It’s helpful information you can file away and refer to as the off-season progresses.
RAVENS FREE-AGENT CLASS
(List courtesy of Spotrac.com. Free-agent signing period starts when the new league year begins on March 15; other players can become free agents and be signed before then if they still have time left on their contracts and get released for salary-cap room-clearing purposes)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (16): With four or more years of experience, a player can sign with another team with no compensation for returning to the Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Justice Hill, G Ben Powers, CB Kyle Fuller, CB Marcus Peters, DE/LB Justin Houston, T Ja’Wuan James, WR Sammy Watkins, DE Brent Urban, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, TE Josh Oliver, DE Steven Means, RB Kenyan Drake, WR Demarcus Robinson, OLB Vince Biegel, CB Kevon Seymour
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (5): With three years’ experience, another club can tender an offer sheet until April 21. The Ravens would have seven days to match: QB Tyler Huntley, C Trystan Colon, ILB Kristian Welch, S Geno Stone, LB Del’Shawn Phillips
EXCLUSIVE-RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (1): With two years or less experience, a player has no negotiating leverage: LS Nick Moore
RAVENS 2023 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, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Miami (placement game), Detroit (placement game)
AWAY: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Arizona, San Francisco, Los Angeles Chargers (placement game)
The interconference placement game, a new addition to the schedule for all teams in 2021, will be hosted by the AFC teams in 2023; the NFC teams got hosting privileges in 2022. The AFC North is paired up with the NFC North, so Detroit, which finished second in its division as the Ravens finished second in theirs, will be coming to Baltimore in 2023.
The Ravens will have ten games against teams with winning records in 2022 and seven games against 2022 playoff teams; the latter number is unchanged from the previous season. The Ravens’ three games against teams with winning records that did not make the playoffs are against Detroit and the two home-and-home matchups with Pittsburgh.
The Ravens will play 14 of their 17 games in the Eastern time zone in 2023; in 2022, a franchise record of 16 of its 17 games took place in the Eastern time zone; the exception was New Orleans. In ’23, another exception could possibly be Jacksonville if that game is moved to London; the Ravens played there in 2017.
Using the 2022 records of the team’s 2023 opponents, Baltimore has the NFL’s 12th-easiest schedule in 2023 (tenth-easiest last year); it is also the second-toughest of the four AFC North Division teams. That ranking will certainly change, depending on how the 2023 season plays out, and that season’s figures are used instead of 2022. 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 the 16th-easiest.
A team’s finish determines the two placement games against AFC opponents during the previous season. The Ravens finished second in the AFC North in 2022. Placement opponents are defined as those who had the same finish in the standings as 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 East or AFC West in 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers (away) and Miami (home) are on the 2023 schedule.
Per the league schedule rotation, the Ravens are playing the entire AFC South and NFC West in 2023. 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 Minnesota, the only franchise remaining Baltimore has not defeated on the road. Baltimore got its first-ever regular-season win in New England last year. 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’ 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’ 2023 games – except for the home game against Detroit – could be played on Thanksgiving evening.
2023 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER FOR ELIMINATED TEAMS
(Listed by draft position, team, 2022 record, and strength of schedule; ties determined by weaker schedule strength, 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. Chicago Bears, 3-14, .571
2. Houston Texans, 3-13-1, .481
3. Arizona Cardinals, 4-13, .529
4. Indianapolis Colts, 4-12-1, .512
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver), 9-8, .462
6. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams), 9-8, .535
7. Las Vegas Raiders, 6-11, .474
8. Atlanta Falcons, 7-10, .467
9. Carolina Panthers, 7-10, .474
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans), 14-3, .474
11. Tennessee Titans, 7-10, .509
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland), 3-13-1, .481
13. New York Jets, 7-10, .538
14. New England Patriots, 8-9, .502
15. Green Bay Packers, 8-9, .524
16. Washington Commanders, 8-8-1, .536
17. Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-8, .519
18. Detroit Lions, 9-8, .535
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-9, .503
20. Seattle Seahawks, 9-8, .462
21. Miami Dolphins (choice forfeited), 9-8, .537
22. Los Angeles Chargers, 10-7, .443
23. Baltimore Ravens, 10-7, .509
24. Minnesota Vikings, 13-4, .474
(Chargers, Ravens, and Vikings move up one spot due to MIA’s forfeiture. The order of picks 24-32 are determined by playoff results.)
2023-2024 RAVENS/NFL CALENDAR
(Dates and times of events are subject to change)
JANUARY
Jan. 16 – Deadline for collegiate players to declare for early-entry draft eligibility
Jan. 28 – 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 entering an option year in 2023 or whose 2022 contracts are due to expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on February 10.
Feb. 2 — East-West Shrine Game, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Feb. 4 – Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Feb. 5 – Pro Bowl Games, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Feb. 9 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2023, Glendale, Arizona (Fox)
Feb. 12 – SUPER BOWL 57; AFC champion vs. NFC champion; State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona; 6:30 p.m. (Fox)
Feb. 19 – HBCU Legacy Bowl, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
Feb. 19 – Waiver system begins for 2023
Feb. 21 – First day to designate franchise or transition players
MARCH
Feb. 28-Mar. 6 — NFL Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
March 7– Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players (4 p.m., EST)
March 7 – Colleges may begin hosting pro days
March 13-15 — 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 (also known as “legal tampering”)
March 15 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must exercise options for 2023 on all players with option clauses in their 2022 contracts.
March 15 — 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 15 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit a minimum salary offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2022 contracts and who have fewer than three seasons of free agency credit.
March 15 — All 2022 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 26-29 – Annual League Meeting; Phoenix
APRIL
April 3 – Teams that have hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin an offseason workout program
April 17 – Teams with returning head coaches may begin an offseason workout program
April 19 – Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to team facilities for physical examinations
April 21 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 26 – Deadline for prior club to exercise the right of first refusal to restricted free agents
April 27 – Deadline to time, test and interview draft-eligible players
April 27 – 88th Annual NFL Selection Meeting (“The Draft”); Kansas City; 8 p.m. EST (Round One)
April 28— NFL Draft, Day Two, 7 p.m. (Rounds Two and Three)
April 29 – NFL Draft, Day Three, noon (Rounds Four through Seven)
MAY
May 5-7 — RAVENS ROOKIE MINICAMP, Under Armour Performance Center
May 11 (approx.) – NFL 2023 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED
May 12 — Final day tender offers can be made to unrestricted free agents for exclusive negotiating rights
May 15 – Rookie Football Development Program begins
May 21-24 – NFL Players’ Association Rookie Premiere event
May 22-24 — 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 2023 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 for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision
June 1-4 — 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 a submitted tender of 110 percent of 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 – The signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a May offer was tendered and for transition players with outstanding tenders
July 26 (date flexible) — RAVENS’ TRAINING CAMP OPENS, Under Armour Performance Center
AUGUST
Aug. 3 — Hall of Fame Game; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; teams TBA; 8 p.m. (NBC)
Aug. 5 — Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Enshrinement 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 2023
Aug. 10-13 – Preseason Week One
Aug. 17-20 – Preseason Week Two
Aug. 24-27 – Preseason Week Three
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 2 — Roster cutdown deadline to a maximum of 53 players (6 p.m. EST)
Sept. 2 – 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 the 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. 3 – 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. 7 — 104TH NFL REGULAR SEASON BEGINS; Super Bowl 57 champion at home vs. opponent TBA, 8:20 p.m. (NBC); top 51 salary-cap rule expires for all clubs at noon (ET).
Sept. 10-11 – WEEK ONE; Sunday and Monday games
Sept. 12 — Players still on the active roster on this date after having been on the roster for one regular-season game are guaranteed their full 2023 salary
OCTOBER
Oct. 8 – Week Five; flexible scheduling begins for Sunday-night prime-time games. Beginning in 2023, games can also be flexed into the “Monday Night Football” window.
Oct. 31 – The trading period ends at 4 p.m. (EST)
NOVEMBER
Nov. 15 — Signing deadline for unrestricted and restricted free agents who have 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 free-agent players for the 2024 season
JANUARY 2024
Jan. 7 – Week 18; REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Jan. 13-15 — Wild Card Weekend (ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 20-21 — Divisional Playoff Round (NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 28 — AFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. (CBS); NFC Championship Game, 6:40 p.m. (Fox)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 8 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2024, Las Vegas; 9 p.m. (CBS/NFL Network)
Feb. 11 – SUPER BOWL 58; NFC champion vs. AFC champion; Allegiant Stadium; Las Vegas; 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
2023 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
(Teams listed from toughest to weakest schedule; listed in order of 2022 win percentage of each team’s 2023 opponents;
courtesy of edsfootball.com)
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 161-123-4 (.566)
2. Miami Dolphins: 158-127-2 (.554)
T3. New England Patriots: 156-128-3 (.549)
T3. New York Giants: 157-129-2 (.549)
T3. Dallas Cowboys: 156-128-4 (.549)
6. New York Jets: 155-129-3 (.545)
7. Buffalo Bills: 155-131-2 (.542)
8. Washington Commanders: 153-133-2 (.535)
9. Los Angeles Rams: 152-133-3 (.533)
10. Las Vegas Raiders: 150-136-2 (.524)
11. Arizona Cardinals: 148-137-3 (.519)
T12. Denver Broncos: 148-138-2 (.517)
T12. Seattle Seahawks: 148-138-2 (.517)
T12. Los Angeles Chargers: 149-139-0 (.517)
15. San Francisco 49ers: 147-139-2 (.514)
16. Kansas City Chiefs: 147-140-0 (.512)
17. Cincinnati Bengals: 146-140-2 (.510)
T18. Chicago Bears: 143-145-1 (.497)
T18. Minnesota Vikings: 143-145-0 (.497)
20. Detroit Lions: 143-146-0 (.495)
21. Baltimore Ravens: 138-147-2 (.484)
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 138-148-2 (.483)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars: 135-148-4 (.477)
24. Green Bay Packers: 137-151-1 (.476)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: 134-151-2 (.470)
26. Cleveland Browns: 131-154-2 (.460)
27. Carolina Panthers: 130-157-2 (.453)
28. Tennessee Titans: 127-157-4 (.448)
29. Indianapolis Colts: 124-162-2 (.434)
30. Houston Texans: 123-163-2 (.431)
31. New Orleans Saints: 122-164-3 (.427)
32. Atlanta Falcons: 119-167-3 (.417)
