Over the last couple of seasons, the Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL. They have an explosive offense, a great defense, and a phenomenal special teams unit.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report put together a list of seven NFL teams that have the brightest futures entering the 2021 season. He ranked Baltimore at the No. 3 spot, as he points to the Ravens’ young core on offense as a key reason why he rated them so high.
“There’s a lot to like about the Baltimore Ravens and their future. They ranked seventh in points scored and second in points allowed last season. They have an MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson—who won the award unanimously in 2019—and they have a Super Bowl-winning coach in John Harbaugh.
The Ravens also addressed their biggest need this offseason by signing wideout Sammy Watkins and drafting former Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman in the first round. Jackson has never had a legitimate No. 1 receiver as a pro. Bateman could change that, while Watkins should combine with Marquise Brown and rookie fourth-rounder Tylan Wallace to give Baltimore a quality receiving corps.
With a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end in Mark Andrews and a terrific running back duo in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, the Ravens are loaded offensively.”
However, despite how bright Baltimore’s future looks, Knox does have a few questions about the team.
“A few question marks loom, however, especially after the departure of pass-rushers Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue and the trade of offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Still, Pro Football Focus ranked this roster seventh in the NFL before the draft.”
Knox also outlines the Ravens’ future draft picks and cap situation which both look promising with future extensions looming.
“Baltimore also has future capital with which to work. It is projected to have the 13th-most cap space next offseason, and it will have six picks in the first four rounds of next year’s draft.”
The only teams that Knox has ranked ahead of Baltimore on his list are the Buffalo Bills at No. 2 and the Kansas City Chiefs at the top spot. The Ravens, the Bills, and the Chiefs are already some of the biggest powerhouses in the NFL, and it’s arguable that those three teams plus the Cleveland Browns could run the AFC for years to come because of their talented young groups of players.