Each year I offer this information as a service to Ravens’ fans.
The free-agent signing period starts when the new league year begins on March 17; 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 room-clearing purposes.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (19). With four or more years’ experience, a player can sign with another team with no compensation returning to the Ravens. QB Robert Griffin III, WR Willie Snead, WR Dez Bryant, WR Chris Moore, WR DeAndrew White, TE Eric Tomlinson, C Matt Skura, G DJ Fluker, DE Derek Wolfe, DE Yannick Ngakoue, DT Justin Ellis, DE Jihad Ward, OLB Matt Judon, OLB Tyus Bowser, OLB Pernell McPhee, S Anthony Levine, S Jordan Richards, CB Tramon Williams, LS Morgan Cox
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (4). With three years’ experience, another club can tender an offer sheet until April 17. The Ravens would have seven days to match. RB Gus Edwards, ILB Chris Board, CB Davontae Harris, P Johnny Townsend
EXCLUSIVE-RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (4). With two years’ or less experience, a player has no negotiating leverage. C Trystan Colon-Castillo, WR Antoine Wesley, CB Khalil Dorsey, ILB Kristian Welch
Ravens 2021 Regular-Season Opponents
(Information regarding dates, kickoff times, and TV networks will be released approximately one week before the NFL Draft in late April)
HOME: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, Green Bay, Indianapolis (placement game)
AWAY: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Las Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, Miami (placement game)
NOTES: The Ravens will have ten games against teams that had records of 8-8 or better in 2020, as well as eight games against 2020 playoff teams. The team will play 13 of its 16 games in the Eastern time zone; the exceptions are Denver, Las Vegas, and Chicago.
Using the 2020 records of the team’s 2021 opponents, Baltimore has the NFL’s second-toughest schedule in 2021, topped only by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That will certainly change, depending on how the 2021 season plays out, and that season’s figures are used instead of those from 2020. For example, the Ravens began the 2020 season with the league’s easiest schedule, but when the 2020 records were factored in at the end of the season, it turned out to be tied for 16th-easiest.
A team’s finish determines the two placement games during the previous season. The Ravens finished second (via head-to-head tiebreaker over Cleveland) in the AFC North in 2020. 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. Since the Ravens do not play the entire AFC South or AFC East in 2021, that is why Indianapolis (home) and Miami (away) are on the schedule…
Per the league schedule rotation, the Ravens play the entire AFC West and NFC North in 2021. The Ravens have never won a regular-season game in New England, Chicago or Minnesota, and will be traveling to Chicago in 2021. In 2020, they got their first-ever wins in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. The Ravens have never played in Las Vegas (they will come in 2021), but they have defeated the Raiders in Oakland.
Baltimore-based NFL teams have played on Thanksgiving Day in 1965 (Colts at Detroit), 2011 (San Francisco at Ravens), and 2013 (Pittsburgh at Ravens). Because the Ravens’ scheduled 2020 Thanksgiving night game at Pittsburgh was postponed due to the pandemic, there is a chance this year’s game in Detroit could be a Thanksgiving afternoon game.
2021 First-Round Draft Order for Eliminated Teams
Listed by draft position, team, 2020 record, and strength of schedule; ties determined by weaker schedule strength, then by coin flip; Super Bowl winner will pick at No. 32 and the Super Bowl runner-up at No. 31 unless those picks are traded.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-15, .549
2. New York Jets, 2-14, .594
3. Miami Dolphins (from Houston), 10-6, .467
4. Atlanta Falcons, 4-12, .551
5. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-11-1, .529
6. Philadelphia Eagles, 4-11-1, .537
7. Detroit Lions, 5-11, .508
8. Carolina Panthers, 5-11, .531
9. Denver Broncos, 5-11, .566
10. Dallas Cowboys, 6-10, .471
11. New York Giants, 6-10, .502
12. San Francisco 49ers, 6-10, .549
13. Los Angeles Chargers, 7-9, .482
14. Minnesota Vikings, 7-9, .504
15. New England Patriots, 7-9, .527
16. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8, .475
17. Las Vegas Raiders, 8-8, .539
18. Miami Dolphins, 10-6, .467
19. Washington, 7-9, .459
20. Chicago Bears, 8-8, .488
21. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5, .443
22. Tennessee Titans, 11-5, .475
23. New York Jets (from Seattle), 2-14, .594
24. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4, .475
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams), 1-15, .549
26. Cleveland Browns, 11-5, .451
27. Baltimore Ravens, 11-5, .494
28. New Orleans Saints, 12-4, .459
NOTE: Playoff results determine the order of picks 29-32.
2021-2022 Ravens/NFL Calendar
Dates and times of events – as well as their very occurrence – are subject to change due to COVID protocols and concerns)
JANUARY
DATE TBA – Deadline for collegiate players to declare for early-entry draft eligibility
DATE TBA – East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.; NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
DATE TBA – Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Jan. 27 — 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
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1 – Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with Canadian Football League players who are entering an option year in 2021, or whose 2020 contracts are due to expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on February 11.
Feb. 6 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2021, Tampa (CBS/NFL Network)
Feb. 7 – SUPER BOWL 55; AFC champion vs. NFC champion; Raymond James Stadium, Tampa; 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
Feb. 10 – Waiver system begins for 2021
Feb. 23 – First day to designate franchise or transition players
DATES TBA — NFL Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
MARCH
March 9 – Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players (4 p.m., EST)
March 15-17 — 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 17 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must exercise options for 2021 on all players who have option clauses in their 2020 contracts.
March 17 — 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 17 — Before 4 p.m. (EST), clubs must submit a minimum salary offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2020 contracts and who have fewer than three seasons of free agency credit.
March 17 — All 2020 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 2021 league year, trading, and free agency period begin at 4 p.m. (EST).
March 29-Apr. 1 – Annual League Meeting; site TBA
APRIL
April 5 – Teams that have hired a new head coach after the end of the 2020 regular season may begin an offseason workout program
April 19 – Teams with returning head coaches may begin an offseason workout program
April 22 (approx.) – NFL 2021 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED
April 28 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 30 – Deadline for prior club to exercise a right of first refusal to restricted free agents
April 29 – 86th Annual NFL Selection Meeting (“The Draft”); Cleveland (unless virtual); 8 p.m. EST (Round One)
April 30— NFL Draft, Day Two, 7 p.m. (Rounds Two and Three)
MAY
May 1 — NFL Draft, Day Three, noon (Rounds Four through Seven)
May 7-9 — RAVENS ROOKIE MINICAMP, Under Armour Performance Center
May 12 — Final day tender offers can be made to unrestricted free agents for exclusive negotiating rights
May 18 – Rookie Football Development Program begins
May 21-24 – NFL Players’ Association Rookie Premiere event
May 26-27 — NFL Spring League Meeting, site TBA
May-June (dates TBA) — Ravens’ organized team activity practices (OTAs), Under Armour Performance Center
JUNE
June 1 – 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 start of the 2022 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 for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision
June 3-6 — Ravens Beach Bash; Council of Baltimore Ravens Roosts Convention and Parade, Ocean City
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 the 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 not sign extensions until after the team’s last regular-season game.
July 22 — Veteran free-agent signing periods ends 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. 5 — Hall of Fame Game; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; teams TBA; 8 p.m. (NBC)
Aug. 7 — Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony; Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio; 6 p.m. (ESPN/NFL Network)
Aug.10 — 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. 12-14 – Preseason Week One
Aug. 19-21 – Preseason Week Two
Aug. 26-28 – Preseason Week ThreeSEPTEMBER
Sept. 2 – Preseason Week Four
Sept. 4 — Roster cutdown deadline to a maximum of 53 players (6 p.m. EST)
Sept. 4 – 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 the contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
Sept. 5 – 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. 9 — 102nd NFL REGULAR SEASON BEGINS; Super Bowl 55 champion at home vs. opponent TBA, 8:20 p.m. (NBC); top 51 salary-cap rule expires for all clubs at noon (ET).
Sept. 12-13 – WEEK ONE; Sunday and Monday games
Sept. 14 — Players still on the active roster on this date after having been on the roster for one regular-season game are guaranteed their full 2020 salary
OCTOBER
Oct. 10 – Week Five; flex scheduling begins for Sunday-night prime-time games
NOVEMBER
Nov. 2 – 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 2022 season
JANUARY
Jan. 2 – Week 17; REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Jan. 8-9 — Wild Card Weekend (ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 15-16 — Divisional Playoff Round (NBC, CBS, Fox)
Jan. 23 — AFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. (CBS); NFC Championship Game, 6:40 p.m. (Fox)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5 – NFL Honors, including the announcement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2022, Los Angeles; 9 p.m. (NBC/NFL Network)
Feb. 6 – SUPER BOWL 56; NFC champion vs. AFC champion; SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles; 6:30 p.m. (NBC)
2021 Strength of Schedule
Teams are listed from toughest to weakest schedule and listed in the 2020 win percentage of each team’s 2021 opponents (courtesy of edsfootball.com). This is based on a 16-game schedule for each team and will be readjusted if a 17th game is added.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 143-111-2 (.563)
2. Baltimore Ravens: 142-112-2 (.559)
3. Chicago Bears: 141-114-1 (.553)
4. Detroit Lions: 138-116-2 (.543)
5. Cincinnati Bengals: 138-118-0 (.539)
6. Minnesota Vikings: 137-118-1 (.537)
7. Las Vegas Raiders: 134-120-2 (.527)
8. Green Bay Packers: 133-122-1 (.521)
9. Cleveland Browns: 132-122-2 (.520)
10. Houston Texans: 132-124-0 (.516)
11. Jacksonville Jaguars: 129-126-1 (.506)
12. Los Angeles Rams: 131-123-2 (.516)
T13. San Francisco 49ers: 128-127-1 (.502)
T13. New York Jets: 128-127-1 (.502)
T15. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-128-2 (.496)
T15. Arizona Cardinals: 127-129-0 (.496)
T15. Seattle Seahawks: 127-129-0 (.496)
T15. New England Patriots: 127-129-0 (.496)
T19. Tennessee Titans: 126-130-0 (.492)
T19. Kansas City Chiefs: 125-129-2 (.492)
21. Carolina Panthers: 124-131-1 (.486)
22. Washington: 123-131-2 (.484)
T23. Buffalo Bills: 123-133-0 (.480)
T23. Denver Broncos: 122-132-2 (.480)
25. Atlanta Falcons: 122-133-1 (.479)
26. Miami Dolphins: 122-134-0 (.477)
27. New Orleans Saints: 120-135-1 (.471)
T28. New York Giants: 118-136-2 (.465)
T28. Indianapolis Colts: 119-137-0 (.465)
30. Dallas Cowboys: 115-139-2 (.453)
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 115-140-1 (.451)
32. Philadelphia Eagles: 115-141-0 (.449)
