2015 NFL Preview: Are the Ravens elite?

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Baltimore Ravens

Despite finishing third in the AFC North, the Ravens advanced farther than their rivals in the playoffs, losing a heartbreaking game to the eventual Super Bowl champions in the divisional round. There were plenty of positives to take out of the season, however, including how the Ravens overcame the Ray Rice scandal and losing 19 players to injured reserve to advance as far as they did.

Entering 2015, the Ravens are firmly in the mix, and have found their way into a few analysts' Super Bowl predictions. In what could be a wide-open AFC race, there's no reason to believe the squad doesn't have what it takes to get back to the top of the mountain.

Highlight of 2014

In his first game with the Ravens, wide receiver Steve Smith burst onto the scene and scored a memorable 80-yard touchdown in which he literally threw a defender out of his way.

Preseason Power Ranking - #6

Despite the team losing some key players, there's a lot to like about the Ravens heading into this season. Rookies Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams both have the potential to be immediate contributors on offense, and their secondary appears primed for a resurgence after being decimated by injuries in 2014. More...

2015 Season Outlook

Schedule | Roster

Head Coach: John Harbaugh
Off. Coordinator: Marc Trestman
Def. Coordinator: Dean Pees

Trestman is the major change here. He joins the Ravens in place of Gary Kubiak, who left to become head coach of the Denver Broncos, and is the Ravens' fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons.

Trestman was overmatched as head coach of the Chicago Bears, but looks like a great fit for the Ravens. His scheme, which typically produces big stats for quarterbacks and running backs who can catch, could take the Ravens' offense to new heights.

Key Additions

• WR Breshad Perriman (1st round)
• TE Maxx Williams (2nd round)
• QB Matt Schaub
• S Kendrick Lewis

Key Departures

• DT Haloti Ngata
• WR Torrey Smith
• LB Pernell McPhee
• TE Owen Daniels
• DT Terrence Cody
• QB Tyrod Taylor

As usual, general manager Ozzie Newsome allowed several free agents to depart, most notably Smith and McPhee, and didn't make any immediate moves to replace them. As a result, the Ravens should be able to stockpile compensatory draft picks again in 2016.

Ngata was traded to the Detroit Lions for fourth- and fifth-round draft picks after it became evident he and the Ravens wouldn't come to terms on a contract extension. He leaves a big hole to fill (literally and figuratively), but the Ravens have faith in young D-lineman Timmy Jernigan.

Bold Predictions

Kamar Aiken will lead the Ravens in receiving. Aiken is currently running with the first-team offense and has shown well throughout the offseason. Steve Smith fell off considerably as the year went on last season. At 36 years old, he can't sustain a high-level of play for an entire 16-game schedule. Rookie Breshad Perriman hasn't been able to get on the field in training camp due to a sprained PCL. Aiken may be a relatively unknown player at the moment, but he is going to introduce himself to the world in 2015. - Justin Boone

The Ravens will have a top-five offense and defense. Marc Trestman took a lot of the blame for the Bears' struggles last season, but his strong offensive background should work in his favor in Baltimore. The Ravens' defensive unit will continue to dominate, despite the loss of Haloti Ngata. - Caitlyn Holroyd

Maxx Williams will lead the team in receiving yards - Williams was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft to become the team's tight end of the future, and will be thrust into the role immediately. Williams will serve as a safety valve for Flacco, and will become his top target by year's end. - Arun Srinivasan