The 2025 Ravens rookie class has been one of the most utilized groups of rookies in recent years for Baltimore. Multiple guys are contributing every week, playing meaningful snaps and having impact plays.
It’s time to review their recent trip to Minnesota.
Malaki Starks
Starks followed up his breakout game in Miami with another excellent performance in Minneapolis and has arguably been the best safety in the NFL the last two weeks. On Sunday, he showed off the ball skills that made him the top safety in his draft class with another acrobatic interception, this time over Vikings All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson. The first-round pick has finally flashed some game-changing playmaking after steady-but-unspectacular play to start the season. Let’s hope he keeps trending up.
Mike Green
Green continues to look more and more comfortable rushing the passer in the NFL. He just missed out on his third straight game with a sack, but had his most productive day in terms of pressures. Green was credited with four pressures by PFF, including three quarterback hits against McCarthy. He was a major influence on what should have been the game-sealing interception by Roquan Smith before it was strangely taken away with little fanfare. Beating Christian Darrisaw in a clutch moment to seal the game is a big moment for a rookie, and it shouldn’t go understated. With Green developing and Dre’Mont Jones in the fold, the Ravens’ pass rush will hopefully continue to get better.
Teddye Buchanan
As expected, Buchanan’s role has decreased with Roquan Smith back on the field. The rookie linebacker’s snap count has dropped each week since Smith’s return; this week, he played only 58% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps, his lowest share since Week 1. In a more streamlined role next to Smith – and with Kyle Hamilton in the box – Buchanan has been playing his best ball this season, This is exactly what you’d expect from a rookie: thriving in a smaller, more focused role that allows him to play more freely and let the game come to him. Buchanan finished second on the team in tackles in Minnesota despite a more limited role and earned a 77.7 PFF grade for his efforts.
Carson Vinson
Vinson earned the gameday activation despite the entire offensive line being healthy, getting a spot over veteran swing tackle Joseph Noteboom. This, by itself, tells us how much Vinson has improved in practice and how confident the coaches are in him. They were ready for Vinson to protect Lamar Jackson’s blind side if Stanley were to leave mid-game, something that is always possible with his ankle situation. The Ravens drafted Vinson as a developmental tackle who has all the physical tools to be a franchise left tackle one day, and it’s great to see him making progress. In the meantime, Vinson got a jersey on gameday and played five special team snaps on the field goal blocking unit.
Tyler Loop
Loop hit his only extra point and went 4-5 on Sunday, missing his second field goal of his career, a 56-yarder. Loop is largely responsible for keeping the Ravens in the game during the early offensive struggles, hitting the four field goals to allow the Ravens to stay within striking distance of the Vikings and eventually pull ahead. Both of Loops’ misses this year have been from the 55-plus range, missing from 55 and 56 yards. He’s 1-3 at 50-plus so far, and his career long is 52. We also know range shouldn’t be an issue because he went 8-13 from 50-plus in college with a long of 62. We’ve also seen the leg hit from 70 in practice, and while that’s not a game, we know the power is there. Loop hitting from that higher range is going to be an area of focus as we see more and more kickers around the NFL hitting from 55-plus easily and consistently this season.
LaJohntay Wester
We saw Wester take his first returns as a kick returner on Sunday, subbing in for Rasheen Ali, who was a healthy scratch. Nothing special happened, but it was easy to see Wester’s explosiveness and fluidity as a ball carrier and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Ravens stick with him there and for a couple of explosive returns to happen because of it. He also fielded one punt for a 19-yard return, kept the Ravens from being pinned inside the five and set them up for a field goal on their next drive.
UDFAs
UDFA Keondre Jackson earned his spot on the 53-man roster after the Dolphins game and then made the biggest play of his career in Minnesota. Jackson forced a fumble on a kickoff and secured the loose ball to set the Ravens up at the 23-yard line for their first touchdown of the day. Jackson has been a monster on special teams for the Ravens, using up all three of his elevations and earning himself a permanent roster spot going forward. He earned a 90.2 special teams grade from PFF on Sunday.
Keyon Martin also saw his first defensive action in a while, after Marlon Humphrey left the game with a finger issue. Martin made multiple plays in his eight snaps and earned a 78.2 grade from PFF. Humphrey could have a short absence if he undergoes surgery to address his finger, which could put Martin back into a featured role in the secondary.
In other injury news, preseason standout UDFA linebacker Jay Higgins was seen wearing an extensive knee brace following the game. John Harbaugh told reporters that Higgins has a serious knee injury that will sideline him for multiple weeks, but it isn’t season-ending. We’ll have to wait and see if Higgins ends up on IR.
