2025 NFL Preview: Baltimore Ravens

  • Head Coach: John Harbaugh (18th season)
  • PFF projected win total: 11.2
  • 2024 Record: 12-5 (first in AFC North, lost in AFC divisional round)

Biggest strength: Rushing Offense

Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson formed a historically great rushing duo in 2024, powering the Ravens to a 94.5 team rushing grade — the highest single-season mark in PFF history.

Baltimore also led the league in missed tackles forced and EPA per rush. With both stars showing no signs of decline, the Ravens’ ground game should once again be among the NFL’s best in 2025.

Biggest weakness: Edge Rushers

Baltimore is still searching for a breakout star on the edge. While the Ravens' edge defender group is solid, no individual posted a pass-rush grade above 74.7 last season. As a unit, they ranked outside the top 20 in both pressure rate and pass-rush win rate. Odafe Oweh could still take a step forward in his development, and second-round rookie Mike Green may provide a spark, but the Ravens currently lack a true game-changing presence on the edge.

Quarterback spotlight: Lamar Jackson

  • 2024 PFF Grade: 94.9
  • Key Stat: Jackson made history in 2024, becoming the first quarterback in PFF history to record both a 90.0-plus passing grade (93.3) and a 90.0-plus rushing grade (90.4) in the same season.

Jackson continued to produce at a historic rate in 2024, becoming the first quarterback in PFF history to earn 90.0-plus grades as both a passer and a rusher in the same season. He set career highs with a 6.3% big-time throw rate and just a 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate. His development as a dropback passer under offensive coordinator Todd Monken has left him with virtually no flaws.

Michael Penix Jr.: Metrics Swipe (2022–24)

Stable Metrics

Clean Pocket Grade
98th Percentile
Standard Dropback Grade
90th Percentile
1st / 2nd Down Grade
98th Percentile
No Play Action Grade
92nd Percentile
At / Beyond Sticks Grade
96th Percentile
Avoids Negatives
52nd Percentile
Sack Rate
56th Percentile

Unstable Metrics

Under Pressure Grade
85th Percentile
Outside Pocket Grade
95th Percentile
3rd / 4th Down Grade
57th Percentile
Play Action Grade
98th Percentile
Positively Graded Throws
96th Percentile

Offensive player: RB Derrick Henry

Henry roared into his thirties with the best season of his NFL career in 2024. He led the league with a 93.5 rushing grade and 89 missed tackles forced, while averaging a career-high 6.0 yards per carry. His symbiotic relationship with Lamar Jackson in the run game powered Baltimore’s offense, and the Ravens went a perfect 11-0 in games where Henry topped 90 rushing yards.

Defensive player: S Kyle Hamilton

Hamilton entered the league with sky-high expectations, and he’s done everything to meet them. He posted the first 90.0 PFF grade of his career in 2024, second among all safeties behind only Kirby Joseph. Hamilton was the NFL’s only safety last season to earn 80.0-plus grades in run defense, pass rush and coverage.

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Rookie to watch: S Malaki Starks

Flanking Hamilton at safety is first-round rookie Malaki Starks, who will take on an even larger role following the departure of Ar'Darius Washington. Starks was outstanding over three seasons at Georgia, earning an 87.5 PFF grade across nearly 2,500 snaps. His versatility adds to a Ravens secondary that may now feature the most versatile safety duo in the NFL.

Fantasy Spotlight: Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely’s fantasy value hinges on his potential to become the Ravens’ primary tight end. While he’s flashed high-end upside—averaging 13.9 PPR points per game over the final six regular-season games of Year 2—his role remains limited behind Mark Andrews. Likely leads all tight ends in touchdown rate (13%) over the last three seasons and tops the position in avoided tacklers per reception (0.31) since 2023, underscoring his efficiency. He needs a change atop the depth chart—via performance, injury, or trade—to become a weekly fantasy starter.

Best bet: WR Rashod Bateman — over 3.5 receiving touchdowns

Bateman took a massive step forward in 2024, finally turning his elite separation skills into production. The Ravens wideout hauled in nine touchdowns and posted a career-best 71.3 PFF receiving grade. Even in a deep receiving corps, Bateman consistently created separation and posted a 98th percentile separation rate, which helped earn Lamar Jackson’s trust and should lead to an even bigger role in 2025, especially in the red zone.

Bottom line

The Ravens have everything they need to compete for a championship. They just need to come through in big postseason moments against the gauntlet of contenders in the AFC.

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