Ravens' 2025 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss

The Baltimore Ravens were kings of the AFC North once again in 2024, and they fielded one of the most dangerous squads in the entire conference. The addition of Derrick Henry completed Baltimore's offense, while a defense that experienced some serious early struggles gelled late in the season.

Lamar Jackson had himself another MVP-caliber campaign, and the extension he signed in 2023 is beginning to look like a bargain.

When Jackson is healthy, the Ravens are typically relevant. John Harbaugh remains one of the best coaches in the league, and general manager Eric DeCosta knows how to build a complementary roster. That formula led Baltimore to another division title and a dominant wild-card win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, their season came to an end in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills.

If Baltimore hopes to three-peat as AFC North champions in 2025, though, it's going to take some offseason work. Let's dive into the Ravens' impending free agents, top needs and potential draft and free-agent targets.

Unrestricted Free Agents

WR Nelson Agholor

LB Chris Board

G Ben Cleveland

LB Malik Harrison

WR Deonte Harty

QB Josh Johnson

OT Josh Jones

OT Patrick Mekari

CB Trayvon Mullen

FB Patrick Ricard

WR Steven Sims

OT Ronnie Stanley

CB Brandon Stephens

DT Brent Urban

WR Tylan Wallace

CB Tre'Davious White

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

CB Christian Matthew

S Ar'Darius Washington

RB Owen Wright

CB Denzel Williams

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Managing the salary cap could be a challenge this offseason, as Baltimore is only projected to have $11.8 million in available space. Of course, the Ravens weren't cap-rich entering the 2024 offseason, and DeCosta still found ways to forge a top-tier roster.

Baltimore does have some key contributors scheduled to hit the open market. The most important is left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who managed to stay healthy in 2024 and started all 17 games for the first time in his career.

Guard Patrick Mekari and backup guard Ben Cleveland could also potentially depart the offensive line.

While many teams don't even use a traditional fullback, Patrick Ricard has become an integral piece of Baltimore's offense. He earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod this season, and it would be a surprise if DeCosta allows him to walk.

Receivers Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace have regularly contributed on offense, though neither may be viewed as a priority in free agency. Steven Sims and Deonte Harty didn't appear often and were largely limited to special teams.

Defensively, Baltimore isn't in danger of losing much in the way of starting talent, though Malik Harrison and restricted free agent Ar'Darius Washington both started multiple games in 2024.

Retaining backup quarterback Josh Johnson, who has had three separate stints in Baltimore, would be logical.

It'll be interesting to see how DeCosta handles Baltimore's relative lack of cap space. Restructuring the contracts of Jackson and Roquan Smith may be on the early offseason agenda.

The Ravens made a splash by signing Henry last offseason, but they were relatively quiet otherwise. DeCosta added Harty and backup lineman Josh Jones, but much of his focus was on re-signing the likes of Kyle Van Noy, Justin Madubuike, Malik Harrison and Brent Urban.

Baltimore will likely take a similar approach to 2025 free agency. Expect the Ravens to lock up a few players during the early offseason, target one potentially impactful addition and then sprinkle in a little depth.

Van Noy was Baltimore's most productive edge-rusher during the regular season, and he'll turn 34 in March. If the Ravens do find the cap space to splurge, a younger edge-rusher like Azeez Ojulari or Malcolm Koonce could make sense.

A proven starting cornerback like D.J. Reed or Kristian Fulton would also be logical. Baltimore's pass defense improved late in the regular season, it still finished the year ranked 31st in passing yards allowed.

The Ravens may also look to bolster their receiver depth, especially if Wallace and Agholor both depart. Baltimore made a move for Diontae Johnson at the trade deadline, though he proved not to be a fit and was waived.

Don't expect Baltimore to chase bigger-name receivers like Tee Higgins and Amari Cooper, though. Complementary pass-catchers like Noah Brown and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will be much more realistic.

DeCosta is also unlikely to be especially active on the trade market because of the lack of cap flexibility. He might take a low-risk flier on a young player who has underwhelmed elsewhere—like Quay Walker, Mazi Smith or Kenyon Green—but a blockbuster is unlikely.

Baltimore will be far more likely to eye trade targets closer to the in-season deadline, as it did with Johnson and Tre'Davious White in 2024.

The Ravens have few glaring needs, so they may focus on positional value and a best-player-available approach early in the draft. Cornerbacks like Notre Dames Benjamin Morrison and East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr. should be on the Ravens' early radar, along with edge-rushers like Ohio State's JT Tuimoloau and Georgia's Mykel Williams.

There's a non-zero chance that Baltimore will look to move on from 29-year-old tight end Mark Andrews in the offseason. A restructure seems more likely, but the Ravens could save $7 million in cap space by releasing or trading Andrews after June 1.

If that's the plan, Baltimore might look to dip into a talented tight end class and pair a prospect like Michigan's Colston Loveland with Isaiah Likely.

While the Ravens have Henry and signed Justice Hill to an extension in September, they could target another running back to help round out the backfield and prepare for the future. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Baltimore with North Carolina's Omarion Hampton in its post-regular season mock draft.

"Henry is on a two-year deal, which will have one year left, and the Ravens don't have an heir apparent on the roster," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department said. "The 220-pound Hampton is a physical downhill runner with explosiveness and contact balance."

While it would be a surprise to see DeCosta flip the switch on a running back in Round 1—the Ravens haven't done so since taking Jamal Lewis in 2000—potential Day 2 prospects like Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins and Clemson's Phil Mafah would be perfectly logical.

Other potential Day 2 prospects the Ravens will likely consider include Georgia interior lineman Jared Wilson, South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom, Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson and Louisville edge-rusher Ashton Gillotte.

In all, Baltimore is projected to have seven total draft selections, including one each in Rounds 1-4, a pair of sixth-round picks and a seventh-rounder. The Ravens flipped their fifth-round pick for the Carolina Panthers' sixth in the Johnson trade.

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*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon