The Baltimore Ravens are set to begin their 2025 NFL season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in Orchard Park. The Week 1 matchup is sure to be one of the best of the year, pitting two of the most talented rosters in the league against each other on opening kickoff weekend. For the Ravens, they have many high-level starters ready to avenge last season’s playoff loss, but they also have a deep rookie class looking to introduce themselves.
Baltimore is typically a tough place for rookies to see consistent reps, but this year’s draft class has several rookies seeing the field in pivotal roles early. Here are two rookies who are poised to make a quick impact in their NFL debuts against Buffalo.
2 Ravens rookies set to light it up in NFL debuts vs. Bills
Mike Green
The Ravens need 2025 second-round selection Mike Green to make an impact on Sunday. They struggled to pressure Josh Allen in last year’s playoff matchup, allowing him and the Bills’ offense to have moments where they meticulously drove down the field for scores. Green was the type of edge rusher they missed greatly last year, and he could prove to be a massive game-changer in Week 1.
Green led the college ranks in sacks in 2024 with 17 at Marshall. He also had the second-most tackles for loss at 23. In the preseason, the 22-year-old showcased those effortless pressure abilities, racking up six hurries and putting his incredible quickness and bend on full display.
This is insane bend from Mike Green at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. 🤯
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 8, 2025
(📸 by @shawn_hubbard) pic.twitter.com/mckXQehGoj
The regular season will be a different animal, but he will get his opportunities against Buffalo. He provides a different pace that starters Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh do not possess, and should make some crucial plays throughout the game.
Tyler Loop
Out of the entire rookie class, Loop is under the most pressure on Sunday night. Against a competitive team like Buffalo, every point will count, and the Ravens need the rookie kicker to make those clutch kicks when called upon. Everything up to now, though, tells us he is ready for the moment.
Although he struggled at the beginning of the offseason, he took off after the team cut his competition, undrafted rookie John Hoyland. He ran with the opportunity and captivated fans in the preseason, going 9-for-11 on field goal attempts, and booting an astonishing make from 61 yards out with plenty of room to spare. Since then, he has been locked in and is preparing for the opportunity in every way imaginable.
Some days, when the rest of the team is practicing at Owings Mills, Loop has been allowed to get acclimated with the NFL stadium atmosphere and kick at M&T Bank Stadium. Obviously, Highmark Stadium is a completely different climate, but having the chance to adjust to a professional football field can do wonders for a rookie kicker. It should pay off.
Other rookies like Malaki Starks and LaJohntay Wester should see a good bit of action, but the performance of Green and Loop is crucial for Baltimore to come out with a win.