NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2021 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks: Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag Players who achieve any of the following will receive the a ..read more

Rashod Bateman delivered a healthy season last year, and although the former first-round pick operated as more of an auxiliary target in 2023, the Ravens view him as a key part of their future. The defending AFC North champions showed this by agreeing to an extension with Bateman on Wednesday. The parties agreed on a deal that runs through 2026. This would effectively be a two-year extension for Bateman, whose rookie contract was set to expire after the 2024 season. After two injury-plagued seasons and a 16-game 2023 campaign that only produced 367 yards, Bateman was not a reasonable candidate ..read more

Three of the five starting members of Baltimore’s offensive line from 2023 are no longer in place. One of the offseason departures was Morgan Moses, who manned the right tackle spot for the past two years. Moses was traded to the Jets, allowing him to return to his former team. That decision, along with the free agent departures of guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, has led many to expect the Ravens to focus on an offensive line addition early in the upcoming draft. Doing so would come as no surprise, but the team does have a few in-house options to choose from at the right tackle sp ..read more

Those who have followed the Ravens over the past several years may be a little surprised to hear that, sitting at the back end of the first round, the Ravens are not expected to trade back out of the first round. Team writers Clifton Brown and Ryan Mink noted after a pre-draft press conference this week that it would take a “premium” trade offer for the team to move down. Trading back was a common practice for former general manager Ozzie Newsome, whether just moving back later into the first round or outside of the first round altogether in order to acquire more draft capital. Eric DeCosta ..read more

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far: Round 1 Bears hold Panthers‘ pick (No. 1 overall) sending over 2023 No. 1 overall selection (QB Bryce Young) Texans acquired Browns‘ first-rounder in March 2022’s QB Deshaun Watson trade Vikings obtained No. 23 from Texans via March 2024 exchange Cardinals acquired Texans‘ pick (No. 27) in Houston’s climb up for DE Will Anderson Jr. at ..read more

Derrick Henry is in place atop the Ravens’ depth chart entering 2024, after he became one of several running backs who quickly found new homes in free agency. When reflecting on his Baltimore deal, he confirmed that was his preferred destination. “For the record, Baltimore was always my No. 1 option,” Henry said during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show (audio link). “That’s always where I wanted to go. And like I said, I know the trade talks [during the season], it was almost going to happen, but I didn’t know once free agency started if they still felt the same way until I talked to my ..read more

Troy Fautanu is turning into a popular name on the workout circuit. The Washington offensive tackle will travel to Jacksonville tomorrow to take a top-30 visit with the Jaguars, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. [RELATED: Bengals Host Washington OT Troy Fautanu] In addition to his previously reported visit with the Bengals, the projected first-round pick has also met with the Ravens. Fautanu is expected to take future top-30 visits with the Steelers and Eagles. Fautanu spent the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All ..read more

Preparing for the draft following a free agent period in which several starters departed, the Ravens are in need of multiple rookies capable of providing an impact in 2024. The team’s front office and coaches are obviously central figures in the ongoing scouting process, but they are not alone in that regard. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has provided head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta with his input on receiver and tight end prospects in the 2024 class, as detailed by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. This marks the second straight offseason in whi ..read more

The Cowboys hosted a number of 2024 NFL Draft prospects for “top 30” visits this week. The visiting group included potential first-round targets like Taliese Fuaga, Graham Barton, and Darius Robinson as well as projected Day 2 selection Junior Colson. Fuaga, an offensive tackle out of Oregon State, and Barton, a projected interior offensive lineman out of Duke, make sense considering the Cowboys’ losses on offensive line this offseason of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. If Fuaga is able to start, this would allow Dallas to keep Tyler Smith at guard, where he earned second-team All-Pro honors in ..read more

In need of depth at receiver and a new return specialist, the Ravens are looking into an option capable of filling both roster holes. The team is hosting Deonte Harty, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. Baltimore saw Devin Duvernay depart in free agency, leaving the team in need of a new returner. Harty could contribute in that regard, having earned All-Pro acclaim during his rookie season with the Saints owing to his special teams work. The 26-year-old spent his first four seasons with New Orleans, posting 570 yards and three touchdowns on offense in 2021. When the Bills signed ..read more