Is DeAndre Hopkins the Ravens' 'Missing Piece'?

Last season the 12-5 Baltimore Ravens featured one of the most complete rosters in football on both sides of the ball. Although their season was cut short in heartbreaking fashion in the AFC Divisional Round, they have all the right reasons to believe another deep run - possibly further - could be in the cards in 2025.

Baltimore's time to win is now. Because of this, general manager Eric DeCosta has pulled out all the stops in free agency to fill the team with as many high-caliber veterans as possible in hopes of finally putting the puzzle together.

Earlier in the offseason, the Ravens signed star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, one of the game's most accomplished pass-catchers and a consummate professional in the locker room. D-Hop joins exciting young receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman to form a trio that could compete with the likes of the best receiving corps in franchise history. And it doesn't hurt when a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson is throwing them the ball.

At minicamp, some Ravens teammates mentioned their observations from the brief time they've had with Hopkins and how he has gelled with the organization.

"I like 'D-Hop'. I've gotten to have some conversations with him. He is 'Mr. Contested Catch.' That is for sure," said cornerback Marlon Humphrey. "Just having a conversation with him, I thought it was really humbling.

"We asked him, me and one of the strength coaches, 'What do you think about the team from the outside looking in since you've been on other teams?' And he said, 'It seems like there's been a piece that's been missing. I could be that addition. I could not be that addition.'"

Hopkins, 33, may recognize that he's on the downward slope of his career. He enters Year 13 in the NFL a part of his third team in three years. The former All-Pro was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through last season.

He wasn't able to be the missing piece for Patrick Mahomes & Co., but the Ravens still believe he is capable of that role in Baltimore.

With a 1,000-yard season as recent as 2023, the capability is still there. On Baltimore, however, he'll likely fill a role as a complementary piece around the Ravens' stellar run game and loaded arsenal of pass targets.

It sounds like Hopkins has humbly taken ownership of this position as he does everything he can to contribute to what would be his first Super Bowl win.

"To hear a veteran guy, All-Pro guy and Pro Bowl guy say he could be, or he could not be [the piece that's missing], to me, that was extremely humbling. I feel that he fits the Ravens mold, and I think he'll fit right in," Humphrey added.