Entering this offseason, it was no sure thing that the Baltimore Ravens were going to have former NFL MVP and quarterback Lamar Jackson for the 2023 season as he was very unhappy being slapped with the franchise tag and demanded a trade. However, all is well now with Jackson under long-term contract. Let’s break down the 2023 Baltimore Ravens.

A Closer Look at the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL Season

Good to see @obj in that purple and black. pic.twitter.com/pQINQDNTqZ

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 13, 2023

• NFL Week 1: vs. Houston Texans — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 4: at Cleveland Browns — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 6: at Tennessee Titans — 9:30 a.m. (NFLN)
• NFL Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions — 1 p.m. (FOX)
• NFL Week 8: at Arizona Cardinals — 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 10: vs. Cleveland Browns — 1 p.m. (FOX)
• NFL Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals — 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
• NFL Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers — 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
• NFL Week 13: BYE
• NFL Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Rams — 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
• NFL Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars — 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
• NFL Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers — 8:15 p.m. (ABC)
• NFL Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins — 1 p.m. (CBS)
• NFL Week 18: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — TBD (TBD)

What’s happened with Lamar Jackson?

Following the 2023 NFL Draft, Lamar Jackson officially signed his new contract with Baltimore. The deal reportedly makes Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history at five years and a total of $260 million with $185 million guaranteed. Jackson, who represented himself in the negotiations, landed his deal 10 days after Philly’s Jalen Hurts signed a five-year contract extension for $255 million, including $180 million guaranteed.

Jackson ended up landing the best possible deal the market was likely to deliver. He could have gone year-to-year and tried to enter unrestricted free agency in 2025, but after missing time each of the past two seasons with lower-body injuries he likely didn’t want to risk it. And without needing to pay an agent their cut, Jackson will save up to $8 million over the course of the deal.

Jackson’s record of 45-16 (.738) is the fourth-best of any quarterback in the Super Bowl era, trailing only Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Roger Staubach. Jackson was hurt early in Week 13 last year vs. Denver and wouldn’t play again – some thought he could have returned for the wild-card game vs. Cincinnati, but Jackson not only didn’t play but didn’t even go with the team to Cincinnati, drawing major criticism. The Ravens lost without Jackson 24-17 with Tyler Huntley at QB. Sam Hubbard returned Huntley’s fumble 98 yards for a tiebreaking touchdown in the fourth quarter.

New Blood Arrives

The Ravens had one of the worst groups of receivers in the NFL last year but got Jackson two new weapons in former Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr. and in selecting Boston College receiver Zay Flowers with the No. 22 overall pick. Flowers is an electric playmaker in a smaller package. He has elite route-running, run after catch, and big-play potential. Flowers has been compared to former Panthers and Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., who had a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration, playing 13 seasons with seven 1,000-yard seasons – one of them coming in his first year with the Ravens in 2014.

“I think I play like him,” Flowers said. “Smaller guy, but play bigger. Competitive, try and go up and get the ball. That’s why I loved watching him, that’s why I admired his game.”

Flowers grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., not far from where Jackson grew up in Pompano Beach. Their South Florida connection should help them bond, Coach John Harbaugh believes Flowers will help Jackson and the entire offense put pressure on opposing defenses in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s attack.

“He’s catches it all three levels,” Harbaugh said. “He goes deep. He runs intermediate routes. And then his run-after-catch is special. He can catch it, take two or three steps, and really accelerate away. We’ve got a versatile receiving group.”

A three-time Pro Bowler (2014-16), the 30-year-old Beckham is one of the NFL’s most electrifying and popular players when healthy. Beckham was perhaps on his way to being named Super Bowl 56 MVP for the Rams when he suffered his injury.

What type of game plan is expected this season?

Baltimore is expected to run a bit less and throw more this year under Monken, who was the OC at Georgia the past two years in leading the Dawgs to back-to-back national titles. Jackson will gain increased ability to audible at the line of scrimmage as compared to his work with Greg Roman. Under Roman, Baltimore primarily huddled up and ran the play that was called. Under Monken, Jackson can slide the pass protection to one side if he sees a defender blitzing or switch a receiver’s route if the cornerback lines up a certain way.

The Ravens are the biggest Week 1 favorites on the board at -9.5 against visiting Houston. Harbaugh has a long track record of having his team ready for September action, and Jackson has started hot each of the past several seasons. Over the past four years, the Ravens have a 14-6 record in the first five weeks. Three of the Ravens’ first five games this year will be against their AFC North opponents. Baltimore won’t get its bye until Week 13, which is the latest for the Ravens since 2001.

Last year, the Ravens traversed the second-fewest miles (8,244) in the NFL. This year, they have the fifth-most (25,442). That’s in part due to a game in London vs. Tennessee in Week 6.

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READ MORE: Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL Season Betting Guide