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.
Ravens’ Preseason Success Sets the Stage
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: Anchoring or Overwhelmed?
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 risks not only losing his starting job but also jeopardizing his long-term future in Baltimore. For a defense that thrives on consistency, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Kyle Hamilton: Proving Worth in a Crowded Secondary
Few players embody Baltimore’s modern defensive philosophy quite like Kyle Hamilton. Since entering the league, Hamilton has been praised for his versatility, size, and instincts. He quickly carved out a reputation as one of the NFL’s most dynamic young safeties. His range allows him to cover tight ends, blitz off the edge, and patrol the middle of the field. That makes him a Swiss army knife. After signing a significant contract extension, Hamilton was expected to be a bedrock of the secondary for years to come.
Yet training camp has revealed a bit of a wrinkle. Sanoussi Kane, a rising talent, has emerged as a legitimate challenger for snaps at strong safety. Kane’s athleticism and playmaking ability have stood out during practices and preseason games. That's where he’s made key stops and showcased a nose for the football. Yes, Hamilton remains the incumbent starter. That said, the coaching staff has made it clear that performance, not pedigree, dictates playing time. Kane’s rapid rise is less about Hamilton failing and more about Baltimore’s depth chart being saturated with talent. The end result is the same, though: Hamilton must continue proving himself to keep his role secure.
For Hamilton, the challenge is twofold. First, he must stay consistent, eliminating the occasional coverage lapses that have cropped up in his tape. Second, he must fend off Kane’s momentum while adapting to Baltimore’s evolving defensive backfield. This now boasts Alexander and Starks. The Ravens’ willingness to challenge even their most established players sends a strong message: no one, not even Hamilton, is untouchable.
Competition Defines Baltimore
The positions of Travis Jones and Kyle Hamilton illustrate the unforgiving nature of the NFL. On a roster as talented as Baltimore’s, every player must fight to prove their worth daily. The Ravens embody a culture of accountability and competition. That culture has created two fascinating position battles ahead of Week 1.
For Jones, the 2025 season is about proving he’s more than just a placeholder in the middle of the defense. For Hamilton, it’s about justifying the faith the organization has placed in him. Both players are good enough to start, but in Baltimore, good isn’t always good enough. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see whether Jones and Hamilton can rise to the challenge or whether guys like Jenkins and Kane force a shake-up.
If Baltimore is to live up to its Super Bowl aspirations, these internal battles may prove as important as any showdown on the field. For the Ravens, depth is a luxury, but for Jones and Hamilton, it’s a direct threat to job security. And in the unforgiving world of the NFL, nothing is guaranteed—not even for first-stringers.
