Most would probably agree with this next sentiment. The Baltimore Ravens can state whatever they want publicly. Everyone knows they didn't simply bring in Jake Moody to take a look at another leg.
Executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta spoke with media members on Wednesday for the first time since Baltimore introduced its initial 53-man roster. As expected, everything was on the table for discussion. He mentioned the inquiries the organization received about Joe ****** nano's services. The conversation shifted to a possible Lamar Jackson extension, which the GM said he'd like to have done by March.
He also addressed another elephant in the room, the added kicker. Except this time, the answer sounded less diplomatic and closer to what most Ravens would probably say had they been given the microphone.
Per Baltimore's GM, the goal was to indeed create competition at kicker as the regular season approaches. While the Ravens have publicly supported Tyler Loop throughout the summer, as they should, DeCosta made it clear the organization felt compelled to explore another option.
"We have got to make kicks. [This] gives us a fresh set of legs to look at, evaluate, compare, [and] see how it all works out. In the end, it is a performance business, right? It starts with me. We have got to do our job."

#probably #publicly #look #everyone

Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was arrested in June after allegedly breaking the windshield and windows of a car with his child and the child's mother inside, but he was not placed on paid leave by the NFL ahead of the cut to 53 players last weekend.
That leaves Bateman available to the Ravens as the league's investigation into the matter plays out. On Wednesday, Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta said that he doesn't know the timeline for that process.
"It's obviously something that we're very disappointed about that we have to deal with these kind of things," DeCosta said, via the team's website. "We knew about it right away. We contacted the league right away. The league has been doing an investigation, as well I suppose the authorities. In these matters we just kind of sit back and wait for the league and the authorities to tell us what's going on. I have no indication how long that's going to take."
Bateman is coming off of a disappointing 2025 season and the team was banking on a rebound before news of the arrest came to light. If he's not going to be around to provide it, the Ravens will need one or more of their other receivers to step up quickly as a complement to Zay Flowers in the offense.

#decosta #away

The Baltimore Ravens drafted LaJohntay Wester because they were fans of what he could do with the ball in his hands. A skilled returner and 2023 First-Team All-American, he landed on Eric DeCosta's radar, resulting in the former Colorado Buffaloes star's 2025 sixth-round selection.
He stacked 198 yards on 16 punt returns and another 246 on ten kick returns. It's now year two, and throughout training camp and the preseason, he has shown he may offer much more than just explosive special teams play. Head coach Jesse Minter recently went as far as to praise him publicly.
Three preseason games are in the rearview mirror. Every week brought another sign that Wester was climbing the organizational ladder. More opportunities followed. More praise arrived. More importantly, more production and trust were earned.
That trust was no longer subtle. Wester's stock is rising. He capped Baltimore's 41-3 preseason finale victory over the Washington Commanders with a touchdown reception, continuing a summer that has steadily strengthened his case for a meaningful role heading into the regular season.
Speaking with the media after Friday night's win, head coach Jesse Minter again tipped his cap to Wester, highlighting the progress Wester has made since arriving in Baltimore.

#minter #head

As years and seasons pass, the modern NFL becomes increasingly obsessed with disguise. Coaches and their coordinators spend countless hours searching for ways to confuse quarterbacks, hide intentions, and create pre-snap hesitation. The challenge, however, is that complexity can become a double-edged sword. A defense that confuses opponents can sometimes confuse the players who execute it.
That balancing act is something the Baltimore Ravens have been working through during training camp. Eric DeCosta and company have ***** embled a unit filled with versatile players who can line up in multiple spots. Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver are charged with teaching players to handle a variety of responsibilities.
The more flexibility a defense possesses, the more options coaches have at their disposal. The question becomes how to maximize that versatility without overwhelming the players expected to execute it. Recently, Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver spoke with reporters and was asked about the ripple effects of having so many defenders capable of moving around the formation.
"The ripple effect for the players, I think, is you have to have a very smart team — because if you are going to move guys around, ultimately that means other guys are going to have to do different jobs, too."
Weaver's answer offered an interesting look at the philosophy guiding Baltimore's defensive approach. That comment highlights an often-overlooked aspect of defensive football. Versatility isn't just about one player learning multiple positions.

#players #coaches #defense

O.J. Brigance, a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and their longtime senior adviser to player development, has died, the team announced Monday evening.
Brigance battled ALS for the past 19 years. He was 56.
"For 22 years, we've been blessed to have O.J. as a teammate, friend and brother. It's a sad day, but also a celebration of all the gifts that O.J. bestowed upon our team and our city and the entire NFL community." Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. "O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind.
"We never once saw O.J. angry or frustrated by his disease. Instead, we all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit. O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven. I will miss his smile and the twinkle of joy in his eyes."
Brigance, one of the most revered figures in the organization and a source of inspiration to players, coaches and team officials, was diagnosed with ALS at age 38 following a seven-year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, Ravens, St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots.

#Ravens #baltimore #eric

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta never attempted to hide the organization's intentions regarding Zay Flowers.
When the Ravens exercised Flowers' fifth-year option, DeCosta said the goal was to complete a long-term agreement and that he fully expected the two sides to reach one. Baltimore delivered Tuesday, signing Flowers to a four-year, $140 million extension containing $108 million guaranteed. The timing matters. Flowers missed Tuesday's practice, creating immediate questions about his availability. Hours later, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the agreement through Flowers' agency, WIN Sports Group. Baltimore had not announced whether the absence was directly related to the negotiations, but the contract eliminated any broader uncertainty surrounding his future.
DeCosta has emphasized retaining premium players drafted and developed by the organization. The Ravens followed that model with safety Kyle Hamilton and have applied it again to Flowers, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Flowers has rewarded Baltimore with 237 receptions for 3,128 yards and 14 touchdowns through three seasons. He reached the Pro Bowl in each of the past two years and established a franchise-wide receiver record with 1,211 yards in 2025.
His $35 million annual average ties Justin Jefferson for fourth among NFL receivers. The deal also makes Flowers the highest-paid receiver in Ravens history.

#flowers #baltimore #Ravens #receiver

Eric DeCosta has helped keep the Baltimore Ravens among the NFL's most talented rosters by attacking premium positions and leaning on the organization's draft-and-develop foundation.
Since becoming general manager in 2019, DeCosta has used first-round picks on wide receivers, defensive backs, offensive linemen, linebackers, and edge rushers. Some became immediate franchise cornerstones. Others flashed early, departed in trades or free agency, or remain in the prove-it stage of their careers. The result is a fascinating first-round résumé that includes All-Pros, Pro Bowlers, starters, traded ******* ets, and one new selection who has not yet played an NFL game.
This ranking weighs production, value to Baltimore, individual honors, positional importance, roster impact, and long-term return on investment.
Kyle Hamilton is the best first-round pick of the DeCosta era and one of the best defensive players in football. The Ravens selected him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, and he quickly became the type of versatile defender who can shape an entire defensive system.
Hamilton has already earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and his second AP first-team All-Pro honor, joining Hall of Famer Ed Reed as the only Ravens defensive backs to earn multiple Pro Bowl nods within the first three years of a career. His ability to play deep, cover tight ends, blitz, fit the run, and align near the line of scrimmage makes him the centerpiece of Anthony Weaver’s defense. Everything Baltimore wants to disguise and create on defense starts with Hamilton’s versatility.