Which Players Will Impact the Ravens 2024 Season?

Having come through one of the most difficult divisions in the NFL, the AFC North, where all four teams finished with a winning record, Baltimore topped the AFC North with 13 wins and just four losses leading into the playoffs.

In 2024, the Ravens will be another well-endorsed squad in NFL betting circles again this season. With head coach John Harbaugh at the helm, they are building towards another strong season ahead after an exciting 2023 season fell short in the AFC Championship game. The team’s roster is strong and additions have been made to try to go one step further this season.

Key Players

There are a number of Pro Bowl talents on the Ravens’ roster — talents that must deliver if the team is successful in its quest to win the franchise’s third Super Bowl:

• Lamar Jackson

One of the greatest quarterbacks in the league with incredible movement from the pocket as well as a cannon of an arm, the 27 year old former Heisman Winner in 2016, joined the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft and has been the starter since the mid-way point of his rookie season.

Jackson was the 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player, his second time winning the honor, with the first in 2019.

In 2023, Jackson threw for 3,678 yards for 24 touchdowns across 16 games. Throwing just seven interceptions all season was highly impressive, but the Ravens also do a lot of work on the ground where Jackson was the team leader in rushing yards with 821. A run-first team, having a dual threat like Jackson, affords this team with the perfect leader at quarterback.

• Roquan Smith

The Ravens have often had one of the fiercest defenses in the NFL. They have a reputation for being tough tackling, physical and playing with high octane. Roguan Smith has been a star at linebacker since joining the club following a trade with the Chicago Bears in 2022.

In his 16 regular season games he managed 158 tackles, 84 of which were solo. He also added 1.5 sacks and one interception in 2023.

Smith will be a key player on the defense once again in 2024 and will lead the team with his unparalleled resiliency and consistency. Smith’s cognitive skills allow him to adapt quickly to the opposing offense and make the necessary pre-snap adjustments to win every down.

• Mark Andrews

Without a stable of top quality wide receivers, or at least consistent receivers, Mark Andrews at tight end has been Jackson’s go-to pass catcher since the pair were drafted in 2018.

Knowing that they have had to rely on the ground game, having Andrews as a reliable target is vital to the Ravens offense as they move the chains towards an opponent’s end zone.

The 28 year old tight end had his quietest season since 2018 in 2023 due to injury. He managed just 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns. Wide receivers like Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor will try to build up momentum and take pressure off Andrews, although admittedly, 2024 is again looking very ground heavy.

New Additions 

• Derrick Henry

One of the most organized and threatening running offenses has added one of the league’s best running backs. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020, Henry has been almost the whole offense for the Tennessee Titans since joining the league in 2016.

In 2019 and 2020 Henry was the league’s leading rusher and managed an impressive 1,167 yards from 280 attempts in his final season with the Titans. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns despite the Titans finishing bottom of the AFC South winning six and losing 11 in 2023.

The giant running back will add further talent to the offense which will see him as a key piece to get them over the hump and back to the Super Bowl this coming season.

2024 Hopes

 The Baltimore Ravens will go into 2024 with the same thoughts as every season, to win it all. No matter the roster difficulties in the offense with limited luck or production from wide receivers, having Lamar Jackson has always given them hope.

Ensuring they have kept Jackson long term is key and then adding greater threats which suit his style has been vital. Having his quick movement with the ball out of the pocket, partnered with Derrick Henry’s power running style with his huge frame and athleticism can cause problems for any defense in the league.

John Harbaugh and the Ravens front office have set their roster up to be tough and physical once again. They will batter and bruise the teams they face with hopes to power their way into the Super Bowl in this coming February.

The post Which Players Will Impact the Ravens 2024 Season? appeared first on Russell Street Report.