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It’s almost time for Ravens players to go back to work. Rookies reported to training camp in Owings Mills on Tuesday, tying for the earliest date in the NFL. Coaches like to get young players in the building as soon as possible so they can acclimate to their first camp, get the attention they need before the arrival of the full roster, and continue to bond with one another. The rest of the team reports Tuesday, with the first practice taking place the following afternoon. That is, in earnest, when the quest begins for what Baltimore hopes will be its third Super Bowl title and first since the 2012 season. Championship expectations are the norm for the franchise, but they have perhaps never been higher, given the acrid taste still lingering from last season’s divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills and a roster that is possibly not just the best in the league but maybe unrivaled in the organization’s 31-year history. “You can kind of see the trajectory that we think we’re on,” safety Kyle Hamilton said last month. “Still a lot of work to be done, obviously, and [it’s] going to continue throughout the season. But I mean, we’re off to a great start.” Hamilton added that it felt like the defense was playing “12-on-11” during minicamp, a good sign for a unit that ranked 31st against the pass last season. On offense, quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdown passes (41), while Baltimore led the league in total yards (7,224) and rushing yards (3,189) and ranked third in points per game (30.5). With all of its major skill players returning, an offensive line largely intact from last season and the addition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins along with fully healthy running back Keaton Mitchell, it’s reasonable to think that the ceiling could be even higher. So as training camp kicks off, here’s what to watch for: What will DeAndre Hopkins’ role be? “I don’t really see ‘D-Hop’ as a third receiver,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said last month. “I see him more as, we have three starters at wide receiver, but we also have the two tight ends. So, it’ll be interesting as we get going, especially once we get to camp and we get the pads on, how we can integrate him into the offense, but we’re excited.” There are legitimate reasons to be. Related Articles READER POLL: Who has the best team in the NFL? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Position battles to watch entering camp Lawyer says lawsuit is over between Shannon Sharpe and woman who accused him of rape Ravens rookie OLB Mike Green finally signs contract Why are so many rookies, including the Ravens’ Mike Green, still unsigned? Unlike Odell Beckham Jr. — the other receiver Jackson had requested the team acquire during the quarterback’s 2023 contract negotiations — the potential impact of Hopkins could be substantial. While it’s unlikely that he’ll come close to matching the 82 catches he has averaged over his 12-year career, particularly on an offense that has a lot of mouths to feed, he should still tally a respectable number of targets while importantly being a key figure in short-yard and red zone opportunities, two areas he continues to excel at even at age 33. One big reason is his ability to catch passes in a crowd. Last season, Hopkins had 56 catches for 610 yards and five touchdowns between the quarterback-deficient Tennessee Titans and the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs. Of players with at least 20 tight window targets in 2024, Hopkins tied for the 14th-best reception rate (38.1%), according to TruMedia. He also tied for 22nd in ESPN’s open score with Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase, proving that he’s still capable of finding the patches of grass where defenders aren’t. New Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, shown participating in the team’s minicamp, gives the franchise significant depth at the receiver position. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken views Hopkins as a starting-level receiver. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Who will win the kicking battle? With the Ravens having moved on from Justin Tucker, who has since been suspended 10 weeks by the NFL over sexual misconduct allegations from more than a dozen massage therapists, there will be an open kicking competition for the first time since 2012. That summer, Tucker, an undrafted free agent out of Texas, beat out incumbent Billy Cundiff. This year, Tyler Loop, whom Baltimore selected in the sixth round out of Arizona in April and who was the lone kicker that senior special teams coach Randy Brown identified as draftable in the class, is the favorite. But he also has legitimate competition in John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming. “I think the biggest thing is to try to put them in tough situations as much as we can,” coach John Harbaugh said of the two kickers. “And then, you get into the situations, and the team situation is one thing, then the game scenarios are the next thing where they have to run out and make it like a game.” So far, each has had good and bad days, and their performances will be scrutinized daily in training camp until one of them is named the starter — unless the Ravens decide to bring in a veteran, which could be another possibility. Is this a make-or-break year for Trenton Simpson? Harbaugh has said that he expects Trenton Simpson, who was benched after starting the first 11 games last year, to be the starting weak-side linebacker alongside Roquan Smith this season. That’s easy to do in the spring. Once the pads go on will be more telling, though there have been some positive signs so far, most notably his much-improved grasp of the defense. “He’s a lot more confident, man,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said of the third-year former third-round pick out of Clemson. “This is the most confident that I’ve seen Trenton, and he’s a lot more relaxed before the play. I hear him talking. This is the most I’ve heard him communicate on the field, so I’m excited.” One reason for the improvement is the work of inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, who last year at Georgia Tech turned the Yellow Jackets’ defense from worst in the Atlantic Coast Conference to fifth-best and in 2023 was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, while at Duke. Still, fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan is an intriguing player who could potentially challenge Simpson. He’s a former high school quarterback, something Ravens coaches believe has aided his pass coverage. “He flies around, he seeks contact, he can play in space, and he’s a smart player,” Orr said. But with Malik Harrison and Chris Board having departed in free agency, it will be imperative that Simpson becomes at least a reliable early down linebacker. Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II twists after being pulled by the facemask by Ravens outside linebacker David Ojabo during a 2024 matchup. Ojabo has yet to live up to expectations in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Will David Ojabo blossom or bust in his fourth year? Baltimore’s top four outside linebackers on the depth chart will be Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson and rookie second-round pick Mike Green, who led college football in sacks last season at Marshall. With the expectation that the Ravens will carry five players at the position, that leaves David Ojabo and Adisa Isaac to slug it out for the final spot. Unfortunately for Ojabo, injuries have derailed his career. And even when he has been healthy, he has not been the kind of impact player the Ravens hoped he could be when they selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Michigan. Isaac’s development was also stunted last year as a rookie because of injuries, so in many ways this year will be like a first season for the 2024 third-round pick out of Penn State. “One of the things that Adisa has worked really hard on is he’s understanding the defense,” pass rush coach Chuck Smith said. “He’s in good shape, he’s having a good ‘get-off,’ he’s working hard in his coverage — all the different things that you want a guy to do. … I can’t wait to see when we put the pads on in camp and get after it. That’s going to be really the measuring stick of where he’s at.” Put another way, check back this summer. There have been plenty of Ravens pass rushers who finally broke through in their fourth year, including Paul Kruger in 2012, Pernell McPhee in 2014, Za’Darius Smith in 2019 and Oweh last year. But expecting Ojabo to do the same is probably a stretch. Who will emerge on the offensive and defensive lines? Barring any surprises, the Ravens already know and feel good about who will start for them on the offensive and defensive lines. On offense, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten will anchor left and right tackle, Tyler Linderbaum returns for his fourth year at center and Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele are the frontrunners at left and right guard. On defense, Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington and newly added veteran John Jenkins figure to be the top four up front. Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley warms up during practice before a playoff game this past season. Stanley is a proven left tackle, but the Ravens' offensive line depth outside of the starting group could be one of the team's few weaknesses. (Kim Hairston/Staff) But beyond that is where there are questions for both lines. While Baltimore was easily the healthiest team in the league last season, just one injury to a starter on either line could be problematic. That’s the case for most NFL teams, but most teams aren’t contending for a Super Bowl, either. That’s why the losses of versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, and veteran defensive linemen Michael Pierce and Brent Urban could be tough to make up for. The cupboard isn’t entirely bare, but there is uncertainty. The hope for the offensive line is that veteran Joe Noteboom will be a dependable swing tackle and that rookies Emery Jones Jr., who missed all of spring with a shoulder injury, and Carson Vinson can develop. Ben Cleveland, now in his fifth season, provides experienced depth on the interior. Things are perhaps more concerning on the defensive side, particularly if Jones and Washington have to deal with injuries as they did last season. Having to play undersized rookie Aeneas Peebles or second-year undrafted free agent C.J. Ravenell for a meaningful amount of snaps would be difficult. It’s also possible someone else from the pack of reserves could surprise this summer, though that seems less likely. Which rookies will have the biggest impact? The Ravens usually depend on at least a couple of their rookies to be significant contributors right away. and that’s true again this year. With safety Ar’Darius Washington expected to miss most if not all of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon during offseason workouts, first-round pick Malaki Starks will play early and often. That was likely always going to be the case given how much he has already impressed coaches, but his role now takes on even greater importance. Likewise, Green, who had 17 sacks and a 20% pass rush win-rate for the Thundering Heard last year, figures to be a regular in the pass rush rotation from the start. Though Kyle Van Noy led the Ravens with 12 1/2 sacks last season, he’s now 34 years old, so it will be imperative to manage his snap count wisely. As mentioned, Loop or Hoyland will also have big shoes to fill in replacing Tucker, who, despite the worst season of his career last year, was automatic for over a decade and was responsible for producing some of the team’s biggest moments. Buchanan, who, like Simpson, has excellent speed and athleticism, is worth watching, as is sixth-round rookie receiver LaJohntay Wester, who is small but fast and will have a chance at becoming the starting punt returner, a position that was a weakness last season. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

It’s football season. Training camps are set to begin this week across the NFL, including in Owings Mills where the Ravens will start their quest for their first Super Bowl title since 2013. The Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round last season but enter 2025 with perhaps one of the league’s best rosters. DraftKings and FanDuel, two of the legal sportsbooks available to Maryland bettors, list Baltimore as the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Entering camp, who has the best team in the NFL? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The start of the Ravens’ season begins in earnest on Tuesday. That’s when veterans report for training camp, one week after the rookies, with the first full team practice taking place on Wednesday in Owings Mills. Five weeks later, Baltimore’s roster will be trimmed from 91 players to 53, with up to an additional 16 signed to its practice squad (or 17, if one carries an international designation, such as outside linebacker David Ojabo). The difficult reality for many players on the fringe hoping to find their way onto the active roster, however, is that the Ravens simply don’t figure to have many openings with perhaps the best and deepest collection they’ve had in the 31 years of an organization that boasts two Vince Lombardi trophies. Training camp is about preparation, but it’s also often about competition, and simply put, there are few jobs up for grabs. Still, there are opportunities — role players, reserves, they all matter. There will also inevitably be injuries. Already, Baltimore lost safety Ar’Darius Washington to a torn Achilles tendon during offseason workouts, which means someone has to fill his void alongside All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks. With that in mind, here’s a look at how the Ravens’ final roster could end up looking after training camp concludes: Quarterback (2) Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush For the first time in a while, the Ravens have invested more than just the minimum when it comes to Lamar Jackson’s backup, signing Cooper Rush this offseason to a two-year, $6.2 million deal that’s worth up to $12.2 million. Rush, who will turn 32 in November, is also an upgrade over 39-year-old journeyman and former No. 2 Josh Johnson. The former Central Michigan standout appeared in 38 games (14 starts) for the Dallas Cowboys and last season completed 60.7% of his passes for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions over 12 games, which included eight starts. That also means that second-year quarterback Devin Leary, who continued to struggle in the spring, is bound — at best — for the practice squad. Running back (3) Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell With Keaton Mitchell appearing to be fully healthy from a brutal torn ACL that he suffered in mid-December 2023, Rasheen Ali, a fourth-round draft pick last year, looks to be the odd man out. Though Ali has kick return ability and showed improvement this spring, the expectation is that Mitchell, with his elite speed, will fill that role along with being more involved in the offense. Baltimore could carry four running backs, but that’s unlikely with needs elsewhere and not enough of a role for Ali. Wide receiver (6) Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, LaJohntay Wester For a team that has been rightfully maligned when it comes to some of its past wide receiver groups, there is much to like about this room with Zay Flowers coming off a Pro Bowl season, Rashod Bateman healthy and blossoming, veteran DeAndre Hopkins providing elite hands and know-how to get open and 2024 fourth-round pick and speedster Devontez Walker performing considerably better than he did as a rookie. Meanwhile, Tylan Wallace is a special teams ace and excellent blocker with dependable hands, and sixth-round rookie LaJohntay Wester should have the inside track to the punt return job given his speed and shiftiness. Add it all up and Anthony Miller, Dayton Wade, Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham, Jahmal Banks and Xavier Guillory are, at best, probably battling for one spot, if Wester struggles, with the practice squad a more likely destination for some of them. Ravens teammates and coaches are excited about how wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins can fit into their explosive offense. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Tight end/fullback (4) Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all in the final year of their contracts, so it’s a big year for the group and also probably the last all three will be together. Andrews will turn 30 in September. Likely, 25, is the logical heir apparent. Kolar, 26, has developed as a blocker, has reliable hands and is a likable locker room presence. Patrick Ricard, who was an All-Pro last season, has a lock on the fullback/tight end role. Put another way, Zaire Mitchell-Paden and Sam Pitz are at best practice squad players. Offensive tackle (4) Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, Joe Noteboom, Emery Jones Jr. With Ronnie Stanley eschewing a likely more lucrative free-agent deal to stay in Baltimore and Roger Rosengarten coming off a solid rookie season, the Ravens are set with their offensive line bookends. Adding veteran Joe Noteboom and his 35 career starts also gives them the swing tackle they usually covet. After that is where some possible roster gymnastics could be at play. Emery Jones Jr., a rookie third-round pick out of LSU, might not be ready for the start of the season after missing all of the spring with a shoulder injury. If so, that would open the door for another player, such as fifth-round rookie Carson Vinson or possibly second-year tackle and former Maryland product Corey Bullock. Guard (4) Daniel Faalele, Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland, Garrett Dellinger Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, last year’s starters at left and right guard, respectively, are the front-runners to do so again this year. Ben Cleveland, who is entering his fifth season, provides familiar depth. But Cleveland, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the offseason, could be looking at a potential suspension, and that might impact what Baltimore does here, at least initially. Garrett Dellinger, a seventh-round rookie out of LSU, is someone they’re high on, but he also worked some at center this spring. Darrian Dalcourt, who spent his rookie year on the practice squad, could perhaps work his way into the equation, but that seems unlikely. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum discusses his offseason workout routine during a media session in April. There's no doubt Linderbaum will start for the Ravens this fall, but there are question marks about the team's offensive line depth outside of the starting unit. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Center (2) Tyler Linderbaum, Nick Samac The Ravens declined Tyler Linderbaum’s fifth-year option, but that was a financial move more than anything else as they’d like to work out a long-term extension with the two-time Pro Bowl selection. Nick Samac, meanwhile, enters his second season as the favorite to back up Linderbaum, who has at times dealt with injuries, including to his neck. Samac could also potentially be pushed by Dellinger. However it plays out, the expectation is for the Ravens to have nine or more likely 10 offensive linemen on the roster. Defensive line (5) Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones figure to gobble up most of the snaps, with Broderick Washington next in line. John Jenkins, who is entering his 13th season after spending the past two with the Las Vegas Raiders, will fill the void of retired Michael Pierce. Aeneas Peebles, a sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, is undersized but quick off the line and makes for a potentially intriguing pass rusher. C.J. Ravenell, now in his second year, could also push Peebles for that final interior spot. Outside linebacker (5) Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac After three years marked by injuries and a lack of productivity, David Ojabo could get squeezed out. Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson and recently signed second-round pick Mike Green are all locks to make the roster. That leaves the final spot for Ojabo or Adisa Isaac, who played just 78 snaps between defense and special teams as a rookie last year because of injuries, and it figures to be one of the few training camp battles worth watching. Other linebackers — Malik Hamm, Diwun Black and Kaimon Rucker — face longer odds. Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh, left, celebrates with cornerback Marlon Humphrey after sacking Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2024. The Ravens expect a productive season in 2025 from Oweh, who enters training camp in some of the best physical shape of his professional career. (David J. Phillip/AP) Inside linebacker (4) Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Jake Hummel, Teddye Buchanan Coach John Harbaugh said that he expects Trenton Simpson — who was benched last season — to be the starting weak-side linebacker next to Roquan Smith. Baltimore used a fourth-round pick on Teddye Buchanan, a former high school quarterback who led California in tackles (114) and tackles for loss (12) last year. Simpson is the favorite to start, but Buchanan is one of at least a few rookies worth keeping an eye on this summer. The other linebacker likely to help replace the departed Chris Board-Malik Harrison duo is Jake Hummel, a special teams stalwart who saw an increased role at inside linebacker each of the past two seasons with Los Angeles Rams. Cornerback (7) Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Bilhal Kone Baltimore plays with a plethora of defensive backs, so that should mean plenty of snaps and mix-and-match options with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, who was one of the best corners in the league down the stretch as a rookie last season, the newly acquired (and oft-injured) two-time All-Pro Jaire Alexander as well as veteran Chidobe Awuzie (another player with a long injury history). The Ravens are also high on second-year fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa, and Jalyn Armour-Davis, who, when healthy, has been a solid contributor. Bilhal Kone, meanwhile, could be battling fellow sixth-round rookie Robert Longerbeam, as well as Reuben Lowery, an intriguing undrafted free agent who always seemed to be around the ball in the spring. Or, Baltimore could add to their cornerback room with another veteran this summer as they have in the past. Safety (4) Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade Washington’s aforementioned injury that will keep him out most, if not all, of the year means that Baltimore could look to add a veteran safety sometime this summer, and there are plenty of options still available. Either way, Kyle Hamilton and first-round pick Malaki Starks figure to be the top two options, followed potentially by Kone or a player still to be added. Baltimore could also look to potentially deploy Armour-Davis or Awuzie at safety. Related Articles Lawyer says lawsuit is over between Shannon Sharpe and woman who accused him of rape Ravens rookie OLB Mike Green finally signs contract Why are so many rookies, including the Ravens’ Mike Green, still unsigned? AP voters rank Ravens’ Lamar Jackson as second-best QB in AFC North READER POLL: Do you believe Orioles GM Mike Elias is doing a good job? Special teams (3) Tyler Loop, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore For the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have an open kicking competition after parting ways with Justin Tucker, who was also suspended for 10 weeks by the NFL over the sexual misconduct allegations brought against him by more than a dozen massage therapists. Tyler Loop, a sixth-round pick out of Arizona, is the favorite, but undrafted free agent John Hoyland out of Wyoming will have a crack at the job, too. So far, both have had good and bad days. This will also be the most analyzed position battle of training camp. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

LAS VEGAS — Pro Football Hall of Fame member Shannon Sharpe has resolved a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship, her attorney said Friday. “All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice,” Tony Buzbee said on X, meaning the lawsuit can’t be refiled. No details were released. The lawsuit had sought $50 million. Sharpe called the allegations “false and disruptive” when the lawsuit was filed in April in Clark County, Nevada. He stepped away from work at ESPN at the time but had pledged to return by the start of the NFL preseason. A phone message seeking comment from Sharpe’s attorney, David Chesnoff, wasn’t immediately returned Friday. The woman first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20, and a nearly two-year relationship followed, according to the lawsuit. Sharpe, 57, was accused of raping the woman in October 2024 and in January. “Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship,” Buzbee said. “After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution.” Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end who played on two Super Bowl-winning teams with Denver and one with the Ravens over 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Sharpe retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060) and touchdowns (62). Those records have been broken. Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward. View the full article

With less than a week to go until the first practice of Ravens training camp, rookie second-round draft pick Mike Green finally signed his four-year, $7.4 million contract Thursday. The outside linebacker out of Marshall was the last of Baltimore’s 11 draft picks to sign. The delay for Green, selected 59th overall, as with other second-round picks from this year’s class, was over the amount of guaranteed money. While fully guaranteed contracts are the norm for first-round draft picks, that is not the case for players taken in the second round or later. So far, only two players selected in the second round in April — Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins, taken 34th overall, and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, selected 33rd — have signed fully guaranteed deals. While the situation lasted longer than usual, it was also not surprising. Once Higgins and Schwesinger signed fully guaranteed deals, other second-round picks were inclined to wait. But when 49ers rookie defensive lineman Alfred Collins, whom San Francisco selected 43rd overall, agreed on Wednesday to a four-year, $10.3 million contract that included reportedly over $9 million guaranteed, that helped get things moving for others. It’s not clear how much of Green’s deal is guaranteed. While Green was able to participate in rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason because of an agreement that he signed, as most unsigned rookies typically do, he would not have been able to practice at training camp, which opens Wednesday, until he was under contract. But with Thursday’s news, that’s no longer a concern for Baltimore. After leading the Football Bowl Subdivision with 17 sacks last season, Green is expected to be a prominent part of the Ravens’ defensive plans this year. In another move, the Ravens also added defensive back Ar’Darius Washington, who tore his Achilles tendon during a workout this offseason, to the active/physically unable to perform list. Washington, 25, is expected to miss most if not all of the season. If he is moved to the reserve/PUP list after roster cuts are made at the end of training camp, he will have to miss at least the first four games of the season and will not count against the 53-man roster. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Why are so many rookies, including the Ravens’ Mike Green, still unsigned? AP voters rank Ravens’ Lamar Jackson as second-best QB in AFC North READER POLL: Do you believe Orioles GM Mike Elias is doing a good job? Ravens’ Mark Andrews supporting next generation of athletes with diabetes Ravens coach John Harbaugh visits President Trump at White House View the full article

An important development for the Ravens took place Wednesday when the San Francisco 49ers reportedly reached an agreement on a four-year, $10.3 million contract that includes over $9 million guaranteed with rookie defensive lineman Alfred Collins, a second-round pick out of Texas. What does the 49ers finally coming to terms with Collins, the 43rd overall pick, have to do with Baltimore? Plenty. Until then, 30 of the 32 second-round picks from this year’s draft had remained unsigned. Included in that group is outside linebacker Mike Green, Baltimore’s controversial second-round pick out of Marshall and the only Ravens rookie who has yet to sign a contract. The hang-up, in short, for Green and the other second-round picks has been over guaranteed money, and the situation has lingered longer than usual. While fully guaranteed contracts have become the norm for first-round draft picks in recent years, that is not the case for those who come behind them. Before Collins’ deal, Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins, taken 34th overall, in May became the first second-round pick in NFL history to sign a fully guaranteed contract. A day later, Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, selected 33rd overall, followed suit. The deals for Higgins and Schwesinger, unsurprisingly, led agents for the rest of the second-round draft picks to ask for more guaranteed money. As the 59th overall pick, Green is slotted to get a four-year contract worth $7.4 million under the rookie wage scale that is in the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the Players Association. How much of that will be guaranteed, however, remains to be seen. According to Over The Cap, the 59th pick in 2023 and 2024 had 53.7% and 54% of their contracts guaranteed, respectively, so it seems unlikely Green’s would be fully guaranteed. While Green was able to participate in rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason because of an agreement that he signed, as most unsigned rookies typically do, that won’t be the case if he’s still unsigned by the first full practice of training camp on Wednesday. As someone who is expected to be an integral part of the Ravens’ defense this season, it will be imperative for Baltimore to have him on the field as soon as possible — and preferably for the start of training camp. The news of Collins’ deal should help speed up the process for Green and all unsigned NFL rookies, with a more defined path to an agreeable amount of guaranteed money for both the player and team. But Green could choose to hold out for more. So far, the delay has had no impact on the team or Green’s development, but the clock is ticking. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles AP voters rank Ravens’ Lamar Jackson as second-best QB in AFC North READER POLL: Do you believe Orioles GM Mike Elias is doing a good job? Ravens’ Mark Andrews supporting next generation of athletes with diabetes Ravens coach John Harbaugh visits President Trump at White House Ravens open free training camp tickets Wednesday View the full article

The Associated Press surveyed eight of its pro football writers ahead of the 2025 NFL season, and the group apparently wants to see more in the postseason from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The annual survey asked writers to rank the top five players at several positions, including quarterback. Not only did Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, fall short of earning the top spot, but he wasn’t ranked second or third, either. Instead, Jackson ranked fourth. He came in behind the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Bills’ Josh and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow. Yes, Jackson was ranked as the second-best quarterback in his own division. The Eagles’ Jalen Hurts checked in at No. 5, meaning quarterbacks such as the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Lions’ Jared Goff all missed the cut. No. 1, Patrick Mahomes No. 2, Josh Allen No. 3, Joe Burrow No. 4, Lamar Jackson No. 5, Jalen Hurts Of course, the survey doesn’t mean much — other than maybe bragging rights among fan bases. The league’s elite quarterbacks care much more about ending the season as a Super Bowl champion, and it was Hurts who won last year’s title. Allen, Burrow and Jackson have never won championships, while Mahomes and Hurts both have rings. It’s possible Jackson and the Ravens get over the proverbial hump in 2025, with sportsbooks considering Baltimore a favorite to win the Super Bowl. This past season, Jackson eclipsed 5,000 total yards, throwing 41 touchdown passes compared with only four interceptions. He finished runner-up to Allen in AP NFL MVP voting, and the Ravens were knocked out of the playoffs in the divisional round by Allen’s Bills. The AP summary of why Jackson checked in at No. 4 cited his lack of postseason success: “​​Jackson is coming off his third All-Pro season and the best all-around year of his career. He threw for 4,172 yards, 41 TDs and only four interceptions, and led the NFL with a 119.6 passer rating. He also ran for 915 yards and four scores. But Jackson and the Ravens fell short in the playoffs again, losing to the Bills in the divisional round. Jackson got one second-place vote, four thirds, two fourths and one fifth.” ESPN ran a similar poll, although it anonymously polled league personnel rather than media members. Just like the AP survey, Jackson checked in at No. 4 behind the same three quarterbacks. ESPN NFL analyst Damien Woody was surprised by Jackson’s ranking. Related Articles READER POLL: Do you believe Orioles GM Mike Elias is doing a good job? Ravens’ Mark Andrews supporting next generation of athletes with diabetes Ravens coach John Harbaugh visits President Trump at White House Ravens open free training camp tickets Wednesday READER POLL: The Orioles and Nationals need a manager. Which job is better? “You’ve got the two-time league MVP at No. 4,” Woody said. “That’s about the damndest thing that I’ve seen. You talk about a guy in Lamar Jackson, arguably the most dangerous quarterback that we have in our game. A guy who’s improved every year as a passer, and he’s sitting at No. 4. It just goes to show the strength that we have in our league at the quarterback position.” ESPN’s ranking extended through the top 10 NFL quarterbacks, rather than just top five: Patrick Mahomes Josh Allen Joe Burrow Lamar Jackson Jayden Daniels Matthew Stafford Justin Herbert Jared Goff Jalen Hurts Baker Mayfield The AP also revealed its voting for the NFL’s top five running backs this week, and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry checked in at No. 2. Only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley ranked higher. The Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, the Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey rounded out the top five. No. 1, Saquon Barkley No. 2, Derrick Henry No. 3, Jahmyr Gibbs No. 4, Bijan Robinson No. 5, Christian McCaffrey In his first season in Baltimore, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season. The physical runner added 270 yards and three rushing touchdowns in a pair of playoff games, nearly giving the Ravens enough of a postseason boost to reach the Super Bowl. His Herculean efforts didn’t result in a Lombardi Trophy, but they did earn him a contract extension. Jackson might be next in line for a new deal. The Ravens are hopeful the tandem can remain productive in Baltimore for the foreseeable future and lead them to their first Super Bowl victory since 2013. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The Orioles are not where they want to be. At 43-52 entering the MLB All-Star break, they are among baseball’s most disappointing teams. But they replenished their farm system on Sunday with four first-round picks in the MLB draft, and they are expected to be sellers and retool for the 2026 season with the trade deadline looming. Do you still believe executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is doing a good job? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been clear and candid about his life as a professional athlete living with diabetes. He often uses his platform to raise awareness and support others facing similar challenges. Andrews was front and center Friday in Baltimore, partnering with healthcare company Dexcom to host the first Dexcom U Signing Day Camp, a gathering of athletes with diabetes from all levels who are redefining what’s possible while managing the condition. “This is something that you can control and take care of,” Andrews said. “You may have to work a little harder, but this condition doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.” With Andrews and others guiding participants through drills, 13 college athletes were added to “Team Dexcom” as part of the only Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiative created specifically for college athletes living with diabetes. Andrews uses the Dexcom G7 device to manage his Type 1 diabetes. “He’s really awe-inspiring,” said Leverne Marsh, Dexcom’s vice president of global marketing. “When young athletes see people like [Andrews] who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes but still remain at the top of their game, it makes them feel like anything is possible.” Dexcom received hundreds of nominations from deserving athletes with diabetes, a blood sugar condition that, according to the Cleveland Clinic, affects approximately 37.3 million people in the United States. The 13 selected athletes join eight returning members from last year, bringing the total to 21. They represent 12 sports, including football, basketball, lacrosse, track and field, and soccer, according to Dexcom. “This has been a very fun experience for me so far,” said Jackson Montgomery, a new Dexcom signee and baseball player at Coppin State. “I’ve been able to mentor kids and tell them the importance of taking care of not just their diabetes, but also as athletes, taking care of their minds as well.” Montgomery made a team-high 15 relief appearances for the Eagles in 2024 before being redshirted last season. He joins Johns Hopkins lacrosse player Michael Trepeta as one of two Baltimore-area signees. Having Andrews — who plays just miles away at M&T Bank Stadium — in his corner added an extra layer of motivation. “It’s been amazing to see him putting on for the city and putting on for people with diabetes,” Montgomery said. “Now with Dexcom, I can have that same platform and hopefully the same impact.” For Andrews, 29, the event was more than a meet-and-greet. It was an opportunity to deepen a connection with a community he knows first-hand. “For me, giving back to this community is a no-brainer,” Andrews said. “The only people that know what it’s like living with this disease are the people that have it. It’s really an honor to help form this community. I have so much respect for these athletes. It’s special.” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews partnered with healthcare company Dexcom to host the first Dexcom U Signing Day Camp in Baltimore. (Timothy Dashiell/Staff) Now entering his eighth NFL season, Andrews remains a vital part of the Ravens’ offense. The 2018 third-round draft pick in the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract extension he signed in 2021. While there has been speculation this could be his last season in Baltimore, the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader is expected to play a central role once again. The Ravens led the league in total yards per game (424.9) last season with Andrews and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely forming one of the NFL’s top duos at the position. This offseason, Andrews became the subject of trade rumors after two costly errors in the Ravens’ 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round, including a drop on the potential game-tying 2-point conversion attempt. But on Friday, as he tossed footballs to campers, ran drills, and embraced parents and fellow Dexcom athletes, the atmosphere reflected the mindset of a player not dwelling on the past, but ready to push forward despite any adversity. “I’m excited to show who I still am and how I can help this team win games,” Andrews said. “I have a lot to give and a lot left to do for the Baltimore Ravens.” Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com and x.com/dashielltimothy. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh and his brother, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, a White House pool report confirmed. It’s unclear what was discussed during the meeting, but the White House invited the two coaches to visit, according to a USA Today report. John Harbaugh has spoken about Trump publicly a few times in recent years. He voiced support of a policy suggestion in 2015, prior to Trump’s first election victory in 2016. After a practice in August of 2015, Harbaugh said he backed the idea of building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. “I’m going Trump here. Build a wall, it’s not that hard. You don’t have a border, you don’t have a country. You’re not a country without a border, right?” Harbaugh said. “At the same time, we’ve got 12 to 15 million hard-working people here. Give them a shot! Give them a chance to become a citizen so they’re paying taxes. All of us know that it’s not that complicated. But this side doesn’t want to solve it and neither does this side. Neither one of them wants to solve the problem. Solve the problem! It’d be done that fast.” Outside of those spur-of-the-moment 2015 comments, the coach often keeps his political views to himself. In 2017, he said he stood by his team when several players took a knee during the national anthem. Ravens players decided to kneel after Trump said at a rally earlier that year that any player who knelt during the national anthem should be fired by team owners. Harbaugh’s comments spoke more to his team’s togetherness than the political divide. “The truth of the matter is, or the way I look at it, I think that’s a really good thing,” Harbaugh said of the protests. “I think that’s a good thing [that] it’s getting talked about. I think it’s something that’s a positive. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be painful. It’s a tough conversation, but as for us here, as a football coach, my perspective of our team, I love our players and I support our players. A team is about unity. A team is about one accord. A team is a brotherhood.” Neither Harbaugh brother publicly endorsed a presidential candidate before the 2024 election. Both coaches also visited during Barack Obama’s presidency, with John visiting in 2013 and Jim visiting in 2015. Harbaugh and the Ravens open training camp for the 2025 NFL season on July 22 in Owings Mills. Rookies report to camp Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, Harbaugh will take another visit to the White House after the 2025 season as a Super Bowl champion. Sports betting odds suggest the Ravens have as good a chance as any team to accomplish the feat this season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. Related Articles Ravens open free training camp tickets Wednesday READER POLL: The Orioles and Nationals need a manager. Which job is better? Is this the year? Sportsbooks list Ravens as current Super Bowl favorites. READERS RESPOND: Fans expect Ravens to have better defense than Steelers READER POLL: Will the Ravens or Steelers have a better defense in 2025? View the full article

Ravens fans can get a front row seat to one of the Baltimore team’s 16 practice sessions this summer, as long as they secure a free ticket fast enough. Fans can watch one of 16 Ravens 2025 training camp practices in July or August at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills. Every session will have a post-practice autograph session with the players for children ages 6-12 and Fan Zone featuring food trucks, games, the Ravens Team Store and The Ravens Mobile Museum Exhibit. Admission to the practice session is free with the parking pass, which can be secured on the Ravens’ website beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m. for permanent seat license holders and 11 a.m. for the general public. Each session has a limit of 1,000 attendees. The Ravens will practice against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 5. Some sessions will have themes for the day, like Military and First Responders Day. The first practice will take place July 23 at 2:15 p.m. Passes for all sessions will be available to reserve through SeatGeek on the Ravens’ website. Pass reservations are on a first come, first served basis. One pass is valid for all attendees in one vehicle, but attendees must legally fit into their vehicle and the vehicle must fit into a single car space. PSL holders who do not secure passes during the early time slot will be able to try again during the general public offering. All dates for the practice sessions are subject to change. Have a news tip? Contact Chevall Pryce at cpryce@baltsun.com. View the full article

The Orioles and Nationals are in the market for full-time managers. Washington fired its manager, Dave Martinez (and longtime general manager Mike Rizzo), on Sunday, shaking up a franchise that has been in a rut since winning the 2019 World Series. Baltimore fired Brandon Hyde in May, parting ways with a manager who had overseen a top-to-bottom rebuild but one who couldn’t right the ship dating to midway through the 2024 season. Tony Mansolino has been the interim manager since. Which job is more attractive? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

It’s been an interesting offseason for the Ravens. They cut longtime kicker Justin Tucker amid a series of sexual misconduct allegations — and he now faces a 10-week suspension from the NFL. The Ravens’ offseason controversies spanned through the NFL draft, when they picked Marshall’s Mike Green — who’s dealing with his own allegations of sexual misconduct — in the second round. Baltimore’s brass felt the possible reward of bringing in the dynamic edge rusher outweighed any concerns over past allegations. Green has never been charged with any crimes. Baltimore’s bold roster-building efforts continued when they signed Jaire Alexander, one of the top available free-agent cornerbacks with a lengthy injury history. When available, Alexander is an elite talent. Offensively, Baltimore strengthened its group by adding big-name wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to a unit that led the NFL in yards per game in 2024. All of these moves came after coach John Harbaugh said in late March his team was ready then to play a game. Baltimore took big offseason swings. High-profile moves coupled with almost its entire offense returning in 2025, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, mean Baltimore enters July with perhaps the NFL’s best roster. Sportsbooks agree. DraftKings and FanDuel, two of the legal sportsbooks available to Maryland bettors, list the Ravens as favorites to win the Super Bowl. DraftKings gives the Ravens +650 odds to win it all, which are the same odds as the Eagles and Bills. Philadelphia will enter the upcoming season as the defending Super Bowl champion, and Buffalo knocked Baltimore out of the playoffs this past season but fell short of reaching the Super Bowl because of an AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs. Both the Eagles and Bills return their respective head coaches and starting quarterbacks. Behind those three teams sits Patrick Mahomes and the aforementioned Kansas City Chiefs, who have +800 odds to win the title. The Detroit Lions are listed at +1000, and sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders hold +1800 odds. The Cincinnati Bengals, who on paper look like Baltimore’s biggest threat in the AFC North, have +2000 odds. The Steelers are listed at +3000, with the aging Joe Flacco and the Browns well behind at +25000. Cleveland seems destined to compete more for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft than a Super Bowl. On FanDuel, the Ravens and Bills are tied with the shortest championship odds at +700. The Eagles are close behind at +750. Here’s a closer look at FanDuel’s Super Bowl odds for the 10 shortest title favorites: Ravens, +700 Bills, +700 Eagles, +750 Chiefs, +800 Lions, +1000 Rams, +1700 Commanders, +1900 49ers, +1900 Vikings, +2100 Bengals, +2100 MV3? Not only are the Ravens considered Super Bowl betting favorites, but oddsmakers also like Jackson’s chances of winning a third MVP award. He’s listed at +500 to win the award on FanDuel, making him the betting favorite. Bills quarterback Josh Allen sits closely behind with +600 odds — Allen narrowly topped Jackson for the award in 2024. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Fans expect Ravens to have better defense than Steelers READER POLL: Will the Ravens or Steelers have a better defense in 2025? NFL coach Jim Harbaugh added to lawsuit about hacking allegations against former Michigan assistant Ravens QB Lamar Jackson opens up to Kevin Hart about his leadership style Mike Preston: We might not have seen the last of Justin Tucker | COMMENTARY This past year, Jackson threw 41 touchdown passes compared with just four interceptions, and he eclipsed 5,000 total yards. He’s been hard at work this offseason, and he has an impressive array of offensive weapons at his disposal. Jackson’s receiving threats include Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Hopkins, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. The offensive line features some of the NFL’s best in left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum, and the running back room includes Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell. On paper, there’s little to suggest the Ravens shouldn’t be in the mix to win a championship in February. It’s only early July, but expectations are growing in Baltimore. Sportsbooks aren’t doing anything to stop the hype train. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. The Ravens are Super Bowl favorites, according to DraftKings and FanDuel. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

We asked readers if they think the Ravens or Steelers will have a better defense in 2025. The question arose shortly after dealt safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins as part of a trade that brought cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers. Baltimore’s offseason included adding free-agent cornerback Jaire Alexander and drafting a few potential starters, including safety Malaki Starks from Georgia. Here are the results from our online poll: Ravens — 85% (155 votes) Steelers — 15% (28 votes) Here’s what some fans told us about the two AFC North defenses (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): I think Baltimore has a slight edge. The Ravens’ defense was trending upward the final eight games of 2024, while Pittsburgh’s seemed broken by the time their playoff game with us ended. And frankly, I think Miami got the best of its recent trade with Pittsburgh. — Robert Is this for real? I mean, the Ravens are stacked, and it looks like the Steelers are finding scraps. — Mark Vana The Ravens, and it’s not close. — Arthur Brendon The Ravens. Duh. — Bernard McDaniels The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

The Ravens and Steelers have long been known for their defenses. That likely won’t change in 2025. While Baltimore has five first-round draft picks in its secondary, including cornerback Nate Wiggins (2024) and safeties Malaki Starks (2025) and Kyle Hamilton (2022), Pittsburgh shook up its unit on Monday by dealing safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins as part of a trade for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Ravens also have All-Pro Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones on their defensive line, and Roquan Smith, Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh in their linebacker corps. The Steelers are loaded, too, with linebackers T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen and Alex Highsmith, as well as defensive backs Joey Porter and Darius Slay Jr. Which AFC North rival will have the better defense in 2025? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

DETROIT — NFL coach Jim Harbaugh was added Friday to a lawsuit against the University of Michigan and a former assistant football coach who is accused of hacking into the computer accounts of college athletes across the U.S. to look for intimate photos. Attorneys claim Harbaugh, who was Michigan’s coach, and others knew that Matt Weiss was seen viewing private information on a computer in December 2022 but still allowed him to continue working as co-offensive coordinator in a national playoff game roughly a week later. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and other officials were also added to the lawsuit in federal court in Detroit. “The university’s delay in taking meaningful protective action until after a high-stakes game sends a clear message: Student welfare was secondary,” said Parker Stinar, who is the lead lawyer in a class-action lawsuit arising from a criminal investigation of Weiss. Messages seeking comment from Manuel and Harbaugh, who is currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, were not immediately returned Friday. Separately, Weiss has been charged with identity theft and unauthorized computer access from 2015 to 2023. The indictment says he got access to the social media, email and cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 college athletes, as well as more than 1,300 students or alumni from schools across the U.S., to find private images, primarily of women. He has pleaded not guilty. “Had Harbaugh implemented basic oversight of his staff, plaintiffs and the class would have been protected against predators such as Weiss,” the updated lawsuit states. “Instead, Weiss was a highly compensated asset that was promoted by and within the football program, from which position he was able to, and did, target female student athletes.” The lawsuit says a staff member saw Weiss viewing private information at Schembechler Hall, headquarters for the football team, around Dec. 21, 2022, and reported it before Michigan played Texas Christian University in a playoff game days later on Dec. 31. Weiss was fired a few weeks later in January 2023 during an investigation of his computer use. Earlier this year, after charges were filed, Harbaugh told reporters that he didn’t know anything about Weiss’ troubles until after the playoff game. He said the allegations were “shocking.” Weiss worked for Harbaugh’s brother, John, on the coaching staff of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens before joining the Michigan team in 2021. The lawsuit says Weiss’ university computer had encryption software that had to be disabled by an external vendor as part of the investigation. Authorities disclosed in April that thousands of intimate photos and videos were found on his electronic devices and cloud storage accounts. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson can make professional football look easy. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player threw 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions this past season while adding more than 900 rushing yards. He nearly won his third MVP award, finishing second to the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen. As it turns out, Jackson doesn’t just make the sport look simple for fans watching on TV or in the stands. Sometimes the game feels effortless to Baltimore’s quarterback, too. “It got easy for me my sophomore season [in Baltimore],” Jackson told comedian Kevin Hart in a new episode of Hart’s show, “Cold as Balls,” which features Hart interviewing guests as they each dip into a cold tub. “First game of the season. We blew out the Dolphins, and I’m like, ‘This is easy.’” Jackson references a 59-10 win over Miami in 2019 in which he completed 17 of his 20 passes for 324 yards and five touchdown passes. He posted a perfect passer rating and went on to win his first MVP Award later that season. While the sport has looked like child’s play at times for Baltimore’s signal caller, Jackson is still without a Super Bowl ring. Entering 2025, the Ravens have one of the best rosters in the NFL, and Jackson likes where the team stands in its championship pursuit. “We’re extremely close,” Jackson said. “As I’ve been getting older in the league, my mindset has been different and the game has gotten a lot easier for me.” Not everything comes easily to the former Louisville star, though. He acknowledged that he struggled with leading a team during the early stages of his NFL career. “I’m not really outspoken … a great motivational speech, I don’t have that,” Jackson said. “I pretty much lead by example. I go out there. I’m gonna work hard. I expect that out of you. As I’ve been growing in the league, it’s like, nah, you gotta talk to the guys. “Coaches and stuff like to tell me, ‘You’ve got to talk to the guys. I’m like, all right. Now I talk to them one-on-one.” Jackson later cited an example of those one-on-one conversations he’s becoming more comfortable having with teammates. He spoke with tight end Mark Andrews’ after the team’s playoff loss to the Bills. Andrews fumbled in the fourth quarter and dropped what would’ve been a game-tying two-point conversion in the final minutes. “I went up to him, I’m like, ‘Man, we all played a part in this game, I had my turnovers. We shouldn’t even be in this situation. I know you’ve been busting your [butt] all season. Despite what you’ve been through, you’re just gonna have to bounce back. We can’t dwell on that [stuff],’” Jackson said. Hart approved of the pep talk. “I know you said that you’re not a motivational speaker and you don’t do the inspiring talks, but I’d be damned if that didn’t pump me up,” he said. Related Articles Mike Preston: We might not have seen the last of Justin Tucker | COMMENTARY NFL suspends former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for 10 weeks READERS RESPOND: Fans split on wanting to see Orioles or Ravens win title first Diontae Johnson sheds light on time with Ravens: ‘I checked out mentally’ Document reveals details of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s previous contract saga Hart and Jackson went over serious football topics in the nearly 16-minute interview, but they also shared plenty of laughs. Over the final five minutes of the video, Jackson and Hart wore Ravens wings. While Hart’s wings used what appeared to be backpack-like straps, Jackson’s straps were much smaller and thinner. “Why mine look like a thong?” Jackson quipped. Hart also lobbied Jackson for a spot on Baltimore’s roster. Jackson wasn’t having it. “I see myself in the slot,” Hart said. “Nah, we have tall [guys] at slot,” Jackson quipped. Hart is reportedly 5 feet 5. “That’s the thing,” Hart chirped back. “That’s what [defenses] are used to.” Jackson was quick to shoot down Hart’s NFL dreams. “We might have you on the sideline,” he said. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The NFL suspended former Ravens star Justin Tucker for 10 weeks Thursday, but if a team is desperate for a kicker near the end of the season, he’ll probably get another opportunity. We’ve seen this act before with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was suspended by the NFL for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million after more than 20 women alleged that he committed sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. But Watson eventually signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Cleveland Browns and has remained with the team since. If another team is in search of a kicker, Tucker, 35, will get another chance. You can bank on it. The NFL announced Tucker’s punishment for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, which requires a six-game minimum suspension. So it’s safe to assume that the NFL found more than enough evidence to suspend him, though it didn’t release its findings publicly. The league conducted its investigation five months after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Tucker has maintained his innocence and no known civil lawsuits have been filed. Tucker, who was released by the Ravens in May, can sign with another team as a free agent and compete for a tryout and play in preseason games. His suspension goes into effect on Aug. 26, and he will be reinstated on Nov. 11. So, as of now, no team will add Tucker and invite a public relations backlash. But if a team with championship aspirations suddenly finds itself with a struggling kicker, it will probably find Tucker’s cell phone number. During the 2024 season, eight kickers had a lower field goal rate than Tucker’s career-low 73.3% mark. Five made less than 70% of their attempts. The San Francisco 49ers’ Jake Moody led the league with 10 missed field goal attempts, while the Buffalo Bills’ Tyler Bass missed five extra point tries. You get the picture. If you can’t, look closer here in Baltimore. The Ravens knew Tucker was going to be suspended, which is why they drafted Arizona’s Tyler Loop in the sixth round and later signed Wyoming’s John Hoyland to a rookie free agent contract. Neither was extremely impressive in OTAs, and both struggled during the three days that owner Steve Bisciotti attended practices. If both are costing the Ravens games, it wouldn’t be surprising if they re-signed Tucker. Heck, the Ravens drafted Marshall outside linebacker Mike Green in the second round despite him having two sexual assault allegations against him, one in high school and later at the University of Virginia. They also gambled and signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander last week despite the 28-year old having played in just 16 games, including the playoffs, over the past two years because of a series of injuries. Related Articles NFL suspends former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for 10 weeks READERS RESPOND: Fans react to Justin Tucker’s release by Ravens Massage therapists respond to Ravens cutting Justin Tucker: ‘Not just about him’ Will former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker ever play football again? Justin Tucker timeline: The events leading to Ravens kicker’s release If an owner or a general manager believes they are a player or two away from a possible Super Bowl run, they’ll sign someone like Tucker despite his troubled past. It’s been done many times before in NFL history. Tucker can still kick. He struggled last season, but look at his overall body of work. He has scored 1,775 points, a franchise record, and has converted 89.1% of his field goal attempts during his career to make him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Some team might be willing to take a chance with the most successful kicker of all time, who was “Mr. Automatic” during his tenure in Baltimore. If circumstances are right, he’ll be back in the NFL again. In certain situations, kickers are almost as valuable as quarterbacks, especially when the game is in doubt. We might not have seen the last of Justin Tucker. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Justin Tucker’s Ravens career came to a shocking end in May when Baltimore released him amid an NFL investigation into voluminous sexual misconduct allegations brought against the kicker earlier this year. Now, the league has delivered its verdict on that investigation. Tucker, 35, has been suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the league announced Thursday. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, six games was the minimum suspension that Tucker could receive. He can serve his suspension while a free agent. Tucker can also try out and sign with a team; if he is signed during the offseason, he is allowed to attend training camp and participate in preseason games. His suspension will take effect Aug. 26, the league’s roster cutdown day, and he will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11. The NFL did not release details of its findings, though that is often typical of its investigations. One of Tucker’s accusers, a massage therapist who asked to be called by her nickname Rae, said she was glad to see Tucker is paying a price for his conduct. “Living in a country where it’s difficult enough to be a woman, and seeing these powerful men getting away with everything, I’m happy to say that’s not the case here,” the 38-year-old woman said. “These people that commit acts like this should be held more accountable.” Rae, who now lives in West Virginia and has a cleaning service, said she still deals with the aftermath of what happened when she worked at the Quintessential Gentleman, or QG, downtown. She previously told The Baltimore Sun that Tucker exposed himself during massages, left what appeared to be ejaculate on the massage table and touched her leg. “I had to walk away from a career,” she said. “I don’t want to be left in a room with a strange man. If I go into a man’s house [to clean it], he can’t be there.” Tucker, who spent his first 13 years in the NFL with Baltimore, has repeatedly denied the allegations. He has not been charged with a crime and faces no known civil lawsuits. “We are disappointed with the NFL’s decision,” Rob Roche, a representative for Tucker, said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “Justin has always strived to carry himself in a way that would make his family and community proud. He stands by his previous statements. “In order to put this difficult episode behind him and get back on the field as soon as possible, we have advised Justin to accept this resolution and close this matter. The people who know Justin best know his character and understand that while he remains fully committed to excellence as a football player, he is deeply dedicated to his most important lifetime roles as a father, husband, and friend.” Related Articles Justin Tucker timeline: The events leading to Ravens kicker’s release Mike Preston: The Ravens cut Justin Tucker. There are no winners. | COMMENTARY Ravens release Justin Tucker, calling it a ‘football decision,’ amid NFL investigation Massage therapists respond to Ravens cutting Justin Tucker: ‘Not just about him’ Michael Belsky, an attorney representing at least 12 of the accusers, said in a statement that “the NFL’s ultimate conclusion validates the experiences told by each of the victims.” “It would have been so simple for Mr. Tucker to simply apologize many months ago. Instead, by attacking the victims’ credibility, he simply revictimized them,” he said. “This was completely unnecessary and should not be acceptable.” The NFL’s ruling comes five months after The Baltimore Banner first reported that six massage therapists said Tucker exposed his genitals, brushed two of them with his exposed penis and left what was believed to be ejaculate on the massage table following three of his treatments. In all, more than a dozen massage therapists made similar allegations, with all of the alleged incidents having taken place between 2012 and 2016. On the field, Tucker is coming off the worst season of his career, making a career-low 73.3% of his field goal attempts and missing two extra point tries. The longest-tenured Ravens player before he was released last month, Tucker had three years remaining on a four-year, $24 million contract extension he signed in August 2022. “It was a complex decision-making process, and I’m a part of it,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in late May, just over three weeks after Tucker’s release on May 5. Harbaugh added that owner Steve Bisciotti, president Sashi Brown, executive vice president Ozzie Newsome and general manager Eric DeCosta were also involved in the decision, though DeCosta’s statement at the time made no mention of the allegations. The Ravens released Justin Tucker in May. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff file) “You’re talking about arguably the best kicker in the history of the game, and like we said, it’s multilayered. It’s complicated, but in the end, it all comes back to what you have to do to get ready for your team to play the first game,” Harbaugh continued. “I think if you step back and take a look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we’ve got to get our football team ready, and we’ve got to have a kicker ready to go. That was the move that we decided to make, so in that sense, it’s a football decision. “If it was just a black and white, simple thing, then it would be easy to understand, but I think anybody can look at the whole thing in perspective and say, ‘OK, we’ve got to have a kicker ready to go, and there’s a whole lot of moving parts of that deal. It’s just the reality of it, and you’re faced with that.” Even before releasing Tucker, the Ravens drafted his possible replacement in April, selecting Tyler Loop out of Arizona in the sixth round. They also signed John Hoyland, a rookie free agent out of Wyoming, after the draft and the two are expected to compete for the starting job when training camp opens July 22. Whether another organization is willing to sign Tucker, though, remains to be seen. Still, it’s possible. In 2022, quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended by the NFL for 11 games and fined $5 million after more than 20 women alleged that he committed sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. He was traded from the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns amid that investigation, which began in 2021, but signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns before it was completed and has remained with the team since. Also in 2022, punter Matt Araiza, who was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round that year, won the starting job as a rookie but was released by Buffalo before the start of the season after being named in a lawsuit accusing him and two former San Diego State of rape became public. In December 2023, Araiza was dropped from the suit, however, and two months later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to play in last season’s Super Bowl. Justin Tucker's 10-week suspension will end Nov. 11. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff file) Whatever Tucker’s future entails, it has been a stunning fall for perhaps the best kicker in NFL history and one of the faces of the Ravens franchise for more than a decade. Tucker, an undrafted free agent out of Texas who signed with Baltimore in 2012, was the last remaining player from the team’s last Super Bowl title in February 2013. He won the job as a rookie during training camp, beating out veteran Billy Cundiff, and went on to make 417 field goals, the most among active kickers and a franchise record. His 1,775 points scored are also a franchise record and rank 16th all-time. He was also responsible for many indelible images during his tenure. Among them were the game-winning field goal in the team’s “Mile High Miracle” playoff victory over the Broncos in Denver as a rookie and a 38-yard field goal that proved to be the margin of victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 47 that season. In 2021, he also set the NFL record for the longest field goal with a 66-yarder as time expired to lift Baltimore to a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. Tucker was a prominent figure in the region and featured in advertisements for Royal Farms throughout the Baltimore area and The New York Times Magazine and “60 Minutes” profiled his opera singing. An All-Pro five times and selected to the Pro Bowl on seven occasions, Tucker also remains, for now, the most accurate kicker in league history, having converted on 89.1% of attempts during his career. Now the only question is whether that career has come to an end, or if it will eventually continue elsewhere, possibly even later this year. Baltimore Sun reporter Jean Marbella contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

We asked readers if they’d rather see the Orioles or Ravens win a championship. Here are the results from our online poll: Orioles — 53% (220 votes) Ravens — 47% (192 votes) Here’s what some fans told us about their desire to see Baltimore franchises win titles (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Unfair question … It’s like asking which of your children do you like best. — Bubba Bubba’s comment made me laugh, because it’s true! I grew up loving sports because of my father, who always had the radio on for Orioles games. We watched Sunday football together, even if the Colts weren’t on. I was at the airport welcoming home our World Series team and attended the parade in 1983 — I love both the Orioles and Ravens and want both to win! With that being said, I am voting for the Ravens, mainly to get the Lamar Jackson haters to be quiet. I just don’t understand their vitriol towards him! We have a great team, and I’m hoping this is the year! — Laurie Fisher Baltimore is blessed to have two such wonderful, playoff-destined teams. All we need now is the Baltimore Bombers, an expansion NBA basketball team! — Robin Ficker Baltimore is, and always has been, a football town. For me, there’s no debate whatsoever. The Orioles are a cute, little team that unfortunately has been mismanaged for over 40 years. It’s all about the Baltimore Ravens. — Robert It would be nice if they both did, but I gave the nod to the Orioles because the Ravens have won two titles since the Orioles’ last World Series win. The O’s have been very poorly run over most of that timeframe, though. — Burt Orioles! That’s the only answer! The last one was 1983! — Greg Sprouse If the O’s won a World Series, I would never need anything good to happen again. — Tony Giro The Orioles. The Ravens already won twice in my lifetime. — Mikey Related Articles Families and businesses are concerned about the effect of tariffs on youth sports Maryland kicker Sean O’Haire on tampering allegations: ‘That’s not true’ Orioles not concerned over 3 no-hit bids in 5 days: ‘Weird things happen’ Derik Queen draft party celebrates NBA rookie’s roots: ‘We from Baltimore’ Carroll County 2025 girls lacrosse All-County team Either. I just want to go to a victory parade in Baltimore City! — Em Cahall Ravens! I believe that this year is a must-win situation. General manager Eric DeCosta did an awesome job bringing in some veteran players to help us get where we want to be. I hope the O’s finish strong to hopefully get a wild-card spot. Injuries and pitching have been their biggest issue, and I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs. — David Cortina Orioles should have won in 2023. I want to say them, but there is no way they will win this season. They probably won’t make the playoffs, so my vote is for the Ravens. — Nicole Johnson The Orioles, and it’s not even close. — David Devaney The Orioles. It’s been 42 years. I’m 38 and haven’t enjoyed a title or even World Series appearance from the Orioles. Even so, I’ll take another Ravens Super Bowl victory, too. Those moments have been incredible. — Andrew Virgilio The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Diontae Johnson’s time with the Ravens was brief, but it was certainly memorable. The 28-year-old wide receiver, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers and recorded just one catch in seven weeks with the team, opened up about his tumultuous time in Baltimore in a podcast interview with former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia earlier this month. “That was a tough situation for me,” Johnson said in a “Sport and Suits” episode. “I love the players and stuff, I love the organization, but it just wasn’t for me.” Johnson said that he “checked out mentally” with the Ravens, who acquired the former Pittsburgh Steelers standout in a late-round draft pick swap before the October deadline. While he was expected to play a complementary role to wideouts Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, Johnson played just 39 offensive snaps in four games as the Ravens put together one of the most efficient offenses in league history behind two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. “I felt like I wasn’t getting used,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to say used like being selfish, but me feeling a part of [a team].” Johnson’s frustration with his lack of involvement came to boiling point during a Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in early December when he refused to take the field after Bateman exited with a knee injury during a 24-19 defeat. Johnson was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, and he was later excused from team activities before being released. In explaining his reasoning for sitting out that game, Johnson said that he felt cold in the 41-degree weather at M&T Bank Stadium and didn’t “want to go out there and put bad stuff on film.” “I was on the sideline just standing there, going to the heater back and forth, just waiting to hear my name called,” he said. “Then going into the fourth quarter, they’re like, ‘Tae, we need you.’ But I’m like, nah. To me I’m thinking like, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea for me.’ “And it’s not like I didn’t want to go in the game. But you’ve got to think, like, leading up to this point, I’d been through so much. … I’d checked out mentally. I was like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ I was just rolling with the punches at that time. So I told them I wasn’t going in. I was like, ‘I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not [going to] go in.’ So I just sat on the bench, and that’s when they suspended me.” The Ravens waited three days before announcing during their bye week that Johnson would be suspended. General manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement that it was a difficult decision, while coach John Harbaugh later added that “there’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at.” On Dec. 20, Johnson was officially released. Related Articles Document reveals details of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s previous contract saga Ravens’ versatile secondary has a chance to be the best in the NFL Mike Preston: It’s time for the Ravens to get over the hump | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Would you rather the Orioles or Ravens win a title? Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey lists $2.5M Baltimore condo “I already knew if I went back [to Baltimore] I was going to be in the doghouse even more,” Johnson said. “So I just asked to get released. And I got picked up by Houston.” His tenure with the Texans quickly turned sour as well. Johnson caught three passes in a pair of games with the team, including one in a wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but was reportedly upset in the locker room after the game. Johnson said that the Texans made it sound as if he would be a bigger part of the offense when they signed him, but he quickly realized that he was playing behind younger players in the pecking order. He said that he tried to talk to coach DeMeco Ryans to understand his role, but to no avail. “After that, they said I was a distraction,” he said. “They released me. I’ve been home ever since.” In a twist, Johnson was claimed off waivers by Baltimore after the season in a procedural reunion. The Ravens hoped to gain a compensatory draft pick if Johnson signed a significant contract with another team as an unrestricted free agent, but the market for his services was slim. Johnson said that the Cleveland Browns were the only team to express interest, and he signed a one-year, $1.17 million contract in April with no guaranteed money. “We understood the risks and the rewards,” DeCosta said of Johnson after the season. “We knew that it wasn’t 100% going to be a slam dunk. It didn’t work out. We always try to mitigate our risks. … In that particular situation, I really didn’t see a lot of downside. I think we understood what the downside might be — that he would be unhappy with his role, potentially.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

When Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked during last week’s two-day mandatory minicamp about the conversations he’s had thus far with general manager Eric DeCosta about a possible contract extension, he demurred. “You know I never discuss contract situations here,” the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player said. “I don’t want to talk about it, if that’s OK with you.” However, details from an arbitration hearing over a November 2022 collusion grievance filed by the NFL Players Association against the NFL over concerns about teams colluding to limit fully guaranteed contracts shed some light on Jackson’s previous contract negotiations with Baltimore in 2022 and 2023. The 61-page document, which was obtained by the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast and shared Tuesday, details, among other things, DeCosta’s thought process, Jackson’s known desire for a fully guaranteed deal and, remarkably, the quarterback at one point citing a broken microphone on his phone as a reason for difficulties in the two sides negotiating. Jackson was one of three players — along with quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray — who testified in the hearing, which took place in New York City over 10 days between July and August of last year. Although the NFL ultimately won, arbiter Christopher Droney wrote in the decision, “There is little question that the NFL Management Council, with the blessing of the Commissioner, encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans’ contracts at the March 2022 annual owners’ meeting.” The meeting had taken place just days after the Cleveland Browns gave a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract to quarterback Deshaun Watson. As for the involvement of Jackson, who does not have an agent, he took part in the proceedings via Zoom, according to the document, which also outlined the conversations he had with DeCosta during negotiations following the 2022 season about his desire for a fully guaranteed deal. And DeCosta, according to the document, acknowledged the difficulty of those conversations with some new detail. “Mr. Jackson said that the microphone on his phone was not working, making communications with Mr. DeCosta difficult,” the document reads. It also included email and text exchanges between the two. Before the 2022 season, Jackson texted DeCosta, “I’m going to continue to request a FULLY GUARANTEED contract I understand you all DON’T and that’s fine.” Related Articles Ravens’ versatile secondary has a chance to be the best in the NFL Mike Preston: It’s time for the Ravens to get over the hump | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Would you rather the Orioles or Ravens win a title? Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey lists $2.5M Baltimore condo Mike Preston: For Ravens, Jaire Alexander is worth the gamble | COMMENTARY Jackson, whom Baltimore selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, went on to play that season on the fifth-year option. After the season, DeCosta offered differing three-year deals, according to the document, both of which he considered to be fully guaranteed. However, Jackson rejected both and requested to be traded. DeCosta then asked Jackson for a list of teams for which he would accept a trade, but never got one, according to the document. Meanwhile, the Ravens applied the nonexclusive franchise tag to keep Jackson in Baltimore for at least another year but also allowed him to negotiate with other teams. According to the document, only a couple of teams had expressed interest in the quarterback before the tag was applied, and none reached out after. Among the reasons for a lack of interest, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said, were the size of the contract Jackson would demand, salary cap implications, having to give up two first-round picks if they signed him to an offer sheet after he was tagged and his unique playing style, according to the document. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank also testified that Jackson’s injuries were factors in his team saying publicly in 2023 that they had no interest in acquiring the superstar. Lamar Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal with the Ravens in 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Of course, Jackson and the Ravens finally did reach an agreement, though it wasn’t without plenty of uneasy moments. On the eve of the 2023 draft, DeCosta was “under the assumption that Mr. Jackson would no longer be playing for the Ravens,” according to the document, but he sent over another offer. To his surprise, Jackson quickly accepted the five-year, $260 million offer that briefly made him the highest-paid player in football. But with Jackson having slipped to now being the 10th-highest paid quarterback in the league, and with a prohibitive $74.5 million salary cap hit looming beginning in 2026, the two sides have been in discussion again about a new contract. Jackson finished the 2024 season as the runner-up to Josh Allen as The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player. Baltimore’s quarterback passed for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions this past season, while also adding 915 rushing yards. What the current contract talks lead to remains to be seen — it’s likely Jackson will once again become the sport’s highest-paid player — but the hearing shed further light on DeCosta’s thinking and what it could mean going forward. DeCosta testified that he’s not opposed to fully guaranteed contracts, just fully guaranteed contracts “pushed out to later years.” He also said that because Jackson is a “running quarterback” and has incurred injuries during his career, that is just one reason why he tries to minimize guarantees in the fifth and sixth years of contracts. Jackson and the Ravens open training camp on July 22. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Inside the Ravens’ facility, the names Ed Reed, Chris McAlister and Duane Starks mean something to the current players. There’s a certain level that the Ravens’ secondary expects to reach, cornerback Marlon Humphrey said, and last year’s 31st-ranked passing defense didn’t meet the standard. So Baltimore rebuilt — with first-rounders. The Ravens are the only NFL team with five first-round picks in their projected starting secondary. No other team has more than three. “I think that comes with an added expectation that we welcome,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We really have no excuses to not go out there and do what we need to do.” The team signed cornerback Jaire Alexander on Wednesday morning and drafted Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first round. Alexander, Humphrey and Hamilton have all earned All-Pro honors. On paper, it’s one of the best secondaries in the NFL. But this isn’t just a talented group. The five projected starters and key backups possess positional versatility, which is critical in today’s matchup-based NFL. The upgrades come at a needed time; Baltimore will look to improve from a passing defense that allowed 7.2 yards per attempt, a 91.1 passer rating and failed to force any turnovers in the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Some of those numbers are inflated because of the leads the Ravens built last season, but the front office clearly felt changes were necessary. “It’s going to be a fun secondary, I think guys can kind of play wherever,” Humphrey said. “The addition of Jaire, along with the other guys we got, it can be a serious matchup [based].” Humphrey can play inside or outside, but he’s most disruptive near the line of scrimmage. An All-Pro slot cornerback in 2024, he logged over 400 nickel snaps and led all cornerbacks with six interceptions, per Pro Football Focus. On Wednesday, a nickel blitz by Humphrey forced Lamar Jackson into throwing an interception. Alexander’s signing allows Humphrey to play solely on the inside in nickel packages. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr will be faced with a tough personnel decision: does Humphrey kick outside or remain on the bench in base packages? That’s a choice Baltimore’s coaching staff is glad they get to make. “When you got corners, you don’t have to worry about your corners. And it’s kind of a big deal,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Just gives you more options with the defensive play calls.” Related Articles Mike Preston: It’s time for the Ravens to get over the hump | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Would you rather the Orioles or Ravens win a title? Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey lists $2.5M Baltimore condo Mike Preston: For Ravens, Jaire Alexander is worth the gamble | COMMENTARY Ex-Ravens LB C.J. Mosley announces his retirement after 11 years in NFL Alexander has played almost exclusively on the outside his entire career and Wiggins played over 90% of his defensive snaps at boundary corner in his rookie season. But their backups, Chidobe Awuzie and Jalyn Armour-Davis, can slide around the secondary. The embodiment of the Ravens’ versatility is in their safety duo. Hamilton is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, playing more than 200 snaps each at three positions last year. Starks moved around in Georgia’s defense. He played 178 snaps in the box, 225 as a slot corner and 349 at free safety last season, according to PFF. Baltimore’s defense can get creative with various packages, defensive designs and matchups. Orr, who seems primed for a coaching leap in his second year as defensive coordinator, can play around with disguised coverages and post-snap rotations because of his players’ ambiguity. In the offseason, former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald quoted former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome about his drafting philosophy in the secondary. Hamilton echoed the Hall of Famer on Wednesday. “You can never have too many DBs,” Hamilton said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

It’s time for the Ravens to win serious championships. Winning two straight AFC North titles is OK, but I’m talking about major hardware here, like the Lamar Hunt Trophy as the AFC champion and Super Bowl 60. If the Ravens lose that one, that can be tolerated, but anything less is a failure. Remember, this is Baltimore, not Cleveland. Expectations are high here, but haven’t been met in the past two seasons when the Ravens had one of the top two or three rosters in the NFL. They had an NFL-best regular-season record of 13-4 in 2023, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. In 2024, the Ravens finished 12-5 but lost to the Buffalo Bills, 27-25, in a divisional playoff game played in Orchard Park, New York, against a team they had beaten by 25 in late September. Those losses were ugly — embarrassing, in fact — because the Ravens committed three turnovers in each of those playoff losses. Granted, some credit needs to be given to both opponents. But this 2025 Ravens team is, to borrow a popular phrase from comedian Ron White, loaded. Only the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles might have a better roster because of their superiority on the interior lines, but if the Eagles are No. 1, then the Ravens are 1A. Winning a championship will be a point of emphasis and possibly distraction heading into training camp next month, but if the Ravens don’t win a title soon, the bigger question becomes, “when?” The window of opportunity closes fast in the NFL because of salary cap restrictions, but the Ravens made some strong moves in the offseason. They signed veteran free agents such as receiver DeAndre Hopkins and cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie. They even added a proven backup quarterback in Cooper Rush, even though he wasn’t impressive in OTAs. They anchored the NFL’s top running game by re-signing left tackle Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard and extending star running back Derrick Henry. They also brought back former Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano as the new senior secondary coach to improve a secondary that was ranked No. 31 in the league last season. This group has to get better because they can’t get much worse. The Ravens drafted Georgia safety Malaki Starks with their first pick in the draft in late April, a move that will allow them to play fellow safety Kyle Hamilton up near the line of scrimmage where he can be more impactful. If the often-injured Alexander plays near his Pro Bowl potential in 2020 and 2022, that puts him on the outside with gifted second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins and allows nickel back Marlon Humphrey to play over the slot receiver. Despite injuries to several cornerbacks in recent years, the Ravens have adequate depth in Awuzie, Jayln Amour-Davis and T.J. Tampa Jr. Overall, there isn’t much to dislike about this team, but the Ravens do have some holes. Quarterback Lamar Jackson tries to secure the football during a playoff loss to the Bills. The Ravens have lost heartbreakers in the postseason the past two seasons. (Frank Franklin II/AP) Pass blocking is still questionable even though elusive quarterback Lamar Jackson made this offensive line look formidable at times. If the Ravens can’t run, they might be in trouble. They have a surplus of receivers in Rashod Bateman, Hopkins, Zay Flowers and Tylan Wallace, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, but Likely, Hopkins and Andrews are in contract years. What happens when they don’t catch enough passes, and which one becomes the disgruntled castoff? Defensively, the Ravens have to mix and match on the back end with all those cornerbacks, and this is a pivotal year for both weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson as well as second-year coordinator Zach Orr. Pass rush is still a priority. The Ravens have two of their best returning from a year ago in outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, but neither came through in big games. Mike Green might be the answer, but the second-round pick is only a rookie. Special teams are a concern, too. Which one of those rookie kickers, Tyler Loop or John Hoyland, will replace icon Justin Tucker, who was waived by the team in May after 13 seasons with Baltimore? Neither was extremely consistent during OTAs. The Ravens need to find a punt returner among a group that includes receivers Wallace, Dayton Wade, rookie LaJohntay Wester and possibly running back Keaton Mitchell. Every team, though, has a need, some more than others. For the Ravens, it comes down to eliminating the turnovers, and a lot of it starts with Jackson. There is the regular-season Jackson, the Most Valuable Player candidate; and then there is the postseason Jackson, who has a 3-5 record with seven interceptions and six lost fumbles. The Ravens need him to step up his game in the playoffs. Related Articles Ravens’ versatile secondary has a chance to be the best in the NFL READER POLL: Would you rather the Orioles or Ravens win a title? Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey lists $2.5M Baltimore condo Mike Preston: For Ravens, Jaire Alexander is worth the gamble | COMMENTARY Ex-Ravens LB C.J. Mosley announces his retirement after 11 years in NFL But it’s not just about Jackson. Andrews fumbled after a catch and dropped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion pass late in the game against Buffalo. Flowers fumbled the ball just short of the goal line against the Chiefs in the 2024 AFC championship game, resulting in a Kansas City touchback instead of cutting the Chiefs’ lead to three on the first snap of the fourth quarter. It’s always something. Then there is the John Harbaugh factor. Instead of the coach trying to maintain his aggressive philosophy, he needs to rely more on gut instincts and what is happening on the field instead of analytics. This is the NFL, after all, not analytics-driven MLB. There can be no more excuses. This is a team primed for a big-time run in 2025, led by two eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame members in Jackson and Henry. They’ve been nearly injury-free in the past two postseasons, and it’s just a matter of them putting it all together. As former Ravens great and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs used to say, “I want me some of that Lombardi Trophy. It’s about time.” It certainly is. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Orioles and Ravens appear to be on different trajectories in 2025. While the Orioles entered the season with championship aspirations, they have struggled mightily as one of the worst teams in the American League. The Ravens, who, like the Orioles, have disappointed in the postseason in recent years, also enter their campaign with hopes of winning a title for the first time since 2013. The Orioles haven’t won a championship since 1983. Which of Baltimore’s pro teams would you rather see win a title? We want to know your thoughts. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article