The 2023 Baltimore Ravens’ contracts suggest that the team are zagging while the NFL zigs when it comes to positional value.
In this two-part series, the 2023 contract priorities for the Ravens will be considered. The first part will examine how the Ravens are setting themselves apart from the rest of the NFL in terms of their contract priorities. The second part will look at the effectiveness of their contract model, and its sustainability.
Last Word On Sport’s own Mike Kashuba recently published an insightful piece that deduces the NFL’s most valuable positions, according to league-wide contracts. His results found that the top four highest-paid positions are as follows (per Over the Cap):
- Quarterback
- Wide Receiver
- Edge Rusher
- Left Tackle
Kashuba then explains that, behind these four, are cornerback, right tackle and safety. Rounding out the top 10 are linebackers, tight ends and guards.
With this in mind, a deep dive into the Ravens shows a notable deviation from this league average. This has, so far, been a somewhat understudied narrative of the Ravens in 2023. Why has Eric DeCosta gone against the grain? And is it a successful model?
Read More: Baltimore Ravens 2023 Contract Analysis Part 2
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2023 Baltimore Ravens Contracts: Defying the NFL’s Positional Value Trend
2023 Baltimore Ravens Contracts Ranking
It is worth noting that Kashuba’s analysis focuses on the top-10 highest-paid players at each position. His justification for this was to avoid rookies and depth players impacting the data. The data, therefore, only considers the price of stars rather than the valuing of position groups as a whole.
For this reason, it is only fair that, when looking at Baltimore’s cap distribution, only the starters are considered. Where there is not a clear starter, the highest-paid player in that position will, instead be considered.
With that said, the Ravens’ average salaries per year shape up as follows, in order:
- Quarterback ($52.00 million, Lamar Jackson)
- Linebacker ($20 million, Roquan Smith)
- Left Tackle, ($19.75 million, Ronnie Stanley)
- Cornerback ($19.50 million, Marlon Humphrey)
- Wide Receiver ($15 million, Odell Beckham Jr.)
- Tight End ($14.00 million, Mark Andrews)
Safety ($14.00 million, Marcus Williams - Right Guard ($7.50 million, Kevin Zeitler)
- Kicker ($6.00 million, Justin Tucker)
- Edge Rusher ($5.50 million, Tyus Bowser)
- Right Tackle ($5.00 million, Morgan Moses)
- Fullback ($3.75 million, Pat Ricard)
- Center ($3.31 million, Tyler Linderbaum)*
- Interior Defensive Line ($2.00 million, Michael Pierce)
- Running Back ($1.42 million, J.K. Dobbins)*
- Left Guard ($1.20 million, Ben Cleveland)*
- Punter ($1.09 million, Jordan Stout)*
* indicates that player is on rookie deal.
Comparing the Baltimore Ravens Contracts Against the League Average
Comparing the Ravens’ contract priorities with the rest of the league’s yields some interesting results.
Where better to start than at quarterback? The Ravens’ quarterback saga appeared to last an eternity. However, this off-season, it was brought to a close.
While Lamar Jackson fought hard to earn his mega extension, the fact that it was ultimately granted tells us that DeCosta values his franchise quarterback. Sure, the Ravens dilly-dallied on the matter. However, they are aligned with the rets of the league in valuing their quarterback.
Behind quarterback, there are some interesting discrepancies. The next four highest paid positions in the NFL (in order) are wide receivers, edge rushers, left tackles and cornerbacks.
While in a slightly different order, the Ravens broadly agree. After quarterback, their top paid players are linebackers, left tackles, cornerbacks and wide receivers.
The appearance of linebacker is noteworthy. On average annual salary, Roquan Smith is Baltimore’s second highest paid player. For the rest of the league, star off-ball linebackers are only paid eighth highest.
Wide receivers being ranked just fifth is also alarming. Since Jackson has been in the league, the Ravens have consistently undervalued their wideouts.
Wide receiver being ranked at fifth for the team is down to the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. on a large one-year deal. In an age where elite teams have been paying premier wide receivers upwards of $20 million, the Ravens have gone against the grain again.
The league also values starting edge rushers. Starting pass rushers are paid third most. In Baltimore, however, this is just the 10th highest paid position.
Moving down the list, three other positions stand out. Tight ends, kicker and fullback are all positions that Baltimore value much higher than the rest of the league.
Making Sense of the 2023 Baltimore Ravens Contract Priorities
So it appears there are a few areas of difference which can be examined. These are: linebacker, wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end, kicker and fullback.
Linebacker
Baltimore paying big money for their starting inside linebacker is no surprise. Smith is probably the league’s best inside linebacker. He is Baltimore’s best playmaker on defense. After Baltimore traded for him last season, the defense went from inconsistent to elite.
With that said, inside linebackers are not valued across the league. That is why the fifth-year options of Jordyn Brooks and Isaiah Simmons were turned down. Truthfully, many front offices feel that inside linebackers are expendable and are not difference-makers.
In Baltimore, however, that is not the case. The Ravens are one of the few teams in the league where the inside linebackers have been fundamental.
Mike Macdonald has been great in game-planning for both Smith and Patrick Queen. What the Ravens are really paying for is the heart of their defense. For Baltimore, Smith’s versatility and leadership offers more than just a mike linebacker. Indeed, Smith is the reason Baltimore’s defense is as scary as it is.
Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald on Roquan Smith: pic.twitter.com/a5woskpTTV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 28, 2023
Wide Receiver and Tight End
Given how elite Mark Andrews is, it is no surprise that tight end is so high on Baltimore’s list (joint sixth). Since Jackson has been in the league, Andrews has been his favourite target. Across the league, however, tight ends are not valued that highly (ninth highest paid).
The premium that Baltimore have placed on tight end has naturally meant that wideouts have been neglected.
However, it appears that DeCosta has been making an effort to try and balance his offense out. The big money signing of Beckham has moved Baltimore more in line with the rest of the league. Zay Flowers’ arrival also suggests that Baltimore might be changing things up a little.
This does remain up in the air though. After all, Baltimore recently drafted two promising tight ends in Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
As such, what DeCosta decides to do with Devin Duvernay and Rashod Bateman this upcoming off-season will be telling. Will DeCosta double down on conforming with the league by paying Bateman and/or Duvernay? Or will the Ravens general manager reaffirm the Ravens’ love of tight ends and heavy packages?
Edge Rusher
Some might say it is a little unfair to include edge rushers here. After all, the projected starting edge rushers for Baltimore are two players on their rookie deals (Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo).
However, it is true that Baltimore have not paid the position well ever since the departure of Terrell Suggs.
This is not down to a lack of trying though. Baltimore were close to re-signing Za’Darius Smith in the 2022 off-season but the player made a last-minute switch.
It seems that Baltimore do value their pass rush. But they are often stingy in free agency. As such, they have not found the right opportunity to pay their edge rushers.
However, the fact that the team drafted Oweh and Ojabo in the first and second rounds of the draft suggest that the team do actually value the position like the rest of the league.
Kicker
Justin Tucker has bene the league’s best kicker for the last few years. It is no surprise that Baltimore have paid him well.
Tucker has won Baltimore games at the death before. The famous field goal against Detroit certainly comes to mind, among others.
As such, it can be observed that Baltimore have paid their kicker well because of his game-winning ability (and longevity with the franchise). Like in the case of Smith, Tucker elevates the team and transcends the positional value imposed by the rest of the NFL.
Justin Tucker’s 66-yard game-winner vs. Detroit is one of four ESPY nominees for Best Play. pic.twitter.com/wLnoASwojZ
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) June 29, 2022
Fullback
The final player to discuss is Pat Ricard. Ricard plays fullback, which is a position that very few teams utilize, let alone pay.
However, the Ravens have fullback as their twelfth highest paid position. That is even ahead of interior defensive line, for them.
Is this another case of the player transcending his positional value, like Smith and Tucker? Somewhat.
Ricard is a top fullback. While Kyle Juszczyk is the league’s household name at the position, Ricard is not far behind.
However, it seems more the case that Baltimore value the position itself, rather than the player specifically. That is why Ben Mason has been sat on their practice squad for the last couple of years.
Fullbacks were essential to Greg Roman’s playbook. They were used to support the pass protection, deployed as lead blockers and also even used in the passing game.
Whether Ricard’s usage will decrease under Todd Monken remains to be seen.
Main Photo: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
