The Baltimore Ravens are one of the few teams who go into every season with an expectation to reach the playoffs at the very least. That wasn’t the case in the previous two seasons although they were well-placed at the halfway point of the season.
Injuries to quarterback Lamar Jackson and other key members of the roster halted their aspirations, but a solid offseason puts them right back in the mix to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs and claim the AFC crown.
If players like Lamar Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Mark Andrews, and Ronnie Stanley stay healthy, the Ravens will always be competitive. Unlike other teams, they don’t need a complete overhaul of the roster, but a few additions can take them over the top and allow them to make a run in the playoffs.
The Ravens are known to draft well, even if players take a season or so to get acclimated to the league and the Ravens’ style of play.
New offensive coordinator Todd Monken will look to impose a new brand of football in Baltimore, which could open the door for a few players to show what they are made of. Here are five players that could have a massive breakout season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens breakout player: Kyle Hamilton, S
The second-year safety that was selected 14th overall by the Ravens failed to live up to the lofty expectations coming out of Notre Dame. Hamilton only started four of the 16 games he played, most of that is probably due to the arrival of Marcus Williams in free agency and the presence of veteran Chuck Clark.
But in 2023, that starting strong safety spot is all his. Hamilton has all the tools to be an elite safety in the league. In 2022 we saw flashes of what he could become, a freak athlete who can tackle very well in open space, can rush the passer at times, and always seems to be around the ball.
He got better as the season progressed, moving him to be closer to the line of scrimmage as a strong safety allowed him to display his better characteristics. Hamilton was responsible for a few busted coverages but if he can improve in that area he can be one of the best safeties in the league.
If Hamilton can improve on his play in the latter stages of last season and continue to progress, the Ravens could line up with the best defensive backfield in football in 2023. With Marcus Williams helping him along the way, Kyle Hamilton could find himself in defensive player of the year conversations in the near future.
Baltimore Ravens breakout player: Rashod Bateman, WR
In a draft that saw three wide receivers taken in the first 10 picks, it looked like it would be difficult for the Ravens to land a receiver which was a clear need for them at the time. Fortunately for them, Rashod Bateman fell into their lap at 27.
Bateman had an impressive college career at Minnesota. He played 31 games and had 2395 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns, numbers that could rival anyone. But the first two seasons of his NFL career haven’t been something to write home about.
With just 800 yards receiving and three touchdowns, it’s safe to say he has been nowhere near the player the Ravens thought they were drafting. But his start to life in the league was not entirely his fault, there were some positives for Bateman and the Ravens.
In this rookie season, he had 515 yards from 68 receptions, which is a decent return for a rookie who was the fourth or fifth receiving on a run-heavy team. In his second season, Bateman was supposed to take the next the next step and welcome a bigger role on the team but an injury cut his season short, and wasn’t able to build on a good start to the season.
In 2023, the Ravens will hope to finally transition from a run-heavy offense to one which passes a lot more, and even though the Ravens have a few options to catch the ball, Bateman will look to be a big part of that.
Baltimore Ravens breakout player no. 3: David Ojabo, EDGE
Defensive lineman David Ojabo only played 21 defensive snaps in 2022, 20 of which came in the final game of the season. Ojabo was drafted in 2022 by the Ravens in the second round, even though he was coming off an Achilles injury.
Ojabo was a projected top 10 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, with a few people having him as one of the first defensive players taken off the board, but a heartbreaking non-contact injury during his pro day with all the scouts there to watch put those aspirations on hold. The fact that he was taken in the top 50 after such a devastating injury speaks volumes.
In his final season at Michigan, he had 35 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and five forced fumbles on his way to a second-team All-American selection. Ojabo has everything to become an elite pass rusher at the next level. He can play as comfortably on both sides of the line and has the power to just move offensive linemen back or the speed to go around them.
In the final game of the 2022 season, Ojabo played significant snaps for the first time and he got a strip sack. If that is any indication of things to come, David Ojabo can be the player to help push the Ravens over the top.
Baltimore Ravens breakout player no. 4: Rock Ya-Sin, CB
As a second-round pick in 2019 for the Indianapolis Colts, cornerback Ya-Sin was expected to slot right into the team and make plays and have an immediate impact. He played 15 of 16 games as a rookie starting 13 of them.
Ya-Sin was a solid player throughout his rookie season, although he was targeted quite a bit by opposing quarterbacks, he made some good plays and showed some promise. As a rookie, he allowed a 109.2 passer rating when targeted and allowed almost 70% completion.
However, Ya-Sin has improved every year since then and has become a solid starting cornerback in the NFL. He was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders before the start of last season and was their best cornerback for large parts of the season.
In 2023 he will be playing for the Ravens, in a defensive backfield that contains Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams, and Kyle Hamilton. For the first time, Ya-Sin will be able to share pass coverage responsibilities with other elite defensive backs, which may be what he needs to finally have a breakout season.
Baltimore Ravens breakout player no. 5: Tyler Linderbaum, C
In 2022, rookie center Tyler Linderbaum started all 17 games for the Ravens who drafted him in the first round. Although he had a very good season, anchoring the Ravens’ offensive line and being named to the All-Rookie team of 2022, the potential to be even better is clear to see.
Coming into the 2022 draft, Linderbaum was being looked at as one of the best center prospects coming into the league in a long time, and he didn’t disappoint. In Linderbaum’s final season in college, he won both the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the best center in the country, and the Rimington-Pace Trophy given to the best offensive lineman in the conference. He was also a unanimous first-team All-American.
Linderbaum had an extremely decorated college career, and you could see why in his rookie season. His ability to make calls at the line, pass protect and run block was incredible for a rookie. He will likely have even more responsibility in his second season with the Ravens hoping to transition into a more dynamic passing offense.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson signed a massive contract extension not long ago and Tyler Linderbaum will be tasked with keeping the Ravens’ prized asset upright. Linderbaum has the potential to be one of the best centers in the league for years to come and 2023 could be the first step in that direction.