10 Ravens who exceeded expectations during 2023 NFL season
The Baltimore Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.
Where things currently stand, Baltimore is expected to have roughly $7,328,828 in cap space via OverTheCap, the 20th most in the NFL.
The Ravens amassed the best record in the NFL (13-4) but could not advance to the Super Bowl after a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC title game.
With the offseason underway, we’re looking at ten players who exceeded expectations during the 2023 regular season.
QB Lamar Jackson
The expectation was that Jackson would play well in 2023, but he improved leaps and bounds under first year OC, Todd Monken.
Jackson, the 2023 NFL MVP, threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 821 yards and five scores. He helped the Baltimore Ravens (13-4) finish with the best record in the league and led them to a playoff win over Houston.
Jackson received 45 of 50 votes for AP first-team All-Pro.
RB Keaton Mitchell
The undrafted rookie outplayed Melvin Gordon in the preseason, and by midseason, was the most productive running back on the roster.
Mitchell was one of the highest graded players on offense, and finished his rookie year with 47 attempts, for 396 yards and two touchdowns in 8 appearances with two starts.
WR Zay Flowers
The young rookie carried the Ravens passing attack, logging 77 catches for 858 yards and 5 touchdowns on 108 targets.
TE Isaiah Likely
Playing in relief of an injured Mark Andrews, Likely started 8 of 17 games in 2023, logging 30 catches for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney finished the year as one of the highest graded performers, logging a career high 9 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 51 hurries and 71 QB pressures.
DB Geno Stone
Stone started 11 of 17 games for Baltimore this season, finishing second in the NFL with 7 interceptions, along with 68 tackles and 9 passes defended.
CB Brandon Stephens
Stephens started 16 games at cornerback, and the converted safety logged two interceptions, and a 65.5 grade in coverage.
DT Justin Madubuike
Madubuike had a breakout season with a career-high 13 sacks to lead all NFL defensive linemen. He recorded at least a half-sack in 11 straight games (weeks 4-15), tying the record for the longest streak in NFL history.
LB Patrick Queen
Queen had a career-high 133 tackles (84 solo) and matched a career high with six passes defensed, while adding 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Queen is the only NFL defender to produce at least 400 tackles, 10 sacks and 10 takeaways since he entered the league in 2020.
DB Kyle Hamilton
First round picks are expected to produce, but Hamilton has developed into one of the league’s top defensive players in only his second season.
Hamilton became the first NFL defender since Tyrann Mathieu in 2015 to notch four interceptions, ten passes defended and at least 10 tackles for loss in a single season. Hamilton had three sacks and 13 passes defensed.
