Exciting Ravens' possibility can't be ignored amid defensive revamp

There's a ton of positive buzz around the Baltimore Ravens' revamped defense. They bolstered their front seven by signing Trey Hendrickson, Calais Campbell, and drafting Zion Young, while, of course, hiring defensive guru Jesse Minter as their head coach.

Amid all of this understandable excitement, what can't get lost is the possibility of internal improvement. This is particularly possible from three second-year players: Malaki Starks, Mike Green, and Teddye Buchanan. These players all showed flashes of their upside as rookies, but with another year of development, a better system, and more talent around them, they could all flourish. 

And if they can take strides in the right direction, in tandem with the Ravens' offseason additions, we will witness a true defensive surge.

Recently, two of these players (Starks and Buchanan) earned a spot on Pro Football Focus' breakout players list -- and it's easy to see why. 

The Baltimore Ravens' defense has several possible breakout players

Starks was considered a blue-chip safety prospect when the Ravens drafted him in the first-round of the 2025 draft. He had a solid, albeit not fantastic, rookie season. The best part of Starks' rookie season was his ball-hawk abilities, highlighted by two interceptions. However, he has to improve in coverage and general discipline. 

Thankfully, he showed a ton of progress toward the end of the season. Furthermore, Minter's system can help Starks' growth. With ample improvement, the safety duo of Starks and Kyle Hamilton can become the league's best safety pairing by a long shot. 

Linebacker Buchanan tore his ACL in Week 14, but he is expected to return from this injury sooner rather than later, per general manager Eric DeCosta. And of the Ravens' three top defensive rookies last year, Buchanan was arguably the standout. He notably recorded 93 combined tackles, which ranked third on the team.

PFF might not have listed edge rusher Mike Green on their breakout team, but he should've been. Green didn't have an ideal rookie season, but he flashed upside as a pass-rusher. It's worth noting that Green led the FBS in sacks back in 2024. As such, he has a ton of upside to be a ferocious pass rusher. 

Between Minter's system and playing alongside Hendrickson, Green should elevate his game. 

After an embarrassingly bad defensive season, the Ravens are primed to get back to their standard of elite defense. Most of the dialogue around this possibility understandably comes from the Ravens' offseason additions. Regardless, the possibility of internal development, especially from the intriguing sophomore trio of Starks, Green, and Buchanan, must be considered. 

If these three young defenders can level up, the Ravens' defense could truly be a terrifying sight for opposing teams. 

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