The first wave of NFL free agency has come and gone. In its wake, a new best team in the league has been revealed, at least in the eyes of the objectively subjective graders at Pro Football Focus, which has the Ravens No. 1 in its power rankings.

Offseason lists are what they are, but there are plenty of reasons to consider Baltimore at or near the top of the heap, and spring is when hope blossoms.

Though it’s a different conversation when it comes to the brutal cold of postseason performance, there’s no denying that the Ravens again have at least one of the most talent-rich rosters in the NFL. It’s one of the reasons left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was poised to be one of the top free agents available in both a free agent and draft class with a dearth of top-tier talent at the position, chose to stay home rather than exploring the likely riches of a new address.

Retaining Stanley was the predominant free agent priority of general manager Eric DeCosta’s offseason, and in that regard he did well at $20 million a year to make the 31-year-old veteran only the ninth-highest paid tackle in terms of annual value — and less than what the Tennessee Titans gave the lesser-talented Dan Moore Jr., to provide just one example of this year’s free agent folly. The Ravens know what they have in Stanley, who proved when healthy and motivated, as he was last year, that he is still a high-level performer. It simply wasn’t worth the risk to look elsewhere when it came to trying to keep $260 million quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson upright for at least a couple more seasons in a division stacked with elite pass rushers.The re-signing of fullback Patrick Ricard was not quite as significant but still important given his versatile role as bulldozer and barrier, while the return of wide receiver Tylan Wallace — who now has a meeting room named after him in the team’s facility — and offensive lineman Ben Cleveland provides respectable and familiar depth.

Three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in what will be his age 33 season is in the gloam of his career, but he gives Baltimore more depth alongside the ascendent Zay Flowers, a Pro Bowl selection last year, and Rashod Bateman, who had career highs in yards and touchdowns. And the signing of linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hummel helps somewhat make up for the free agent departures of Malik Harrison and Chris Board.

Simply put, there’s a lot of talent on both sides of the ball.

On offense, the Ravens, who were historically great last season, also return tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and running backs Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and speedster Keaton Mitchell. On defense, there is All-Pro or Pro Bowl talent at every level in do-everything safety Kyle Hamilton and veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey, inside linebacker Roquan Smith (though he took a step backward last year) and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, plus rising young players in corner Nate Wiggins and defensive tackle Travis Jones.

Yet for all that skill position and front-line ability, Baltimore still has holes it needs to fill.

For one, it’s worth remembering that the Ravens were the healthiest team in the league last year by a wide margin in terms of adjusted games lost, according to FTN Fantasy. The San Francisco 49ers, by comparison, were at the other end of the spectrum and consequently finished 6-11. For another, the teams that end up playing for the game’s ultimate prize do so because of talent, yes, but also how good they are around the margins.

Some of the Ravens’ holes will be filled in next month’s draft with 11 picks, but they will also turn to lingering free agents and a “right player, right price” approach.

Among Baltimore’s biggest needs: cornerback, safety, defensive line, edge rusher and offensive line depth. Here’s a look at the best available players who are still free agents they could possibly target:

Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback: With little on the market, Samuel checks a few of the Ravens’ boxes. He’s experienced, plays out wide, has 37 career pass breakups over four years and at age 25 is still young. He’s also relatively affordable at a projected $14.5 million a season for three years, per PFF — a number that could drop as time goes on and because of a shoulder injury that limited him to only four games last season with the Los Angeles Chargers. The downsides: At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he’s undersized and relatedly struggles with his tackling, missing 22.2% last year, according to PFF. Still, he could be an affordable option opposite Wiggins and would allow Baltimore to continue to play Humphrey more inside, as it did last year, leading to his All-Pro selection in the slot.

Stephon Gilmore, cornerback: Gilmore will turn 35 in September, but he still has some juice left and plays physically. Last season with the Minnesota Vikings, the 10th overall draft pick in 2012 had nine pass breakups, one interception and 56 tackles in 15 starts, though his 94.1 passer rating against was the highest mark of his career. Still, he’s a veteran presence who can impart wisdom on some of the Ravens’ young secondary.

Julian Blackmon, safety: Like corner, there’s not much to choose from. It’s also not a deep draft class, and the Ravens need a proven third safety after releasing the struggling Marcus Williams and having only untested second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade behind Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington (who himself could leave if another team gives him an offer the Ravens decline to match). Blackmon, who will turn 27 in August and spent his first five years with the Indianapolis Colts, would be a good fit. He’s a traditional deep safety, though he showed versatility in playing more snaps in the box in 2023. He also has 10 career interceptions, four fumble recoveries and 300 tackles and last season played through a torn rotator cuff.

Calais Campbell, defensive lineman: The former Raven was set to rejoin Baltimore last season ahead of the trade deadline until Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stepped in at the last minute to nix the potential deal. The 38-year-old Campbell played well in Miami, tallying 52 tackles, five sacks and five pass deflections. The question of course is how much he has left since he will turn 39 in September, though the Ravens could use him as a depth piece and respected locker room presence after the retirement of nose tackle Michael Pierce and with veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban a free agent.

Za’Darius Smith, edge rusher: The former Ravens star nearly re-signed with Baltimore three years ago before bolting for the Vikings. Traded to the Cleveland Browns in May 2023, he had 10 1/2 sacks in 25 starts before being dealt to the Detroit Lions last season and racking up four more sacks. He’ll turn 33 in September, but the Ravens have a long history of success with veteran pass rushers, including Kyle Van Noy, who had a career-high 12 1/2 sacks at age 33 last season. Like most of the players on this list, Smith would also be an affordable option.

Carl Lawson, edge rusher: Lawson spent his first four years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, racking up 20 sacks across 51 games (14 starts), before a two-year stint with the New York Jets and one season with the Dallas Cowboys. Like a lot of names on this list, the former fourth-round pick has an injury history. Lawson did appear in 15 games with five sacks and a forced fumble for the Cowboys last season, though, and in his age-30 season perhaps can be rejuvenated in Baltimore.

Dalton Risner, guard: Baltimore isn’t going to invest big money on the interior of its line, but the former starter for the Denver Broncos and Vikings could provide insurance and experience to a line that at the moment does not have a lot of either. He rates well as a pass blocker in particular with his 76.2 PFF grade last season ranking 13th among all guards. Risner, who will turn 30 in July, also didn’t allow a sack or commit a penalty in 2024.

Trystan Colon, guard: Like Risner, Colon would come cheap. A former undrafted free agent, he also spent his first three years in the league in Baltimore as a backup center and appeared in 20 games during that span. With the Arizona Cardinals the past two years, he has played primarily as a left guard but has logged time at right guard as well. His PFF grade of 71 in 2024 ranked 18th among guards.

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