Every year–immediately after the season ends–I publish my complete off-season guide to your Baltimore Ravens. Save it for future reference. It will come in handy, fans!
RAVENS FREE-AGENT CLASS
(Free-agent signing period starts when the new league year begins on March 18; other players can become free agents and be signed before then if they still had time left on their contracts and get released for salary-cap-clearing purposes
FREE AGENTS
Unrestricted Free Agents (N=17). With four or more years’ experience, a player can sign with another team with no compensation to the Ravens. The players are: CB Jimmy Smith, LB Matt Judon, DT Michael Pierce, LB Patrick Onwuasor, WR Seth Roberts, S Anthony Levine, LB Pernell McPhee, DT Domata Peko, LB Josh Bynes, S Brynden Trawick, S Jordan Richards, WR/RS D’Anthony Thomas, DT Justin Ellis, WR Chris Moore, DT Jihad Ward, C Hroniss Grasu, T Andre Smith
Restricted Free Agents (N=1). With three years’ experience, another club can tender an offer sheet until April 17. The Ravens would have seven days to match. The player is C Matt Skura.
Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (N=4). With two years or less experience, a player has no negotiating leverage. Those players are: G Parker Ehringer, RB Gus Edwards, G Randin Crecelius, S Rish Smithson
RAVENS 2020 REGULAR-SEASON OPPONENTS
(Information regarding dates, kickoff times, and TV networks will be released on or about April 16, one week before the NFL Draft)
Home: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Dallas, New York Giants, Kansas City (placement game)
Away: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, Washington, Philadelphia, New England (placement game)
Elaboration: The Ravens will have just five games against teams that had winning records in 2019, as well as five games against 2019 playoff teams. The team will play 15 of its 16 games in the Eastern time zone; Houston is the exception. Using the 2019 records of the team’s 2020 opponents, Baltimore has the NFL’s easiest schedule in 2020, a distinction it has never held. That could change, depending on how the 2020 season plays out and that season’s figures are used instead of those from 2019.
The two placement games are determined by a team’s finish during the previous season. The Ravens finished first in the AFC North in 2019. Placement opponents are defined as those who had the same finish in the standings as did the Ravens in divisions from the same conference the Ravens aren’t already playing in their entirety in the coming year. That places New England and Kansas City on the schedule.
Per the league schedule rotation, the Ravens are playing the entire AFC South and NFC East in 2020.
The Ravens have never won a regular-season game in New England, Philadelphia, or Indianapolis, all cities to which they will travel in 2020, but in 2019 they got their first-ever wins in Buffalo, Seattle, and the Los Angeles Coliseum.
2020 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER FOR ELIMINATED TEAMS
NOTES: Listed by draft position, team, 2019 record, and strength of schedule; ties determined by weaker schedule strength; Super Bowl winner will pick at No. 32 unless it has traded the pick.
Cincinnati Bengals, 2-14, .553
Washington Redskins, 3-13, .502
Detroit Lions, 3-12-1, .506
New York Giants, 4-12, .473
Miami Dolphins, 5-11, .484
Los Angeles Chargers, 5-11, .514
Carolina Panthers, 5-11, .549
Arizona Cardinals, 5-10-1, .529
Jacksonville Jaguars, 6-10, .484
Cleveland Browns, 6-10, .533
New York Jets, 7-9, .473
Las Vegas Raiders, 7-9, .482
Indianapolis Colts, 7-9, .492
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-9, .500
Denver Broncos, 7-9, .510
Atlanta Falcons, 7-0, .545
Dallas Cowboys, 8-8, .479
Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh)
Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago)
Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)
Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7, .450
Buffalo Bills, 10-6, .461
New England Patriots, 12-4, .469
New Orleans Saints, 13-3, .486
Minnesota Vikings, 10-6, .477
Miami Dolphins (from Houston)
Seattle Seahawks, 11-5, .531
Baltimore Ravens, 14-2, .494
Cincinnati Bengals, 2-14, .553
Washington Redskins, 3-13, .502
Detroit Lions, 3-12-1, .506
New York Giants, 4-12, .473
Miami Dolphins, 5-11, .484
Los Angeles Chargers, 5-11, .514
Carolina Panthers, 5-11, .549
Arizona Cardinals, 5-10-1, .529
Jacksonville Jaguars, 6-10, .484
Cleveland Browns, 6-10, .533
New York Jets, 7-9, .473
Las Vegas Raiders, 7-9, .482
Indianapolis Colts, 7-9, .492
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-9, .500
Denver Broncos, 7-9, .510
Atlanta Falcons, 7-0, .545
Dallas Cowboys, 8-8, .479
Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh)
Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago)
Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)
Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7, .450
Buffalo Bills, 10-6, .461
New England Patriots, 12-4, .469
New Orleans Saints, 13-3, .486
Minnesota Vikings, 10-6, .477.
Miami Dolphins (from Houston)
Seattle Seahawks, 11-5, .531
Baltimore Ravens, 14-2, .494
(NOTE: Picks 29-32 are determined by further playoff results)
2020-2021 RAVENS/NFL CALENDAR
NOTE: Dates and times of events are subject to change.
JANUARY
Date TBA — “State Of The Ravens” press conference featuring majority owner Steve Bisciotti, Under Armour Performance Center, time TBA
Jan. 17 – Deadline for collegiate players to declare for early-entry draft eligibility
Jan. 18 – East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.; NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 25 – Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Jan. 26 – AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 3 p.m (ESPN/ABC)
Jan. 26 — An assistant coach whose team is participating in the Super Bowl who has previously interviewed for another club’s head-coaching job may have a second interview no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl
Jan. 31 – Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with Canadian Football League players who are entering an option year in 2020, or whose 2019 contracts are due to expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on February 11.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2020 Miami. (Fox/NFL Network)
Feb. 2 – SUPER BOWL 54; NFC champion vs.AFC champion; Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.; 6:30 p.m. (Fox)
Feb. 3 – Waiver system begins for 2020
Feb. 25 – First day to designate franchise or transition players
Feb. 24-Mar. 2 — NFL Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
MARCH
March 10 – Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players (4 p.m., EST)
March 16-18 — Clubs are permitted to enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the current league year.
March 18 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must exercise options for 2020 on all players who have option clauses in their 2019 contracts.
March 18 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.
March 18 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit a minimum salary offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 20189 contracts and who have fewer than three seasons of free agency credit.
March 18 — All 2019 player contracts will expire at 4 p.m. (EST). All clubs must have their top 51 players under the salary cap before 4 p.m. (EST), and the 2020 league year, trading and free agency period begin at 4 p.m. (EST).
March 29-Apr. 1 – Annual League Meeting; Palm Beach, Florida
APRIL
April 6 – Teams that have hired a new head coach after the end of the 2019 regular season may begin an offseason workout program
April 16 (approx.) – NFL 2020 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED
April 17 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 20 – Teams with returning head coaches may begin an off-season workout program
April 24 – Deadline for prior club to exercise right-of-first-refusal to restricted free agents
April 23 – 85th Annual NFL Selection Meeting (“The Draft”); site TBA, Las Vegas; 8 p.m. EST (Round One)
April 24— NFL Draft, Day Two, 7 p.m. (Rounds Two and Three)
April 25 — NFL Draft, Day Three, noon (Rounds Four through Seven)
April 27 – On this date, NFL teams can begin to visit, work out or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL, at the conclusion of the XFL season.
MAY
May 1-3 — RAVENS ROOKIE MINICAMP, Under Armour Performance Center
May 5 — Final day tender offers can be made to unrestricted free agents for exclusive negotiating rights
May 11 – Rookie Football Development Program begins
May 14-17 – NFL Players’ Association Rookie Premiere event
May 19-20 — NFL Spring League Meeting, Marina del Rey, California
May 28-31 — Ravens Beach Bash; Council of Baltimore Ravens Roosts Convention and Parade, Ocean City
May-June (dates TBA) — Ravens’ organized team activity practices (OTAs), Under Armour Performance Center
JUNE
June 1 – For any player removed from the club’s roster or whose contract is assigned via waivers or trade on or after June 2, any unamortized signing bonus amounts for future years will be included fully in team salary at the start of the 2021 league year
June 1 – Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision
Mid-June — RAVENS MANDATORY MINICAMP; Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills
June 15 — Deadline for old teams to withdraw original qualifying offer to restricted free agents and maintain exclusive negotiating rights with a submitted tender of 110 percent of previous year’s salary
Late June — Rookie Transition Program for all clubs. Attendance mandatory for all rookies
JULY
July 15 — Deadline for designated franchise free agents to sign multi-year extensions. After this date, players can sign only one-year contracts and cannot sign extensions until after the team’s last regular-season game.
July 22 — Veteran free-agent signing periods end here or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.
July 22 – Signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a May 8 offer was tendered and for transition players with outstanding tenders
Late July (date TBA) — RAVENS’ TRAINING CAMP OPENS, Under Armour Performance Center
AUGUST
Aug. 6 — Hall of Fame Game; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; teams TBA; 8 p.m. (NBC)
Aug. 8 — Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Induction Ceremony; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; 6 p.m. (ESPN/NFL Network)
Aug.11 — Deadline for under-contract players to report to earn a season of free-agency credit; unsigned rookies acquired in the draft that have not signed by this date may not be traded to another team in 2020
Aug. 13-15 – Preseason Week One
Aug. 20-22 – Preseason Week Two
Aug. 27-29 – Preseason Week Three
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3 – Preseason Week Four
Sept. 5 — Roster cutdown deadline to a maximum of 53 players (6 p.m. EST)
Sept. 5 – Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List
Sept. 6 – Claiming period for players placed on waivers expires at noon EST. Teams may begin to establish ten-man practice squads at 1 p.m. EST.
Sept. 10 — 101ST NFL REGULAR SEASON BEGINS; Super Bowl 54 champion at home vs. opponent TBA, 8:20 p.m. (NBC); top 51 salary-cap rule expires for all clubs at noon(ET).
Sept. 13-14 – WEEK ONE; Sunday and Monday games
Sept. 15 — Players still on the active roster on this date after having been on the roster for one regular-season game are guaranteed their full 2019 salary
OCTOBER
Oct. 11 – Week Five; flex scheduling begins for Sunday-night prime-time games
NOVEMBER
Nov. 3 – Trading period ends at 4 p.m. (EST)
Nov. 15 — Signing deadline for unrestricted and restricted free agents who have tendered a qualifying offer before June 1; signing deadline for transition and franchise free agents who remained unsigned by another club
DECEMBER
Dec. 31 – Teams may begin signing their own free-agent players for the 2021 season
JANUARY
Jan. 3 – Week 17; REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Jan. 9-10 — Wild Card Weekend (ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 16-17 — Divisional Playoff Round (NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 24 — NFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. (Fox); AFC Championship Game, 6:40 p.m. (CBS)
Jan. 31 — AFC-NFC Pro Bowl; Camping World Stadium, Orlando; 3 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 6 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2021, Tampa; 9 p.m. (CBS/NFL Network)
Feb. 7 – SUPER BOWL 55; AFC champion vs. NFC champion; Raymond James Stadium, Tampa;; 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
2020 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
(Teams listed from toughest to weakest schedule; listed in order of 2019 win percentage of each team’s 2020 opponents, courtesy, BillsWire)
1. New England Patriots: 137-118-1 (.537)
2. New York Jets: 136-119-1 (.533)
3. Miami Dolphins: 135-120-1 (.529)
4. San Francisco 49ers: 134-120-2 (.528)
T5. Buffalo Bills: 134-121-1 (.525)
T5. Detroit Lions: 134-121-1 (.525)
T5. Atlanta Falcons: 134-121-1 (.525)
T8. Arizona Cardinals: 132-123-1 (.518)
T8. Houston Texans: 132-123-1 (.518)
T10. Los Angeles Rams: 131-123-2 (.516)
T10. Minnesota Vikings: 131-123-2 (.516)
12. Denver Broncos: 131-125 (.512)
T13. Seattle Seahawks: 129-125-2 (.508)
T13. Chicago Bears: 129-125-2 (.508)
15. Green Bay Packers: 128-126-2 (.504)
T16. Indianapolis Colts: 128-127-1 (.502)
T16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 128-127-1 (.502)
T18. Carolina Panthers: 127-127-2 (.500)
T18. Kansas City Chiefs: 128-128 (.500)
20. Tennessee Titans: 127-128-1 (.498)
21. Las Vegas Raiders: 127-129 (.496)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: 126-129-1 (.494)
23. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-130 (.492)
24. New Orleans Saints: 125-130-1 (.490)
25. Philadelphia Eagles: 124-131-1 (.486)
26. New York Giants: 123-132-1 (.482)
27. Cincinnati Bengals: 122-134 (.477)
28. Washington Redskins: 118-136-2 (.465)
29. Cleveland Browns: 118-138 (.461)
30. Dallas Cowboys: 117-138-1 (.459)
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: 117-139 (.457)
32. Baltimore Ravens: 112-144 (.438)
