Ja'Kobi Lane Named a Top Breakout Candidate by NFL Executives and Coaches
The Ravens didn't sign a big-name wide receiver this offseason because they believe in their young receiving corps and want them to have ample opportunity to make an impact.
Rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane seized the opportunity this spring and summer to show what he can do. Lane's highlight reel of spectacular catches caught the attention not only of pundits and fans, but also NFL insiders.
Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame asked more than a dozen league executives and coaches which first- or second-year players they believe will have breakout seasons. Lane was among the top 10.
"Few, if any, rookies have enjoyed more hype this summer than Lane, who comes in from USC to give Lamar Jackson another weapon in Baltimore's passing attack," Verderame wrote. "With Zay Flowers and little else on the perimeter to be excited about in recent years, the Ravens might have struck gold with their third-rounder. Lane has impressed throughout the offseason, and this summer caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, including 38 yards with a score against the Eagles in the preseason opener."
Verderame recently saw firsthand why Lane is garnering such critical acclaim.
"At 6'4" and 200 pounds, Lane can sky for the ball while making acrobatic catches, something he's done repeatedly in training camp," Verderame wrote. "When I was in Baltimore to watch a joint practice between the Ravens and Commanders, Lane ran with the first team (Flowers didn't participate that day) and looked the part, consistently running crisp routes to gain separation.
"If Lane develops into a weapon for Jackson, the trajectory of the offense could change under new coordinator Declan Doyle."
Jackson Is No. 3 in ESPN's Top 100 Players Rankings
ESPN released its annual ranking of the top 100 players, and Jackson fared a lot better than he did in the NFL Top 100.
Jackson was No. 3 in ESPN's rankings, which were determined by 12 NFL analysts and reporters who were asked to rank players based on expected performance for the 2026 season.
That's a much more appropriate ranking for the two-time MVP than his No. 69 placement in the NFL Top 100, which was determined by player voting.
"Jackson has an impressive track record when it comes to clicking in his first season of a new offensive system," ESPN's Jamison Hensley wrote. "He has won MVP the past two times the Ravens made a switch at offensive coordinator. With first-year playcaller Declan Doyle, Jackson is looking to bounce back from his first losing season (6-7). And he isn't showing any signs of his age."
Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett took the top spot, followed by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Four other Ravens made the rankings, led by safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 17.
"With his ability to impact the game all over the field, Hamilton could become the first Ravens player in 15 seasons to win DPOY," Hensley wrote. "Last season, he played at least 30 snaps each at five positions: outside linebacker, slot corner, safety, inside linebacker and outside corner. Over Hamilton's career, the Ravens have held QBs to a 49 QBR when he's on the field and a 90 QBR without him."
Running back Derrick Henry (No. 72), inside linebacker Roquan Smith (No. 80), and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (No. 87) were the other Baltimore players on the list. A notable omission was Flowers, who was No. 71 in the NFL Top 100.
Only three teams had more players in the rankings than the Ravens: the Philadelphia Eagles (eight), Detroit Lions (six), and San Francisco 49ers (six).
Ryan Eckley Earns an 'A' for Performance Against Commanders
Another rookie who has looked the part in the preseason is punter Ryan Eckley.
Eckley earned an "A" grade from NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter for his performance in the Ravens' win over the Washington Commanders last week.
"The top rookie punter had an excellent outing against Washington, placing two of three punts inside the 20-yard line," Reuter wrote. "He showed outstanding leg extension on his first punt, which landed at the Commanders' 16-yard line and stopped quickly at the 14. Eckley's third effort was almost muffed by Washington at the 10, forcing the returner to catch the ball near the ground as it dropped out of the sky.
"The sixth-round pick might not have quite as powerful a leg as former Ravens punter Jordan Stout, but he showed he could flip the field by belting a 53-yarder with sufficient hang time to force a fair catch in the fourth quarter."
It was Eckley's second consecutive standout game. In the Ravens' Preseason Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Eckley averaged 55.3 yards per punt and placed two inside the 20-yard line to earn an “A+” from The Baltimore Sun's Josh Tolentino.
What Will Define Success for 2026 Ravens?
FOX Sports’ Greg Auman defined success for all 32 teams and placed them in tiers.
Auman said success for the Ravens is reaching the AFC Championship Game, which landed them in the second tier with the Houston Texans and New England Patriots.
"With a first-year head coach in Jesse Minter, coming off a losing record and with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum gone to the Raiders, the Ravens still have very high expectations," Auman wrote. "Minter should improve an already-strong defense, as will the healthy return of defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and the addition of edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Does Derrick Henry have another 1,500-yard season in his 32-year-old body?
"The last time the Ravens won more than one playoff game in a season was 2012, but with a perennial MVP candidate in Lamar Jackson, they need to do that this season to avoid the stigma of a good team that can't play its best football in January."
That isn't lost on Minter, whose mantra is "to be at our best when our best is needed."
2000 Ravens Roster Ranked As NFL's Second Best Since 2000
FOX Sports’ Eric Williams ranked the top 10 most loaded rosters since 2000, and the 2000 Super Bowl champion Ravens were No. 2.
"The Ravens had one of the best defenses in league history, led by charismatic linebacker Ray Lewis," Williams wrote, "During their run to the Super Bowl, the Ravens held opponents to a league-low 10.3 points per game. Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe, Jonathan Ogden and Lewis all reached the Hall of Fame. Chris McCallister, Rob Burnett and Sam Adams were other key contributors to an all-time defense.
"Offensively, Trent Dilfer took over for an ineffective Tony Banks midseason to efficiently guide the offense, and Head Coach Brian Billick leaned on young bruising running back Jamal Lewis to carry that group, controlling the clock and limiting turnovers. The Ravens were dominant, beating every team in the postseason by double digits, including a 34-7 victory over the Giants in the Super Bowl."
The Super Bowl-winning 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were No. 1 on the list.
Quick Hits
- Outside linebacker Kaimon Rucker, who was signed to the practice squad, was the Ravens' highest-graded player in the preseason by Pro Football Focus. Rucker signed with the Ravens last year as an undrafted free agent and spent the season on the practice squad.
