OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- At the NFL combine last month, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta mentioned Lamar Jackson has a "great voice" when asked about the quarterback's input on personnel decisions.
"Lamar is a stakeholder. He's a partner," DeCosta said in February. "He's earned that right to have that type of input and opinion ... It's important, it's necessary, and I welcome his input."
It's not known how much Jackson talked to DeCosta recently, but it's safe to assume he's smiling at the start of free agency. Baltimore has bolstered Jackson's supporting cast two days into the negotiating period, retaining left tackle Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard while adding wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Starting with limited salary cap room of $12 million, the Ravens landed three players who've combined for 12 Pro Bowls. Baltimore secured Jackson's blind side with the best offensive tackle available in Stanley, brought back the NFL's most physical fullback in Ricard and provided Jackson his most sure-handed wide receiver in Hopkins.
It all began with the Ravens keeping Stanley on a three-year, $60 million deal on Saturday, which will likely go down as one of the most significant and shrewdest moves of the NFL offseason. Baltimore was able to hold onto its No. 1 free agent without having to pay top-of-the-market pice. Stanley's $20 million per season average ranks 10th among left tackles. His $44 million guaranteed is seventh at that position.
This deal looks even better for the Ravens after the first day of the negotiation period, when left tackles were a top commodity. On Monday, the Tennessee Titans gave a four-year, $82 million deal -- including $50 million in guarantees -- to Dan Moore Jr., who allowed a league-high 16.5 sacks. The Washington Commanders are sending four draft picks to the Houston Texans -- third- and seventh-rounders in 2025 and second- and fourth-rounders in 2026 -- for Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
On Tuesday afternoon, Baltimore brought back Ricard on a one-year deal worth $2.872 million, which is less than his $4 million salary a season ago. The critical part for the Ravens is Ricard will only count $1.422 million against the cap because of a wrinkle with the CBA that allows players to have a lower cap number if they've been with the same team for four or more seasons.
Ricard is known as "Pancake Pat" because of the number of times he's put defenders on their backs. He was named first-team All-Pro for the first time last season after helping the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack average 5.8 yards per carry, which was the best in a single season in NFL history.
On Tuesday evening, the Ravens added Hopkins on a one-year, $5 million deal, giving Jackson his most dependable hands. Since Hopkins entered the NFL in 2013, he has the fifth-lowest drop rate (1.6%) among the 70 wide receivers who've had at least 500 targets, according to ESPN Research. Last season, Baltimore's wide receivers ranked 30th in drop percentage (5.1%).
With Jackson, Hopkins and running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens will become the second team since the 1970 merger to open a season with three-time All-Pros at quarterback, wide receiver and running back. They join the 2005 Colts, who had Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James.
Baltimore's lack of cap room has led them to not being able keep many of its free agents. In the first eight hours of the negotiating period, the Ravens watched five of their players, including three starters, reach agreements elsewhere: guard Patrick Mekari (Jacksonville Jaguars), cornerback Brandon Stephens (New York Jets), inside linebackers Malik Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Chris Board (New York Giants) and offensive lineman Josh Jones (Seattle Seahawks). A total of 2,631 snaps from last season's AFC North champion team were gone.
Baltimore should be able to fill the void left by the three starters lost on the first day of free agency. Andrew Vorhees is the front-runner to take Mekari's spot at left tackle. Nate Wiggins, a first-round pick from a season ago, can step into the starting lineup at corner for Stephens. And the Ravens can find Harrison's replacement at inside linebacker either in free agency or in the draft.
DeCosta said at the NFL combine that the Ravens typically don't make a "splash" in free agency but Baltimore has made the most of its few cap dollars. Like most years, most of the Ravens' additions will come in the draft next month. After being rewarded with four compensatory picks on Tuesday, Baltimore has a total of 11 picks in this year's draft.
"My goal would be to hit on a large percentage of those draft picks to find good, young, inexpensive talent to put guys in for the future," DeCosta said last month. "Because the reality of it is, when you're paying guys like Lamar Jackson and the Marlon Humphrey's and the Nnamdi Madubuike's and the Roquan Smith's and guys like that, and the guys -- someday -- like probably Tyler Linderbaum and guys like Kyle Hamilton, you have to draft well every single year, so that you always have an open window."