The Ravens' offseason calendar keeps moving, with OTA practices set to begin on Tuesday.
There will be no live contact, but the 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills will provide more insight into position competitions and player development, with Wednesday's practice open to the media.
Here are 10 thoughts on the Ravens heading into the first week of OTAs, all in 50 words or less:
- Social media video of Zay Flowers catching passes from Lamar Jackson in South Florida should make Ravens fans smile. John Harbaugh said Flowers avoided knee surgery after missing the playoffs. Flowers looks ready to avoid tacklers again with his joystick quickness.
- Speaking of wide receivers, how many teams have a top three more talented than Baltimore's? Flowers and Rashod Bateman are coming off career years. DeAndre Hopkins has seven 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé, and he's still only 32. If the Ravens are thin anywhere, it's certainly not at wide receiver.
- I'm eager to see rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester at OTAs. It's clear Wester might secure the No. 1 punt returner job, but he caught the sixth-most passes in college history. Wester is hoping to push Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker for reps in Year 1.
- Derrick Henry's latest appearance on "The Lounge" podcast after signing his contract extension offers terrific insight into his insatiable work ethic. Henry could become the oldest player ever to win the rushing title in 2025. Don't rule it out. He remains difficult for anyone to bring down, including Father Time.
- Henry is 19th on the NFL's all-time rushing list (11,423 yards) and needs 1,317 yards to break into the top 10. Will it be a challenge for Henry to break Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record (18,355)? Yes. Would I bet against Henry doing it? No.
- Ravens Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano was understandably saddened by Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay’s passing on Wednesday. When Pagano was the Colts' head coach and diagnosed with leukemia in 2012, Irsay was extremely supportive. Pagano and Irsay's relationship went far beyond football.
- The secondary that Pagano will coach suffered a blow with Ar'Darius Washington's recent Achilles injury. The development of young safeties Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane will be important. They've got a real opportunity to earn defensive snaps with a strong showing this spring and summer.
- T.J. Tampa is another young defensive back under the microscope. Injuries limited him during his rookie season in 2024, but will Tampa or Jalyn Armour-Davis finish higher on the cornerback depth chart? We'll find out during the coming weeks.
- Newly signed nose tackle John Jenkins played a career-high 609 defensive snaps for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. But at age 36, Jenkins' workload should be lighter in Baltimore's talented tackle rotation, and he's joining a Super Bowl contender. Sounds like a win-win for Jenkins.
- Joe Burrow isn't happy Cincinnati will play in Baltimore on Thanksgiving, marking the fourth straight year the Bengals are on primetime at rocking M&T Bank Stadium. He knows the game's significance in the AFC North race. A look back at history, however, shows it's just leveling the playing field.
