OTL: Could the NFL Draft Come to Baltimore?

Flock, it’s April, which means it’s officially Draft month. As frequent readers know, I’m a huge Draft nerd, so the final countdown to the end of the month gives me something to really look forward to while I’m missing football. The Draft got that much more enticing, though, with some news that came out of the ongoing NFL Owners Meetings going on right now down in Florida. If the Ravens can convince the NFL, the Draft might end up in our back yard.

Ravens team president Sashi Brown indicates Baltimore is interested in hosting a future NFL draft and have had discussions with the league on it, per @jeffzrebiec pic.twitter.com/tgKA7o0tYb

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 30, 2025

Oh, baby.

Ravens faithful will have to wait until at least 2027 for the Draft to come to Baltimore, as the league already announced Pittsburgh would be the site of the 2026 Draft. Given that scheduling, I’d imagine you’re probably looking even farther out, because the NFL will likely not want to double down on east coast cities back-to-back, but regardless, even the prospect of it happening is exciting. With the Commanders’ resurgence (and the exodus of Dan Snyder), there have been rumblings that DC is also a potential Draft site in the near future, and while it wouldn’t be the same, I would still be 100% on board to go.

The league’s reach doesn’t stop domestically, though. The NFL also announced expansions of their Global Market Program, and the Ravens were included as one of the teams that gained additional international marketing rights.

The Ravens have joined the NFL’s Global Markets Program and been granted international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities, and NFL Flag development! https://t.co/paEypD43QQ

— RavensinUK (@RavensInUK) March 31, 2025

Announcing the expansion of the NFL’s Global Markets Program for 2025!

29 teams across 21 international markets now have access to grow their fan bases around the world and build their brands globally in the fourth year of the program. pic.twitter.com/hnzf8hrDpD

— NFL (@NFL) March 31, 2025

While I don’t love the potential this brings of an even further-expanded international schedule and therefore more travel time, it does create more potential for growth in the league, and the increased presence of football internationally has led to more representation in prospect pipelines, so I can’t argue. If nothing else, it’ll mean a greater chance of finding a Ravens pub if I’m traveling to Europe during football season.

Of course, if you’re marketing this team anywhere, chances are that Lamar Jackson is at the center of how you gear your advertising. As Coach Harbaugh addressed the media yesterday, he acknowledged the team’s long-term plans with LJ, including a topic a lot of us have considered: an extension.

Harbaugh on contract extension for Lamar Jackson: “sooner or later, it’s going to have to happen. When Lamar gets paid, he’s going to be highest paid player in football.”

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 31, 2025

That transaction would have to happen at a time that makes sense for the team’s bookkeeping and for Lamar, but it does create the possibility of pushing some of the cap hit down the road to keep the time together in the prime of Jackson’s career. He wasn’t the only one mentioned as an extension candidate, though.

Coach Harbaugh ended his session with media at the owners meeting confirming the team would like to make an extension happen with Derrick Henry. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/7am8nzBCxC

— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) March 31, 2025

The one-two punch of LJ and Henry out of the backfield is already explosive and having it for years to come would do the heart good. At that point, one of the biggest responsibilities becomes blocking for those guys and keeping them upright, and thankfully, that’s part of why you have 11 picks at the end of the month.

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