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Last April, the Baltimore Ravens added 11 draft picks to their roster in the NFL draft, landing Malaki Starks near the end of Round 1 to cap things off. Overall, the consensus on Eric DeCosta centered on draft value and on landing prospects who can develop into starters, regardless of the round in which they were selected.
Fast forward eight months, and Starks developed into a starter and one of the best young safeties in the NFL, while second-round pick Mike Green took several weeks to find his stride. Fourth round pick Teddye Buchanan developed into the prize of the draft, beating out Trenton Simpson to earn the starting weakside linebacker spot. Now Jesse Minter has entered as the new head coach, and there's plenty of second-year talent ready to ascend.
With off-season workouts slated to begin, we're looking at seven second-year players to watch.
A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Johnson spent most of his rookie year on the Green Bay Packers practice squad but didn't make the team out of training camp last summer. He had six catches for 50 yards in the preseason and spent the year on the Ravens' practice squad.
An undrafted free agent last April, Christian-Lichtenhan (6-8, 315) started all 12 games at left tackle for Oregon State in 2024, allowing just two sacks and being charged with one penalty on the year. The giant of a man spent the entire season on the practice squad, and we will be watching the development.
Signed as an undrafted free agent last April, Robinson (6-0, 192) played one season with Arkansas (2024), two with South Alabama (2022-23), and one with Southwest Mississippi Community College (2021). In his lone season with Arkansas, he tallied 36 tackles (20 solo), one interception, and eight passes defensed.
Green got off to a slow start, but eventually found his footing down the stretch. Overall, Green played 713 snaps, finishing with a 46.3 grade from PFF, 3.5 sacks, 19 pressures, and 14 quarterback hits.
After missing the bulk of the season with a shoulder injury, Jones Jr. played 48 snaps as a rookie and could be penciled in for a starting guard spot.
Teddye Buchanan's rookie season ended after the talented linebacker was carted off early in the Ravens' Week 15 matchup against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Buchanan was forced to exit, and the Ravens brass initially feared he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. A rookie fourth-round pick, Buchanan injured his right knee on punt coverage in the first quarter and was carted off to the locker room. He left the stadium using a cane. A rookie starter, Buchanan finished with 91 tackles in the regular season with one forced fumble and one pass defended.
He was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for October."
Kone suffered a torn ACL and MCL back in August and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Robert Longerbeam joined Bihlal Kone on the season-ending injured reserve after suffering a significant knee injury.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens second-year breakout candidates for 2026 season
Continue reading...
Fast forward eight months, and Starks developed into a starter and one of the best young safeties in the NFL, while second-round pick Mike Green took several weeks to find his stride. Fourth round pick Teddye Buchanan developed into the prize of the draft, beating out Trenton Simpson to earn the starting weakside linebacker spot. Now Jesse Minter has entered as the new head coach, and there's plenty of second-year talent ready to ascend.
With off-season workouts slated to begin, we're looking at seven second-year players to watch.
WR Cornelius Johnson
A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Johnson spent most of his rookie year on the Green Bay Packers practice squad but didn't make the team out of training camp last summer. He had six catches for 50 yards in the preseason and spent the year on the Ravens' practice squad.
Offensive tackle Gerad Lichtenhan
An undrafted free agent last April, Christian-Lichtenhan (6-8, 315) started all 12 games at left tackle for Oregon State in 2024, allowing just two sacks and being charged with one penalty on the year. The giant of a man spent the entire season on the practice squad, and we will be watching the development.
CB Marquise Robinson
Signed as an undrafted free agent last April, Robinson (6-0, 192) played one season with Arkansas (2024), two with South Alabama (2022-23), and one with Southwest Mississippi Community College (2021). In his lone season with Arkansas, he tallied 36 tackles (20 solo), one interception, and eight passes defensed.
Mike Green:
Green got off to a slow start, but eventually found his footing down the stretch. Overall, Green played 713 snaps, finishing with a 46.3 grade from PFF, 3.5 sacks, 19 pressures, and 14 quarterback hits.
Emery Jones Jr.:
After missing the bulk of the season with a shoulder injury, Jones Jr. played 48 snaps as a rookie and could be penciled in for a starting guard spot.
LB Teddye Buchanan:
Teddye Buchanan's rookie season ended after the talented linebacker was carted off early in the Ravens' Week 15 matchup against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Buchanan was forced to exit, and the Ravens brass initially feared he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. A rookie fourth-round pick, Buchanan injured his right knee on punt coverage in the first quarter and was carted off to the locker room. He left the stadium using a cane. A rookie starter, Buchanan finished with 91 tackles in the regular season with one forced fumble and one pass defended.
He was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for October."
Cornerbacks Bilhal Kone/Robert Longerbeam
Kone suffered a torn ACL and MCL back in August and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Robert Longerbeam joined Bihlal Kone on the season-ending injured reserve after suffering a significant knee injury.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens second-year breakout candidates for 2026 season
Continue reading...
