Ravens Are No. 2 in ESPN's Future Power Rankings
The offseason is filled with rankings and predictions for the 2024 season, but ESPN's latest power rankings looked at more than just this season.
A panel of three analysts projected which teams are primed to be the best over the next three years. The Ravens landed at No. 2.
Four categories were weighted to create the overall score: overall roster minus quarterback (30%), quarterback (20%), coaching (25%), and front office (25%).
Baltimore earned a 91.6 score for an A grade. The Ravens and top-ranked Kansas City Chiefs (95.3) were the only teams to receive an A.
Baltimore placed in the top five in each category: overall roster minus quarterback (89.7, No. 4), quarterback (93.0, No. 4), coaching (92.0, No. 5), and front office (92.3, No. 3).
Here's a look at the analysts' takeaways for the Ravens:
Reason for hope: "Adding Derrick Henry to the run game should make it even more formidable, and wide receiver Zay Flowers' rookie-season connection with Lamar Jackson showed a ton of promise. There has been a lot of change on the offensive line (including rookie Roger Rosengarten now set to start at right tackle) and the defensive coaching staff, but even if the Ravens take a little step back in 2024, they are a steady and well-run organization that's used to managing through change." — Dan Graziano
Reason for concern: "Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken led the Ravens to the No. 4 scoring offense (28.4 points per game) last season, and Jackson was fourth in Total QBR (64.7) on his way to his second career league MVP. Going forward, I'm more concerned about those changes along the offensive line. That unit was in the top 10 in pass block win rate and run block win rate in 2023, so I wonder whether it will take a step back. Plus, as Dan mentioned, the defense is also undergoing an overhaul with a new coordinator in Zach Orr and a youth infusion at LB and CB." — Louis Riddick
Nugget to know: "Only the youthful Bears have less of last season's snap count share wrapped up in players who will be unrestricted free agents in 2025. In fact, cornerback Brandon Stephens is the only 2025 free agent for the Ravens who played at least two-thirds of the snaps in 2023, meaning Baltimore could keep the starting lineup mostly intact." — Aaron Schatz
Pat McAfee Praises John Harbaugh for Having Jackson's Back
Head Coach John Harbaugh made headlines this week for saying his vision for Jackson is that he becomes the greatest quarterback of all time. Harbaugh made the comment after being asked by a reporter about the general criticism directed at Jackson, a lot of which the coach finds head-scratching.
Pat McAfee said he also doesn't understand the criticism of Jackson and applauded Harbaugh for having his quarterback's back.
"I love how Harbaugh has always done that, even when they were in their contract negotiations, Harbaugh came out and [said], 'A hundred percent chance Lamar Jackson is our quarterback next year,' whenever there was a little bit of doubt potentially," McAfee said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on ESPN.
Mina Kimes Says Henry Is Going to Have 'Career Renaissance' in Ravens Offense
Henry said yesterday that he finds talk that he's wearing down "kind of funny." ESPN's Mina Kimes apparently gets a chuckle out of it as well.
Kimes expects big things from the four-time Pro Bowl running back in the Ravens offense.
"I think the question is less what's Derrick Henry going to do for this offense and more what is it going to do for Derrick Henry, what is it going to unlock in him," she said. "Sometimes there's a moment when you're driving on the same route to work but it's outside of rush hour, so instead of inching along in horrible traffic, you just zoom and it feels so unbelievably good. I think that's what it's like going from running behind the Titans' offensive line to Baltimore, a team that was fifth league-wide in yards before contact when you take out QB runs last year.
"Yes, there's been some losses on that offensive line, but it's so advantageous not just to run next to Lamar Jackson, who of course changes the numbers in the box, but also with all the players they have outside of the offensive line who block, notably Patrick Ricard, who I think is the best blocking fullback in football right now. Derrick Henry is going to have a career renaissance because of the situation he's walking into. I think this combination is a match made in heaven."
Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum Make All-Under-25 Team
The Ringer’s Diante Lee selected the preseason all-under-25-team, and both of the Ravens' 2022 first-round picks made it:
S Kyle Hamilton (23)
"In the modern NFL, it matters less what a safety can do as the all-seeing eye in the middle of the field, and more of what he can do as a matchup eraser between the numbers," Lee wrote. "Considering how Baltimore has used him, you can make an argument that Hamilton is just as much a third linebacker as he is a safety, if not more. Since coming into the league as a first-round pick in 2022, Hamilton is one of just five slot defenders with 20-plus run stops in fewer than 200 run snaps and is one of seven with at least four TFLs in the same number of snaps. Baltimore frequently blitzes him out of the slot, and he leads the league in pressure rate (30 percent) on those rushes among players with at least 20 opportunities. He's also among the top 10 defenders/slot defenders/safeties in passes broken up. We can argue about most valuable, but the best overall defender in the NFL last season was Hamilton. No matter how he was used on a given play call, if Hamilton was anywhere near the ball, it spelled bad news for offenses."
C Tyler Linderbaum (24)
"Linderbaum has always been agile enough to add value to Baltimore's elite run game, but his strength has dramatically improved since entering the league in 2022. Last year we frequently saw him generating more movement at the point of attack and creating opportunities in the zone-running game."
Pundit Says Eddie Jackson Is 'One of the Best Safeties in the League' When Healthy
The Ravens have arguably the top starting safeties in the league with the dynamic duo of Hamilton and Marcus Williams. With the recent addition of veteran Eddie Jackson, Baltimore now has a terrific trio.
Former NFL defensive end Corey Wootton, who covers the Bears for the Fox affiliate in Chicago, said Jackson is "one of the best safeties in the league" when he's at full strength.
"I think he's extremely smart; he's talented; a ballhawk out there," Wootton said on “Glenn Clark Radio.”
"And I think the last couple years in Chicago, he just wasn't healthy. When he's healthy, he's one of the best safeties in the league."
Wootton said it was a "no-brainer" for the Ravens to sign the 30-year-old Jackson, a 2019 All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler who started all 100 games he played with the Bears, because his presence allows Baltimore to capitalize on Hamilton's versatility.
"I think [Jackson] should be a free safety. He's the ultimate center fielder," Wootton said. "So, I think if he's back to that position, it gives Hamilton some flexibility to kind of do it all. I think a thing with Eddie Jackson is he's going to be motivated. The Bears didn't want him anymore, so I think he's got that mentality of, 'I'm going to show them and I'm going to show the league.'"
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Ravens Bring Back Veteran Daryl Worley
- The Los Angeles Chargers' running back competition between former Ravens Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins and rookie Kimani Vidal was among NFL.com’s Kevin Patra’s most intriguing training camp battles.
