Keondre Jackson keeps forcing his way into the conversation in Baltimore, and he did it again in the Ravens’ preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The second-year safety was everywhere on Saturday. He finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack, leading both teams in all three categories. Whether he was lining up on defense or flying down on special teams, Jackson looked like a player moving at a different speed than everyone else on the field.
That kind of burst has become his calling card. In preseason action, Jackson has repeatedly shown he can make things happen, and Baltimore’s latest game only strengthened the case that he deserves a real look on defense.
The problem, of course, is the numbers. The Ravens already have Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, and Jaylinn Hawkins soaking up most of the available snaps at safety. That makes the path for Jackson tricky, but it does not make it impossible.
There’s a clear argument for finding him a role anyway. Jackson has the kind of versatility that lets him operate closer to the line of scrimmage, and that showed up against Minnesota with those two tackles for loss. He has a feel for timing, slips blocks well, and arrives with force when he gets to the ball carrier.
Baltimore’s defensive flexibility could also help open a door. Jesse Minter can move Hamilton around, Hawkins can work down into the box or slot, and Starks - while mostly a deep safety - has cornerback experience from his college days at Georgia. That kind of flexibility gives the Ravens options, and it could make room for Jackson if Minter wants to get creative.
In the right setup, Baltimore could put Hamilton, Starks, Hawkins, and Jackson on the field together and create a defense loaded with range, speed, and pressure. That could mean more quarterback hunting with Hamilton and Jackson, or a secondary built to choke off passing lanes with long, athletic defensive backs.
If the safety logjam keeps Jackson from seeing regular defensive snaps, he still profiles as a major special teams piece. But after another explosive preseason showing, it’s getting harder to ignore what he could become on defense. Baltimore may not have an easy path for him right now, but Jackson keeps making the case that he belongs in the plan.
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What makes the situation trickier is that the Ravens do not just need bodies there, they need reliable production from the defensive spine. Smiths coverage has been a concern, and Madubuikes recovery leaves the interior line in a holding pattern as the regular season gets closer. For a defense that expects to be sturdy from the inside out, the coming weeks will tell a lot about whether this group is simply reloading or still waiting on its core to come together. [Read more 🡒]