Ravens News 7/22: Honing Answers

What Eddie Jackson brings to a Ravens secondary that needed another safety

What Jackson brings to Baltimore

Baltimore used three-safety looks often last year to take advantage of Hamilton’s versatility. The All-Pro was employed in matchup situations, often against top tight ends, while also playing frequently in the slot. The addition of a No. 3 safety, one who the defensive staff trusts and who can play the deep part of the field, will allow first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr to continue to move Hamilton around.

Jackson may not be playing at the same level that he was early in his career with the Bears. However, the Ravens, who have a host of versatile defensive backs, won’t need to rely on him as heavily. With the return of starting defensive backs Williams, Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, the re-signing of veteran slot corner Arthur Maulet and the drafting of cornerbacks in the first (Nate Wiggins) and fourth (T.J. Tampa) rounds, the Ravens’ secondary was already pretty well stocked.

Jackson gives them more depth and play-making ability on the back end. He also should feel plenty comfortable in his new NFL home. Jackson will reunite with former Bears teammate Roquan Smith and former Alabama teammates Humphrey and Derrick Henry.

Ravens 53-man roster projection: Which spots are up for grabs entering training camp?

Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun

Offensive line (10)

Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Patrick Mekari, Roger Rosengarten, Andrew Vorhees, Josh Jones, Daniel Faalele, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Ben Cleveland, Nick Samac

Baltimore is in good shape with a suddenly fit and spry Stanley at left tackle and Linderbaum, who was selected to the Pro Bowl last season, at center. Beyond that are question marks. Second-round pick Roger Rosengarten out of Washington could start at right tackle, or the Ravens could opt to go with Daniel Faalele or veteran Josh Jones, who has played every position except center in his career, if the rookie doesn’t look ready. Faalele is also in the mix at right guard, along with Aumavae-Laulu and Cleveland. Vorhees, meanwhile, has a shot at the starting left guard job after sitting out his rookie year because of a torn ACL during the 2023 scouting combine, but Jones could also factor in there. Samac, a seventh-round pick from Michigan State, figures to compete for a backup role at center in the wake of Sam Mustipher’s free agency departure. Mekari can play anywhere along the line, which is one of the reasons the Ravens would prefer to keep him in his usual rotational fill-in role.

50 Words or Less: Why the Ravens Can Be Better Than Last Season

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com

Despite their offseason losses, the Ravens absolutely have enough ammunition on this roster to contend for a title again. Their schedule and AFC North competition is formidable, but anybody who thinks Baltimore is going to fade away this year is mistaken. The Ravens could be even better than last season.

The other loss was Mike Macdonald to Seattle, but the Ravens feel confident their scheme has the answers and Zach Orr can deliver them. There’s a reason why other teams wanted Baltimore’s coaches. They want that system. Also, Orr could generate head coaching interest as quickly as Macdonald did.

So how will the Ravens be better than last year even if they negate their losses? It hinges on the offense’s ability to take it up a notch in Year 2 under Todd Monken. It was a tide shift in Year 1, but their scheme is more developed entering 2024.

The Ravens offense didn’t have a finely tuned system for countering at the line of scrimmage whatever a defense threw at them. More simply put, they didn’t have all the answers, and the Chiefs exposed that in the AFC Championship Game. Training camp will be largely about honing that operation.

Wide Receiver Rankings: Top 15 under age-25 for 2024

Matt Harmon, Yahoo Sports

14. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

Zay Flowers was electric as a rookie and there’s still plenty of meat left on the bone. Don’t think for a second that he’s just a designed touches player or needs to be fed screens to be productive. Flowers demolishes man coverage on out-breaking routes as a flanker receiver.

Flowers and Lamar Jackson weren’t always on the same page on intermediat routes but that’s an area both receiver and quarterback can improve on going forward. He’ll need to improve against press coverage to develop into a No. 1 receiver but I’m confident he’ll be a productive player for a long time.

Baltimore Ravens: Best players of the PFF era

Gordon McGuinness, PFF

QB: Lamar Jackson, 2023, 90.5 PFF grade

RB: Mark Ingram II, 2019, 79.2 PFF grade

WR: Derrick Mason, 2008, 89.3 PFF grade

WR: Anquan Boldin, 2012, 84.7 PFF grade

WR: Steve Smith Sr., 2014, 79.0 PFF grade

TE: Mark Andrews, 2021 91.5 PFF grade

LT: Jonathan Ogden, 2006, 92.0 PFF grade

LG: Kelechi Osemele, 2014, 93.9 PFF grade

C: Matt Birk, 2010, 82.4 PFF grade

RG: Marshal Yanda, 2014, 93.9 PFF grade

RT: Willie Anderson, 2008, 90.9 PFF grade

EDGE: Elvis Dumervil, 2013, 89.5 PFF grade

EDGE: Terrell Suggs, 2011, 87.7 PFF grade

DI: Kelly Gregg, 2006, 89.2 PFF grade

DI: Michael Pierce, 2017, 86.9 PFF grade

LB: Ray Lewis, 2009, 91.4 PFF grade

LB: Roquan Smith, 2022, 85.9 PFF grade

CB: Josh Wilson, 2010, 88.4 PFF grade

CB: Chris McAlister, 2006, 85.7 PFF grade

Slot CB: Lardarius Webb, 2011, 86.4 PFF grade

S: Ed Reed, 2009, 91.8 PFF grade

S: Eric Weddle, 2016, 90.0 PFF grade

K: Justin Tucker, 2021, 93.3 PFF grade

P: Sam Koch, 2015, 86.9 PFF grade

K/PR: Jacoby Jones, 2013, 89.8 PFF grade

ST: Jeromy Miles, 2014, 90.4 PFF grade

MARSHAL YANDA VS. TERRELL SUGGS FOR THE NEXT RAVENS PLAYER TO ENTER THE HALL OF FAME

The Ravens already have three first-ballot Hall-of-Fame players in Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden. The next two who could potentially match that feat are offensive lineman Marshal Yanda and edge defender Terrell Suggs. Both are almost locks to join the Hall of Fame, and they will likely get consideration at the first time of asking.

Yanda owns the five highest-graded seasons by a guard on the team since 2008, while Suggs has the pass-rushing numbers to get there, with 707 total pressures on 6,747 snaps between 2008 and 2019.