With the Ravens conducting their first week of voluntary organized team activities in Owings Mills, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Asked about the superb OTA attendance, Isaiah Likely said, “I feel like everybody got the memo after the last game [in Buffalo].” Is this a truly meaningful signal that next January will be different? Of course not, but John Harbaugh would much prefer having most players participating than not.
2. Lamar Jackson being in the building and on the field is always a great development, but I’ll also remind that Jackson skipping multiple OTAs last spring preceded him having arguably the best season of his career. As you’d fully expect, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback looked sharp on Wednesday.
3. Beyond lingering questions about the “complicated” decision to release Justin Tucker, Harbaugh revealed Tyler Loop and John Hoyland are kicking every other day with the latter receiving his turn Wednesday. We’ll have all summer to track the kicking competition.
4. DeAndre Hopkins wasted little time getting acclimated with Jackson, making a sliding catch as well as a leaping grab on the sideline. With reasonable expectations accompanying a $5 million salary, the 33-year-old can be a valuable contributor making contested catches on the outside and in the red zone.
5. My biggest on-field takeaway was the transformation of Odafe Oweh, who said he’s 20 pounds heavier than he was last season. There’s the obvious question of how that’ll impact his explosiveness in live-game action, but he looks like someone better equipped to play every down at the edge.
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6. After offseason trade rumors, Mark Andrews was present and reflected on last January by saying, “It wasn’t the way that I had planned it, but that’s all part of the story.” Given his contract status and uncertain future, you had to wonder if he’d elect to stay away this spring.
7. With the only healthy safety on the roster carrying meaningful experience being Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens throwing first-round rookie Malaki Starks into the first-unit fire isn’t remotely surprising. You fully expect a veteran addition at some point, but coaches will gauge how well Starks can swim in the deep end.
8. Ar’Darius Washington told Harbaugh he intends to return by November while the coach is looking at November or December. “We’re counting on him being back. It’s speculation, but nobody’s going to work harder.” Of course, Washington will be a free agent, so that’s also a real consideration from his perspective.
9. While all attention is on Starks, this is a valuable opportunity for Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade to make an impression as a No. 3 safety option in sub packages. The same goes for second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa, especially when considering No. 3 corner Chidobe Awuzie’s injury history.
10. How the left guard competition evolves will be interesting despite many expecting Andrew Vorhees to start. Despite expectations being out the window after an offseason DUI and non-guaranteed re-signing, former third-round pick Ben Cleveland making a push isn’t impossible. Third-round rookie Emery Jones has to get healthy before making noise.
11. Most veterans are going through the motions this time of year, but Roquan Smith was very active in pass coverage, breaking up a deep Jackson pass intended for Justice Hill. Smith’s play was much better following last year’s safety shuffling, and that needs to continue into 2025.
12. A notable absence was nose tackle John Jenkins, which led to questions about the 35-year-old’s status since his contract hasn’t been finalized. Harbaugh said Baltimore is merely waiting to process the retirement of Michael Pierce until after June 1, which will open a roster spot and clear cap space.
