ClutchPoints
The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2025 NFL season brimming with optimism. They have assembled one of the most complete rosters in football. Armed with a defense fortified by high-profile acquisitions and an offense built around Lamar Jackson’s dynamic playmaking, Baltimore is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. As every NFL team knows, though, star power doesn’t guarantee job security. Training camp has a way of shaking up depth charts. For a couple of Ravens starters, the pressure is on to hold their ground. Defensive tackle Travis Jones and strong safety Kyle Hamilton, both projected first-stringers, could face mounting challenges from teammates eager to seize their roles.
The Ravens put together an impressive preseason in 2025. They finished undefeated at 3-0 and capped it off with a commanding 30-3 win over the Washington Commanders in their finale. Along the way, Baltimore showcased a defense that forced turnovers at will. They saw reliable kicking from Tyler Loop, and enjoyed encouraging flashes from rookies such as Keyon Martin. It was a reminder that this roster is deeper and more dangerous than in years past.
Armed with one of the NFL’s highest ceilings, Baltimore enters 2025 as a team on the rise. The offseason additions of Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks have transformed an already strong secondary into perhaps the league’s best. This has created sky-high expectations for the Ravens’ defense. With so much talent across the roster, though, the fight for starting jobs has grown fierce. This proves that even established first-stringers can’t take their roles for granted.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Baltimore Ravens first-stringers in danger of losing starting jobs ahead of 2025 NFL season.
Travis Jones’ path to a starting role at defensive tackle seemed straightforward following Michael Pierce’s retirement. A physically dominant presence at 6’4 and nearly 340 pounds, Jones showed steady growth in 2024. He racked up 42 tackles and proved to be a reliable run-stuffer across 17 games. The Ravens envisioned him as a key cog in the trenches, anchoring the middle of their defensive line. Pretty soon, however, the narrative might shift.
Jones’ hold on the starting nose tackle position could be shakier than expected, largely due to the presence of veteran John Jenkins. Jenkins. Though not flashy, Jenkins brings years of experience and consistency that Baltimore’s coaching staff values. His ability to diagnose plays and clog running lanes can create real competition for Jones. Coaches have been vocal about the need for Jones to elevate his game from steady contributor to impact player. The Ravens need him to command double teams and disrupt opposing backfields.
For Jones, 2025 is more than just another year. It’s the final season of his rookie contract, meaning the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Ravens’ front office will closely evaluate whether he is worth an extension or whether they should pivot to other options like Jenkins. If Jones falters early in the season, he...
