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5 Baltimore Ravens Primed to Exceed Expectations in 2023

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Ravens Expectations 2023

The Baltimore Ravens may have some elite talent, but they also have plenty of hidden gems that are primed to exceed expectations in 2023. While breakout candidates are players that are set to make a name for themselves, the following list contains players who few people are expecting to make waves this season.

5 Baltimore Ravens Set to Exceed Expectations in 2023

Keaton Mitchell

Keaton Mitchell is an obvious choice for this list. Beyond Baltimore, few people have heard of Mitchell. However, Ravens coaches and fans alike have been impressed by the undrafted rookie.

Currently, Mitchell is the fourth running back on the roster. He sits behind J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. He starts the year on IR but may return to the team after the first few weeks of the season.

If Dobbins has the breakout season that many expect him to, Mitchell will have a quiet rookie year. However, if Baltimore end up with a timeshare in the backfield, Mitchell will be handed the opportunity to shine. Mitchell’s value on special teams also means he will likely suit up on game days.

The former Eastern Carolina running back looks to be an excellent fit for Baltimore’s new offense under Todd Monken. Mitchell is a shifty runner who possesses good burst. His excellent receiving ability makes him a good fit for Monken.

Isaiah Likely was the offensive playmaker that garnered a lot of media attention last off-season. It seems that Mitchell in 2023 has had a similar path to Likely in 2022. During the regular season, Likely flashed when called upon. Will Mitchell continue to follow Likely’s trajectory?

Nelson Agholor

At 30 years old, Nelson Agholor is not expected to surprise anyone. For most people, Agholor is Agholor: a long-term NFL wide receiver who offers good depth but little starting quality.

2023 looks to be much of the same for Agholor, as he reaches the twilight of his career. Like Mitchell, Agholor is a lost name in Baltimore’s roster as he is currently buried behind Odell Beckham Jr., Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

However, news coming out of Baltimore suggests there may be more to come. Agholor has shown no signs of slowing down in practice. Indeed, coach John Harbaugh went as far as saying that “he has been on point” since signing for the team this off-season.

Agholor’s fine performances suggest that he will be, at minimum, deployed as one of the team’s deep threats. However, given Baltimore’s unfortunate history with injuries, Agholor could be tasked with more down the stretch of the year.

It is also worth noting that Agholor is among the best run-blocking wideouts in the league currently. For this reason, in Baltimore’s run-first scheme, he will have more opportunities to see the field.

This year, Agholor seems to have taken Demarcus Robinson’s role in 2022. Robinson did not set the world alight. However, he was effective when called upon as the team’s top wideout. If Agholor can effectively hold the fort down in tight situations, he will certainly have exceeded the expectations placed on him.

Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

Although Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu lost the battle to start at left guard to John Simpson, the rookie is still one of the team’s hidden gems in 2023.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Aumavae-Laulu has impressed the Ravens coaching staff greatly. As it stands, the former Oregon Duck will be one of the next men up on the offensive line.

If called upon, Aumavae-Laulu will have the chance to show his worth. Given the rave reviews he has received all off-season, it would be no surprise to Baltimore fans if he ends up showing out this year.

Trenton Simpson

There is a reason that Trenton Simpson was dubbed a “sleeper” pick following the draft. The former Clemson linebacker is sneaky athletic and is set to make a name for himself in the NFL.

The reason why Simpson’s expectations in 2023 are so low is because he is buried behind Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen on the Ravens depth chart. Smith and Queen make up one of the league’s best off-ball linebacker pairings.

As such, Simpson is not expected to see many reps. At least, that is how the narrative is portrayed in most mainstream media.

What people forget, however, is Simpson’s versatility. The young star will likely find a rotational role as both an inside and outside linebacker. At Clemson, he showed good pass-rush prowess, meaning he could be deployed as a pass rusher sometimes too. Moreover, Simpson will undoubtedly contribute on special teams.

It is also worth noting that, because Baltimore declined Queen’s fifth-year option, Simpson is currently penciled in as a starting inside linebacker next year. Given the investment the team have made on Simpson, expect him to be offered some valuable playing time even as a rookie.

Jalyn Armour-Davis

The final name on this list is a player from the 2022 NFL Draft. Jalyn Armour-Davis was a raw cornerback prospect out of Alabama when the Ravens drafted him. His rawness showed when he was torched by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Week 2 of 2022. Following that performance, the young cornerback has largely been a forgotten name in Baltimore.

In 2023, Armour-Davis looks a new player. He has always had the frame and athleticism to be successful in the NFL. What was missing was technique and football IQ.

This off-season, Armour-Davis has increased his stock vastly. He has held his own amidst the turbulence in the cornerback room. As it stands, he will be the third-string outside cornerback, behind Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin, thanks to Marlon Humphrey’s injury.

However, given the optimism surrounding the sophomore cornerback, there is a chance that Armour-Davis flashes in his opportunities in Week 1. If he does that, he could be enroute to winning a bigger role in the defense throughout the season.

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Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The post 5 Baltimore Ravens Primed to Exceed Expectations in 2023 appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.