We are finally here. Football is being played in Baltimore, Md., and it’s the Ravens taking the field. There’s going to be a lot of debuts and some important players to look for. Here are five of the most interesting players to watch and what to specifically look out for.
This is an easy one. The first-round pick may not play much tonight as a penciled-in starter for the season, but the Ravens will put him on the field all three games. He is still a rookie and needs to snaps before taking the lion’s share of them in Week 1. It could only be for a series or two each game, but snaps will be taken. As for what to look out for, we obviously hope to see a big play or two during these preseason games. But more than anything, the goal is to see Starks limit the mistakes and hit his landing spots in coverage. Seeing him play multiple roles during these weeks would also be an encouraging sign for him picking up the playbook.
This is Green’s first chance to show what he can do. The second-round player has spent most of his time in camp going up against the second- and third-team squads. Assuming Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy won’t play in the preseason, Green should be at the top of the depth chart for the preseason. It gives him a chance to play against other teams’ starters and show out. I’d like to see that, but the expectations should be limited. We want him to set a strong edge and not run himself out of plays, but I’d be lying.
Green doesn’t need to be an every-down player or a strong run defender for the Ravens in 2025. They need him to be an impact pass rusher who can get to the quarterback in the most important situations. That’s why his stock was so high during the pre-draft process. That’s where he excels. So, the entire fanbase will be on their feet, ready to run through a brick wall, yelling “GREEEEEEEEEN” that first time he brings a quarterback to the ground.
This is maybe the one I’m most excited for. I still believe the Ravens’ playoff run in 2023 ends differently if Mitchell is healthy. The Ravens have Derrick Henry now, so it’ll be different than how they used Mitchell in 2023 when he was most of the run game for a stretch. But Mitchell doesn’t need to be a bell-cow to make an impact. His speed and home-run ability mean he only needs five to 10 carries a game, plus his opportunity to run back kickoffs could flip the field for the Ravens.
Expect Mitchell to get a heavy dose of carries early in these games. The Ravens want to make sure he’s comfortable on the field and getting tackled. Don’t expect 100-yard games with multiple scores, but look to see if that infamous speed flashes and how his knee and legs react to getting hit, whether or not he maintains contact balance. Either way, it’ll be an emotional moment to see Mitchell take the field, even if he did return last year.
Every single kick will be attempted by Tyler Loop, at least for now. His performance in the first game could determine how the rest of camp goes. Loop has been perfect since they cut Hoyland, trying to further cement himself. If he remains perfect and puts on a performance, it could silence any lingering doubt about needing to add competition. I expect Loop to be set up for kicks from a range of distances to test him as thoroughly as possible.
It’s been a long time since Raven fans have had to worry about every single kick. Even last year’s struggles were only a glimpse into how nerve-wracking this season could potentially be. Tyler Loop nailing this preseason could help quell fears a little and prevent competition being added against him.
This is a pure fun pick. Walker is looking to nail down the fourth receiver spot behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins, all of whom probably won’t play during the preseason. He only had the one catch for a touchdown last season, but could certainly earn himself more targets this season with a strong preseason. So far, Walker has been a star every step of the offseason and summer, with a ton of big plays and praise from coaches and teammates. It’s clear the organization at all levels expects him to take a massive leap. Locking down the first backup spot should one of the top three miss time is just the next step in that journey for him.
Honorable mentions to tight end Charlie Kolar, guard Andrew Vorhees and linebacker Trenton Simpson, who all have their storylines about earning starting spots this preseason and should be given plenty of time in the preseason.