Kyle Van Noy expects ‘big things’ from himself and Ravens’ young OLBs in 2024

The rejuvenated 10-year veteran is confident in his ability to rush the passer as well his teammates.

After their ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks was questioned last offseason, the Baltimore Ravens went on to lead the league with 60 sacks. Several of their interior and edge rushers had career-best years and posted new single-season personal high totals in sacks.

One of the unit’s most productive pass rushers was veteran outside Kyle Van Noy, who didn’t join the team until the regular season was already underway. However, he still managed to record a career-high nine sacks in just 14 games.

Despite recording five or more sacks in the last five seasons and six of the last seven, the two-time Super Bowl champion feels like he has been “underappreciated” throughout his career.

”I just want to continue to show myself and show people that I can still play at a high level,” Van Noy said during mandatory minicamp. “I don’t think I’ve lost a step – in my eyes – just because I’ve been playing different positions my entire career. In college, I played on the ball, and then in the NFL for my first – I think it was until 2019 – I played off the ball. I would love to see how many people could stay in the league making that transformation. Or, I’ve been asked to do both in one season. So, I’ve been asked to do a lot, and I think that may have hindered some things because I wasn’t able to focus on pass rush or covering people.”

Before joining the Ravens last year, Van Noy’s versatile skillset to play both on the edge and off-ball prevented him from realizing his full potential as a pass rusher. After never being able to “focus on just one specific thing” for the first nine years of his career, he is looking forward to building off his success this upcoming season.

“I feel like hopefully – it’ll be like my third year ever out of my 11 that I get to focus on just pass rushing,” Van Noy said. The other year was in 2019, where I had a really good year. Last year was just all pass rush. So, I’m expecting big things from myself, and hopefully you guys are, too.”

As excited as Van Noy is about his own prospects for the 2024 season, he also has high hopes for some of the young edge defenders on the roster who are slated to have bigger roles.

Chief among them is fourth-year pro Odafe Oweh, who was a first-round pick in 2021 and had his fifth-year option exercised this offseason. After showing dominant flashes and impressive athleticism during his first three years in the league, he is poised to break out in 2024. Oweh showed out during the offseason program.

“He’s impressive, man. He’s a specimen. [I’ve] really enjoyed working with him, building that relationship,” Van Noy said. “I try to keep him next to me all the time and make sure he’s always pressing and doing the right thing. I expect high, high … I expect more from him than myself. I really expect him to bounce off the charts this year.

“He showed a lot of signs last year, but I think [with] him gaining confidence, understanding who he is – he’s still maturing. I just asked him how the hell old was he today, and he said ‘25.’ It’s amazing to see how mature he’s gotten already. I’m excited to see his future, and I’ll be his cheerleader, that’s for sure. I’m sorry I’m saying this again, but I’m really excited to see how high of a ceiling he can get to.”

Last season, Oweh appeared in 13 games and made five starts. He tied his career-high in sacks with five and recorded 23 total tackles including four for a loss, 12 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.

Another younger edge defender Van Noy is really high on heading into 2024 is second-year pro Tavius Robinson. The 2023 fourth-rounder played early and often as a rookie, primarily as an edge-setter against the run on first and second down. He was a stalwart on special teams too. Robinson has reshaped his body this offseason and is expected to be a key rotational piece on defense in year two.

“Honestly, [he’s] getting better every day. I know that’s cliche to say, but he’s honestly getting better each and every day. He’s doing the right things. Every time you understand concepts and defenses, you graduate from football 101 to football 102, [and] you’re going to see improvements. I think his familiarity of understanding the defense more and more each day, he’s allowed to play faster, play with more confidence and swagger. I think that’s what we’re going to see this year.”

As a rookie last season, Robinson appeared in all 17 games and made one start during which he recorded 26 total tackles including two for a loss and 13 solos and one quarterback hit.

Three players Van Noy wasn’t asked about but will be vital to the Ravens’ pass rush are third-year pro Davis Ojabo, second-year pro Malik Hamm, and rookie Adisa Isaac.

Injuries have held Ojabo back through his first two years after being selected in the second round of the 2022 draft. However, he has shown promising flashes in limited action. Hamm made the team as an undrafted free agent last season but spent the entire year on injured reserve. Isaac was taken in the third round of this year’s draft and was immediately touted as a potential steal, although a minor injury kept him from participating in most of the offseason program.