Possibly…
Many within the NFL are starting to suggest that the Baltimore Ravens may just have the best defense in the entire league. Now, is that an opinion that can widely be shared?
At the moment, it would certainly seem that way! The Ravens needed some help after getting banged up last year, and it was evident on both sides of the ball, hence why we witnessed a rather encouraging start peter out to be a rather disappointing season.
The team had a number of needs to address in the offseason, and it seems John Harbaugh and GM Eric DeCosta sat down and got everything right once again when they were at the table looking at the priorities that they had.
Marcus Williams is a big plus
The defense was certainly one area, and the franchise made one of its most important moves right off the bat when theft managed to acquire Marcus Williams in free agency. Indeed, the safety was argued to be one of the best to have been made available in the market, and the Ravens made sure they got their man.
There is no doubt that he will be able to make an immediate difference to the secondary, as he is an experienced pro that will be able to bring an amazing turn of pace and athleticism to the roster, whilst also having the ability to make game-changing plays as he has proven himself to be a fine player with the ball.
Further returns will help the Baltimore defense
The Baltimore Ravens were one of the unluckiest teams in the entire NFL last season as they continued to suffer from a number of bangs throughout the year. They even lost a number of stars before the year even began, which is perhaps why they had a tough 2021 campaign.
However, they should have Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey back from the injuries that they had suffered, whilst also adding Kyle Fuller to the squad from the free agency market. This will instantly make them stronger.
The experienced veteran Calais Campbell will also return, thus likely to continue to make the defense tick and be as impactful as it ever was given his ability on the gridiron, whilst it is also possible that Michael Pierce could have an impact on this side of the ball after a couple of difficult years with the Minnesota Vikings.
He will need to prove himself, though, but if he can prove to be better than Brandon Williams, then the Ravens will feel that their defense has been upgraded significantly.
Will the improvement in defense help them win Super Bowl LVII?
Of course, when you have Lamar Jackson as your quarterback on offense, anything is possible for the Baltimore Ravens, however the defense is still going to need to come up big if they are to have a chance of winning the Super Bowl this season.
And, whilst it has been argued that the team might have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL, it does not seem as though they are a favorite to be competing for the championship. In fact, according to the betting odds to have been made available at a top sportsbook, the Ravens have been presented with a price of +1,800, with a number of teams thought to have a better chance than they do.
However, could there be a surprising X-factor this season?
Defensive rookies could play a huge role
One of the great things about the offseason is the fact that the NFL Draft has taken place, and we get to see what some of the best college prospects from the previous year can offer teams.
The Ravens took on a couple of defensive prospects that certainly appear to have a high ceiling and if they can perform to expectations, then there might be plenty to get excited about.
Kyle Hamilton is one of those, with the safety widely believed to be a star of the future given the potential that he has. David Ojabo is another that could potentially carve a solid career for himself and would have likely gone in the first round if he did not suffer a horrible Achilles injury on his Pro Day.
Let’s not forget, while he is not a rookie anymore, Odafe Oweh could also be a force now that he has a year’s worth of NFL experience under his belt. Add him to the defensive lineup, and it is clear why many are suggesting the Ravens have one of the best defensive rosters.
Conclusion
As mentioned, it is possible to agree that the Baltimore Ravens may have the best defensive roster in the NFL at this moment, which will likely excite fans of the organization. However, they will need to keep injury-free, and what they are able to do on the field is something that remains to be seen at this stage.
