As an organization that’s willing to take chances on players who are beyond their prime, Baltimore can get the most out of aging veterans. Heading into 2025, there’s one player who stands out as the next Ravens late-career revival project.
Over the years, Baltimore has one of the best teams at identifying a player at the late stage of his career and coaxing high-quality play out of him. Part of what makes the organization so successful is that they draft and develop well. It also helps that they have perfected the compensatory pick formula. Like all teams, the Ravens made their mistakes on free agent signings. But perhaps no team is as good as Baltimore at dropping seasoned veterans into their lineup and watching them flourish.
History Tells Us It Will Happen Again
Kyle Van Noy is the most recent example, having seemingly played his best season in 2018 with the New England Patriots before bouncing around to several other teams as a rotational piece. In 2024, Van Noy put up a career-high 12.5 sacks with the Ravens, and has said he wants to stay in Baltimore, despite the fact he will be 35 years old when the 2025 season kicks off.
In 2023, Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the league after not playing in 2022 and signed with Baltimore. There, Beckham recorded his highest receiving yard total since 2019, when he played for the Cleveland Browns. From 2020-2022, Baltimore got quality play out of Calais Campbell, who continues to defy the odds by playing at a high level late into his thirties. Campbell recently said he’s considering a return to Baltimore, as well.
Outside of players like Beckham, Campbell, and Van Noy, the organization has not been afraid to pull the trigger on signing players beyond their prime. It hasn’t always worked out. Sammy Watkins, Le’Veon Bell, and Dez Bryant all made stops through Baltimore, but made little impact for the Ravens.
Who’s Next
Heading into the 2025 season, there’s one player on the roster that could emulate Van Noy’s 2024 resurgence: DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins, like Beckham in 2023, comes to Baltimore as a proven veteran who can add stability to a young receiving corp. Both receivers were also signed to the Ravens after being traded the previous playing season, so there are reasonable doubts as to whether Hopkins will reclaim his All-Pro form. Despite making a minimal impact for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, Hopkins is not far removed from producing at a high level.
In 2023, Hopkins topped 1,000 receiving yards. He did it with shaky quarterback play and a coaching staff that was on its way out in Tennessee. Baltimore has the benefit of stable coaching, a proven offensive system, and an MVP-caliber quarterback in Lamar Jackson. Last season, the Ravens depended heavily upon their run game and leaned on tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. Hopkins gives Baltimore a big-bodied, sure-handed receiver who should eat up some red zone targets.
Given the injury history of Rashod Bateman and the limitations of Zay Flowers as a number one receiver, Hopkins has even more of a chance to carve out a solid role in Baltimore in his first year. While receivers rarely capture their early career magic after the age of 30, Hopkins can hope to emulate the late-career pushes of Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, and Chad Johnson.
Bonus:
With several big-name free agents still left on the market, there’s also a player who could benefit from being in Baltimore and have a similar bounce-back year if the Ravens sign him.
Having already played more than 100 career games as a member of AFC North teams, Mike Hilton could become Baltimore’s next late-career revival project. Hilton has recorded an interception in every season he’s played in the NFL, and would add depth to the Ravens’ secondary. He would likely be put in the slot or at nickel, playing behind Marlon Humphrey, but his presence could help propel this defense to another top-ten finish.
General Manager Eric Decosta has also used the draft to prioritize building the trenches while running the show, leaving open the possibility of the team using free agency to patch up an area of need. Teams can never have enough competent players in the secondary, and Hilton could carve out a solid role for this seasoned Ravens defense if they decide to sign him.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images
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