Rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane was the main standout of the Baltimore Ravens' training camp. It felt like every day Lane was making a jaw-dropping highlight. After Jamison Hensley noted that he had never seen a rookie like him, Lane entered the national spotlight.
Moreover, as a big-bodied 6-foot-4 wide receiver with a knack for contested catches and a red-zone monster, he fills a clear void for the Ravens. And with the Ravens' WR room not having much established talent outside of Zay Flowers, Lane could be the team's WR2.
In a rookie class that's filled with uncertainty on the offensive side of the ball, Lane could have a path to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year if everything goes right for him.
Ja'Kobi Lane is primed to have a major role in the Baltimore Ravens' offense
Beyond the Ravens simply needing an extra pass-catcher, Lane gives their offense an element they've long lacked. Throughout his entire career, Lamar Jackson has lacked a big-bodied WR who can make explosive plays and be a dependable red-zone threat. As such, it's fair to expect Jackson to target Lane often, both in the red zone and on a down-to-down basis.
Furthermore, the Ravens are set to air out the ball and hunt explosive plays under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. In a Lamar-led offense, there are always going to be a ton of scoring opportunities to begin with, and Doyle's system makes this especially true.
Likewise, the Ravens are primed to be one of the best overall teams, and if Lane is a featured piece of the offense, he'll surely gain some OROY buzz as a result. All signs point to Lane being heavily involved in the offense and being a difference-maker from the get-go.
Lane's absolute upside is a Tetairoa McMillan-like season. McMillan is the reigning OROY, and Lane shares clear similarities, as both players are X-receivers with impressive catch radius. Look, a 1,014-yard, seven-touchdown season is a really high bar for Lane. However, if everything falls into place, this is the type of production he could have, especially in an elite Ravens offense.
There's no clear favorite for OROY
Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Fernando Mendoza, Jadarian Price, and De'Zhaun Stribling are among the favorites to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Frankly, most of these players have red flags attached to them.
Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said, "He's definitely a rookie," while praising the team's veteran running backs after he was asked about Love in training camp. Plus, the Arizona Cardinals might be the worst offense in the league.
Tate could similarly be hampered by the Tennessee Titans' bad offense, and he didn't catch any of his targets in preseason. It's unclear when Mendoza will start. Price is part of a running back-by-committee offense with the Seattle Seahawks, and that's before Zach Charbonnet's return. Much like Lane, Stribling was a training camp standout, and he doesn't have a ton of target competition with the San Francisco 49ers.
Regardless, none of these guys are a clear juggernaut. In other years, the bar may have been too high for Lane, but this year the OROY race feels wide open ahead of the season.
And with Lane playing for what should be a playoff contender, that could boost his case for the award.
When considering this along with Lane's impressive skill set, if he has a strong season, some hardware could be in the cards.
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