Three hottest seats on the Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off yet another dominant season where they boasted the NFL's best record (13-4) and were the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They fell short of a Super Bowl once again, though, and must try to find a way to get over the hump in 2024. 

Signing RB Derrick Henry and re-signing DT Justin Madubuike will help, but they also need some of their previous investments to start contributing.

With that in mind, here are three Ravens on the hottest seats in 2024. 

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman

Bateman, a first-round pick by Baltimore in 2021, has underwhelmed to begin his NFL career. The 24-year-old has just 93 catches for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns in his first three seasons and is now entering the final year of his rookie deal.

The former No. 27 overall pick seems like he'll get one last opportunity in 2024 to prove he deserves to be an every-week starter. Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. shared a goodbye to the Ravens on Sunday, marking the end of his short stint with the team.

That leaves rising star Zay Flowers, veteran Nelson Agholor and Bateman as the top three wide receivers heading into next season. Baltimore could add to the room in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Bateman must take advantage of every opportunity he gets until he's replaced.

Edge rusher Odafe Oweh

Oweh, like Bateman, is heading into the final year of his rookie contract after a disappointing start to his NFL career. The former 31st overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has averaged only about 33 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles a season through his first three years.

That is primarily because he is a rotational player for the Ravens, but that seems likely to change in 2024. Veteran edge-rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy are free agents, and if they don't return to the team, Oweh will be thrust into the starting lineup.

If the 25-year-old can finally make the leap Baltimore hoped he could sooner, he'll earn a nice payday. If not, Oweh will be heading elsewhere in 2025.

Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley

Stanley sneaks on this list more due to his lack of play than the quality of his play. After three injury-riddled years, the former No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft finally played a fully healthy season in 2023.

The Ravens could have saved $13.05 million in cap space if they moved on from the 30-year-old this offseason, but they opted not to after losing both starting guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler.

Stanley didn't have a bad season in 2023, allowing just four sacks, per Pro Football Focus. He must stack healthy seasons, or Baltimore will seriously consider moving on from him without a dead cap hit in 2025.