3 players who will have the biggest impact on the Ravens' season
Each week, theScore will go division by division, highlighting which three players' performances will most impact their team's season in 2017.
Breshad Perriman
The Ravens' defense ranked in the top 10 for the third consecutive season, yet Baltimore finished outside of the playoff picture. The link likely lies in a Ravens offense that was 21st in points scored.
Should the Ravens improve on their 8-8 record of a year ago, it may be because Perriman will have grown into a solid contributor. Taken with Baltimore's first-round pick in 2015, Perriman has started just one game since. He missed his entire rookie season due to knee trouble and hauled in 33 passes for 499 yards in his redshirt year.
The Ravens are expecting a breakout from him. Teammate Mike Wallace predicts he'll be "one of the top receivers in this league this year."
Danny Woodhead
The Chargers' season fell apart last year when Woodhead suffered a torn ACL in the second week. The do-everything back acted as a safety valve for quarterback Philip Rivers, one he sorely missed the rest of the year.
Baltimore signed the nine-year vet in the offseason to fill the same role. Fellow Raven running back Kenneth Dixon will begin the season serving a four-game suspension. If the Ravens are to get off to a strong start in 2017, they'll need Woodhead and the rest of a rushing group that includes Terrance West and Buck Allen to provide immediate production.
Brandon Carr
The Ravens also signed a new starting corner in free agency, inking Carr to take the spot vacated by Lardarius Webb, in hopes of pairing him with Jimmy Smith to fortify the secondary.
Carr has been a solid contributor his entire nine-year career. He has yet to miss a game and has started every contest.
The Ravens won't need him to be spectacular, but merely be functional, as first-round pick Marlon Humphrey develops behind him.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)