Baltimore Ravens 2024 Predictions: Devontez Walker Shines, AFC North title, and Todd Monken's Future

The Baltimore Ravens made it to the AFC Championship game last year behind an impressive running game and one of the better defenses in the NFL. They added one of the top runners in the NFL Derrick Henry this offseason, but lost some of their top pass rushers in free agency. How will these moves impact the team this year? In this article, we make 10 predictions about how their season will unfold.

1. Baltimore Ravens win the AFC North

Expect the Baltimore Ravens to secure the AFC North title for the second consecutive year. Their success will be driven by an even more formidable run game, building on last year's league-leading performance. Additionally, they will boast one of the top defenses in the NFL, excelling at complementary football to dominate their division.

Baltimore Ravens get solid rookie season out of fourth round pick Devontez Walker

2. Devontez Walker has at least 500 receiving yards

The rookie who may make the most impact for the team this year is fourth-round pick Devontez Walker. He will likely be the team’s number three receiver this year and has the speed and athletic ability to be a matchup nightmare. Last season, at North Carolina he caught 41 passes in just eight games for 4699 yards and seven touchdowns. Look for him to have similar numbers in his first year with the Ravens as he will hopefully be healthy all year long.

3. Baltimore Ravens will lead the NFL in rushing yards again this season

Last season the Ravens led the NFL in rushing averaging 156.4 yards per game which was 15 more yards than any other team in the NFL. They then went out and improved their running game this offseason with the addition of the most physical runner in the NFL Derrick Henry. They also drafted Roger Rosengarten in the second round, who was one of the better-run blockers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

4. Derrick Henry will have his second-best season in the last three years

A major reason why the Ravens will again lead the NFL in rushing this year is the play of Derrick Henry. Why Henry may see fewer touches this year having carried the ball 280 times last year, he should be more healthy down the stretch which will help him average more than the 4.2 yards per carry he had in 2023. In fact, look for Henry to rush for the second most yards he has had in the last three years with the only season he will have had better in recent history is his 2022 season when he rushed for 1,538 yards.

5. Mark Andrews will produce more this season

Another offensive player expected to see an uptick in production this season is tight end Mark Andrews. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, he will be healthier this season after playing in just 10 games last year. Additionally, with the addition of Devontez Walker and Zay Flowers entering his second NFL season, the Ravens will be able to stretch defenses more vertically, creating more space for Andrews.

6. Nate Wiggins struggles this season

While fourth-round pick Walker will impress teams this year, look for first-round pick Nate Wiggins to have a disappointing season. He will face his share of challenges by receivers who will outmuscle him at the catch point and also will not be able to be counted on in press coverage. While I think Wiggins will struggle in 2024, he still will be able to develop into a solid starting cornerback in the NFL in two or three years.

7. Devin Leary will make the team as the third quarterback

The team spent a sixth-round pick on quarterback Devin Leary this season, and look for him to make the team as their third-string quarterback. A major reason for this is that the Ravens will likely move Malik Cunningham to wide receiver full-time, which is a position he primarily played during OTAs.

8. Baltimore Ravens see a drop in sacks this year

An area where the Ravens will likely regress this season is getting after the quarterback. Last season, the team averaged 3.3 sacks per game, leading the NFL. However, this offseason, they lost two of their top five sack producers: Jadeveon Clowney, who moved to the Carolina Panthers, and Patrick Queen, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

9. Baltimore Ravens make it to the AFC title game

While the Ravens will make it back to the AFC title game, expect them to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs once again. The primary reason for the Ravens' defeat in a close game will be Kansas City's superior passing game.

10. Todd Monken gets a head coaching job

Expect this to be Todd Monken’s last year with the Ravens, as he is likely to take a head coaching job after the season. Teams will be highly interested in Monken after witnessing the progress Lamar Jackson has made under his guidance and the elite running game he has established with the Ravens. One possible fit for him could be the arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers.