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Baltimore Ravens: Biggest team needs after 2018 free agency

By Russell S. Baxter

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens have not made a lot of moves this offseason. So what more does John Harbaugh’s club need to address down the road?

Are the Baltimore Ravens still licking their wounds of missing out on the playoffs this past year? A Week 31-27 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 cost John Harbaugh’s club a postseason appearance. And this is a team that owns a 40-40 regular-season record since 2013, the year after winning Super Bowl XLVII.

But it’s a new year. As for this offseason, the team has some new faces at wide receiver. Jeremy Maclin was released and Mike Wallace signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. So general manager/executive vice president Ozzie Newsome added Michael Crabtree and John Brown.

So what else do the Ravens need to take a long look at over the next few months?

Address the offensive line

Injuries devastated this group this past year. Not having perennial Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda for the final 14 games of 2017 certainly hurt this past season. And starting left guard Alex Lewis was absent for the entire year. T

o make matters worse, 16-game starter Ryan Jensen signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March. That leaves a big hole at center. Could Lewis wind up at right tackle? Will the team re-sign center/guard Luke Bowanko? All told, there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to this area.

Playmaker at tight end

In 2016, Dennis Pitta led the Ravens with 86 catches. This past season, veteran Benjamin Watson paced the club with 61 grabs (good for 522 yards and four touchdowns). But neither is with the club, the latter rejoining the New Orleans Saints in late March. Three-year pros Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams remain in the mix but quarterback Joe Flacco could use a downfield threat here.

Bolster pass rush

Baltimore finished 2017 with a respectable 41 sacks, 11 of those by ageless Terrell Suggs and eight from two-year pro Matt Judon. But the team racked up 29 quarterback traps in their nine wins compared to only a dozen sacks in seven losses. Suggs enters his 16th season and three-year pro Za’Darius Smith (3.5 sacks in 2017) enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round projection

Conclusion

There was something just not quite right with the Baltimore Ravens this past season. Of course, this is also a team that has made the playoffs just once over the past five years. The team has added some new weapons for Flacco but the defense needs to continue to add some younger pieces. And Harbaugh’s offensive line looks to rebound from a rough 2017.

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