Baltimore Ravens training camp preview: MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, top-flight defense form a contender

BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5)

OPEN CAMP: July 23, Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills, Md.

LAST YEAR: Baltimore was one of the top contenders in the AFC, taking first in the AFC North and beating the Steelers, 28-14, in the wild-card round before falling to Buffalo, 27-25, in the divisional round. The Ravens had six players named All-Pro, including four first-team selections (QB Lamar Jackson, FB Patrick Ricard, ILB Roquan Smith and CB Marlon Humphrey), as well as second-teamers RB Derrick Henry and S Kyle Hamilton. Behind Jackson (4,172 passing yards, 41 TDs, 4 INTs; 915 rushing yards, 4 TDs), WR Zay Flowers (1,059 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and Henry (1,921 rushing yards, 16 TDs), Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to have 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same regular season.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: WR DeAndre Hopkins, CB Jaire Alexander, CB Chidobe Awuzie, S Malaki Starks, DE Mike Green, OT Emery Jones, LB Teddye Buchanan, OT Carson Vinson

IMPORTANT LOSSES: WR Nelson Agholor, OG Patrick Mekari, DL Michael Pierce, S Marcus Williams, K Justin Tucker

CAMP NEEDS: The Ravens lost Michael Pierce along the defensive line and acquired 13-year veteran John Jenkins and drafted Aeneas Peebles in the sixth round to help solidify the unit. Nnamdi Madubuike is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and has the contract to match, signing a four-year, $98 million deal before last season. … Baltimore also hopes to see consistency from its offensive line, where GM Eric DeCosta spent three draft picks, including tackles Emery Jones and Carson Vinson. He also resigned left tackle Ronnie Stanley, and the group returns RT Roger Rosengarten and guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele. … Baltimore’s defensive backfield appears to be a strength behind arguably the NFL’s top safety, Kyle Hamilton, as well as first-round pick Malaki Starks. The Ravens also added two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. The unit also will benefit from the hiring of former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano as senior secondary coach. … The Ravens released longtime kicker Justin Tucker in the offseason after he was suspended for the first 10 weeks of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, leaving a competition between Tyler Loop and John Hoyland.

EXPECTATIONS: Baltimore again will feature one of the league’s most dynamic offensive attacks with Jackson among MVP candidates and Henry again carrying a heavy workload in the backfield. Additions to the back of the defensive unit have turned a weakness into a likely strength, giving the Ravens one of the most well-rounded teams in the league. Though, special teams will be a rare question mark after Tucker was let go.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE: vs. Colts, 7 p.m. Aug. 7; at Cowboys, 7 p.m. Aug. 16; at Commanders, noon Aug. 23