Despite letting a golden opportunity to reach the Super Bowl slip away, Baltimore is still well positioned for the future. There will be significant attrition from both the coaching staff and depth chart, but general manager Eric DeCosta has the resources required to help Lamar Jackson deliver on his draft day promise of bringing another Super Bowl to the Ravens franchise. These storylines will shape the 2024 offseason:
Salary Cap Manipulation
After a decade of preaching cap conservation, Baltimore borrowed more than $30 million from future seasons, via void years and not-likely-to-be-earned incentives, to assemble the 2023 roster. The aggression paid off with a conference championship game appearance. However, with more than 20 impending unrestricted free agents, the roster is set to lose multiple difference makers. Whether the Ravens opt to continue borrowing from future caps to build another top flight contender or begin paying off the debt from 2023 borrowing while attempting to win in the postseason with inferior personnel, the strategic decisions regarding salary cap management will underpin Baltimore’s entire offseason plan.
