The Baltimore Ravens are excited to start their 2025 NFL regular season! Their first test will come against the Buffalo Bills on September 7 at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. As they approach this highly anticipated matchup, the Ravens have made significant roster decisions that could impact their performance throughout the season. With Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush leading as quarterbacks, the team is poised for a competitive year as they navigate challenges and opportunities.
In a rather unusual strategic choice, the Ravens have chosen to bring forward four running backs into the season. This move is a testament to their dedication to keeping a fast-paced and multi-faceted offense. The depth at this position gives them the flexibility to tailor their game plan to what matchups dictate and what happens during the game itself. The team’s running back by committee should help balance things out, key when relying on first time starters in Jackson and Rush.
The depth and strength of their defensive line-up is staggering. Scouting the Ravens The Ravens have one of the deepest cornerback groups in the NFL. That kind of depth is imperative for a team that wants to build its success on the defensive end, particularly when facing powerful offensive teams like the Bills. Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, and Reuben Lowery round out the safety corps. Combined though, they really enhance the secondary’s capacity to defend against the pass and the run.
Tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, and fullback Patrick Ricard form a robust unit that is integral to the Ravens’ offensive strategy. There’s a lot of uncertainty around Likely, given the injury that has him potentially starting the year on injured reserve. This new reality creates a new curveball into the Ravens’ game plan as they get ready for the season opener.
Considering the Ravens have already shown great depth on their offensive line, this was a great value pick. They’ve considered ten players good enough to make the final 53-man roster. This deep pool of talent gives the coaching staff tremendous flexibility in matchups and managing injuries over the course of the season.
Brent Urban, a seasoned 10-year veteran, may face a unique fate as he could be cut and then re-signed to the practice squad. This move as a whole paints a picture of the Ravens’ overall strategic approach to roster management, keeping depth while having the opportunity to evaluate their options.
CJ Okoye, a 370-banger defensive tackle…yeah, pretty big mountain to climb. He could be on the short side of the roster bubble when it comes to defensive stance. His performance over the course of training camp will be key in deciding whether he sticks on the 53-man roster. The Ravens’ defensive schemes are all based on having trustable players with sound fundamentals who’ll beat you with their execution of the game plan.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the preseason has been undrafted rookie Jay Higgins IV. His playmaking abilities and contributions on special teams in general have made him a fan-favorite and earned him high praise as well from coaching staff. With each passing game, Higgins’ emergence further cements his spot on the roster and he keeps showing that he can provide plenty of value.
Ojabo, a second-round pick in 2022, has had an uphill go since arriving with constant setbacks having kept him off the field. He was never able to get in rhythm, producing just four sacks across 18 games. This season he’s focused on taking it up another notch and having a bigger impact.
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