luke kuechly

In less than 18 hours spanning Monday night and Tuesday afternoon, three Ravens linebackers who underpinned their defensive success proved unwilling or unable to be retained.

Pending free agent C.J. Mosley is going to be very rich very soon. And it appears unlikely the Ravens will be the team still signing the check.

Eric DeCosta has shortened the Ravens' to-do list considerably. He still must answer a handful of questions that could shape the team’s short- and long-term future.

Eric DeCosta said last week that the Ravens’ preference “would always be to do a long-term deal with a player like C.J. He’s a great player.”

By designating inside linebacker C.J. Mosley with the franchise tag, the Ravens would have committed about $15.4 million to the former first-round draft pick for the 2019 season.

Over the next three-plus month, the Ravens have a lot to do. Some priorities, though, are a little more important than others.

It's the third straight year the Ravens have had at least three players make the all-star roster.

There are two players the Ravens can’t afford to lose, and they lost one Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Panthers are beginning to feel as if they have hit on something big with fourth-round draft pick Ian Thomas, who grew up in Baltimore City.

Micah Kiser: “I’m not the biggest person here, the fastest or the strongest, but I’m smart and I’m a productive football player. I like to marry those two together.”

The team is represented by at least three players for the 12th consecutive year.

The middle linebacker is upholding the franchise’s tradition set by Ray Lewis and Bart Scott.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome confirmed after the draft that the team has picked up C.J. Mosley’s fifth-year option.

Injuries have cut into David Manning's career, but now he's back as an experienced enforcer for Loyola Maryland's men's lacrosse team.

Of the Ravens' eight remaining opponents, only one has a winning record and five of those eight games are at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens were once nearly unbeatable.

Chase Bradshaw, a Las Vegas resident and Palo Verde High School midfielder who will play for the Loyola Maryland men's lacrosse team next spring, requested and has gotten approval to wear the No. 19 that his 'lacrosse mentor' Jeremy Huber wore for Johns Hopkins before he died on Jan. 26.

Only one Ravens player, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, made the NFL Players Association's top-50 list for jersey sales for 2014.

As the Ravens (8-5) square off with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, here¿s Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson¿s checklist of things to keep an eye on.

Ravens rookie C.J. Mosley ranks second among all inside linebackers in Pro Bowl balloting.

With Greg Gumbel and Trent Green as the CBS broadcast team on today¿s Ravens game, I was eager to see how Gumbel would fare without his old, gaffe-prone partner Dan Dierdorf.

All eyes will be on wide receiver Steve Smith, who faces the organization he played with for 13 seasons. While Joe Flacco will undoubtedly look to get Smith the ball early, he needs receivers Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Marlon Brown to be more involved in the passing game.

Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley will cross paths with Panthers¿ star Luke Kuechly Sunday a player he says has been a model for him as the athletic, three-down lineman Mosley hopes to be come.

Five key stats that help preview Sunday's Ravens-Panthers game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson looks back at the Ravens' game each week and looks ahead to their next opponent.

Baltimore Ravens analysis on all three Smiths, the Ravens¿ strong guards, and the tight end situation.

Each Wednesday, blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Ravens.

During the Ravens' 34-27 preseason loss Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium, the offensive line struggled mightily at times as the Panthers finished with three sacks, eight tackles for losses and six quarterback hits.

It took only a few moments for Ravens Pro Bowl offensive guard Marshal Yanda and starting cornerback Lardarius Webb during their respective preseason debuts to prove that their surgically repaired limbs are sound.

Since the start of training camp a month ago, quarterback Joe Flacco watched as his top two tight ends went down and prominent young wide-outs failed to step up. He saw the Ravens bring in veteran pass-catchers Brandon Stokley, Dallas Clark and Visanthe Shiancoe. And he has recently gotten a look at rookies Aaron Mellette and Marlon Brown running with the first-team offense.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday.

The Ravens have a handful of needs. Most are not pressing. They have yet to address the offensive line this offseason and will be forced to do it in the draft. Even with the emergence of Torrey Smith a year ago, they are looking for another game-changer at wide receiver. Terrell Suggs lacks a true sidekick. And then there is the annual question about whether this is the year they need to prepare for life after Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. In my fifth and final first-round mock draft, I give you a semi-educated guess at whom the Ravens will select with the 29th pick. Is it still Wisconsin center Peter Konz? Read on to find out.

Every weekday until Wednesday, the day before the first round of the NFL draft, The Sun will examine where the Ravens stand at each position, the likelihood that they will address that spot early in the draft and some of the prospects that they may consider.

The 2012 NFL draft is now just over a week away. Free agency has died down, and teams are shifting their focus to the draft to round out their rosters. The Ravens are no exception. Their primary needs are still the same as they were entering the offseason: offensive line help, a pass rusher and a receiver. This mock draft -- the fourth of five I will do before the draft -- doesn't account for trades. And remember, these are called "mock" drafts for a reason. Try not to take them too seriously, folks.

The 2012 NFL draft is three weeks away, and though most teams have solidified their draft boards barring a few tweaks after prospects visit, the "silly season" of draft rumors is really starting to heat up. Need an example? How about the rumblings that the Colts are undecided about the first pick? But hey, I love mock drafts as much as you do, so allow me to contribute to the silly season with my third mock draft of the offseason.

After a wild first week in free agency that was punctuated with Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos, we have a better idea of what needs teams will address in April's NFL draft. So now seems like a good time for our second mock draft of the offseason. (This mock draft does not account for potential trades.) And remember, these are called "mock" drafts for a reason. Try not to take them too seriously.

Sergio Kindle's status and ability continue to be sources of curiosity from fans, but Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said yesterday that the team has a much better understanding of what the linebacker can do.

This year's NFL scouting combine begins Wednesday, unofficially marking the start of draft speculation season. Before the prospects are poked and prodded, though, staff writer Matt Vensel has taken his first crack at predicting the first round of April's NFL draft.

The NFL scouting combine starts Feb. 22. In advance of the annual meat market in Indianapolis, staff writer Matt Vensel will examine each position and give Ravens fans the 4-1-1. In this post he looks at inside linebackers, including Luke Kuechly, Vontaze Burfict, Bobby Wagner, Dont'a Hightower and Audie Cole.