After two weeks of OTAs, the Baltimore Ravens begin mandatory minicamp on Monday.
The Ravens' OTAs were fairly well attended, though some players, including Lamar Jackson, were in and out, meaning there was never a full picture of the team.
Minicamp now offers that opportunity, and there will be some key positional battles and player development to watch.
Here are three big storylines for OTAs.
1. Who takes the lead for the starting spots on the offensive line?
The Ravens have three holes to fill on the offensive line after the offseason departures of Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler, and John Simpson.
There are a number of players who could replace them, including second-year guard Andrew Vorhees and rookie tackle Roger Rosengarten.
Vorhees was once a projected Day 2 draft pick, but fell to the seventh round of the 2023 draft because of a knee injury. He missed his entire rookie season, but is now healthy.
Rosegarten, meanwhile, was a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and considered a potential steal for Baltimore.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave an update on the offensive line last week, saying that everyone looks qualified to be a starter so far and that they will learn more about who's ready as competition gets underway.
Still, minicamp won't necessarily determine who plays in the regular season. As Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer noted, sixth-round rookie Sala Aumavae-Laulu looked impressive in last year's minicamp, but he struggled in preseason and didn't play in the regular season. (Aumavae-Laulu, it should be noted, is also still in contention win a starting spot).
But with so many open spots, some contenders might emerge.
2. Can Rashod Bateman make strides as a reliable receiver?
The Ravens all swear by Bateman's talent. And they clearly believe in him, as they offered him a two-year extension this offseason that he said "came out of nowhere."
Still, the oft-injured, fourth-year receiver is something of an X factor this season. The Ravens' receivers depth is still pretty weak. Bateman living up to his first-round draft status would certainly change that.
Bateman and Jackson didn't overlap at OTAs, so minicamp will be their first chance to play together on the field since last season.
Jackson said he needs to be better about getting the ball to Bateman.
"He’s an elusive receiver, great off the ball, great separation," Jackson told reporters. "We just have to get him the ball. That’s all [there is] to it, point-blank, period.
3. A rookie compeition heating up
According to multiple reporters who attended OTAs, Ravens rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker and rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa had something on an on-field competition going during OTAs.
Walker reportedly beat Tampa for some deep-ball completions while Tampa also had at least one pass breakup.
Walker, a speedy deep-ball threat, has the clearer path to playing time, given that the Ravens don't have many players like him on the roster.
Tampa has a tougher path, especially with first-round pick Nate Wiggins also showing some flashes at OTAs. But a strong minicamp could push Tampa into the conversation for some playing time.
