The Ravens season ended shockingly, after last Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship.
With the defeat, Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job and 20+ free agents, headlined by Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike.
With questions about Lamar Jackson, the receiving corps, and a lack of rushing attack in the title game loss, GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh faced the media on Friday, taking questions for about an hour.
With the offseason now underway, here are takeaways from the presser.
John Harbaugh on lack of rushing attempts in AFC title game
Ravens coach John Harbaugh on the lack of rushing attempts in the AFC Championship Game: "That's not the number you want to have. That's not going to win an AFC Championship Game."
Harbaugh added that the Chiefs defense was playing to stop the run.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on offseason surgeries for Ravens
John Harbaugh said very few surgeries this offseason for his players. He said OT Morgan Moses is deciding whether to have one and OLB Odafe Oweh had thumb surgery
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Lamar Jackson
Ravens GM Eric DeDosta said he hasn't had any conversations with Lamar Jackson since the season ended but texted him: I'm proud of what he accomplished."
DeCosta said he may go down to Florida to meet with Jackson this offseason to get his thoughts on the team.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Ravens Super Bowl window
Eric DeCosta discussed his teams Super Bowl window closing.
“I don’t really subscribe to the idea of windows opening and closing. I’d like to believe that with careful roster building, good drafting and the development of players, the window is always going to be open.” pic.twitter.com/k5VwsuVBLp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
Eric DeCosta on not Patrick Queen's 5th year option
Baltimore gambled on Queen developing into one of the NFL’s top linebackers, and they’ll likely lose him on the open market.
DeCosta on not picking up Queen's 5th-year option: "You never know on these situations. Patrick had an amazing season. I love Patrick. He's one of my favorite guys on the team."
DeCosta said Queen has put himself in great position to hit the market. "He's a special player."— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 2, 2024
Eric DeCosta on Kevin Zeitler
DeCosta on Zeitler: "He's been a Pro Bowler. This is his first year, but in my mind, he's been a Pro Bowler."
He said he met with Zeitler last week about his contract and they'll continue to talk to him.— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on WR group
“I think Bate is going to have a great season. We got Zay. I feel really good about where we are.”
GM Eric DeCosta on the WR corps going into next year. pic.twitter.com/GJU5DMbH15
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Ravens 20+ free agents
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on having 20-plus free agents on the team: “We’ll be busy.” pic.twitter.com/TobxlWExVu
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on potential franchise tag
Baltimore has two elite free agents and not enough cap space to keep both. DeCosta was vague in discussing a potential franchise tag.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta wouldn’t divulge whether the team would use the franchise tag on Justin Madubuike if Baltimore can’t reach a long-term deal with him before the free agency pic.twitter.com/VLPHu2z4v7
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson
“Lamar Jackson is a phenomenal success as a football player. I’m excited about the future. I’m excited about taking this offense to the next level.”
“He’s talking X’s and O’s. He’s talking opportunity and how we attack defenses on every plays.”
“Lamar Jackson is a phenomenal success… There’s nobody better in this league, especially nobody better for the Baltimore Ravens.” pic.twitter.com/qSCdzV5iQV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on OT Ronnie Stanley
Eric DeCosta on offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta when asked about LT Ronnie Stanley pic.twitter.com/JXfK5jBzEH
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Tyus Bowser
Bowser missed every game this season while engulfed in a controversy about the severity of his injury.
Eric DeCosta said he can't say much about Tyus Bowser's situation but concedes that it was "a tough deal for him this year."
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Ravens home playoff loss
John Harbaugh on Ravens losing AFC title game at home.
“I’m heartbroken with the fact that we didn’t win that game at home, in front of our crowd for the first time in all these years.” pic.twitter.com/8aV5qjaQ0Y
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on pregame incident with Justin Tucker
During pregame warmups, Justin Tucker was involved in an incident where Travis Kelce tossed his helmet and his kicking tee.
Harbaugh on Tucker/Chiefs pregame incident: "Same routine he has last 12 years. There is no side of the field. The field doesn't split in half until a certain time." He said Chiefs K was doing the exact same thing. "It's a FB game. It's about how you execute and how you play."
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Rashad Bateman
Harbaugh made it sound as if Odell Beckham won’t return, hinting at Bateman take on a bigger role in 2024 after logging 32 catches, for 367 yards and one score.
John Harbaugh: “Rashod Bateman has a great future.”
Says he’ll be starting and playing a lot of snaps next year. Said Bateman has become a “great, great route-runner.”
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Justin Madubuike, Patrick Queen
Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen bet on themselve, and they’ll both make life changing money in free agency.
GM Eric Decosta on pending free agents Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen. pic.twitter.com/TItYGt66x8
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Mike Macdonald
The Ravens expected to lose their defensive coordinator, and Harbaugh talked about the rising coaching star.
Coach Harbaugh talks about Mike Macdonald taking the head coaching job in Seattle, promoting Zach Orr to defensive coordinator and the overall defensive coaching staff. pic.twitter.com/KEVNPnjjfw
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Joe Hortiz to the Chargers
Jim Harbaugh is the new head coach of the Chargers, and he swooped in and hired Joe Hortiz away from the Ravens.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on former director of player personnel Joe Hortiz, who is now the Chargers GM: "Great evaluator. Great consensus builder. He did a great job of leading the scouts. He's one of my best friends."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 2, 2024
Jim Harbaugh on Anthony Weaver
Anthony Weaver is poised to return to Ravens staff after a head coach and defensive coordinator candidate.
Coach Harbaugh on Anthony Weaver. pic.twitter.com/QgGcs2dTPp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Ravens building another great defense
Baltimore has lost vital staffers, and they’ll suffer significant free agent losses on defense, but John Harbaugh is confident they’ll build another great defense.
John Harbaugh said he's confident the Ravens are "going to build another great defense.
Zach Orr is "super talented, super enthusiastic" and that with his experience as a LB coach and support structure, "there's no reason not to put Zach in that position."
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 2, 2024
John Harbaugh on Chiefs scheming to stop the run
The Ravens ran the ball six total times in the AFC title game loss, and Harbaugh blamed it on the Chiefs scheming and lining up to stop the run with heavy formations.
John Harbaugh said the Chiefs' defense was lined up to take away the run Sunday, and the Ravens' offense was in a "two-minute offense" for much of the second offense. There were also early RPOs that turned into passes.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 2, 2024
GM Eric DeCosta on Ravens RB Group
“I’m glad we have Justice on a 2-year deal. He was really one of the unsung heroes of the team won the stretch. It was a challenge this year with J.K.’s injury and with Keaton. We’ll access that market. We’ll see where things lie with Gus and j.K.”
GM Eric DeCosta on the RB group. pic.twitter.com/wXxyaslONh
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
