Ravens News 6/24: Respect of the Room

50 Words or Less: Marcus Williams Looks Poised for Best Season

Clifton Brown, BaltimoreRavens.com

Marcus Williams’ energy at mandatory minicamp was impressive. He was vocal, assertive, and completely locked in. Williams has 20 career interceptions and is still just 27 years old. If he stays healthy for a full season in Baltimore, I think he’ll show people just how good he is.

For the second straight year, Isaiah Likely attended Tight End University hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Greg Olsen. Likely has obvious talent, but he’s also putting in serious work. Likely and Mark Andrews playing together more often in 2024 should create major problems for opponents.

The Ravens will face AFC North opponents back-to-back just once – Week 10 vs. Cincinnati and Week 11 at Pittsburgh. Having their divisional games spread out could be a good thing for the Ravens. Every AFC North game is going to take a physical toll.

I’m not saying Malik Cunningham will make the 53-man roster, but I’m not saying he won’t. He’s fully embracing his switch from quarterback to wide receiver. That’s the type of attitude you need to succeed, and he’s looked very fluid making catches and running routes.

Ravens News: Can Baltimore Maintain Top Defense After Multiple Offseason Departures?

Matt Levine, Newsweek

Each of these losses starts to push against the preconceived notion of Baltimore being one of the top defenses around the NFL, but safety Marcus Williams isn’t buying it. Even with new defensive coordinator Zach Orr in the mix, Williams believes the Ravens have the pieces to be successful.

“He definitely has the respect of the room,” Williams said. “He comes in every day and puts in that time and that work — age is just a number — you put in that time and that effort to come out and be the best at your role as he did as a player, he’s gonna do as a coach. I have the utmost respect for him; the way he presents himself, the way he carries himself, how he coaches us and how he listens to whatever we have to say. He doesn’t have an ego where we can’t put our input. So, that’s a good thing, but he isn’t going to hold back just because he feels we’re about the same age. He’s still going to give you that good, hard coaching.”

“A lot of people think they got it figured out and then you change something,” Williams said of the defense’s many looks and ability to change. “You got to be chameleons when you’re in this league because people, you know, they adapt, and they see you on film, they can see how you stand, how you align, and each and every week you got to be able to change a little here, a little there.”

Ravens’ Malik Cunningham embracing switch from quarterback to receiver

Kevin Patra, NFL.com

With Lamar Jackson, Cunningham’s teammate for a year at Louisville, blocking the path to playing time under center, the former New England Patriot said on a recent episode of “The Lounge” podcast that he’s all in on developing as a wideout.

“At first, I looked at it as like, ‘Dang man, I want to be a quarterback,’” Cunningham said via the team’s official website. “But at the same time, you have to do what’s best for the team and that’s how I looked at it. I was like, ‘Hey, I can make plays for the quarterbacks out there when I get the ball in space.’ So I looked at it as a plus, not as a fail.

“I believe in myself and my ability. Yeah, I can play quarterback. But that’s now what they need me to do right now. They need me to do something else. I’m the type of guy, whatever it takes for the team to win.”

“Honestly, I’m gonna just keep it real. Where I grew up, like a lot of us, we’re just straight ballers,” Cunningham said. “When I got to middle school, I went strictly quarterback, but I’ve always been athletic. I really, honestly, don’t think Lamar can go out there and do that, what I’m doing right now. … There ain’t nothing that nobody can say to me that I can’t do if I put my mind to it, honestly.”

Projecting NFL All-Pros at each offensive position: What they look like, where they are picked and who’s next

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

NFL player who profiles as potential All-Pro

Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens

Linderbaum has just a 2.3% beaten rate in 32 games, according to TruMedia. The outlet has credited him with just four sacks allowed. The unit’s loss of Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler may have a negative impact on Linderbaum in the short term, however.

Ravens news, notes and opinions: Could Brandon Stephens be next to get an extension?

Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

Baltimore’s list of 2025 unrestricted free agents could potentially include offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari, running back Justice Hill and fullback Patrick Ricard. But the Raven with the most to gain in his walk year is cornerback Brandon Stephens. He’s the type of player the Ravens usually work to keep. There was plenty of talk that Baltimore reached when it selected Stephens, a converted college running back, in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Yet, he established himself as a defensive contributor and a solid special teams player in his rookie season. Last year, he was thrust into a starting cornerback role and was one of the most consistent performers on arguably the league’s best defense.

He’s just 26 years old. He plays a premium position and offers versatility. He can play outside, in the slot and can line up at safety. He’s a solid special teams player. He’s been durable, missing just three regular-season games over three seasons. He’s a highly respected player in the locker room because of how he quietly goes about his business. The Ravens have long-term questions at cornerback, too, which is why they used first- and fourth-round picks two months ago to select Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa, respectively.

If the Ravens believe last season was the start of Stephens’ ascent and he’s primed to get better, this is a pretty easy decision for a team that hasn’t hesitated in the recent past to spend on cornerbacks. Having Stephens signed long term and Wiggins and Tampa in the fold would give Baltimore some flexibility next offseason if Marlon Humphrey doesn’t bounce back in 2024 or his injury issues persist.