The strong attendance during the first session of voluntary OTAs exemplified the Ravens' unwavering resolve to win a Super Bowl.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh looked ripped. Tight end Mark Andrews sounded rejuvenated.
The Ravens haven't been wallowing since their playoff loss in Buffalo. They've been working.
Tight end Isaiah Likely said the heavy turnout reflected the business-like mentality players have taken this offseason.
"I feel like everybody got the memo after the last game of [last] year," Likely said. "When you don't reach your ultimate goal, which is to win and hold that trophy and smile with everybody, everybody's always hungry [to] get back to the next season."
Here are my thoughts before the Ravens continue OTAs next week, all in 50 words or less:
- Head Coach John Harbaugh believes Likely has the talent to become an All-Pro tight end. "That'd be my goal for him, and he's capable of it," Harbaugh said. Likely just turned 25 years old in January. The best for him is yet to come.
- The former fourth-round pick will host the Isaiah Likely Softball Slam Sunday afternoon at Ripken Stadium to support Special Olympics. It should be a fun day for both fans and players. NFL players often find hitting a softball more challenging than hitting an opponent on Sunday.
- Expectations are high for first-round pick Malaki Starks, which makes his learning curve at OTAs important. The quicker Starks picks up the defense, the faster he can play, and the more coaches can put on his plate. It's early, but Starks seems off to a good start.
- Playing next to All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton will help Starks immensely. Hamilton had some early struggles as a rookie, but never lost confidence and quickly became a star. Hamilton can be a great sounding board for Starks as he navigates through his rookie season.
- A spry-looking Keaton Mitchell was a welcome sight at OTAs. A healthy Mitchell joining Derrick Henry and Justice Hill gives Baltimore a running back core that's the deepest and most diverse in the NFL.
The Ravens' new wide receiver and a running back returning back to form shined at OTAs.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
The Ravens' new veteran wide receiver made his presence felt in his first week on the job. Hopkins made a diving catch over the middle for his first grab, then multiple tough leaping and extended sideline snags, showing how valuable he can be as a big-bodied, contested-catch receiver. His top speed was one of the Ravens' fastest in the wide receiver room.
RB Keaton Mitchell
Mitchell didn't see much action last season coming off his major 2023 knee injury. He appears to be back to his rookie form this offseason, showing noticeably different explosion during individual drills and turning the corner on outside runs in team drills.
QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson came out sharp during the first week of OTAs. He delivered a beautiful long pass to rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, dropped one in a bucket to Dayton Wade despite double coverage down the sideline, and had a pinpoint long pass to Zay Flowers. Jackson set the tone for an offense that looked crisp from the jump.
OLB Odafe Oweh
Oweh looks like a player ready to wreck offensive lines after adding 15-20 pounds of muscle this offseason. Despite the additional weight, which should help him in the run and to finish with power at the top of his pass rushes, it looks like Oweh hasn't lost a step of his explosion.
OLB Adisa Isaac
The second-year outside linebacker struggled with injuries as a rookie but came back looking sharp. Isaac has a good size-speed combo and will look to break into the Ravens' rotation.
G Ben Cleveland
Cleveland shouldn't be forgotten in the competition to be the starting left guard. After being a presumed leader for the job last year, he didn't get many practice reps at the position. That has changed at the start of this year's OTAs as he looks to compete with Andrew Vorhees for a starting job.
WR Devontez Walker
Walker had one catch as a rookie – a 21-yard touchdown against the New York Giants. If Wednesday's practice is any indication, he could have a somewhat larger role in 2025. He was a busy man and made an impressive touchdown catch in the back of the end zone.
WR LaJohntay Wester
Wester can fly, and he showed that hauling in a long touchdown pass. He juggled it at first but held on for the score. The sixth-round pick also made a tough grab over the middle despite the pass being tipped by undrafted linebacker Jay Higgins.
ILB Roquan Smith
Smith is in good shape and showed off his range in pass coverage when he went 25+ yards down the sideline with running back Justice Hill to break up a wheel route pass. The Ravens' defensive leader is locked in already.
CB Nate Wiggins
It appears that Wiggins put on some bulk this offseason, which was one of his goals when he first came into the league. He looks like a second-year player who could have a breakout campaign putting him among the league's top corners.
- Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, whose rookie season was stunted by injuries, is a player to watch. Isaac's quick first step is impressive. If he stays healthy and stacks practices, Isaac could remind us why he was a third-round pick in 2024.
- Andrews, who looks great, spoke with Henry about his offseason regimen. "He's [one of], if not, the best running back of all time," Andrews said. "If you can learn from a guy like that that takes a beating year after year and continues to get better, good things happen."
- Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush communicated frequently during Wednesday's OTA session. Rush was an excellent backup with the Dallas Cowboys, but he's learning a new offense. If he's forced to fill in at any point, Rush will suddenly become one of the team's most important players.
- Devontez Walker was a frequent target for both Jackson and Rush on Wednesday. The Ravens are stacked at the top at wide receiver with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins. But Walker looks like he's playing with confidence.
- Being together for a third season allowed Jackson and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken to hit the ground running even more during OTAs. The Ravens averaged 30.5 points last season and a franchise record 33.2 points in 2019. Surpassing those totals in 2025 is within their reach.
