Ravens overlooked weapon has Hall of Fame aspirations in 2025

The Baltimore Ravens can beat you in more ways than one. On the offensive side of the football, they can pound the rock efficiently and thread the ball through the air just as well as any team in the league. While the defense struggled to begin the 2024 season, they returned to form and proved their dominance by the season’s end, and should be even better in 2025.

The special teams unit might have the most significant question marks. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop is replacing Justin Tucker, and the return game lacks explosiveness. But Keaton Mitchell is looking to change that.

“I want to be the one to return the kickoff returns,” Mitchell told reporters. “And be able to be like Devin Hester, like don’t kick it to that type of guy.”

Keaton Mitchell looking to spice up the return game

Mitchell deserves to have key reps with the offense. His outstanding debut season brought electricity to the offense that needs to reignite in 2025. However, with Derrick Henry as the lead bellcow and Justice Hill playing well last season, the carries might not consistently be there for Mitchell. The return game is where he could make his impact, though.

Tylan Wallace has been a reliable punt returner for Baltimore, but they need some juice on kick returns too, and Mitchell is the feared playmaker they need. In his rookie season, Mitchell ran for a phenomenal 8.4 yards per carry over 47 carries. While the 23-year-old hasn’t had much return experience, he’s still confident he can be one of the most feared returners in the league.

“At college, they didn’t really let me do too much on kick returns,” Mitchell said. “But it’s like a natural instinct, like an outside zone play for a running back.”

In his short playing career thus far, Mitchell has made a living off those outside zone runs. Any opportunity Baltimore had to get him into open space in 2023, they capitalized on it, and Mitchell didn’t let them down. He’s fast to diagnose in the open field and has the shiftiness and quick feet to make anyone miss. 

Mitchell is the most explosive player on the Ravens, and as one of the most explosive guys in the league, he seems like an easy choice to put back in the end zone to return kicks. He has the speed to make a house call anytime he’s handed the football, and now, another year recovered from his ACL tear, he feels better than ever.

“When I first got here, I hit 22.2 [miles per hour]. I just hit 22.4 a couple weeks ago,” Mitchell told the media. “So definitely feeling good and back to myself.”

There’s more to kicks than just speed and make-you-miss ability, but Mitchell has the eyes and awareness to take over the game. Coach John Harbaugh is a mastermind of special teams play, coordinating the special teams unit with the Philadelphia Eagles before getting to Baltimore. The team hasn’t had a dynamic returner since Devin Duvernay in the early 2020s, but Mitchell could bring the unit back to relevance.

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