OTL: Schedule Release has People Talking, Excited

We know who they play. Soon, we will know when.

The NFL is due to release the 2024 regular season schedule next week, and that means we are all one giant step closer to starting a new campaign. I mean, not really. It’s just a day in the grand scheme of things. It’s not like we get to push “fast forward” and…

But I digress.

One thing we do know already is that, on paper, the Ravens have a difficult slate ahead.

2024 NFL strength of schedule for all 32 teams for upcoming season – CBS Sports #NFL

https://t.co/VCRXiOGuV7

— Statletics (@Statletics_) May 8, 2024

“Cleveland has a strength of schedule of .547, which not only gives them the most difficult schedule for the upcoming season, but it makes them one of only two teams in the NFL — along with the Baltimore Ravens — that will have a strength of schedule above .535,” wrote CBS’s John Breech.

There’s a lot that goes into the schedule, as we know. Teams already know who they are going to play due to a pre-determined formula that has divisions playing other divisions on a rotating basis, a tough division schedule and a few opponents matched up based on where the teams finished last season. That leads to a pretty tough schedule for next year.

“The second-most difficult schedule belongs to the Ravens, who will face a brutal road schedule this year with games against the Chiefs, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Houston Texans, Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who all finished the 2023 season with a winning record (the Ravens will also play road games against the New York Giants and Jim Harbaugh‘s Los Angeles Chargers),” said Breech.

Whatever. Bring’em on.

In his popular Mailbag column, the Ravens’ Ryan Mink took a shot at predicting some of next year’s bright-light games.

#RavensMailbag: Predicting the Ravens’ primetime schedule https://t.co/b7QoXMoTnU

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 8, 2024

“I’m going to guess the Ravens get five primetime games on their 2024 schedule, at least at the outset,” wrote Mink. “I’ll predict one against the Steelers and another against the Bengals/Browns because the AFC North is just so strong and those games are always awesome. The rematch between the Harbaugh brothers (Ravens vs. Chargers) has to be on primetime. So does the rematch of the AFC Championship with the Chiefs, which is being rumored as potentially the (stateside) opening game of the season. That’s four. Other juicy matches are Ravens vs. Bills, Ravens vs. Texans, Ravens vs. Eagles, and Ravens vs. Cowboys. I’ll say one of those gets put on the national stage as well to give us five.”

Mink said that, on top of the Ravens coming off a great regular season, there’s another reason they are a primetime favorite.

“The Ravens are a great draw with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson leading the way and they have a league-high 10 games against teams that made the playoffs last year,” he said. “That will surely entice the schedule makers to put those games on a pedestal.”

First-round pick Nate Wiggins has been the toast of the town since being selected by the Ravens last month, and General Manager Eric DeCosta shared what makes him a special prospect.

“I look at Nate as great feet, speed, coverability. Guys don’t get open against him.”

The superpower that made Nate Wiggins the Ravens’ pick:https://t.co/D5qNA1hMve

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 8, 2024

“I look at Nate as great feet, speed, coverability,” DeCosta said. “Guys don’t get open against him. He can just flat-out cover; that’s really important. His superpower is when he’s covering a guy, there’s going to be very little space.”

If you’re a corner, and are fortunate enough to have a “superpower,” being good at covering guys is probably a good one to have. Well, that and the ability to prevent hunger and crime and all that other stuff, but… you know what I mean. Covering guys is pretty darn important.

DeCosta said the one knock against Wiggins — his weight — is not that big of a deal to him.

“There’s this perception that Nate is this skinny, skinny guy,” DeCosta said. “I don’t look at it as much of a problem. I think there’s an opportunity to get him stronger; I think we do a good job of that. I saw a guy that was a competitive player. I saw a guy that wanted to be a physical player. Getting stronger is only going to help his game. If you love his game right now, you have to be really excited about what he could be.”

Of course, before we get to the new season and see guys like Wiggins on the field, you can count on DeCosta doing his late off-season tinkering with the roster. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec explored some veteran options the Ravens might be looking at in the coming weeks and months.

Late offseason and in-season signings were a big reason the Ravens went 13-4 last year.
A year later, there are intriguing FA options still available, especially at safety. https://t.co/qoq5CVrBLt

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 8, 2024

One that seems like a natural fit for the Ravens in terms of need/cash is veteran safety Adrian Amos.

“The Ravens were pretty far down the road of signing Amos last offseason before the New York Jets suddenly had an urgent need at safety after Chuck Clark went down with a season-ending injury,” wrote Zrebiec. “Amos chose to sign with the Jets, feeling like he’d get more playing time. He wound up getting released in early December and finished the season with the Houston Texans. The Baltimore native probably isn’t a starter at this stage of his career, but the Ravens don’t need one. They need a reliable veteran No. 3 or 4 safety to provide depth behind Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams and to play on special teams. You’d have to think the 31-year-old Amos would be intrigued by potentially finishing his career in his hometown, and he’d probably come cheap.”

Another who stood out is guard Dalton Risner.

“Risner has started 73 games over five seasons, yet he again finds himself looking for work late in the offseason,” explained Zrebiec. “He didn’t sign with the Minnesota Vikings until mid-September last year. Risner started 11 games for Minnesota after arriving. He didn’t allow a sack but struggled at times with his run blocking, ranking 54th out of 65 guards in that area, per Pro Football Focus. The Ravens say they’re content with their options at guard, where they will have to replace their two starters from last year. Risner, though, would bring toughness, experience and personality to what could be a young offensive line.”

Also of note:

Former Missouri Western defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell (@CJRav) speaks to @KQ2SPORTS about signing an Undrafted Free Agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens! @MWSU_Football @Ravens @MWSUGriffons pic.twitter.com/KYcKxEY1hB

— Brett Kennedy KQTV (@KCKennedy93) May 9, 2024

Two GMs recently said Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson has a higher ceiling than Bengals Joe Burrow

Lamar Jackson is younger than Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/6UdICJNHqg

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 9, 2024

With the 10th pick of the 1998 #NFLDraft, the Baltimore Ravens selected CB Duane Starks of the Miami Hurricanes!

In his four year stint in Baltimore, Duane was another success story, hauling in 20 interceptions and this very special pick six!

How bout it? #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/G2bbaRZ3mI

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) May 9, 2024

The post OTL: Schedule Release has People Talking, Excited appeared first on Russell Street Report.