With in-person minicamps canceled through June, we’re entering an unusually quiet lull in football until training camp starts in late July. While there’s always a slower period between the NFL Draft and players getting on the field, the coronavirus pandemic has forced social distancing restrictions on football as well as normal life. With little in the way of news about the league or the Baltimore Ravens, I thought it was a perfect time to turn to the fans.

In what will be a weekly mailbag, I’ll answer your questions. Whether that be about specific players, the scheme, or projections about the future, I’ll have an answer.

If you want to ask a question, reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter. We’ll also be asking for submissions ahead of each mailbag on social media.

Will the Ravens sign any more pass rushers this offseason? - Brett Godman

Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images

The Ravens’ pass rushers have had a spotlight on them all offseason. First, there was Matthew Judon being a free agent and his eventual franchise tag. Then there were a few top options available in free agency with ties to Baltimore that everyone got excited about. And finally, with the Ravens not actually doing much to address the position, fans are hungry for some type of move here. Sadly, I don’t think it’s coming. At least not in the way most fans are hoping.

Sure, Jadeveon Clowney is still available. But that’s actually a bigger red flag than it’s something to salivate over. The fact he isn’t under contract yet, with a little more than a month remaining until training camp, points to teams actively staying away from him. There are a million possible reasons for that but the longer he’s still available, the more you have to question why. Beyond that, the Ravens really don’t have the money to pull in Clowney or trade for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. According to Over The Cap, Baltimore is sitting at just $9.04 million in available cap space, and they’ve yet to sign all of their draft picks.

What that really means is that any signing or trade at this point is going to be a bargain option more for depth than anything else. If the Ravens want to further add some depth to their outside linebacker group, it’s more likely to be a veteran nearly ready to retire but wants a Super Bowl ring, or a veteran that hasn’t performed as expected. Guys like Brooks Reed or Terrell Suggs are the type of players that are more likely to sign a cheap one-year deal to either restart their career or go out on a high note.

With so little cap space and some more pressing needs for depth, the Ravens seem to be pretty happy with their group as it stands right now. They know what they’re going to get out of Judon and there’s hope Tyus Bowser or Jaylon Ferguson can take the next step. Combine that with Martindale’s blitz-heavy scheme and Baltimore’s pass rush has a decent floor with a lot of potential.

How much will having CB Tavon Young back help the defense? - Tyler George

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

I think when Young is healthy, he’s one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league. It’s the reason Baltimore paid him like one when they agreed to a three-year contract extension. The question is really if he’s healthy heading into training camp and if he can stay on the field this season.

Young has missed two of the four seasons he’s been in the league, heading to injured reserve before ever playing a game in 2017 and 2019. However, when he has been on the field over 31 games, Young has three interceptions, four fumble recoveries, two fumbles returned for touchdowns, two sacks, and 90 tackles. That type of production is incredibly valuable on any defense but his versatility makes him especially great for Baltimore and defensive coordinator Don Martindale.

If Young is back at 100% this season and can stay healthy, he’ll allow Martindale to continue to be creative with his scheme. Whether that means cornerback blitzes, moving Jimmy Smith to safety in certain packages, or even just keeping Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters on the outside receivers, Young will help take this defense to another level.

Will RB J.K. Dobbins take over the starting role by the end of the season? - Cason Hinkins

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

I think there’s a real possibility of that happening. I remember Jamal Lewis eventually supplanting Priest Holmes during his rookie season (one that ended in the Ravens’ first Super Bowl victory as well) because he was a physical presence on the field and was fresher by the end of the season. In much the same way, it wouldn’t shock me if Dobbins effectively pushes Ingram to second on the depth chart for the exact same reasons.

Now, that will require quite a few things to happen first. Dobbins will have to prove he’s an effective rusher in this offense. No matter his draft status, if he isn’t picking up yards and making big plays while Ingram is, he’ll ride the bench. While I’m not very concerned about that, Dobbins’ real problem will be developing into a fully effective third-down back. That will include catching the ball out of the backfield and more importantly, pass blocking. Ingram is stout in this area and the team’s confidence in him to help protect quarterback Lamar Jackson isn’t going to easily be replaced. But Dobbins certainly has the physical tools necessary to pick that up quickly and become a true asset there.

Of course, we also have to talk about Ingram’s injury history as well in this equation. Part of the reason Baltimore was able to sign him was because he regularly missed games due to injuries, diminishing his value at a very crowded position. Throughout Ingram’s career, he’s missed 23 games, including one last season and four in 2018. If Ingram misses any time this year, it would give Dobbins a chance to cement himself as the new starter or prove he needs a little more time to carry the full workload.

Is there a chance Geno Stone will play this season? - Björn Marx

The secondary is pretty crowded in Baltimore but Stone has a legitimate chance to not only make the 53-man roster but to see the field as a rookie.

I think it’s important to note one of Stone’s biggest positives coming into the 2020 NFL Draft was his football smarts. Just like we saw with Chuck Clark, a good athlete with great instincts and an ability to diagnose plays quickly will always find their way into the game. Stone might not become a starting safety anytime soon but I’d think the Ravens are going to give him a serious look on special teams to begin with.

Stone will obviously have to compete with the likes of DeShon Elliott and Anthony Levine for a roster spot and playing time. But Elliott has missed both of the seasons he’s been in the NFL with injuries and Levine is 33 years old, giving Stone a not-impossible road to the final 53-man roster.

Again, I look at Clark’s career as the best possible path for Stone. As a rookie, Clark played extensively on special teams, getting 75% of the possible special teams snaps to only 5% of the defensive snaps. He started no games but was active for 15 of them. The next year, Clark got more playing time on defense, even starting two games when safety Tony Jefferson went down with an injury. Obviously, last season Clark took Jefferson’s job after he went on injured reserve, playing well enough to earn a contract extension. That’s a tough path for Stone to follow in exactly but it’s a realistic one nonetheless.