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The Baltimore Ravens had a great 2023 season but it finished with regrets. They were the top seed in the AFC. They had handily dismantled the San Francisco 49ers, the eventual NFC champions, when they met in the regular season. They were playing at home in the AFC Championship game. They had the league MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson. They had a coach who had experience going all the way.
Yet, they fumbled their line against the Chiefs and lost out. The new season offers the Ravens players their first chance at redemption. Some have left but there are a lot of familiar faces. There are some new additions too. Here are the five players who will determine if Baltimore can go a couple of steps further than last season.
Baltimore Ravens' most important players for 2024
#5 - Marlon Humphrey
Marlon Humphrey did not make the Pro Bowl last year but was on the reserves. He did that despite playing just 10 games. He is one of the best corners in the league when it comes to shutting down the opposition by being physical. With a high work rate and a penchant for forcing fumbles, he remains a key player who can change any game.
#4 - Mark Andrews
Observers have often lamented that Baltimore doesn't have a premier wide receiver for Lamar Jackson and one of the reasons that they have succeeded even without that limitation is because of their tight end. Mark Andrews has been consistent in putting in the hard yards and standing up when it matters.
He only played 10 games last season, but like Humphrey, he was a Pro Bowl reserve. He was considered so important that he was brought back for the AFC Championship game, where unfortunately he could not change the outcome. He will be tasked once more to be the offensive weapon of choice for Lamar Jackson and he will need to deliver for the Ravens to succeed.
#3 - Roquan Smith
Roquan Smith will be crucial, as a linebacker, in cutting down opposing offenses. Drafted by the Bears in 2018, he has found a new lease of life with the Ravens since joining them in 2022. He has made it to the Pro Bowl in both years that he has been in Baltimore.
He has consistently averaged above 160 combined tackles per season ever since the league switched to 17 games. He is rarely injured, extremely consistent, and also great at reading the game and deflecting passes. He will be critical in filling the gaps on defense and keeping the Ravens in close games.
#2 - Derrick Henry
Baltimore added the best running back in the league because it wanted an elite threat behind Lamar Jackson. Having someone like the former Titans star stomping up from the offensive backfield does two things. It frees Lamar Jackson to not put his body on the line as much. And it allows him a decoy for pass-action plays or a quarterback-run play.
Derrick Henry maintaining his form will be crucial to freeing up space in the defensive backfield and getting the Ravens' offense going.
#1 - Lamar Jackson
The most important player for the Ravens is their quarterback. The reigning NFL MVP was phenomenal last year and will hope to continue his form. When he was injured in the seasons prior to this, they looked like a different team. The roster is made keeping his strengths and dual-threat ability in mind. It does not work with anyone else.
As long as Baltimore can keep him fit and firing, the Ravens will be in with an excellent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
