The Ravens skipped into their month-long summer break between minicamp and training camp, riding the high of adding yet another premier player, Jaire Alexander, to an already loaded roster.
Here are my thoughts on Alexander, minicamp, and where the Ravens stand now, all in 50 words or less:
- I'm just going to say it. This is the best roster in Ravens franchise history – offense and defense, top to bottom. Baltimore looks like a Super Bowl favorite after knocking on the door the past several years. "Pressure is a privilege," Head Coach John Harbaugh said this week.
- Yes, championships aren't won on paper or in June. The Ravens know that, too. Harbaugh said he already sees a "really, really high level" of "intentionality and purpose" in this year's team, and Kyle Hamilton said after minicamp, "you can kind of see the trajectory that we think we're on."
- I asked Lamar Jackson if he feels like this roster has an opportunity to do something special this year. "That's not on my mind," he said. "I feel like that every year. I really feel each and every year we've got a chance, but we're going to have to see."
- The sobering fact is the Ravens were arguably the best team in football the past two years and in 2019 and didn't reach the Super Bowl in any of the three. They've made too many mistakes (turnovers) in the playoffs and not forced their opponents to make enough.
- Alexander gives Baltimore a starting five in the secondary featuring all first-round picks, joining Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Kyle Hamilton, and Malaki Starks. With 13 former first-round picks, all of whom are starters, on their roster, the Ravens arguably have the most blue-chip players in the league.
- Baltimore's defensive backfield is stacked. So is its defensive line. And its linebackers. Hamilton said it seems like the defense, which had numerous interceptions during minicamp, is "playing 12-on-11 out there sometimes." Humphrey's vision of a dominant Baltimore defensive revival could come true.
- Baltimore's offense, which ranked atop the league last season, also looks better. The offensive line has just one open starting spot. DeAndre Hopkins adds a missing dimension to the receiving attack. If Jackson plays at an equal or higher level than last year, it won't be stopped often.
- Last offseason, there were questions about Zach Orr's first year as defensive coordinator, replacing three offensive line starters, whether Rashod Bateman would ever break out, and more. This offseason, the biggest question is who (and how good) the kicker will be.
CB T.J. Tampa
Tampa notched an interception each day of practice. The second-year corner went high to pluck a pick and tapped his toes in the back of the end zone on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he came up with an interception after the wide receiver slipped.
WR Devontez Walker
Walker was one of the Ravens' biggest standouts during OTAs, and he carried that over to minicamp. On Wednesday, the second-year wide receiver caught a bomb down the sideline when he got a step on Tampa and showed his premier speed after snagging a shallow crosser.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
The veteran addition has shown Lamar Jackson he'll be a trusted contested-catch target. Hopkins made a sliding one-handed catch with a pop-up on Tuesday that thoroughly impressed his quarterback, who called it "super vet-type stuff."
OLB Odafe Oweh
Oweh added 20 pounds of muscle this offseason but is moving quite well. He read and reacted quite fast on a couple of Jackson bootleg roll-outs, keeping his balance and finishing for what could've been a sack on the elusive quarterback both times.
TE Isaiah Likely
Likely made some impressive grabs during Wednesday's practice, showing that his superb hands have perhaps gotten even stickier this offseason.
ILB Trenton Simpson
Simpson is making a strong case to reclaim his starting position next to Roquan Smith, and an interception against Jackson during seven-on-seven drills in Tuesday's practice helped. Simpson also looks more decisive with his run fits.
DT Nnamdi Madubuike
There's not a lot to be determined in the trenches yet, but Madubuike flashed into the backfield several times during the two days of practice and looks to be in phenomenal shape.
TE Mark Andrews
One of the longest completions of minicamp was from Jackson to Andrews down the seam and over the head of Simpson in pursuit. Andrews looks determined as always to bounce back from the way last season ended.
CB Nate Wiggins
Wiggins snatched what could have been a pick-six during Wednesday's practice. The second-year cornerback said he wants 10 takeaways this season, and he's been a ball magnet so far in offseason practices.
WR Anthony Miller
It's going to be tough for Miller to crack a spot on the 53-man roster, but the veteran wide receiver, who performed well after a late-season practice squad call-up, has made some spectacular grabs so far this summer, including one between three defenders Wednesday.
- There are no holes on the Ravens' roster, but they could still add veteran safety depth following Ar'Darius Washington's injury, more interior offensive line experience, another veteran pass rusher, or a veteran kicker if needed. None are must-make moves, but adding another cornerback didn't seem to be either.
- Can Alexander stay healthy? I don't see a guy dealing with soft-tissue injuries/poor training. His 2021 shoulder injury happened when tackling Najee Harris. His 2023 shoulder injury occurred when diving to break up a pass. Last season, it was a swelling knee that he eventually had operated on to fix.
