Here’s my annual offseason guide, always published a few days after the end of the season.
RAVENS FREE-AGENT CLASS
List is courtesy of Spotrac.com. The free-agent signing period starts when the new league year begins on March 13. 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 (22): With four or more years of experience, a player can sign with another team without compensation for returning to the Ravens. This year’s unrestricted free agents are QB Tyler Huntley, QB Josh Johnson, RB Gus Edwards, RB J.K. Dobbins, WR Devin Duvernay, WR Laquon Treadwell, WR Nelson Agholor, WR Odell Beckham, Jr., G John Simpson, G Kevin Zeitler, DE Ja’DaVeon Clowney, DE Brent Urban, DE Justin Madabuike, ILB Patrick Queen, ILB Malik Harrison, ILB Del’Shawn Phillips, CB Rock Ya-Sin, CB Trayvon Mullen, CB Arthur Maulet, CB Daryl Worley, CB Ronald Darby, S Geno Stone.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (1): With three years’ experience, another club can tender an offer sheet until April 19. The Ravens would have seven days to match. This year’s restricted free agent is S Ar’Darius Washington.
EXCLUSIVE-RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (0): With two years or less experience, a player has no negotiating leverage. No Ravens qualify.
RAVENS 2024 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, Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo (placement game)
AWAY: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas, New York Giants, Houston (placement game), Tampa Bay (placement game)
SCHEDULE NOTES: The interconference placement game, a new addition to the schedule for all teams in 2021, will be hosted by the NFC teams in 2024; the AFC teams got hosting privileges in 2023. The AFC North is being paired up with the NFC South, so Tampa Bay, which finished first in its division as the Ravens finished first in theirs, will host Baltimore in 2024. The Ravens will have 12 of their 17 games against teams with winning records in 2023 and 10 games against 2023 playoff teams. The Ravens’ two games against teams with winning records that did not make the playoffs are the two home-and-home AFC North matchups with Cincinnati, which finished 9-8 despite taking last place in the division. The Ravens will play 13 of their 17 games in the Eastern time zone in 2024, one fewer than last year. In 2022, a franchise-record 16 of its 17 games took place in the Eastern time zone; the exception was New Orleans.
Using the 2023 records of the team’s 2024 opponents, Baltimore has the NFL’s second-most difficult schedule in 2024; it is also the second-toughest of the four AFC North Division teams, trailing only league-leading Cleveland. That ranking will certainly change, depending on how the 2024 season plays out, and that season’s figures are used instead of those from 2023. 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.
The two placement games against AFC opponents are determined by a team’s finish during the previous season. The Ravens finished first in the AFC North in 2023. 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 West or AFC South in 2024, that is why Houston (away) and Buffalo (home) are on the 2024 schedule…
Per the league schedule rotation, the Ravens are playing the entire AFC West and NFC East in 2024. 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 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 for the first time will come in 2025.
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. With a road game at Dallas in 2024, the game could be placed on Thanksgiving afternoon. Also, since the Thanksgiving night game is not governed by a traditional afternoon site (as you have with Detroit early in the afternoon and Dallas late), there is a chance that any of the Ravens’ 2024 games could be played on Thanksgiving evening.
2024 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER FOR ELIMINATED TEAMS
Listed by draft position, team, 2023 record, and strength of schedule; ties determined by weaker schedule strength, then by coin flip; 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 (from Carolina), 7-10, .464
2. Washington Commanders, 4-13, .512
3. New England Patriots, 4-13, .522
4. Arizona Cardinals, 4-13, .561
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 5-12, .529
6. New York Giants, 6-11, .512
7. Tennessee Titans, 6-11, .522
8. Atlanta Falcons, 7-10, .429
9. Chicago Bears, 7-10, .464
10. New York Jets, 7-10, .502
11. Minnesota Vikings, 7-10, .509
12. Denver Broncos, 8-9, .488
13. Las Vegas Raiders, 8-9, .488
14. New Orleans Saints, 9-8, .433
15. Indianapolis Colts, 9-8, .491
16. Seattle Seahawks, 9-8, .512
17. Jacksonville Jaguars, 9-8, .533
18. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-8, .574
19. Los Angeles Rams, 10-7, .529
20. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-7, .540
21. Miami Dolphins, 11-6, .450
22. Philadelphia Eagles, 11-6, .481
23. Houston Texans (from Cleveland), 10-7, .474
24. Dallas Cowboys, 12-5, .446
25. Green Bay Packers, 9-8, .474
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-8, .481
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston), 4-13, .561
28. Buffalo Bills, 11-6, .471
29. Detroit Lions, 12-5, .481
30. Baltimore Ravens, 13-4, .543
(NOTE: The order of picks 31-32 is determined by the Super Bowl result)
2024-2025 RAVENS/NFL CALENDAR
(Dates and times of events are subject to change)
2024
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1 – Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with Canadian Football League players who are entering an option year in 2024 or whose 2023 contracts are due to expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on February 10.
Feb. 4 — East-West Shrine Game, site TBA
Feb. 4 – Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Feb. 4 – Pro Bowl Games, Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Feb. 19 – HBCU Legacy Bowl, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
Feb. 19 – Waiver system begins for 2024
Feb. 20 – First day to designate franchise or transition players
MARCH
Feb. 27-Mar. 4 — NFL Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
March 5 – Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players (4 p.m., EST)
March 11-13 — 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 13 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must exercise options for 2023 on all players who have option clauses in their 2023 contracts.
March 13 — 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 13 — 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 13 — All 2023 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 2023 league year, trading and free agency period begin at 4 p.m. (EST).
March 24-27 – Annual League Meeting; Orlando
APRIL
April 1 – Teams that have hired a new head coach after the end of the 2023 regular season may begin offseason workout program
April 15 – Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout program
April 17 – Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to team facilities for physical examinations
April 19 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 24 – Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents
April 24 – Deadline to time, test and interview draft-eligible players
April 25 – 89th Annual NFL Selection Meeting (“The Draft”); Campus Martius Park/Hart Plaza, Detroit; 8 p.m. ET (Round One)
April 26— NFL Draft, Day Two, 7 p.m. (Rounds Two and Three)
April 27 – NFL Draft, Day Three, noon (Rounds Four through Seven)
MAY
May 2 – Deadline for clubs to exercise fifth-year contract options for players taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft
May 3-6 — RAVENS ROOKIE MINICAMP, Under Armour Performance Center
May 8 (approx.) – NFL 2024 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED
May 12 — Final day tender offers can be made to unrestricted free agents for exclusive negotiating rights
May 13 – The Rookie Football Development Program begins
May 21-24 (tentative) – NFL Players Association Rookie Premiere event
May 20-22 — NFL Spring League Meeting and Coaches’ Accelerator, Nashville
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 2024 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
May 30-June 2 — 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 on the first NFL training camp’s first scheduled day, 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 24 (date tentative) — RAVENS’ TRAINING CAMP OPENS, Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills
AUGUST
Aug. 1 — Pro Football Hall of Fame Game; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; teams TBA; 8 p.m. (NBC)
Aug. 3 — Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Enshrinement Ceremony; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; noon (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 2024
Aug. 8-11 – Preseason Week One
Aug. 15-18 – Preseason Week Two
Aug. 22-23 – Preseason Week Three
Aug. 31 — Roster cutdown deadline to a maximum of 53 players (6 p.m. EST)
Aug. 31 – 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 contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1 – The 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. 5 — 105TH NFL REGULAR SEASON BEGINS; Super Bowl 58 champion at home vs. opponent TBA, 8:20 p.m. (NBC); top 51 salary-cap rule expires for all clubs at noon (ET).
Sept. 8-9 – WEEK ONE; Sunday and Monday games
Sept. 10 — Players still on the active roster on this date after having been on the roster for one regular-season game are guaranteed their full 2024 salary
OCTOBER
Oct. 6 – Week Five: flexible scheduling begins for Sunday night prime-time games. Selected games can also be flexed into the “Monday Night Football” window.
Oct. 29 – 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 own free-agent players for the 2025 season
2025
JANUARY
Jan. 5 – Week 18; REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Jan. 11-13 — Wild Card Weekend (ESPN/ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 18-19 — Divisional Playoff Round (NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN/ABC)
Jan. 26 — NFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. (Fox); AFC Championship Game, 6:40 p.m. (CBS)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 7 – NFL Honors, including announcement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2025; New Orleans; 9 p.m. (Fox/NFL Network)
Feb. 10 – SUPER BOWL 59; AFC champion (visitor) vs. NFC champion (home); Caesars Superdome; New Orleans; 6:30 p.m. (Fox)
2024 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Teams listed from toughest to weakest schedule; listed in order of 2023 win percentage of each team’s 2024 opponents; courtesy of edsfootball.com.
1. Cleveland Browns: 158-131-0 (.547, strongest)
2. Baltimore Ravens: 155-134-0 (.536)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 154-135-0 (.533)
T4. Green Bay Packers: 152-137-0 (.526)
T4. Houston Texans: 152-137-0 (.526)
T6. New York Giants: 149-140-0 (.516)
T6. Buffalo Bills: 149-140-0 (.516)
T8. New England Patriots: 148-141-0 (.512)
T8. Jacksonville Jaguars: 148-141-0 (.512)
T8. Las Vegas Raiders: 148-141-0 (.512)
11. Detroit Lions: 147-142-0 (.509)
T12. Los Angeles Rams: 146-143-0 (.505)
T12. San Francisco 49ers: 146-143-0 (.505)
T12. Dallas Cowboys: 146-143-0 (.505)
T12. New York Jets: 146-143-0 (.505)
T16. Kansas City Chiefs: 145-144-0 (.502)
T16. Minnesota Vikings: 145-144-0 (.502)
T16. Washington Commanders: 145-144-0 (.502)
T16. Cincinnati Bengals: 145-144-0 (.502)
20. Denver Broncos: 143-146-0 (.495)
T21. Tennessee Titans: 142-147-0 (.491)
T21. Indianapolis Colts: 142-147-0 (.491)
T21. Philadelphia Eagles: 142-147-0 (.491)
T24. Miami Dolphins: 141-148-0 (.488)
T24. Seattle Seahawks: 141-148-0 (.488)
T24. Arizona Cardinals: 141-148-0 (.488)
T27. Los Angeles Chargers: 138-151-0 (.478)
T27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 138-151-0 (.478)
T29. Carolina Panthers: 135-154-0 (.467)
T29. Chicago Bears: 135-154-0 (.467)
T31. Atlanta Falcons: 131-158-0 (.453)
T31. New Orleans Saints: 131-158-0 (.453, weakest)
