After a tremendous offensive season that saw the Baltimore Ravens go for 4,035 yards through the air, which was good for seventh in the NFL, the team’s receiving group is ready to have its best season yet.
Pro Bowler Zay Flowers should improve on his 1,059-yard campaign, and Rashod Bateman earned a three-year extension that will keep him in Baltimore through 2029. It’s safe to say the duo is heading into 2025 with dominance on their mind.
The two weapons have been the talk of the offseason as Flowers is returning from injury and Bateman has already locked into another contract. However, veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been the one stealing the show in OTAs.
Newest Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins turning heads in OTAs
Everyone can’t wait to see what new heights Flowers and Bateman can reach in 2025. Both are coming off career years, and the coaching staff knows both can be even better this season. But it’s Hopkins who has been the star at wide receiver thus far, and he’s already garnering a ton of praise from offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Flowers.
“I don’t really see D-Hop as a third receiver. I see it more as we have three starters at wide receiver,” Monken said. “It’ll be interesting as we get going, especially once we get the pads on, how we can integrate him into the offense, but we’re excited.”
Hopkins couldn’t replicate the success he found in 2023 last year, but it’s clear the Ravens coaching staff believes they can get him back to the player he once was. And it looks like he already proved he still has the juice in OTAs last week, as he was timed at 20 miles per hour and was tied for the second-fastest Raven in the building that day, per his Instagram.
He matters more than what his might stats convey, as well. Hopkins has already been a role model in the locker room and on-field. Many of his teammates, like Flowers, have quickly noticed, and he highlighted Hopkins’ leadership.
“He’s a real vet. He teaches you what he knows about the game and he works hard, too, so it’s easy to follow him,” Flowers said. “It’s easy to get behind him and do what he does. So he’s a great vet, and he’s great for our group.”
With Lamar Jackson slinging the ball with pinpoint accuracy, Hopkins offers Baltimore a real physical threat on the outside in contested catch opportunities for what feels like the first time in Jackson’s career. The 32-year-old also fits in perfectly with Flowers and Bateman. While Flowers brings the shiftiness and Bateman brings splash play ability, Hopkins can use his physicality to separate and win at the catch point.
Going into 2025, the Ravens can burn opposing defenses on every down. Jackson and Derrick Henry lead the way, and a lethal wide receiver trio and tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely will do damage in the passing attack. Throw in one of the league’s top offensive lines, and Baltimore has another recipe for success this year.
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