Ravens with three starter roles to fill, and they didn't add any major veteran pieces and drafted only one offensive tackle, Roger Rosengarten.

The Ravens obviously knew that there would be some change on the offensive line over the offseason — GM Eric DeCosta acknowledged that much prior to free agency. According to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens' handling of the offensive line this offseason was part of a deliberate plan.

In a mailbag column, Zrebiec writes that the Ravens "wanted to get younger, healthier and more athletic up front."

Zrebiec noted that ages of Moses and Zeitler (33 and 34, respectively) as well as the injuries that affected the team's blocking last year.

"It was a classic case of the Ravens believing it’s always better to move on from a guy a year too early than a year too late," Zrebiec writes.

And Zrebiec reports that the Ravens felt they could get similar production for cheaper than what Simpson got in free agency (two years, $12 million).

Elsewhere, the Ravens restructured Ronnie Stanley's contract. The 30-year-old tackle recently said he's feeling the best he has in years.

The plan makes sense on paper, but it's still to be determined if it works. The Ravens will largely rely on young, untested linemen to block for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.