Loads of information about what, when, where, who, and why.
Free Agents
The free-agent signing period starts when the new league year begins on March 16. Other players can become free agents and be signed before then if they still had time left on their contracts and get released for salary-cap room-clearing purposes.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (15). With four or more years’ experience, a player can sign with another team with no compensation returning to the Ravens. DE Calais Campbell, NT Brandon Williams, CB Jimmy Smith, OLB Justin Houston, ILB Chris Board, S DeShon Elliott, NT Justin Ellis, ILB LJ Fort, OLB Pernell McPhee, CB Anthony Averett, C Bradley Bozeman, RB Devonta Freeman, RB Latavius Murray, FB/TE Patrick Ricard, WR Sammy Watkins
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (2). With three years’ experience, another club can tender an offer sheet until April 22. The Ravens would have seven days to match. ILB Otaro Alaka, G Brandon Knight
EXCLUSIVE-RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (7): With two years or less experience, a player has no negotiating leverage. C Trystan Colon, CB Chris Westry, CB Khalil Dorsey, ILB Kristian Welch, S Geno Stone, DT Aaron Crawford, LS Nick Moore
2022 Regular Season Opponents
Information regarding dates, kickoff times, and TV networks will be released in early May, approximately two weeks after the NFL Draft.
HOME: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Buffalo, Atlanta, Carolina, Denver (placement game)
AWAY: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New England, New York Jets, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville (placement game), New York Giants (placement game)
The interconference placement game, a new addition to the schedule for all teams in 2021, will be hosted by the NFC teams in 2022; the AFC teams got hosting privileges in 2021. The AFC North is being paired up with the NFC East. Since the Ravens’ interconference placement opponent is the New York Giants, it means that the Ravens will travel to MetLife Stadium to play both the Jets and Giants in 2022, something they also did in 2016 in consecutive weeks. The Ravens lost both games.
The Ravens will have nine games against teams that had winning records in 2021, as well as seven games against 2021 playoff teams. The Ravens will play a franchise-record 16 of its 17 games in the Eastern time zone. The exception is New Orleans (and possibly Jacksonville if that game is moved to London; the Ravens played there in 2017).
Using the 2021 records of the team’s 2022 opponents, Baltimore has the NFL’s tenth-easiest schedule in 2022. It is also the easiest of the four AFC North Division teams. That ranking will certainly change, depending on how the 2022 season plays out and that season’s figures are used instead of those from 2021. For example, the Ravens began the 2020 season with the league’s easiest schedule, but when the 2020 records were factored in at the end of the season, it turned out to be tied for 16th-easiest.
The two placement games against AFC opponents are determined by a team’s finish during the previous season. The Ravens finished fourth in the AFC North in 2021. Placement opponents are defined as those who had the same finish in the standings as did the Ravens in divisions from the same conference the Ravens aren’t already playing in their entirety in the coming year. Since the Ravens do not play the entire AFC South or AFC West in 2021, that is why Jacksonville (away) and Denver (home) are on the 2022 schedule.
Per the league schedule rotation, the Ravens are playing the entire AFC East and NFC South in 2022. Game sites are determined by where the teams met last time those divisions met in their entirety; previous placement-game sites are irrelevant.
The Ravens have never won a regular-season game in New England or Minnesota, but they will be traveling to New England in 2022. In 2021, they got their first-ever win in Chicago. The Ravens have never won in Las Vegas, but they have defeated the Raiders franchise in Oakland. Per the schedule rotation, the Ravens’ next attempt to win in Minnesota will come in 2025, unless the interconference placement location pairs them up before then.
Baltimore-based NFL teams have played on Thanksgiving Day in 1965 (Colts at Detroit), 2011 (San Francisco at Ravens), and 2013 (Pittsburgh at Ravens). The Ravens’ scheduled 2020 Thanksgiving night game at Pittsburgh was postponed due to the pandemic, and the team’s road game in Detroit in 2021 was not scheduled for the holiday. However, since the Thanksgiving night game is not governed by a traditional afternoon site (Detroit early, Dallas late), there is a chance that any of the Ravens’ 2022 games could be played on Thanksgiving evening.
2022 Strength of Schedule
(Teams listed from toughest to weakest schedule; listed in order of 2021 win percentage of each team’s 2022 opponents; courtesy of edsfootball.com)
1. Los Angeles Rams: 164-125-0 (.567)
2. Arizona Cardinals: 157-132-0 (.543)
3. Cincinnati Bengals: 154-133-2 (.536)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 154-134-1 (.535)
T5. San Francisco 49ers: 154-135-0 (.533)
T5. Kansas City Chiefs: 154-135-0 (.533)
T7. Las Vegas Raiders: 152-136-1 (.528)
T7. New Orleans Saints: 152-136-1 (.528)
9. Atlanta Falcons: 151-137-1 (.524)
10. Los Angeles Chargers: 150-139-0 (.519)
11. Seattle Seahawks: 149-139-1 (.517)
T12. Carolina Panthers: 147-140-2 (.512)
T12. Pittsburgh Steelers: 148-141-0 (.512)
T12. Buffalo Bills: 147-140-2 (.512)
15. Denver Broncos: 147-142-0 (.509)
16. New England Patriots: 143-144-2 (.498)
T17. New York Jets: 142-145-2 (.495)
T17. Cleveland Browns: 142-145-2 (.495)
19. Houston Texans: 141-148-0 (.488)
20. Minnesota Vikings: 139-148-2 (.484)
21. Miami Dolphins: 138-149-2 (.481)
22. Green Bay Packers: 137-150-2 (.478)
23. Baltimore Ravens: 136-151-2 (.474)
T24. Chicago Bears: 135-152-2 (.471)
T24. Tennessee Titans: 136-153-0 (.471)
T26. Jacksonville Jaguars: 135-153-1 (.469)
T26. Indianapolis Colts: 135-153-1 (.469)
28. Detroit Lions: 135-154-0 (.467)
29. New York Giants: 134-154-1 (.465)
30. Philadelphia Eagles: 133-154-2 (.464)
T31. Dallas Cowboys: 133-155-1 (.462)
T31. Washington Football Team: 133-155-1 (.462)
2022 First-Round Draft Order for Eliminated Teams
Listed by draft position, team, 2021 record, and strength of schedule, ties are determined by weaker schedule strength and then by coin flip. The Super Bowl winner will pick at No. 32 and the Super Bowl runner-up at No. 31 unless those picks are traded.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-14, .512
2. Detroit Lions, 3-14, .528
3. Houston Texans, 4-13, .498
4. New York Jets, 4-13, .512
5. New York Giants, 4-13, .536
6. Carolina Panthers, 5-12, .509
7. New York Giants (from Chicago), 4-13, .536
8. Atlanta Falcons, 7-10, .472
9. Denver Broncos, 7-10, .484
10. New York Jets (from Seattle), 4-13, .512
11. Washington Football Team, 7-10, .529
12. Minnesota Vikings, 8-9, .507
13. Cleveland Browns, 8-9, .514
14. Baltimore Ravens, 8-9, .531
15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami), 9-8, .469
16. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis), 9-8, .469
17. Los Angeles Chargers, 9-8, .510
18. New Orleans Saints, 9-8, .512
(NOTE: The order of picks 19-32 are determined by playoff results)
2022-2023 Calendar
(Dates and times of events – as well as their very occurrence – are subject to change due to COVID protocols and concerns)
JANUARY
Jan. 17 – Deadline for collegiate players to declare for early-entry draft eligibility
Jan. 22 – NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 28 – HBCU Combine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.
DATE TBA — An assistant coach whose team is participating in the Super Bowl who has previously interviewed for another club’s head-coaching job may have a second interview no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1 – Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with Canadian Football League players who are entering an option year in 2022, or whose 2021 contracts are due to expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on February 10.
Feb. 3 — East-West Shrine Game, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Feb. 5 – Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Feb. 6 – Pro Bowl, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Feb. 10 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2022, Los Angeles (NBC/NFL Network)
Feb. 13 – SUPER BOWL 56; NFC champion vs. AFC champion; SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles; 6:30 p.m. (NBC)
Feb. 19 – HBCU Legacy Bowl, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
Feb. 20 – Waiver system begins for 2022
Feb. 22 – First day to designate franchise or transition players
MARCH
Mar. 1-7 — NFL Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
March 8– Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players (4 p.m., EST)
March 14-16 — Clubs are permitted to enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the current league year.
March 16 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must exercise options for 2022 on all players who have option clauses in their 2021 contracts.
March 16 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.
March 16 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit a minimum salary offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2021 contracts and who have fewer than three seasons of free agency credit.
March 16 — All 2021 player contracts will expire at 4 p.m. (EST). All clubs must have their top 51 players under the salary cap before 4 p.m. (EST), and the 2022 league year, trading and free agency period begin at 4 p.m. (EST).
March 27-30 – Annual League Meeting; site TBA
APRIL
April 4 – Teams that have hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin offseason workout program
April 18 – Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout program
April 20 – Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to team facilities for physical examinations
April 22 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 27 – Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents
April 27 – Deadline to time, test and interview draft-eligible players
April 28 – 87th Annual NFL Selection Meeting (“The Draft”); Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas; 8 p.m. EST (Round One)
April 29— NFL Draft, Day Two, 7 p.m. (Rounds Two and Three)
April 30 – NFL Draft, Day Three, noon (Rounds Four through Seven)
MAY
May 6-8 — RAVENS ROOKIE MINICAMP, Under Armour Performance Center
May 11 (approx..) – NFL 2022 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED
May 12 — Final day tender offers can be made to unrestricted free agents for exclusive negotiating rights
May 18 – Rookie Football Development Program begins
May 21-24 – NFL Players’ Association Rookie Premiere event
May 23-24 — NFL Spring League Meeting, site TBA
May-June (dates TBA) — Ravens’ organized team activity practices (OTAs), Under Armour Performance Center
JUNE
June 1 – For any player removed from the club’s roster or whose contract is assigned via waivers or trade on or after June 2, any unamortized signing bonus amounts for future years will be included fully in team salary at the start of the 2022 league year
June 1 – Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision
June 2-5 — Ravens Beach Bash; Council of Baltimore Ravens Roosts Convention and Parade, Ocean City
Mid-June — RAVENS MANDATORY MINICAMP; Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills
June 15 — Deadline for old teams to withdraw original qualifying offer to restricted free agents and maintain exclusive negotiating rights with the submitted tender of 110 percent of the previous year’s salary
Late June — Rookie Transition Program for all clubs. Attendance mandatory for all rookies
JULY
July 15 — Deadline for designated franchise-free agents to sign multi-year extensions. After this date, players can sign only one-year contracts and cannot sign extensions until after the team’s last regular-season game.
July 22 — Veteran free-agent signing periods end here, or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.
July 22 – Signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a May 8 offer was tendered and for transition players with outstanding tenders
Late July (date TBA) — RAVENS’ TRAINING CAMP OPENS, Under Armour Performance Center
AUGUST
Aug. 4 — Hall of Fame Game; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; teams TBA; 8 p.m. (NBC)
Aug. 6 — Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Induction Ceremony; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; 6 p.m. (ESPN/NFL Network)
Aug.10 — Deadline for under-contract players to report to earn a season of free-agency credit; unsigned rookies acquired in the draft that have not signed by this date may not be traded to another team in 2022
Aug. 11-13 – Preseason Week One
Aug. 18-20 – Preseason Week Two
Aug. 25-27 – Preseason Week Three
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3 — Roster cutdown deadline to a maximum of 53 players (6 p.m. EST)
Sept. 3 – Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate the contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List
Sept. 4 – Claiming period for players placed on waivers expires at noon EST. Teams may begin to establish ten-man practice squads at 1 p.m. EST.
Sept. 8 — 103RD NFL REGULAR SEASON BEGINS; Super Bowl 56 champion at home vs. opponent TBA, 8:20 p.m. (NBC); top 51 salary-cap rule expires for all clubs at noon (ET).
Sept. 11-12 – WEEK ONE; Sunday and Monday games
Sept. 13 — Players still on the active roster on this date after having been on the roster for one regular-season game are guaranteed their full 2022 salary
OCTOBER
Oct. 9 – Week Five; flex scheduling begins for Sunday-night prime-time games
NOVEMBER
Nov. 1 – Trading period ends at 4 p.m. (EST)
Nov. 15 — Signing deadline for unrestricted and restricted free agents who were tendered a qualifying offer before June 1; signing deadline for transition and franchise free agents who remained unsigned by another club
DECEMBER
Dec. 31 – Teams may begin signing their own free-agent players for the 2023 season
JANUARY
Jan. 8 – Week 18; REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Jan. 14-15 — Wild Card Weekend (ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 21-22 — Divisional Playoff Round (NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 29 — NFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. (Fox); AFC Championship Game, 6:40 p.m. (CBS)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 9 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2023, Glendale, Arizona; 9 p.m. (Fox/NFL Network)
Feb. 12 – SUPER BOWL 57; AFC champion vs. NFC champion; State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Arizona; 6:30 p.m. (Fox)
