Baltimore’s secondary gains a veteran whisperer in Hopkins as Pagano uses his experience against crafty routes to sharpen Marlon Humphrey, Jaire Alexander and Nate Wiggins. Hopkins’ presence has already unsettled the Ravens’ approach, elevating in-practice dialogue and game-planning ahead of Week 1 against Buffalo.

The effect is more than mentorship: Hopkins’ tactics ripple through how coordinators coach leverage and press, pushing the corner trio to new heights and giving Ravens fans a peek at a rejuvenated pass defense in the season opener.