The Ravens’ defensive line improved with the recent re-signing of free-agent defensive end Calais Campbell, but not to the point where Baltimore can ignore interior defenders in this month’s NFL draft.

Campbell, 35, agreed to a two-year deal reportedly worth $12.5 million and could earn as much as $16 million with incentives. His addition will improve the Ravens in several ways because he is a quality player and team leader both on and off the field.

But even with Campbell, the Ravens’ defensive line is still a patched-up unit. They’re hoping for the return of a quality starter in end/tackle Derek Wolfe from a hip injury and that recently signed nose tackle Michael Pierce can play at the same top level he did three to four years ago in Baltimore.

As of right now, who is the top performer on this defensive line? Who keeps offensive coordinators up late at night? Who is the top pass-rushing threat in the middle, an area of concern for the past four years?

The same questions can be asked about the Ravens’ front seven. In fact, there should be concern about the run defense because the Ravens have yet to re-sign nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Williams, 33, has angered and disappointed several members of the front office and coaching staff because they didn’t believe he played hard all the time, but Pierce played in only eight games in two years with the Minnesota Vikings. The 6-foot, 340-pound Pierce opted out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns and missed nine games last year with triceps and elbow injuries.

The Ravens signed Pierce, 29, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million in mid-March. Now Campbell is back. But they still need more help, and they need it quickly.

“At outside linebacker, defensive linemen, certainly, we’re not done yet, and we have a lot of different opportunities,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said last week. “There are still some good players out there, and as we look at the first round, second round, third round of the draft, we see guys that can come in right away and contribute and be good players.”

The Ravens also recently re-signed inside linebacker Josh Bynes to a one-year contract, but he’s 32. A middle linebacker is usually as good as the nose tackle who protects him. The tackle occupies one or two blockers, allowing a player like Bynes to run free and make plays.

Is Pierce that guy? He was in 2018 and 2019 when he collected a combined 67 tackles and started 28 games.

But 2019-20 was a contract year and Pierce showed up for minicamp and training camp out of shape and overweight. That’s a cause for concern, especially for a player who was set to sign what should have been his biggest payday.

With his recent injury concerns, Pierce seems like a 50-50 proposition to be ready for the start of the 2022 regular season.

Campbell will be ready to play. He is the consummate professional as far as eating and training properly. He can tie up two blockers and hold his ground with that 6-8, 300-pound frame.

The young players respect and admire Campbell and he’s like an extra coach on the field. But at some point, his body is going to break down and he will miss a few games, like he has the past two years. It’s almost as certain as death and taxes.

But when Campbell does sit out, who is going to step up? At this point, it can’t be Williams, and it can’t be 6-2, 350-pound tackle Justin Ellis, who recently signed with the New York Giants.

The Ravens have some options in Broderick Washington, Isaiah Mack and Aaron Crawford, but only Washington appears ready to possibly handle a starting role.

Third-year player Justin Madubuike and Wolfe will battle for the starting end position. Madubuike, 24, is fast and might have the quickest “get off” of any of the linemen. The 2020 third-round pick can be disruptive with his inside penetration but seems lighter than the 293 pounds listed in the team’s media guide. If he is going to establish himself as a starter in the NFL, now is the time.

Wolfe, 32, was an enigma last season after suffering a scary injury in a training camp practice against the Carolina Panthers. In 2020, he played well and stepped in when both Williams and Campbell were out of the lineup.

There was speculation last season that he was going to return from a hip injury in late October, but several weeks later he was put on injured reserve. His status is as uncertain as Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who missed 16 games last season because of an ankle injury suffered in 2020 that required another surgery, and outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, who tore his Achilles tendon late last season.

The Ravens have too many “what ifs” when it comes to players returning from major injuries. New defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and line coach Anthony Weaver are young, and they’ll come up with some new ideas and schemes to help the Ravens improve. But let’s not expect magic.

The Ravens have said the draft, which starts April 28, is loaded with talent, especially at defensive line and outside linebacker.

Let’s hope they prove it.

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