The beginning of the 2023 common season is nearly a month away. The Baltimore Ravens started coaching camp a number of weeks in the past and can kick off their first preseason sport this Saturday towards the Philadelphia Eagles. Evidently, the soccer aura is right here.

The Ravens have quite a lot of big-name gamers who’re among the finest at their place in Lamar Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, and Mark Andrews, to call a couple of. There are additionally some well-established names past that as nicely throughout the roster.

Who’re some lesser-known or under-the-radar gamers who might play an even bigger half in 2023 than anticipated? Let’s break down a couple of sleeper candidates.

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DT Travis Jones

Heralded as a possible fourth-round steal in final yr’s draft, Jones had a strong, albeit unspectacular rookie season. Heading into his sophomore season, the previous UConn Huskie product’s identify has not been buzzing an entire lot up to now. Nonetheless, the stage is ready for him to make a big impression in 2023.

Jones is without doubt one of the workforce’s trio of younger defensive lineman who wish to step up and substitute the departed Calais Campbell. How the snaps shall be divided up between Jones, Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington (together with veteran starter Michael Pierce) stays to be seen. The latter have been extra talked-about names lately in-part due to contract extension concepts.

With a well-rounded talent set and excessive upside, Jones shall be on the sphere typically regardless, although, and will undoubtedly turn into a family identify because the season progresses. The important thing to his potential shall be consistency.

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CB Jalyn Armour-Davis

With just one yr of beginning expertise at Alabama, Armour-Davis was seen as a developmental prospect after being drafted final yr. That proved true in his rookie season, as he struggled early in September and was principally benched shifting ahead. The ‘baptism by hearth” route didn’t support Armour-Davis instantly, however there’s loads of chance for development in his second season.

At 6-foot-1 with good athleticism, the uncooked expertise and traits are there for Armour-Davis to develop right into a dependable cornerback. He suits the a part of a prototypical outdoors nook with press-man means, which the Ravens have lengthy coveted. Armour-Davis has already reportedly been making strides in coaching camp over the previous couple weeks and incomes some first-team snaps on protection.

In a younger cornerback room past veterans Marlon Humphrey and Rock Ya-Sin, “JAD” will get alternatives to show himself. He’s a candidate to shock many and wind up enjoying a a lot larger function in 2023 than he did final yr.

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RB Justice Hill

Amid J.Okay. Dobbins ongoing absence from coaching camp, the concentration is going to start to shift to the Ravens’ different operating backs. Gus Edwards is the solidified No. 2 on the depth chart and next-in-line starter. Melvin Gordon was signed not way back and undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell has generated some buzz too. The identify flying beneath the radar a bit within the combine is Justice Hill.

Hill, who was re-signed to a two-year contract this Spring, is coming off his most efficient and environment friendly offensive season. Regardless of getting back from a torn Achilles damage, Hill regarded as explosive as ever in restricted spurts. Hill’s ceiling will at all times be capped by the gamers above him on the depth chart however his pass-catching and change-of-pace means are worthy of constant snaps. If Dobbins have been to not play come the common season, this talent set would turn into much more very important and Hill’s function would clearly increase considerably.

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FS Geno Stone

The re-signing of Stone earlier in free company was a quiet transfer, however one that will in the end find yourself being regarded again in rather more constructive gentle. After the Ravens traded away Chuck Clark and with Kyle Hamilton now shifting right into a full-time stater function, Stone’s snaps are in-line to extend. The previous seventh-round decide began seven video games final season in aid of the injured Marcus Williams and crammed in admirably.

Considerably like Williams, Stone possesses vary within the backend which supplies him the flexibility to play deep in protection. That’s a pivotal talent set and one that ought to maintain Stone within the defensive again rotation, significantly in potential three-safety seems. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald might lean into that personnel grouping at occasions given the workforce’s lack of confirmed expertise down the depth the chart on the cornerback.