Which Ravens are Primed for a 2024 Breakout?

It’s appropriate that I am writing a piece about the Ravens I anticipate having the best chance for breakout seasons on the same day as the Liars’ Luncheon (aka the pre-draft Ravens press conference).

As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, the Luncheon focuses on the potential players and positions the team is targeting. However, a big part of the draft process is looking at the current roster and figuring out which younger players already in the pipeline have the inside track on potential starting positions.

For instance, just a year ago, the team had holes to fill when they lost veterans such as Ben Powers, Chuck Clark and Marcus Peters. From those departures emerged John Simpson, Geno Stone and Brandon Stephens.

In the case of Stone and Stephens, you could argue they turned into cornerstone type players. Stone was able to parlay his breakout season into a big payday in free agency from the Cincinnati Bengals, continuing the tradition, just as Powers did the year prior with Denver.

This is the Baltimore Ravens’ way. They let talented players leave via free agency and look for players on a promotion path to fill those openings. Normally they hit on a couple of these in-house replacements every season. All the while, the national media (and some local…) always seems to forget.

While the draft may tell us a different story depending on who is added, here is a look at four Ravens who I see as the potential Stone and Stephens of 2024.

Travis Jones

I cheated a bit with Travis Jones as my top breakout candidate, as he isn’t really replacing any player on the defensive line who left. In fact, Eric DeCosta was able to keep Justin Madubuike on a long-term deal – which he absolutely should have. He was also able to keep Michael Pierce for another season, and Broderick Washington remains in the mix.

But Jones is poised to keep usurping snaps away from the front line, somehow, some way. The third-year enforcer was labeled a “specimen” by former defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. His play strength is off the charts – and you see examples of this when he’s bench pressing offensive linemen to anchor in the hole against the run.

However, he is also nimble and quick, which didn’t always show up in college because he played in a phone booth (old reference), but it did reflect his combine performance – Jones scored the third best athleticism score of the class.

That lateral agility came across clearly on the field when he was chasing Patrick Mahomes in the open field, in the AFC Championship, and C.J. Stroud the week before in the Divisional round. In fact, Jones was arguably the most impactful player on defense in that game, which is saying something given the number of stars on the field.

Travis Jones has been such a stud. Looked like he might have impacted the FG blocking to an extent. He’s been all over the place in pursuit as a pass rusher too. Playing a rock star game. #Ravens #RavensFlock

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) January 20, 2024

It is clear that Jones is taking to the Baltimore coaching staff and tutelage from veterans like Pierce. He’s got Incredible Hulk-like raw power on a straight bull rush, but his first step is also dangerous. There really is no way to handle him when he’s on top of his power game. He’ll ragdoll even the very best interior offensive linemen.

I expect a big season from Jones and he might push Pierce for the starting nose tackle job.

Trenton Simpson

The spotlight is on the former Clemson Tiger and 2023 third-round pick with Patrick Queen moving on to Pittsburgh. Right on cue, DeCosta was asked about Trenton Simpson during the Luncheon and this is what he had to say:

“Trenton is going to have a great season,” DeCosta said. “He has a great attitude. I think he grew as much as anyone this year. He showed up on special teams, he played on defense, he made some plays late in the year. He has as much talent as any inside linebacker in this year’s draft class.”

To DeCosta’s point, the raw talent – athleticism, speed and explosion – oozes off the screen. Simpson looks as fluid as a safety playing linebacker. His movement and sideline-to-sideline tracking ability is special.

Against Pittsburgh in the season finale, Simpson scored an 80.4 PFF grade with one sack and two tackles for loss.

It wasn’t just the raw numbers that stood out. It’s how Simpson passed the eye test. He was decisive and attacked without hesitation. On one play in particular on a flat pass to tailback Najee Harris, Simpson shot the play and corralled the big back in the open field, on a rainy field at that. It was one of the most impressive plays from any of the linebackers last season, and that was with two All Pros playing ahead of him.

Dominant debut. Simpson’s ability to take away the flats & hit the sidelines jumped out the most to me.

Can’t wait to see his role grow & Macdonald to figure out ways to deploy Simpson like a mad scientist.

If it’s even possible, they have yet another matchup counter. #Ravens https://t.co/aUtIsYzyXm

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) January 8, 2024

Taking over for Queen, one of the best inside linebackers in the game, is a daunting task, but the physical traits are too exciting to ignore. Even where Simpson might make his share of mistakes (and he will), he has the recovery speed and range to make up for it.

And his rare speed will be a weapon for defensive coordinator Zach Orr to unleash in certain down and distance situations and matchup scenarios. He’s an exciting chess piece who should only grow with more experience.

Ben Cleveland

If you told me prior to the 2023 season that I would be writing about Ben Cleveland as a potential breakout candidate, let alone possible starter, I would have told you he is closer to not making the team. However, Cleveland did indeed survive the “Turk.” Not only did he make the team, he earned more snaps in designated packages, and he started two games in place of Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler.

With Zeitler now moving on to Detroit, Cleveland is the natural successor. And quite frankly, it’s about damn time.

Cleveland was drafted in the third round in the 2021 NFL Draft with some hype. Just like Jones and Simpson, Cleveland is a high-testing prospect who showed off better athleticism than you would expect from a ridiculously large human. In that draft class, Cleveland was also regarded as one of the best pass-blocking guards, and the overall upside has always been pretty clear.

However, Cleveland simply had not stepped up to wrestle the job away from others, even in two seasons where there was open competition.

Perhaps it was as simple as Cleveland needing to settle in at right guard, where he backed up Zeitler. In his starts, the former Georgia Bulldog looked good, anchoring at the point in the running game and handling various pass pro responsibilities, including pass rush stunts and blitz combinations.

This is the #Ravens way. Ben Powers was the most recent. Then you’ve had guys like Ryan Jensen & Rick Wagner in the past, as examples. They’ve all gone on for nice payday on 2nd contracts.

I liked what I saw from Ben & I’ve been one of his harshest critics. #RavensFlock https://t.co/XzAXTj19ec

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) February 20, 2024

He has pretty good footwork and processes well in the passing game. The question is if Cleveland can handle movement and open space responsibilities in the running game, if offensive coordinator Todd Monken needs to expand his blocking strike zone.

Ultimately, Cleveland has the talent to be a reliable starter, and it seems like he’s putting in the work too.

Ar’Darius Washington

If you follow me closely on Russell Street Report or on Twitter, you’ll know I have been bullish on Ar’Darius Washington for some time now. Honestly, from the moment the team snagged him as an undrafted free agent in 2021, I was hooked.

In fact, I talked about what Washington brought to the table as a prospect along with my friends Michael Crawford and James Ogden in a previous roundtable discussion.

Washington really should have been drafted that year. He was projected by some analysts to be selected as high as the second round. He fell through the cracks because of size – at 5 ‘8,” 176 pounds, he is fighting an uphill battle every week to compete in the league.

What Washington lacks in size, he makes up for in processing, instincts and physicality. He’s someone who will throw his body around and mix it up with bigger dudes in the box. His versatility – to play slot, box safety and deep safety – is also unique and stands out for a defense that is all about being position-less.

Washington makes the most sense to slip into that third safety role that Stone handled. Where he will likely struggle is against bigger receivers. As the starting slot corner in the first two games of the 2023 season, he was exploited by the Cincinnati Bengals’ and their group of dynamic pass catchers in Week 2.

Instead, what makes more sense is to limit Washington’s man coverage opportunities out of the slot and keep him in more of a joker role where he can move around and attack in space. If anything, this is probably the right time to get Kyle Hamilton back involved in more slot work along with Arthur Maulet, who really seized that job after Washington went down with a chest injury earlier in the season.

Washington also has the coverage versatility to handle the pre-snap disguise and movement that was a trademark of Mike Macdonald’s defense and should remain a staple under Orr.