Ravens training camp: Under-the-radar players to watch on defense
· Yahoo Sports
The Baltimore Ravens do not lack star power on defense.
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Trey Hendrickson gives Baltimore a premier edge rusher. Roquan Smith remains the centerpiece at inside linebacker. Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks could form one of the NFL’s most versatile safety duos, while Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Chidobe Awuzie give the secondary established names at cornerback. Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, and Broderick Washington headline a defensive front with power, experience, and proven production.
Training camp, however, is rarely defined only by the stars. Baltimore’s championship hopes could also depend on the players fighting for rotational roles, special teams spots, and final roster positions. Those names will not receive the same daily attention, but they could shape the depth chart once pads come on.
Here are under-the-radar defensive players to watch when Ravens training camp opens.
Aeneas Peebles
Peebles is one of the more intriguing defensive linemen on the roster because his path is tied to Baltimore’s depth up front. The Ravens have high-end talent on the defensive line, but Anthony Weaver’s group will need more than four trusted players to survive a full season. Peebles has an opportunity to show he can provide interior quickness, disruptiveness, and energy behind the established rotation. If he flashes during one-on-one periods and holds up against the run in team drills, he could force the Ravens to think hard about keeping another young defensive lineman.
Rayshaun Benny
Benny is another defensive lineman worth watching because of his familiarity with Jesse Minter and defensive line coach Lou Esposito from Michigan. That background should help him adjust quickly to the expectations, technique, and practice standards Baltimore will demand. The Ravens do not need Benny to become an immediate starter, but they need young depth behind Madubuike, Jones, Campbell, Washington, and John Jenkins. If Benny shows he can handle double teams, play with leverage, and provide early-down value, he could become a difficult player to cut.
Adisa Isaac
Isaac enters camp in one of the most competitive position groups on the roster. Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, and Zion Young give Baltimore a deep edge rotation, while Kaimon Rucker is also fighting for a place in the picture. Isaac’s challenge is clear. He has to show he can affect the quarterback, set the edge, and contribute on special teams. The Ravens have invested heavily in pass rushers, and that makes every practice rep important for a young outside linebacker trying to prove he still belongs in the long-term plan.
Kaimon Rucker
Rucker may not have a simple path to the 53-man roster, but that does not make him any less interesting. Edge depth is valuable, and Baltimore has consistently found ways to develop young pass rushers who fit its defensive identity. Rucker needs to stand out with effort, physicality, and special teams value. He will also need to show he can win in different ways instead of relying only on energy. If he turns preseason pressure into production, the Ravens could have another tough decision at outside linebacker.
Jay Higgins IV
Higgins is in a fascinating spot because Baltimore’s inside linebacker depth remains worth monitoring behind Smith, Teddye Buchanan, and Trenton Simpson. Buchanan’s recovery from a torn ACL will shape part of the second-level picture, while Simpson enters a pivotal season with a chance to become the clear running mate next to Smith. That leaves Higgins trying to prove he can be more than camp depth. His best path is through physical tackling, communication, coverage discipline, and special teams production. A strong summer could put him in a position to challenge for one of the final linebacker spots.
Carl Jones Jr.
Jones is another inside linebacker who could benefit from a wide-open depth conversation. Baltimore did not draft an inside linebacker, which gives players like Jones and Higgins a real opportunity to make an impression. Jones must show he can diagnose quickly, finish tackles, and avoid being overwhelmed in coverage against running backs and tight ends. If he becomes a consistent special-teams presence, he could remain in the roster conversation longer than expected.
Keyon Martin
Martin may be one of the most important under-the-radar names in camp because of the nickel competition. The Ravens have multiple ways to handle slot duties, including moving Humphrey or Hamilton inside in certain packages, but they also need true cornerback depth capable of surviving against three-receiver sets. Martin played defensive snaps last season and has a chance to show that experience helped him grow. His camp will be judged on tackling, route recognition, communication, and whether he can hold up against quick receivers in space.
Bilhal Kone
Kone gives Baltimore another long, developmental cornerback to evaluate in a crowded room. Wiggins, Humphrey, Awuzie, and T.J. Tampa sit ahead of most of the competition, but the Ravens still need depth corners who can cover, tackle, and play special teams. Kone’s size and traits make him interesting, but his roster path will depend on consistency. If he can limit explosive plays, finish at the catch point, and make himself useful on coverage units, he could push his way into a serious roster battle.
Chandler Rivers
Rivers has a legitimate chance to become one of the most closely watched defensive backs in camp because his skill set fits a need. Baltimore’s official projection listed him as a cornerback who projects inside at nickel, and that gives him a defined path if he can handle the speed and complexity of the role. Nickel defenders in the modern NFL must tackle like safeties, cover like cornerbacks, and communicate like linebackers. Rivers does not have to win the job immediately, but if he looks comfortable in the slot, he could make the Ravens’ secondary even more flexible.
Keondre Jackson
Jackson is easy to overlook because Hamilton, Starks, and Jaylinn Hawkins sit ahead of him in the safety conversation, but his value could come through special teams and sub-package versatility. Baltimore has long placed a premium on defensive backs who can cover kicks, tackle in space, and serve as emergency depth at multiple spots. Jackson’s camp will be about reliability. If he communicates well, avoids assignment mistakes, and continues to show special teams value, he could strengthen his case for a roster spot.
The Ravens’ defensive stars will set the ceiling, but the back end of the roster could determine how complete this group becomes. Training camp will give Baltimore a closer look at which young linemen can survive in the trenches, which linebackers can provide depth behind Smith, Buchanan, and Simpson, and which defensive backs can help a secondary loaded with top-end talent.
That is where players such as Peebles, Benny, Isaac, Rucker, Higgins, Jones, Martin, Kone, Rivers, and Jackson become important. Not all of them will make the roster. Some may be practice squad candidates. Others could force their way into special teams roles or rotational packages. The Ravens already know what their stars can do. Camp will help reveal whether the defense has enough hidden depth to match its championship expectations.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens training camp: Under-the-radar players to watch on defense