The 2019 Baltimore Ravens will have many new faces this season. But they will still identify as the same team fundamentally as last season and the playoff teams of years passed.

Big names like C.J. Mosley, Michael Crabtree, Za’Darius Smith, and Eric Weddle are gone, and it will be challenging to replace that level of production and leadership. Luckily for them, the former leader of Seattle’s Legion of Boom is now patrolling the secondary for Baltimore. Earl Thomas will try to replace Mosley and Weddle as the face of this defense and keep their elite play going forward.

As for the offense, the team drafted Oklahoma speedster Marquise Brown to help replace Crabtree and stretch the field for second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens also brought in Mark Ingram, the former Saints bruiser, and complement to Alvin Kamara. Ingram will get a chance to show he can be an every-down back for Baltimore and could be in for a career year in this ground and pound offense. All this talent likely amounts to a trip back to the playoffs for the Ravens in 2019. Below, I take a look at these talented pieces and identify those players who will make the most significant difference in Baltimore’s quest for another Lombardi trophy this season.

Rising Star/Breakout Guy: Mark Andrews, Tight End

At the risk of sounding redundant, my confidence in an Andrews’ breakout is high for 2019. PFN has long considered Mark Andrews a breakout candidate. He seems to have developed a great rapport with the sophomore signal-caller and provides an excellent underneath option. Andrews has improved his blocking, which means he should be closer to an every-down role regardless of his status as a starter. Andrews has been a big-play and touchdown machine since his days in Norman, Oklahoma.

That big-play ability makes Andrews a dangerous weapon in an offense that should be much better in 2018. As Jackson gains further confidence in his fellow second-year pass catcher, the numbers will continue to rack up. This increase could lead to star potential for Andrews as a Travis Kelce-type threat in this Baltimore offense. The breakout is coming, so look for that early on in the 2019 season for this Ravens team.

Comeback Kid: Earl Thomas, Safety

As I mentioned earlier, Thomas was paid by the Ravens to instill a new sense of leadership and lead this secondary to an elite level of play in 2019. He will be returning from a broken leg, suffered in Week 4 of the 2018 season. He’s missed multiple games in each of the last three seasons due to injury. Thomas will need to prove healthy this season, but his new contract points towards the Ravens’ confidence in him moving forward.

Before his injury, Earl was starting to round into form as the formidable presence he was early in his Seattle career. He intercepted three passes in four games and looked ready to return to the Pro Bowl for the seventh time in his career. His instinct and ball-hawking skills were at one time compared to former Ravens’ great and newly-minted Hall-of-Famer Ed Reed. If healthy, Thomas will be a force this season, and his comeback story could lead to another defensive POY honor.

Don’t Forget About: Kenneth Dixon, Running Back

When the Ravens drafted Dixon in the 2016 Draft, he came off a record-setting senior season and appeared to be the future at the running back position. However, he has been marred by injury and suspensions during his first three years in the league. This season, he joins a crowded, but promising, stable of running backs including Ingram and 2018 team rushing leader Gus Edwards.

Dixon returned from a knee injury in the final six games of 2018 to rush for over 300 yards and two scores. He continued to show reliable hands as well and could open the season as the third-down complement to Ingram. There will be plenty of touches to go around in this Baltimore backfield, and Dixon currently sits as number two on the depth chart. That position should lead to plenty of production this season and makes Dixon an intriguing player on this Baltimore team.

Under the Radar: Matt Judon, Outside Linebacker

Judon has been a solid if unspectacular contributor for Baltimore for the past three seasons. Since being drafted out of Virginia in 2016, he has started a total of twenty games and registered 19 sacks. He is a productive player when given the opportunity and produced a workmanlike seven sacks and ten tackles for a loss in 2018. Judon could see a modest boost in 2019, as he looks to help fill the shoes of former starters Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith. To his credit, the fourth year rusher does not seem worried about the defensive losses.

There are encouraging signs in Judon’s game, which could translate to further success in a more significant role. Judon shows the ability to generate pressure consistently as evidenced by his 20 quarterback hits. And he is always in the backfield, as evidenced by his 31 career tackles for a loss. Judon received AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 11 last year, and Pro Football Focus rated him as the top 3-4 outside linebacker at that point in the season. Regardless if he is named a starter or not, Judon should have a sizable role and impact on the Baltimore defense in 2019.

Dark Horse MVP: Lamar Jackson, Quarterback

While Jackson may not be a dark horse MVP for the Baltimore Ravens, he certainly is for the entire NFL. If Jackson has the type of season Baltimore expects, he will very much be in the race for the league MVP trophy. After taking over as the starter in 2018, Jackson went 6-1 until the AFC Wild Card loss to Los Angeles. He provided a spark in a lackluster offense to that point and was a significant boost to the entire team.

With the addition of Ingram, the Ravens’ running game will be as strong as ever in 2019 and Jackson will be leading the charge. The dynamic nature of Jackson’s game adds a new dimension to the Baltimore ground and pound offense. He will be a threat to score every time he leaves the pocket, and could even lead the team in rushing yards this season. The Ravens are young and as hungry as ever, and Jackson has instilled that fire in them again. They seem destined to get back to the playoffs with the young signal-caller leading the charge.

Collective effort to get to the top

The Ravens face a tall task competing for the AFC North in 2019. They won the division last season, but the Steelers are rejuvenated and ready, while the Browns have seemingly built a super-team. However, the Ravens offense has a chance to be exceptional with Jackson at the helm. With the additions on offense and defense, they should hold their own in the race for another Wild Card berth. The players mentioned here will do their part, but the team will need others to step up for this season to be a success.

Scott Gorman is a writer for PFN covering the AFC North & NFL Draft. You can follow him @sgormanPFN on Twitter.