OTL: Whirlwind New League Year Round-Up, Ravens Edition

Oh my god, I actually have things to talk about this week. Finally. We must be getting closer to the draft with all the moves our Baltimore Ravens have been making in recent days.

First things first: Michael Pierce announced his retirement. And we will always have this moment:

DT Michael Pierce is retiring after 9 years in the NFL.

He gave us one of the greatest big men INTs of all-time. pic.twitter.com/jRJUJXmw8q

— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2025

The “what are you doing” will always make me laugh. Just a hilarious moment. Enjoy retirement, big fella.

Up next: probably the biggest news of the last couple of days: the Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year contract. I have thoughts. This could potentially be Lamar’s Anquan Boldin signing. The Ravens have needed that big body on the outside for years, and now they finally have one. Yes, Hopkins is 32, but I think the guy’s got some gas left in the tank. Does he have as much football in him that Boldin did when he was traded to Baltimore? He was 30 when the Ravens acquired him. I suppose we’ll find out in good time.

In any case, I like it. You can never have enough weapons.

Speaking of weapons, Tylan Wallace got re-signed. Another deal that I like. He’s been a very good return man and another wrinkle for defenses to worry about when he’s on the field with the offense. I’d like to see him with the ball in his hands more often next season. We’ve all seen what he can do when that happens.

And a couple more re-signings: Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Ricard. Kudos to Ronnie. Took the hometown discount instead of hitting free agency. And Pancake Pat: I was a little concerned they’d let him walk, but I’m glad to see they didn’t. Pat’s impact is obvious every time he steps on the field, and with him and Ronnie both back next year, that’s two big bodies protecting the golden goose of this franchise.

And finally, Marcus Williams got cut.

This one hurts. It’s difficult to say which safety signing was more disappointing, Williams or Earl Thomas. I think Thomas was technically a worse signing, but Williams was more disappointing, simply because he got worn down by injuries and Thomas was… just not a great guy to give tens of millions of dollars to.

The main issue with Williams is this: the talent didn’t just disappear. It’s still in there somewhere, he just needs to find it again. Sadly, it just won’t be in Baltimore. I hope he bounces back elsewhere.

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