5 Ravens who improved the most during the 2021 season
By Justin Fried
The 2021 season was a disappointing year for the Baltimore Ravens in many ways. Despite having legitimate Super Bowl aspirations at the start of the season, injuries and other misfortune tanked those plans before long.
A roster that once looked like one of the deepest in the NFL was left razor-thin at a number of important positions. As a result, the Ravens lost their final six games and fell to 8-9, out of the playoff picture.
But it wasn’t all bad. There were still a few notable positive takeaways from what was an otherwise forgettable season. That’s especially true when looking at the development of certain players on the roster.
Let’s take a look at five players who improved the most over the course of the 2021 season.
5. James Proche, WR, Ravens
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player on the Ravens roster who has worked harder to improve since entering the NFL than James Proche. A sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Proche entered this summer fighting for a roster spot.
A strong showing in training camp assured him a spot on the team, but it didn’t guarantee him a role in the offense. Opportunities were few and far between for Proche in 2021, but whenever he received the chance to shine, shine he did.
Proche finished with only 16 catches for 202 yards, but in the three games he played over 30 percent of snaps, he combined for 14 catches for 165 yards.
Few players maximized their snaps as much as Proche did in 2021 and the strides he’s taken to improve are evident. Here’s to hoping he has a larger role next season.