Ravens’ Super Bowl Aspirations Still Clouded by One Critical Question That Keeps Baltimore From Owning 2025’s Best Offseason Title
The Baltimore Ravens did just about everything right this offseason. They retained their franchise quarterback, addressed some key holes on both sides of the ball, and bolstered their coaching staff with promising internal moves and proven external hires. On paper, it was a surgical effort — smart spending, high-upside draft picks, and calculated roster construction that sets up a team with Super Bowl potential.
And yet, here we are, in the heart of summer, with one lingering question that still clouds the excitement in Baltimore. One question that—despite everything else they’ve done—keeps the Ravens from sitting alone atop the list of best offseason performers:
Who is going to consistently rush the passer?
The edge rusher conundrum is not a new problem in Baltimore. In fact, it’s something the team has been dancing around for multiple seasons. The Ravens, long known for building dominant defenses, have leaned more on scheme and blitzing in recent years to create pressure than they have on true one-on-one, game-wrecking edge talent. And now, with training camp on the horizon and rosters mostly settled across the league, that glaring need still looms.
To be fair, the Ravens’ offseason moves were largely solid and efficient. They signed running back Derrick Henry to give Lamar Jackson his first true elite backfield partner. They fortified their offensive line with versatile additions, trusted young talent, and key re-signings. They brought back defensive lineman Justin Madubuike on a mega-extension after his breakout year. And they secured the services of talented, ascending offensive coordinator Todd Monken for at least one more season.
But no matter how many boxes they check, the absence of a dependable, high-end edge rusher is a reality the Ravens can’t ignore. It’s the kind of hole that becomes painfully obvious in January, when games come down to pressure and disruption.
The front office certainly hoped that players like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo would be those guys by now. Both were high draft picks, and both possess elite traits — speed, bend, explosiveness. But traits don’t always translate to production. Oweh has shown flashes but has struggled with consistency and injuries. Ojabo, meanwhile, is still working his way back after multiple injuries have derailed the start of his NFL career.
The Ravens also brought back Kyle Van Noy — a savvy, experienced veteran who performed admirably last season with nine sacks — but asking a 33-year-old to lead your pass rush group again isn’t the most sustainable strategy. It’s a good piece, not a complete solution.
And then there’s Tavius Robinson, the second-year pass rusher who showed some growth but remains more of a project than a polished presence. Malik Hamm and other young players round out the room, but none strike fear into opposing quarterbacks.
That’s why, despite all the excellent roster moves Baltimore made this offseason, they still carry one of the most glaring “what-ifs” among true contenders.
What happens when they face Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs again? What happens when Josh Allen or Joe Burrow drops back on third-and-9, and there’s no natural edge pressure?
These are not hypothetical questions. These are the very situations that ended the Ravens’ season last year in the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes, rarely flustered, sat in the pocket with minimal heat and picked apart a defense that couldn’t generate consistent front-four pressure.
Yes, the Ravens love their blitzes. They scheme pressure well. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who replaces Mike Macdonald, comes from that same coaching tree and likely plans to continue a creative pressure-based approach. But blitzing comes with risk, especially against elite quarterbacks who know how to exploit it.
At some point, every team chasing a Super Bowl needs a pass rusher who can win a one-on-one. Who can beat a left tackle without help. Who can wreck a drive on their own. That’s what the Ravens are missing.
And what’s most puzzling is that the free agent market still has answers.
Veterans like Jadeveon Clowney — who played well for the Ravens last season — remain unsigned. Clowney had 9.5 sacks last year and was a consistent edge presence, strong against both the run and the pass. The Ravens have kept communication open with him, but a deal hasn’t materialized.
Then there’s Yannick Ngakoue, who once suited up for Baltimore, and other rotational veterans like Carl Lawson or Emmanuel Ogbah who could provide depth. These aren’t franchise-altering players, but they are bodies who’ve done the job at the NFL level.
The Ravens’ decision to remain patient, or perhaps stubborn, here may be rooted in faith in internal development. They may truly believe Oweh and Ojabo are ready to take the next step. They may feel Van Noy, in combination with blitzes from Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, and Kyle Hamilton, can patch the gap. Or, they might be eyeing midseason acquisitions like they did last year.
But this is not a rebuilding year. This is a Super Bowl-or-bust window. Lamar Jackson is at the height of his powers. The offense has enough balance to contend with the elite. The defense, overall, is strong — perhaps top-five strong. But every top-tier contender has a star pass rusher. The 49ers have Nick Bosa. The Cowboys have Micah Parsons. The Chiefs have Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. The Ravens? They have a question mark.
That question mark is big enough to prevent them from topping every offseason grade or being hailed universally as the most complete team in football.
And it’s not just the media noticing. Inside the building, they know the margins in the AFC are razor thin. One bad quarter can send you home. One drive without pressure can change a season.
Which is why it’s fair to ask: what are the Ravens waiting for?
Cap space could be a factor. They’ve made expensive moves this offseason, and with future contracts looming (Kyle Hamilton, Zay Flowers down the road), financial flexibility matters. But there’s always a way to structure deals, especially one-year, incentive-heavy contracts for veterans like Clowney.
Timing could also be a strategy. Perhaps Baltimore is waiting for prices to drop or for training camp to shake out before deciding where to spend. That makes sense — to a point. But chemistry matters, and bringing in a key edge rusher late can make integration harder.
There’s also the draft angle. The Ravens took Adisa Isaac out of Penn State in the fifth round this year — a high-motor player who could eventually become a contributor. But relying on a rookie day-three pick to solve your pass-rushing problem would be overly optimistic, even for a front office as shrewd as Baltimore’s.
So, here we are. A roster good enough to scare anyone in the NFL. A quarterback ready to prove the critics wrong. A fan base desperate for a return to the Super Bowl. And one glaring question that remains unanswered.
If the Ravens figure out the edge rusher spot — whether through development, free agency, or trade — there may be no ceiling on what this team can accomplish. But if they don’t, that one vulnerability could be the fatal flaw in a nearly perfect offseason.
It’s hard to criticize a franchise that, year in and year out, puts a competitive, well-coached team on the field. The Ravens do things the right way. But in a league of inches and milliseconds, the lack of a true game-changing edge presence isn’t just a small miss — it could be the difference between a championship parade and another offseason of “what if.”
