Malaki Starks Predicted to Win Rookie of the Year Award
Expectations are high for Malaki Starks this season, and Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr believes the first-round safety will prove worthy of them.
Starks was Orr's pick to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and he sees Starks as a catalyst for the Ravens having a dominant defense.
"The safety out of Georgia will run up the score with a top-five interception total in the league and flex his all-around playmaking ability in a Baltimore defense that steamrolls opponents, finishing fourth in EPA per play — a sizable jump from an 11th-place finish last season," Orr wrote.
Among Orr's other predictions for the season was picking the Ravens to win the AFC North and former left guard Marshal Yanda to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"While the Bengals are much improved and the Steelers may or may not have Aaron Rodgers, the Ravens are the only sensible choice to win one of the toughest divisions in the NFL," Orr wrote. "Prepare your favorite Lamar Jackson legacy arguments!
"Yanda, along with Alan Faneca and Larry Allen, are the only guards to make eight or more Pro Bowls and win a Super Bowl. His evolution from perpetual Pro Bowler into the centerpiece of an offensive line that had to coalesce around Lamar Jackson and a completely different way of thinking and blocking was a capstone to a brilliant career."'
Jackson and John Harbaugh Ranked No. 2 Quarterback-Coach Duo
Having an elite quarterback and head coach are major factors in contending for a Super Bowl championship, and the Ravens have two of the best in Jackson and John Harbaugh.
The Ravens pair landed at No. 2 in Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame’s quarterback-coach duos in 2025.
"The Ravens eventually have to win a Super Bowl during this era of their history to be remembered as having reached their full potential, but there's no denying Jackson's excellence," Verderame wrote. "The two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro was magnificent in 2024, accounting for 5,087 total yards and 45 touchdowns against four interceptions. Jackson is already a Hall of Famer, but a ring would put him in the upper crust of greats."
The only duo ranked ahead of Jackson and Harbaugh was the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Individually, Jackson was ranked as the third-best quarterback (behind Mahomes and the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen). Verderame tabbed Harbaugh as the fifth-best head coach (behind Reid, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Tomlin, Los Angeles Rams' Sean McVay, and Denver Broncos' Sean Payton).
A strong case can be made for both Jackson and Harbaugh being higher individually.
Derrick Henry Named No. 1 in PFF's Running Back Rankings
Derrick Henry may have finished second in rushing yards to the Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley, but he is second to none as far as Pro Football Focus is concerned.
Henry is No. 1 in PFF’s running back rankings ahead of the 2025 season.
"Even at 31 years old, King Henry is deserving of this list's No. 1 spot," PFF's Trevor Sikkema wrote. "He led the NFL in PFF rushing grade in 2024 (93.5), winning PFF’s Best Runner award. Henry also boasts the highest PFF rushing grade in a three-year sample size going back to 2022 (94.2). Last season, he forced the most missed tackles (89) and ripped off the second-most runs of 10 yards or more (53)."
Two Ravens Crack Top 10 in PFF's Tight End Rankings
The Ravens also fared well in PFF’s tight end rankings.
With Mark Andrews at No. 4 and Isaiah Likely at No. 9, Baltimore was the only team with two tight ends in the top 10.
"[Andrews] remains one of the best tight ends in the NFL when healthy," PFF's John Kosko wrote. "Andrews entered the NFL and shined in a limited role as a rookie and has not posted a sub-80.0 regular-season PFF overall grade since.
"With Andrews struggling to return from injury at the beginning of the 2024 season, Likely stepped up to provide a security blanket for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense. As Andrews worked his way to 100%, Likely became less of a focal point but still showcased true top-tier skills and talent at the position, earning a career-high 77.0 PFF receiving grade in 2024."
Travis Jones Named Ravens' Top Breakout Candidate
Travis Jones has improved every year since the Ravens selected him in the third round in 2022, and The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo thinks the defensive tackle could make an even bigger leap this season.
Palazzolo chose Jones as the Ravens' top breakout candidate.
"He's been a good, dependable player," Palazzolo said. "At the time when he was drafted, we said let's compare what you get in the third round with Travis Jones versus [No. 13 overall pick] Jordan Davis [of the Eagles]. While Jordan Davis had more perceived upside, Jones has been just as productive and dependable. I think Jones also has a little more in the tank in a contract year, so that's what I'm banking on here."
Palazzolo also considered second-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten to be the Ravens' breakout player.
