Baltimore Ravens Offseason Progress Report

Can Lamar continue his stellar level or play, and can that get this team to the the trophy?

Ravens Star Running Back Derrick Henry

Overview

2024 Record: 12-5

General Manager: Eric DeCosta

Head Coach: John Harbaugh

Starting Quarterback: Lamar Jackson

Key Extensions:

OT Ronnie Stanley (3 years, $60 million, $44 million guaranteed), RB Derrick Henry (2 years, $30 million, $25 million guaranteed), WR Rashod Bateman (3 years, $36.75 million, $20 million guaranteed), S Kyle Hamilton (4 years, $100 million, $82 million guaranteed)

Key Additions:

WR DeAndre Hopkins, QB Cooper Rush, CB Jaire Alexander, DB Malaki Starks, EDGE Mike Green, OL Emery Jones Jr, K Tyler Loop

Key Departures:

OL Patrick Mekari, DB Brandon Stephens, K Justin Tucker

Offense

Offensive Coordinator: Todd Monken

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 1st Success Rate: 2nd PPG: 3rd (30.5ppg)

Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):

QB Lamar Jackson

RB Derrick Henry

WR Zay Flowers

WR DeAndre Hopkins

WR Rashod Bateman

TE Mark Andrews

LT Ronnie Stanley

LG Andrew Vorhees

C Tyler Linderbuam

RG Daniel Faalele

RT Roger Rosengarten

Offense Notes:

Following an MVP season in 2023, Lamar Jackson stepped up his game to propel the Ravens offense to greater heights in 2024. Top 3 in almost every offensive metric, the Ravens steamrolled their way through the competition. Derrick Henry was perhaps the team's greatest addition last offseason, creating an impossible run game to stop.

This offseason, however, the Ravens did not add such a difference-maker. DeAndre Hopkins comes over from the Chiefs to help round out the top of the receiving corps, but otherwise, the projected starters remain the same. The team will likely rely on another MVP-caliber season from Jackson to lead his team to another division title and subsequent deep playoff push.

Defense

Defensive Coordinator: Zach Orr

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 8th Success Rate: 3rd PPG: 8th (21.2ppg allowed)

Projected Starting Defense (Base 3-4):

DE Broderick Washington

NT Travis Jones

DE Nnamdi Madubuike

OLB Kyle Van Noy

LB Roquan Smith

LB Trenton Simpson

OLB Odafe Oweh

CB Nate Wiggins

CB Marlon Humphrey

S Kyle Hamilton

S Malaki Starks

Defense Notes:

Unlike the offense, the defensive unit had a rough start to the season following the departure of former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. After allowing more than 21 points in eight of the first ten games, the Ravens defense tightened up toward the season, allowing them to finish Top 10 in most defensive metrics.

While it's unlikely that the team will produce three All-Pros on the defensive side of the ball again, this unit has a lot of talent to stay competitive. Continuity with second-year defensive play-caller Zach Orr should help this group get off to a better start in 2025. Like the offense, there weren't a lot of potential high-impact players added, other than early draft selections Malaki Starks and Mike Green. Starks should be able to start immediately and form the best young safety duo in the league with Hamilton.

Outlook

Overall, the Ravens have a real chance to do some damage this season. Despite not making many changes to the starting units, the team added adequate depth on both sides of the ball in free agency and the draft, fortifying the roster for a deep playoff run. Added depth, reinforcing one of the best collections of starters in the league, should lead to a special roster.

Another piece of the puzzle this season is consistency. Last offseason, Baltimore not only lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald but many defensive coaches as well. Keeping the majority of the coaching staff intact should allow the team to hit the ground running early in the season.

The most important piece of the Ravens success lies in Lamar Jackson. If he continues to play like the Most Valuable Player in the league, the sky is the limit for the Ravens. This team was a dropped 2 Point Conversion away from a possible overtime in the divisional round of the playoffs. If the team can improve from this kind of result, they could be playing in February 2026.

Expectation/Goal for 2025: Win AFC North, Compete for Super Bowl

2025 Schedule

\(\begin{array}{c c} \textbf{GameWeek} & \textbf{Opponent} \\ \hline \textbf{Week 1} & \textbf{@Buffalo, SNF, 8:20pm} \\ \text{Week 2} & \text{vs. Cleveland, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 3} & \textbf{vs. Detroit, MNF, 8:15pm} \\ \text{Week 4} & \text{@ Kansas City, 4:25pm} \\ \text{Week 5} & \text{vs. Houston, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 6} & \text{vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 7} & \text{-- BYE WEEK --} \\ \text{Week 8} & \text{vs. Chicago, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 9} & \textbf{@ Miami, TNF, 8:15pm} \\ \text{Week 10} & \text{@ Minnesota, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 11} & \text{@ Cleveland, 4:25pm} \\ \text{Week 12} & \text{vs. New York Jets, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 13} & \textbf{vs. Cincinnati, TNF, 8:20pm*} \\ \text{Week 14} & \text{vs. Pittsburgh, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 15} & \text{@ Cincinnati, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 16} & \text{vs. New England, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 17} & \text{@ Green Bay, TBD} \\ \text{Week 18} & \text{@ Pittsburgh, TBD} \\ \end{array}\)

Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST

*Week 13 game vs. Cincinnati is on Thanksgiving*