Two under-the-radar Ravens may not be secret weapons anymore

This is shaping up to be a great Baltimore Ravens football season. The puzzle pieces all seemingly fit together. Derrick Henry will be a part of the flock for a while. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson returns to lead another run. John Harbaugh is the NFL's second-longest-tenured current head coach behind Mike Tomlin of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

You know the old saying, though... Defense wins championships, and after Zachary Orr led his unit to a top-ten finish to conclude the 2025-26 season, there are whispers that the Ravens can be even better this time.

The cat may be out of the bag as two Ravens can't be called secret weapons anymore.

Baltimore's defensive unit will again be a force to be reckoned with during what everyone hopes is a potential title run. Many names are familiar: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh.

Rookie Malaki Starks joins Hamilton this season in the secondary, but much of the Ravens' success may hinge on some of the lesser-mentioned guys. Two that have flown under the radar are hearing their names mentioned more often: interior defensive lineman Travis Jones and defensive back Nate Wiggins.

Jones' numbers may not pop off the page, but he does much of the dirty work that makes his teammates look better. Keep an eye on him as this is a contract season. Wiggins is in year two and has already been mentioned as a breakout candidate after a successful rookie campaign. Both were highlighted more recently as players to watch in 2025.

Bleacher Report's Matt Holder named Jones among his list of every NFL roster's best-kept secret and mentioned: "Last year, he posted a 73.2 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus and had 30 total pressures during the regular season."

Wiggins started six of his 15 in-game appearances last season and notched 33 tackles, 13 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and an interception. He is again earning honorable mentions. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport placed him on the 2025 NFL All-Underrated Team. Here's some of the explanation:

"It’s not unusual for first-year cornerbacks to struggle in the pros, even ones taken at the very end of Round 1. But Wiggins looked like a seasoned vet out there more often than not, allowing a passer rating against of just 66.7 and surrendering a completion percentage against of just 50 percent."

Trust and believe that he won't return to this list next season.

Here's a bold prediction while we're all on the subject. Malaki Starks and Mike Green will be finalists in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Ravens offense will get their shine, but make no mistake, how Baltimore's defense performs will have much to say about whether or not the flock raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy at season's end.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Two emerging Ravens are no longer flying under the radar