Mink: The Ravens’ defensive line was a definite strength of the team last season, and I expect that to continue this year. Baltimore ranked first in the league in run defense and it wasn’t close. The Ravens held opponents to 80.1 rushing yards per game. The second-ranked Minnesota Vikings gave up 93.4 yards per game.
Baltimore’s run defense took a hit this offseason with the retirement of Michael Pierce, who was still playing at a high level. However, it’s worth noting that Pierce played 231 defensive snaps last season compared to 640 in 2023. The man who stepped into a primary role was Travis Jones, who took 53% of the defensive snaps last season and played very well.
I don’t know how you can justify calling Jones and Broderick Washington underachievers. Jones, a third-round pick, was the NFL’s 16th-best interior run defender last season, per Pro Football Focus, despite playing through an ankle injury. His best days are yet to come and he’s already a really, really good player. Washington, a fifth-round pick, earned a second contract from the Ravens and has been a durable, key piece of the defensive line mix.
The fact of the matter is the Ravens often use two defensive linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs. You need depth on the defensive line, but the Ravens are in very good shape with Nnamdi Madubuike and Jones anchoring their defensive front and a handful of quality rotational role players behind them. That said, I would not be surprised if they still add a big-bodied veteran nose tackle to replace Pierce, as General Manager Eric DeCosta suggested after the draft.