Two players along the line of scrimmage give the Baltimore Ravens underrated sleepers who could break out in the 2024 NFL season. Defensive lineman Travis Jones and offensive guard Andrew Vorhees are primed to make impacts for the Ravens.
Injury woes have been Vorhees' biggest enemy as he missed his rookie season because of a torn ACL suffered in an NFL Combine workout. But things look much brighter in 2024. Jones can empathize with Vorhees because an injury held up his first NFL season in 2022.
A 6-foot-4, 338-pounder, Jones has produced modest stats over two seasons with 60 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. But like Vorhees, the Jones meter appears to be on the rise for 2024.
Ravens DL Travis Jones sets sights on breakout season
Jones flashed potential last season, creating enough of a spark to get the Ravens' coaching staff excited. If Jones makes similar strides to what Justin Madubuike completed last season, the Ravens' defensive line will have serious teeth.
Ravens' defensive line coach Dennis Johnson told baltimorebeatdown.com Jones can be a special football player.
“From what I’ve seen, from ‘Trav’, he is a special human first – a special man – and then a special football player,” Johnson said. “(He’s) talented, and he wants it just as a bad as anybody you’d be around. You want to talk about attention to detail, that’s how he approaches every day, whether it’s football school or it’s been OTAs, in the meetings. (But) he has to continue to work —which I know he will — but he’ll be in that type of position to have a successful season.”
Jones appeared in 17 games for the Ravens in 2023, showing the coaching staff's budding trust in him. And he improved his Pro Football Focus grade by over eight points to 70.6. Strength allowed him to form part of a two-man rotation at nose tackle with Michael Pierce.
Another thing weighing in Jones' favor is his presence on a defensive unit that led the NFL in team sacks last year with 60.
Ravens linemen Andrew Vorhees has plenty to prove in first real season
When John Simpson left for the free agent waters, the door swung open for Vorhees. But the truth is he might have had a chance to break down the door if it hadn't been open.
A 6-6 and 310 pounds, Vorhees has the body to succeed in the NFL. But it takes more than physicality to stay on the field. And Vorhees has been doing his part to take care of other things. He told newyorktimes.com the injury is behind and he's focusing forward.
“I’m just so thankful to be where I’m at now in terms of my health and stuff,” Vorhees said. “Proud of the work that I’ve put in and that all of our staff has poured in. And yes, I’m just looking forward, now, to what lies beyond us.”
Vorhees said the approach is simple: Go to work every day.
“I just (want) to go out to practice every day and try to be the best football player that I can become,” Vorhees said. “We’ll let everything else take care of itself.”
The addition of running back Derrick Henry could make Vorhees' job easier. It's part of an overall good feeling for the Ravens and their fans heading into 2024.
The Ravens are embedded in the thick of Super Bowl talk. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is hungry for the elusive big-game appearance, and there's excitement in Baltimore for the second year of Todd Monken's offensive approach.
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