What If This Happens?

During the weeks and days leading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the mood amongst the RavensFlock was rather subdued. Somberness hung over the team’s fanbase like a dark cloud that wouldn’t budge, anchored by the apparent contractual stubbornness of Lamar Jackson. And then, seemingly suddenly, the cloud parted. Blue skies decorated The Land of Pleasant Living.

The Ravens and Lamar had agreed to terms, in principle. And now today, the ink is dry on that 5-year, $260M deal.

Seemingly in a moment, the outlook for the 2023 season changed. Worrisome questions vanished. Concerns about Lamar refusing to play under the franchise tag or calling out after a hangnail, dissipated. Who would play quarterback during the coming season morphed into wonderment over how good the Ravens offense, the Ravens as a team could be. Collectively we pondered, and still do, “What if?”.

What if Lamar is re-energized by his newfound wealth, grows as a professional and not only rediscovers that 2019 MVP form but also progresses as a passer? What if Lamar forges a bond with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, a savvy coach who is known to pressure defenses with varied looks, unpredictable play calls from the same personnel packages and for pressuring defenses by stretching them to the boundaries in order to create windows of opportunity?

What if the previously oft-criticized, scantily decorated wide receiver room, takes the leap on the field that they’ve appeared to have done on paper? What if Odell Beckham, Jr.’s commitment to rehabilitation yields benefits on Sundays and he can give the team 14 to 16 quality games? What if Rashod Bateman can take that small sample size of productivity from 2022 and project it out over the entire 2023 campaign? What if complementary players like Nelson Agholor and Devin Duvernay can out play nickel and dime DB’s and help boost the depth of the Ravens offensive weaponry to dangerous heights? What if first-round pick Zay Flowers blooms (pun intended) into the best Day 1 wide receiver selection in team history?

What if Mark Andrews, given a new passing attack with an improved receiver room that stretches opposing defenses to their limits, has more room to navigate inside the numbers? And along those same lines, what if that potential development completely opens up the running game featuring a healthy J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, AND…perhaps a dangerous new weapon in the form of Keaton Mitchell who only needs a slight crevice in the defense in order to make a house call?

And what if the defense is even better than the squad that got a lift when Roquan Smith arrived. After 8 games last season, the Ravens defense ranked 24th, yielding 364.3 yards per game. After Roquan’s arrival the defense gave up just 288.8 YPG, a 20.7% drop off, placing them 10th for the season. To give that drop off perspective, the No. 1 ranked defense in terms of YPG during the entire 2022 campaign, was the San Francisco 49ers who gave up 300.6 YPG.

And there’s reason to be optimistic that they will build upon the momentum that Roquan provided.

Smith is looking to take his game to a new level. There are reports that he’s working with Ray Lewis to improve his ability to recognize/diagnose offensive tendencies and improve his pre-snap reads through more efficient film study. Familiarity with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s system and a full training camp to develop greater rapport with defensive mates, provide even more opportunities for advancement. Sidekick Patrick Queen was able to unleash his innate skills given the security blanket provided by Roquan’s presence. In 2023, he’ll play with a chip, driven by the promise of his next contract.

Kyle Hamilton came on strong towards the back end of 2022. His comfort level improved markedly and Macdonald creatively employed his secondary’s Swiss Army knife to create advantageous mismatches. Marcus Williams started 2022 on fire but lost several games due to a dislocated wrist. What if he picks up where he left off before the injury?

The career trajectory of Geno Stone and Brandon Stephens is moving in the right direction. What if that continues and they provide consistent quality depth and offer Macdonald even more weapons to counter opponents’ strengths in various nickel and dime packages?

What if the pass rush experiences a measurable boost with the addition to the coaching staff of pass rush specialist Chuck Smith who could unlock the potential of young, promising edge rushers David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh? And what if Justin Houston rejoins the squad providing an energetic and competent presence that belies his years along with leadership to replace the departed Calais Campbell.

What if the team’s altered training regimen clears a path to fewer names on the injury report?

What if all or most of this happens?

Can you see those blue skies?

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