Mink: I think there's a possibility of one more significant addition to this already loaded roster, and that would be at safety. In my view, Baltimore already has plenty of talented outside linebackers, and the Ravens want to give some of their young backups behind Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy snaps, so I don't see a veteran addition there (more on that below). But the team's safety depth is a question mark right now after Ar'Darius Washington's Achilles injury.
Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks are a dynamic duo, but if one were to miss any time, the Ravens would be leaning heavily on second-year safeties Sanoussi Kane or Beau Brade. One of them will already have a defensive role as the No. 3 safety, but are they ready to step into a starting position if needed? I've been impressed with both as they played well on special teams last year and flashed in preseason defensive action. Brade dealt with a minor injury earlier this summer, but Kane was one of the team's practice standouts.
Whether the Ravens go out and get a veteran safety insurance option likely depends on how well Kane and Brade play during training camp. Safety is one spot where the Ravens, who like to deploy their safeties in a variety of ways, don't want to be short-handed.
Brown: I think Za'Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney will be playing Week 1, but not with Baltimore.
Unless the Ravens are hit with injuries at outside linebacker during training camp, the odds favor them sticking with the group they have. Oweh and Van Noy are coming off career-high seasons in sacks, and Oweh is an ascending player. Tavius Robinson is blossoming as well, and second-round pick Mike Green has the potential to be an impact rookie after leading all FBS players in sacks (17) at Marshall.
This is a crucial camp for Adisa Isaac and David Ojabo, two young pass rushers with talent who need to stay healthy and show improvement. The Ravens finished second in the league in sacks last season, getting two from Ojabo and none from Isaac. If either Ojabo or Isaac has a strong training camp, the Ravens will field an outside linebacker rotation that could be deeper than last season's.
Smith and Clowney are former Ravens who helped them win games, and at least one pundit has suggested that Smith and the Ravens could reunite. However, signing a vet would take reps away from some of the young pass rushers Baltimore is trying to develop. Smith and Clowney will have options elsewhere, and I expect them to find another landing spot.
Mink: Yes, I believe whoever does not win the kicking battle between Tyler Loop and John Hoyland could land on the practice squad. The size of the practice squad has increased in recent years to 16 spots (plus one for an international player), so there's room to carry kicker insurance.
The Ravens would probably prefer there to be a clear winner and not need to have somebody else looking over his shoulder. As the draft pick, Loop is the favorite, but he'll have to earn it in practice and preseason games.
Free agent kickers available include 40-year-olds Matt Prater and Nick Folk, Michael Badgley, Eddy Pineiro, Zane Gonzalez, Austin Seibert, and Cade York. Prater is coming off a plant leg knee injury that ended his season last year. Folk is coming off one of his best seasons, in which he hit 21 of 22 field-goal attempts and all of his extra points for the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens want one of their rookies to claim the job, but if they struggle, Baltimore could opt to bring in a veteran.
Brown: It'd be terrific for Henry to have a 2,000-yard season and win the movie role bet with Adam Sandler, but having him healthy and strong in December, January, and potentially February is a much higher priority.
Henry was second in the league in rushing attempts last season with 325, second only to Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles (345). It wouldn't shock me to see Henry get at least 300 carries in 2025, as he continues to defy Father Time, looking more like he's 21 years old rather than 31.
If Henry gets to 2,000 yards while playing meaningful snaps without being overworked, neither Head Coach John Harbaugh nor Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken would be opposed. However, when asked about Henry's workload last year, Harbaugh said, "We didn't bring Derrick in here to be the guy that gets the ball 30 times a game." That approach worked very well last season, and I think it will be repeated in 2025.
