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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
7 most explosive Ravens heading into the 2025 season include two dynamic rookies
The Baltimore Ravens are less than three days away from having rookies and select veterans report to the Under Armour Performance Center for the start of training camp 2025. John Harbaugh's team is loaded on offense with arguably the best quarterback, running back, and potentially the top center in the NFL. Baltimore had the NFL's most explosive offense in 2024, and last season, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to have 40 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns. It's also the first to post 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards. Most of that explosive potential returns on both sides of the football, with two rookie defenders adding to the potential. With the rookie set to report to the Under Armour Performance Center on Tuesday, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Ravens roster. QB Lamar Jackson Last season, Jackson led the NFL in passer rating (119.6) while becoming the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards after he posted 4,172 yards through the air and 915 yards on the ground. RB Derrick Henry In his first season with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box. WR Zay Flowers Flowers is an explosive threat and a Pro Bowl receiver who led the Ravens in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) last season. His 19 big plays (20+ yards) were tied for the fifth-most in the league, just as many as the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase. DB Kyle Hamilton Hamilton plays with poise and maturity while allowing new Ravens DC Zach Orr to implement a dynamic and versatile scheme with three safeties on the field. Last season, Hamilton had the second-highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of any safety in the league, trailing only Kerby Joseph and his league-leading nine interceptions. Hamilton is the NFL's only defensive back to post at least 100 tackles, an interception, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. DB Malaki Starks (Rookie) A Swiss army knife that'll pair perfectly with Kyle Hamilton, Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023. Starks's ability to line up deep, in the slot, and in the box will give defensive coordinator Zach Orr the flexibility to move his playmakers around the formation. OLB Mike Green (Rookie) Last season, as a redshirt sophomore at Marshall, Green led the FBS in sacks (17.0), tackles for loss (22.5), sack yardage (144), and tackles by a defensive lineman (84). His 17 sacks established a new Sun Belt Conference record. Green was the most productive edge rusher by sacks in college football in 2024, and the Ravens acquired a player who should contribute immediately off the edge with his burst and violence. DT Nnamdi Madubuike After a breakout performance in 2023, Madubuike recorded only 6.5 sacks last season, but drew double teams at a far higher rate, while posting 11 tackles for loss. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens' two first-round picks are among the 7 most explosive players
Fox Sports
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
For Win-Now Steelers, the Aaron Rodgers-DK Metcalf Connection Means Everything
The usually straight-faced Mike Tomlin couldn't help but crack a smile when talking about quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf connecting for a touchdown on Day 2 of training camp. But that's what the stoic Steelers coach expects to happen, so no "pep rally" would be thrown, he joked. "That's what I envisioned all summer," Tomlin said last week. Will it manifest enough come fall, though? That's the big question for the win-now Steelers, who've revamped their roster with some big-name, past-their-prime stars (Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay). Their defense is poised to be relatively good, as it's typically been under Tomlin. But the offense, led by Rodgers and Metcalf, will largely determine how far the team goes this season. The offense was a primary culprit in Pittsburgh's demise down the stretch of 2024, when it lost its final five games, including its wild-card playoff game, never scoring more than 17 points. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who assumed starting duties from Justin Fields in Week 7 last season after recovering from a calf injury, went 6-1 in his first seven starts but regressed down the stretch with the rest of the passing attack, which finished 27th in the NFL. Gone now are Wilson and Fields, both of whom departed in free agency, and leading receiver George Pickens, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in May. Metcalf could make a big difference in Pittsburgh's offense, particularly the deep passing game. The 27-year-old has built a reputation as a physical, vertical threat with his sub-4.4 speed and 6-foot-4, 229-pound frame. Among qualified wide receivers last season, Metcalf ranked fourth in deep target rate (25.9%), sixth in air yards per target (13.7) and 11th in yards per reception (15.0), according to Next Gen Stats. He's registered at least 900 receiving yards in each of his six NFL seasons, including 992 last season (to go with 66 receptions and five touchdowns) in 15 games. Metcalf signed a four-year, $132 million extension with the Steelers after they acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks in March. But just how effective Metcalf can be will come down largely to Rodgers, who's well past his prime at age 41. Any mobility he once had is all but gone at this point in his career. He also ranked in the bottom half of the league in most passing categories last season among qualified quarterbacks — passer rating, yards per attempt, completion rate and EPA per dropback among them, per NGS. The Steelers, who signed Rodgers to a one-year deal after a months-long courtship, are hoping to squeeze out whatever he has left in the tank, another year removed from his 2023 Achilles injury. Metcalf acknowledged that the process of building chemistry with a new quarterback can be tough in the beginning, but he's looking forward to picking Rodgers' brain. The two worked out together twice ahead of training camp, including before he signed with Pittsburgh. "Going to listen to everything he says, even the critiques he has of my game," Metcalf said last week. "I'm going to be willing and open to go searching for those answers from him because he's had great receivers in his past and I'm just trying to be another one. "I don't think there's a timetable to [chemistry]," Metcalf added, "but what better way to do it than out here against one of the best defenses in the league." Rodgers believes he has a good relationship with Metcalf to this point, and the 20-year veteran has embraced the communication part of the growth process with the rest of his offensive teammates. In addition to Ramsey, Pittsburgh also acquired tight end Jonnu Smith in the trade last month that sent star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins. Smith set Dolphins franchise records for a tight end in catches (88) and receiving yards (884) last season en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. The Steelers signed veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell and receiver Robert Woods to a one-year deals in free agency as well. "I like the flexibility," Rodgers said Wednesday of coordinator Arthur Smith's offense. "Arthur is not rigid in what he's doing. He wants to tailor the scheme to personnel — when you bring in Kenny Gainwell, bring in a Jonnu Smith, bring a DK Metcalf and myself with some of the stuff I've done over the years. We're trying to find out what guys do best and implement that in the offense. I love that about Arthur, so we're going to keep doing that." Rodgers and Metcalf are suitemates at Steelers training camp, which is held at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. It gives the two a chance to continue conversations outside the meeting room. Tomlin was asked last week if that was planned. "That seems appropriate, doesn't it?" It does, sure. But now, we wait to see if Tomlin's hopes — what he envisioned all summer — will come to full fruition in the fall. Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jared Verse makes his NFL Top 100 debut after breakout rookie season: See where he ranks
After a standout rookie season with the Rams, Verse breaks into the NFL Top 100, solidifying his rise as one of the league's most promising young pass rushers. After a standout rookie season, Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse can add another accolade to what has already been an impressive start to his young NFL career. Verse was recently named to the NFL's Top 100 players of 2025, which is voted on by the players themselves. The Rams' star defender was ranked 53rd by his peers. Los Angeles, following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald after the 2023 season, selected Verse 19th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, needing a new force to help lead upfront. The Rams struck gold in the draft once again with Verse, adding to their rapidly growing young defensive core with an edge who terrorizes opposing quarterbacks at an obscene rate. Verse took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, the second year in a row an L.A. rookie was a finalist, but the first winner for the Rams since Aaron Donald in 2014. Finishing fourth in the league in total pressures and adding 12 more in the postseason, per Pro Football Focus, Verse's performance as a rookie put him among some of the best at the position last year, even if the sacks didn't follow. Verse even received a rousing endorsement of his uncanny talent from the recently retired Terron Armstead, a top offensive lineman over the last decade. After just one game lining up opposite Verse, Armstead decreed he never wanted to do so again and predicted a Defensive Player of the Year nod in the pass rusher's future. Not a bad start to an NFL career. In 17 games, the former Florida State All-American recorded 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and, per Next Gen Stats, finished with 76 pressures, the second-most by a rookie since San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa, who had 81 in 2019. As a result, Verse was selected for the Pro Bowl and was named the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. "One of the things that makes Jared [Verse] great is that edge that he plays with," Rams HC Sean McVay said last week during training camp. "I can remember it's the same things that [former Defensive Tackle] Aaron [Donald] and I used to talk about when he was playing. You're always right on that line of using the aggressiveness, that edge." As Year 2 begins, Verse aims to take the next step by not only being a physical leader but also becoming a vocal leader for a Rams' defense that will look to improve upon its 26th overall ranking from last season. Follow Rams Wire on X and Facebook for more coverage!
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Key stats shows how dominant and explosive Derrick Henry can be in Ravens rushing attack
According to PFF Derrick Henry was the only RB in the NFL to rank in the top-5 in both yards BEFORE contact and yards AFTER contact per carry in 2024 The Baltimore Ravens are starting training camp with a high-powered offense featuring top players at key positions. The team had a historic 2024 season, becoming the first in NFL history to achieve both 40 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns, along with 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards. Henry played a key role in those rushing yards, nearly eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark. Men lie, but numbers don't, and Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus just revealed an eye-popping stat that demonstrates just how explosive and dominant the future Hall of Fame running back can be. In his first season with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN analyst says 5 Texans players are worth at least 1 first-round pick
It's almost impossible to determine the true value of a player outside of their respective worth to an individual team. Contract value helps, but even that is situational. On-field play can sometimes tell the story, but it's not direct science. ESPN's Bill Barnwell was posed the question and chose to look at player value in one of the most unique but honest ways: What would a team fetch for them in a hypothetical trade? Most of the players Barnwell looked at won't be traded by their current teams since they add too much value to the roster, but it paints a picture on how hard it would be to pry the best names away from teams, especially when multiple first-round picks are dangled in front of them. Barnwell split the values into three sections: Players worth at least three first-round picks, players worth more than one first-round pick and players worth just one Day 1 selection. Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, by no surprise, was listed as the only player worth three Day 1 selections after two promising years as a top 10 passers. As for the other categories, Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was worth two first-rounds, but also more. That could be a Day 2 selection or proven play, but it differs from Pro Bowl wideout Nico Collins and All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who fell into the two first-round pick category. Second-year defensive back Kamari Lassiter, who arguably was the best cornerback among rookies in 2024, netted one first-round pick while All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter was named an honorable mention. For Stroud, even with what some would consider a regressive sophomore season, having a quarterback with his potential and the value of the position raises the asking price for Houston to move off of him. "Of the 31 quarterbacks who dropped back 600 times between 2023 and 2024, he ranked 21st in Total QBR and 27th in off-target rate," Barnwell wrote. "He's still right alongside Jayden Daniels in the conversation about the league's best quarterbacks on a rookie deal, but 2025 might recalibrate whether we should count on him to take the leap into MVP consideration or settle in as a merely good signal-caller." As for Anderson, his value is higher than Collins' and Stingley's value, not because of his position, but rather his potential. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, only two pass-rushers have a better pass-rush win rate than the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year. The names? All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and do-it-all man Micah Parsons. "Anderson still has two years left on his rookie deal and a potential fifth-year option to come makes him a huge bargain," Barnwell wrote. "Even with prorating his signing bonus, he's making only about $10 million a year over the next two seasons, which is roughly Garrett's monthly rate." Considering how well the Texans have drafted lately, it shouldn't be a surprise to see five of the six players still on their rookie deals. Hunter's age is the only reason why teams could be wary of making a trade with a lucrative contract that feels immovable. Meanwhile, don't be surprised if after this season that Calen Bullock joins the crew as the next name since he's been a nightmare for the offense in training camp. Most teams only have one or two players worth one or two first-round picks. So, while the Texans have some quality talent, they're also one of the few teams with multiple players worth at least two first-round picks. Talk about a promising scouting department, right?
