Patrick Ricard agrees to re-sign with Ravens
Fullback Patrick Ricard is set to return to the Ravens.
Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com reports that Ricard has agreed to a one-year deal that will keep him in Baltimore.
Ricard has been with the Ravens since 2017 and he was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career in 2024. Ricard, who has also been named to five Pro Bowls, had three catches for 22 yards and a touchdown while also serving as a key blocker in the team's offense.
The Ravens also agreed to a new deal with left tackle Ronnie Stanley over the weekend, so two longtime members of the offense will be back in 2025.
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Assessing Ravens' pending roster competitions ahead of minicamp
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Just look at the wide receiver position, where the Ravens traditionally have a few jobs to win. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins are entrenched as the top three with Tylan Wallace, a core special-teamer who played 275 offensive snaps last year, and 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, who's looked like one of the team's most improved players in the offseason workouts, behind them. If the Ravens take a sixth receiver, it will likely be a punt returner, possibly sixth-round rookie LaJohntay Wester. That doesn't mean Wester won't ultimately contribute on offense, but his path to the 53-man roster is through a return role. Cooper Rush is Lamar Jackson's new backup, and the Ravens' highly productive tight end group is intact from last year. As long as Keaton Mitchell is healthy, the Ravens are set with their top three running backs, too, and the only question would be if they keep a fourth. Arguably, the team's two biggest starting position battles this summer will be at left guard and inside linebacker. The favorites to win those spots began the 2024 season as starters. Still, depth is critically important for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, and this week's mandatory minicamp, which starts Tuesday, will provide the most extensive look yet at Baltimore's roster. It will also preview some of the roster decisions that will need to be made later this summer. Advertisement Below are some of the more intriguing ones. The competitors: Ben Cleveland, Andrew Vorhees The favorite: Vorhees The Ravens could have other younger linemen emerge as options, but it would be surprising if the Week 1 starter isn't Vorhees. He started the opener last year before ultimately losing his job, partly due to an ankle injury. Given another opportunity in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns, Vorhees looked like a different player, which was an encouraging sign for the team's decision-makers. 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Operating under the assumption that the starting offensive line will be Ronnie Stanley, Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele and Roger Rosengarten, and that Jones will occupy one of the reserve roles, and that leaves three or four spots to be filled. Baltimore likes having an experienced swing tackle, so Noteboom, who has made 35 career starts, is close to a lock. Vinson and Dellinger are rookie Day 3 draft picks, so they'll get every opportunity to earn a spot. The team seemed particularly excited about getting Dellinger in the seventh round. If Cleveland has to serve a suspension, that would create another opening. Advertisement The competitors: Malik Hamm, Adisa Isaac, David Ojabo The favorite: Isaac Keeping six outside linebackers would be prohibitive to the rest of the roster, so something has to give here. The Ravens return starters Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, who both had double-digit sacks last year, and Tavius Robinson, who the coaches love. They then added second-round pick Mike Green, one of the better edge rushers in the draft. It seems highly unlikely that they'd move on this early from Isaac, a third-round pick last year who barely played as a rookie because of injuries. Coach John Harbaugh spoke excitedly about him last week. That would leave Ojabo, a second-round pick in 2022 who has struggled to find his NFL footing, and Hamm, a local product who has stuck around the past two years, on the outside looking in. The competitors: Teddye Buchanan, Trenton Simpson The favorite: Simpson Harbaugh said he fully expects Simpson to start alongside Roquan Smith on early downs, but that was before the Ravens used a fourth-round pick on Buchanan, an intriguing prospect. Still, Simpson remains the favorite. After losing his starting job late last season, Simpson worked hard this offseason and has shown he has an even better grasp of Baltimore's defense. He essentially has a two-year head start on Buchanan, but the rookie has the tools and athleticism to flash early. The Ravens likely won't be in their base defense too often, so whoever wins this job may not play a ton of snaps. The competitors: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Chidobe Awuzie, Bilhal Kone, Robert Longerbeam, T.J. Tampa The favorites: Awuzie, Tampa The Ravens love loading the field with defensive backs, meaning there should be snaps available for corners not named Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. Awuzie played just eight games last year for the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens faced him for years in Cincinnati and have a lot of respect for his game. He was signed with the No. 3 cornerback role in mind. Tampa, though, is a guy the team is high on. The 2024 fourth-round pick barely got on the field because of injuries during his rookie season, but the Ravens love his size and length and expect him to contribute defensively this year. 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Meanwhile, Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, made all six of his attempts a day earlier. Brown and the Ravens won't overreact to one practice. Loop is still the favorite heading into training camp, but Hoyland seems intent on making this a legitimate competition. The competitors: Kickoff return — Rasheen Ali, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, LaJohntay Wester Punt return — Anthony Miller, Dayton Wade, Tylan Wallace, Wester The favorites: Kickoff return — Mitchell Punt return — Wester Mitchell, who is much healthier and confident now than he was when returning from a significant injury last season, made clear last week that he wants the kick return job. Harbaugh also acknowledged that team officials noted the success of running backs under the new kickoff return rules last year. Using the explosive Mitchell on returns would be a good way for the Ravens to get the ball in his hands a few more times a game. Advertisement They drafted Wester in the sixth round out of Colorado because of his return ability. He averaged 12.0 yards per punt return and took two of his 23 returns over his final two college seasons back for touchdowns. A late-round rookie won't have a long leash, so Wester is going to have to display good ball security and decision-making. If he falters, Wallace could be the contingency plan. (Top photo of Trenton Simpson: Mark Konezny / Imagn Images)
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