The Ravens have another coaching vacancy on their staff.
Outside linebackers coach Rob Leonard has accepted a position as the defensive line coach with the Las Vegas Raiders, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday in Indianapolis at the NFL scouting combine. The Ravens will now need to fill that position, as well as their safeties coach and wide receivers coach.
“We’re taking our time, just like we did with the [offensive coordinator] position,” Harbaugh said, referring to the hiring of Georgia’s Todd Monken last month.
Harbaugh did note that pass game specialist Keith Williams will be back in some capacity, while James Urban and Craig Ver Steeg could return at different positions after Tee Martin and Willie Taggart were named quarterbacks coach and running backs coach, respectively.
Martin, who previously coached wide receivers, “has been preparing for this for his whole life,” Harbaugh said, noting the longtime assistant and former star quarterback at Tennessee “blew us out of the water” during his interview process. Harbaugh also praised Taggart, who joined the team after previously serving as head coach at Florida State and Oregon, among other stops.
“Willie Taggart is one of the best coaches in football, no doubt,” Harbaugh said. “[He’s a] groundbreaking person, groundbreaking coach. He’s a game-changing type of a person to me. [He’s] one of the great offensive minds in the game, for sure. He’s going to bring so much to our offense. Our players are going to love him. I know Todd already loves him. He’s a difference maker.”
Minor surgery for Hamilton
Harbaugh also shared that safety Kyle Hamilton underwent a minor wrist surgery. The Ravens’ top pick in the 2022 draft is rehabilitating at Notre Dame, where he’s finishing his degree, said Harbaugh, who noted Hamilton’s flexibility at his position.
“He’s capable of doing pretty much everything. He covers tight ends really well, he even covered slot receivers pretty well this year, man coverage. That’s pretty unique for a safety,” he said.
‘Tough decisions’ looming with roster
Players like Hamilton will almost certainly be a part of the Ravens’ 2023 season, as will wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who Harbaugh said is recovering well after foot surgery this past season. But other contributors from last year’s team might not be. As the Ravens seek a lucrative deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson, they face financial pressures and might need to part ways with other key players.
Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell announced earlier this year that he plans to return for another NFL season, but general manager Eric DeCosta did not commit to Campbell being on the team this coming season.
“We’ll make those decisions at some point. There will be some tough decisions that we have to make with the roster, like there are every single year,” DeCosta said.
Campbell’s salary cap hit would be $9.4 million next season, but it’s not only him who might be traded or released as the Ravens look to save money.
“We’re always looking at: How can we get better? How can we build the best roster? Understanding that the salary cap is a real constraint. And so we’ve got to do what we think is best for the club,” DeCosta said.
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Source: Berkshire mont
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