OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens' training camp runs from Wednesday to Aug. 13 at the Under Armour Performance Center.
Coming off another strong offseason, the Ravens are looking to become the first team to win three straight AFC North titles. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry return to headline the NFL's No. 1 offense. Baltimore bolstered the 31st-ranked pass defense by adding former Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and drafting safety Malaki Starks in the first round. Asked about the heightened expectations for being one of the Super Bowl favorites, Ravens coach John Harbaugh recited the Billie Jean King quote by saying, "Pressure is a privilege."
Here's a closer look at what we are watching at camp -- and a 53-man roster prediction:
How much does the loss of Justin Tucker impact a championship-caliber team?
The Ravens parted ways with one of the best kickers in NFL history in May when they released Tucker amid an NFL investigation for sexual misconduct. To find its first new kicker in 14 seasons, Baltimore will hold a competition between two rookies: sixth round pick Tyler Loop and undrafted John Hoyland. From the Ravens' perspective, they're not replacing the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, which is a title that Tucker still holds. Baltimore is looking to upgrade from a 35-year-old Tucker, who missed a career-worst 10 kicks last season and was 53.3% (16-of-30) from beyond 50 yards the past three years.
Three players to watch
CB Jaire Alexander. The availability of the former Green Bay Packers defensive back will be a major storyline to watch all summer. Alexander has made the Pro Bowl in his last two healthy seasons, but he's missed a total of 34 games over the last four seasons. With Alexander signing his one-year, $4 million deal on the final day of minicamp, the first time the Ravens will see him on the field is training camp.
WR DeAndre Hopkins. Training camp will be an important time for Hopkins and Lamar Jackson to gain chemistry. With Jackson attending one voluntary workout and two minicamp practices, he's had limited time to work with Hopkins, Baltimore's biggest free agent addition on offense. Hopkins is coming off a season in which he totaled 610 yards receiving (the second-lowest of his 12-year career), but he is expected to produce more than the Ravens' recent No. 3 receivers in Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr.
PR LaJohntay Wester. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged this offseason that he didn't do a good enough job last year of addressing the return game. That's why Baltimore invested a sixth-round pick on Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, who has the speed to become an impact returner. But if the rookie struggles, especially with ball security, Baltimore could turn to Tylan Wallace or look for a more experienced returner before the start of the season.
Key position battles
Kicker. Loop and Hoyland both had up-and-down moments in the spring, which makes this the most hotly contested position battle of Ravens training camp. Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown found both rookies after scouring the country to find a replacement for Tucker. Loop, who is the first kicker ever drafted by the Ravens, has the edge with his booming leg but Hoyland can't be discounted after a solid offseason.
Left guard. Andrew Vorhees is the favorite to replace Patrick Mekari, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Vorhees will have to beat out Ben Cleveland, who received work with the starters during the spring, as well. A seventh-round pick in 2023, Vorhees won the left guard starting spot coming out of camp last season but he lost the job after three games. This is the only starting job up for grabs on the Baltimore offense.
Keep an eye on: the next Ravens player to land a new deal
Baltimore has been proactive this offseason in signing running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver Rashod Bateman to contract extensions. The Ravens still have a lengthy to-do list as far as contracts, including quarterback Lamar Jackson whose salary-cap number balloons to $74.5 million next year. There are four notable starters who are entering the final year of their contracts: tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely; center Tyler Linderbaum; and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh. Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton had his fifth-year option picked up, but the Ravens want to ultimately sign him to an extension, too.
53-man roster projection
QB (2): Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush
RB (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali
FB (1): Patrick Ricard
WR (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, LaJohntay Wester
TE (3): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar
OL (9): Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Ben Cleveland, Joe Noteboom, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson
DL (5): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles
OLB (5): Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac
ILB (4): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jacob Hummel
CB (7): Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, T.J. Tampa, Bilhal Kone
S (4): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade
Special teams (3): K Tyler Loop, P Jordan Stout, LS Nick Moore