Ravens like this year’s draft class of pass rushers.
It’s clear that the Ravens know they need to improve their pass rush, which tied for the third-fewest sacks (30) in the league last season.
“We certainly know that we have to augment the pass rush and improve there. When we look at the best defenses, we see a ferocious pass rush, and that was lacking this year for different reasons,” DeCosta said. “It’s something that we feel strongly that we can attack this year in the offseason, whether it’s through free agency or the draft.”
DeCosta said he was just in his hotel room watching film of a pass rusher in the draft. He said the Ravens like this year’s class and feel they’ll “have a chance to add a couple draft picks this year who can help us on third downs.”
With Minter orchestrating the defense, the Chargers were tied with the 10th-most sacks in the league (45) last season. Now he takes over a front that includes some young talents such as Tavius Robinson and Mike Green, as well as some question marks with pending free agents Kyle Van Noy, Dre’Mont Jones, and David Ojabo.
“[With] the pass rush, there’s a lot of factors I would say that go into rushing the passer well. Sometimes, it’s playing with the lead; sometimes it’s blitzing more. So, I think there’s a lot of variety of ways to affect the pass rush,” Minter said.
“I feel like we have some guys that can do that, some young, ascending players in that regard, that can help us there. And then I think it’s always a position that you’re looking for more. So, I know Eric and the guys will do a great job attacking free agency and the draft in building a team that, in September, that we feel has the ability to rush the passer.”