As training camp nears, we'll look at five areas of focus for the Ravens. Today's spotlight is on the Ravens' defensive takeaways:
The Ravens defense's takeaway from January's playoff loss in snowy Buffalo was that it needed more takeaways.
While Buffalo's defense snatched three turnovers away from the Ravens, Baltimore's defense got zero from the Bills. That turnover differential made the difference in a tight game.
Baltimore's defense grabbed 17 takeaways last season – 12 interceptions and five fumbles. Only six NFL teams had fewer.
"It doesn't really matter how good you play defensively. If you can't get the football, you're not playing good enough," cornerback Marlon Humphrey said during minicamp. "So that's the biggest thing to harp on."
Will the new guys add more big plays?
The Ravens seemed to prioritize adding defensive playmakers this offseason.
Malaki Starks was their first-round pick – a rangy safety who excels in deep coverage. Starks only had six interceptions in his three college seasons, but the tape shows a player with elite ball skills.
Part of the reason he didn't get his hands on so many passes was because he was being moved all over the defense. If Starks is free to roam more often in the back end of Baltimore's secondary, his instincts and hands could get plenty of work.
Veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander has only had one season with more than two interceptions (five in 2022), but he has three picks in seven career playoff games. Could he help push Baltimore over the top when it matters most?
Will Humphrey remain a ball hawk? Will Nate Wiggins become one?
Humphrey posted a career-high six interceptions last season, tied for the most interceptions in the AFC. It may be tough to replicate that again, however. Last year doubled his previous single-season highs.
However, takeaways extend beyond interceptions. Part of what makes Humphrey a playmaker is that he now often plays nickel, which puts him closer to the action. Humphrey also played mostly inside during the 2020 season when the "Fruit Punch" was born and he had a league-high eight forced fumbles.
Wiggins said he’s aiming for at least 10 turnovers this season – a lofty goal, but one that shows how he's thinking. Wiggins notched his first career interception in the Ravens' regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns, which he took back for a pick-six.
Playing with more consistent technique and a bigger physique (he added 10 pounds) should help put Wiggins in the ball's path more often. He also has to make the plays that come to him.
"I feel I dropped like five, six picks last year," Wiggins said. "I feel like I owe the team some picks. This year it's all about catching the ball, looking it through."
How else could the Ravens get more turnovers?
There's always a degree of luck to takeaways, and chances are that the Ravens will get more in 2025.
The Ravens had 12 forced fumbles last season, yet came away with only five of them. Baltimore had the second-most sacks in the league (54), but only three teams had fewer fumble recoveries.
The Ravens dropped multiple interceptions in their loss in Cleveland last season, including one from Kyle Hamilton that would have sealed a win. Hamilton had one pick last year after notching four in 2023.
Humphrey and Ar'Darius Washington were the only Ravens who had more than one interception last season. With a more talented and deep secondary this year, opponents don't have any soft spots to target, which could lead to more turnovers across the board in the secondary.
"It's all about the ball," Humphrey said. "It's all about the ball, and I think that's what our defense is going to be focused on, and that's what we're going to do this season."
