The Baltimore Ravens are on the cusp of being a true contender in the AFC. Through the first six weeks of the 2023 season, however, there are some weaknesses that have held them back from being in the upper echelon.
A big reason for them being 4-2 and not 6-0 is their offense. Baltimore ranks 15th in points scored and 11th in yardage gained. The change from Greg Roman to Todd Monken at offensive coordinator has not had as big of a positive impact as people thought it would.
This is still an offense that is overreliant at times on the elite athleticism and scrambling ability of Lamar Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews bailing out the wide receivers. Adding another weapon to the mix certainly wouldn’t hurt as they are getting little production outside of first-round pick, wide receiver, Zay Flowers.
Addressing that weakness in-season is easier said than done. One weakness that could be filled with a trade ahead of the deadline, however, is on the defensive side of the ball. While the 24 sacks the Ravens have racked up wouldn’t point to the pass rush being an issue, when taking a deeper look, they could use some reinforcements.
Baltimore is racking up sacks when they dial up blitzes as their pass rushers aren’t getting the job done regularly on their own. Adding a veteran to the mix could help change their fortunes, as Mike Santa Barbara of Yardbarker has suggested they make a move for Preston Smith of the Green Bay Packers.
“Smith has been productive and reliable, recording 17.5 sacks in 33 games over the past two seasons. However, the 30-year-old may not fit the Packers’ plans, especially with 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness waiting in the wings.
For the Baltimore Ravens, a large percentage of their league-leading 24 sacks have come from outsider blitzers, not the defensive line, and plugging in a veteran edge-rusher like Smith could be an inexpensive missing piece to an already ferocious defense. Furthermore, there’s a potential out in Smith’s contract in 2024, meaning the Ravens wouldn’t be married to Smith beyond this season.”
Smith has been playing with the Packers since 2019 when he joined as a free agent after spending the first four seasons of his career in Washington. He is a reliable edge rusher and would provide some insurance for a Ravens team that lost David Ojabo to injury and has gotten nothing from Odafe Oweh.
Jadeveon Clowney has re-found his form as a late offseason addition to the Ravens with 3.5 sacks in six games. Adding Smith to work opposite him would aid Baltimore in not having to rely so much on blitzing, making life easier for the entire defense.
