Ravens’ Isaiah Likely on Derrick Henry addition: ‘You have to worry about everybody going the distance’
Michael Baca, NFL.com
The signing of Derrick Henry headlined a relatively quiet offseason for the Baltimore Ravens, but the lone addition of a Hall of Fame-worthy running back figures to be the missing piece for an offense already loaded with talent.
It’s why tight end Isaiah Likely foresees big problems for opposing teams trying to defend an “electric” Ravens offense.
“Not only do you have Lamar (Jackson) in the backfield, you have Derrick Henry in the backfield, where you also have to worry about our run game,” Likely said Thursday on the ”Up & Adams Show.” ”Then you have All-Pro Mark Andrews, where you obviously have to give credit where credit is due. Then you also have great receivers like Zay (Flowers) and (Rashod) Bateman and then also you have me. You have to worry about anybody at any point in time in the offense going the distance.
“When you play the Ravens, you have to worry about everybody going the distance.”
“Really just being there when my number is called,” Likely said of his role in 2024. “I showed that I also can be in the slot, out wide on myself, in-line tight end or in the backfield, really that gadget for the offense. I told myself, just be the chess piece of the offense, just make plays when plays aren’t there to be made and then just show everyone that when the ball is in my hand, anything can happen.”
Ravens Eye View: Rookie Film Review
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
WR Devontez Walker (Round 4)
Walker’s 4.36 speed is quite clear on tape. If he’s even, he’s leaving. He runs by cornerbacks with elite burst and another gear.
His release is smooth. Cornerbacks are leery to press him because of his speed, but he also eats up cushion extremely fast.
A lot of deep receivers will try to slow up on underthrown balls and draw defensive pass interference penalties. Walker has crafty hand usage down the field to create a little space and finish on deep throws.
Not much in terms of yards after contact (YAC), but he has the size and speed to improve in that area if used on a more diverse route tree.
Though drops have been cited as a concern (and were prevalent at the Senior Bowl), Walker’s tape shows him making some contested catches in traffic. Pro Football Focus charted him with just three drops last season.
RB Rasheen Ali (Round 5)
Explosive runner who bursts through run lanes. One cut and he’s gone.
Breakaway speed. He’s a home run hitter. His Senior Bowl injury meant teams didn’t get a timed 40-yard dash, but it would’ve been fast.
Shows patience to follow his blocks on pulls and traps, then hits the seam. That also makes him effective as a receiver in the screen game.
Shows soft hands in the passing game. Had 46 catches in 2021 and 28 in 2023.
Tied for the second-most fumbles (five) last season and had six in 2021. Seems to be a fundamentals issue, as he held the ball too loose (away from his body) at times.
QB Devin Leary (Round 6)
Premier arm talent. Ball jumps out of his hand. Can make any throw and likes to challenge down the field.
Quick release with a good throwing platform.
Shows toughness to stand in the pocket and made throws in the teeth of pressure. Also willing to make plays with his legs and shows toughness taking hits.
Throws with anticipation, but threw too often to the other team last year (12 interceptions)
Ravens covered their bases by drafting 2 cornerbacks, Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
“They’re both long and rangy. They both use their hands really well in press (coverage). They both can move really well. But, obviously, they’re just a little different in their style of play. T.J.’s very physical, very physical with his hands, plays all the split-safety stuff on the edge really well also. I think it’s going to factor into how we build our defense.”
Before the draft, Baltimore’s projected starting cornerbacks were Humphrey and Stephens on the outside and some combination of Arthur Maulet and safety Kyle Hamilton in the slot. The Ravens could have lived with that on the surface. But they understood they’d be extremely vulnerable if they had cornerback injuries, and those have been near constants in recent years.
Now, not only do they have quality depth at the position where players like Armour-Davis, Williams and Ar’Darius Washington will likely be considered roster “bubble” guys in training camp, but also first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr has options. The Ravens have always talked about making sure they get their best defensive backs on the field.
For Orr, that could mean moving Humphrey to the slot and using Stephens and Wiggins on the outside. It could mean occasionally playing Stephens in a safety role, or possibly even getting Tampa some snaps at safety. Either way, it will be a healthy competition for playing time in a suddenly deep cornerbacks group. In one sense, the rookie minicamp roommates could find themselves competing with each other for snaps.
One last offseason move for all 16 AFC teams
Gordon McGuinness, PFF
BALTIMORE RAVENS: ADD A VETERAN SAFETY
The Ravens lost Geno Stone in free agency, and while his high snap count in 2023 was mainly a product of Marcus Williams‘ injury, he was still a vital part of the team’s safety rotation. With how Baltimore likes to use Kyle Hamilton as a defensive weapon, the team would benefit from some additional help at safety.
After waiting until the seventh round to address the position with the selection of Purdue’s Sanoussi Kane, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens add a veteran before training camp.
2024 NFL offseason: Biggest remaining roster holes for all 32 teams
Aaron Schatz, ESPN
Roster hole: Left guard
Right now, the penciled-in starter at left guard is Andrew Vorhees. Many scouts considered him a Day 2 prospect at USC until he tore his right ACL at the 2023 combine. That dropped him to the seventh round and cost him his rookie season in the NFL. If Vorhees isn’t ready to start, the Ravens could move over swing tackle Patrick Mekari or perhaps stick in 2023 sixth-round pick Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, who spent his entire rookie season as a healthy inactive.
Baltimore’s other position of need is backup quarterback, where a Lamar Jackson injury would force the Ravens to start 38-year-old Josh Johnson.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Shedeur Sanders one of three QBs taken in first round; three defenders picked in top four
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports
Round 1 – Pick 30
ARIZONA • SOPH • 6’5” / 210 LBS
Tetairoa McMillan gives Baltimore the missing element of size in its wide receiver room. The Ravens have already used first-round selections on Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers in recent years.