This 12 months’s Ravens draft class was their smallest since 2009, when additionally they chosen simply six gamers. It was practically half the scale of final 12 months’s haul, which featured 11 gamers, a lot of whom performed significant snaps and can accomplish that once more this 12 months.
In different phrases, the influence of this 12 months’s class shall be totally different — however totally different doesn’t essentially imply insignificant.
“We don’t see a lot of big, glaring holes, and we have solutions as well still out there in free agency, potentially,” Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta mentioned Saturday. “So, if you’re not going to have a lot of picks, this is probably the year to not have picks. We were able to fortify.”
To that time, the Ravens’ depth chart in some positions — quarterback, working again, fullback, tight finish, offensive sort out, middle, inside defensive position, security — stays largely the identical because it was earlier than the draft. That doesn’t imply it should keep that approach within the months forward.
“The roster is never set,” DeCosta mentioned. “I think what you’ll see is in the coming weeks, there are a lot of potential moves for us to make: free agents, guys that we’ve had, guys that we like who are available.”
Already, the Ravens have agreed to offers with 19 undrafted free brokers. But which rookies will play straight away? Who are developmental prospects? Here’s a breakdown of the place the Ravens’ draft picks will probably slot in and the place to anticipate the most important contributions.
Wide receiver
The jewel of the Ravens’ draft class was vast receiver Zay Flowers.
ESPN analyst and former security Louis Riddick, who was additionally director of participant personnel for Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles, mentioned the neatest choice of any workforce was made by the Ravens once they took Flowers at No. 22 total within the first spherical. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay mentioned he’s been touting Flowers since he watched Boston College practices final summer season, with coach Jeff Hafley calling Flowers the “Energizer Bunny.”
Baltimore’s receiving corps was already overhauled this offseason with the free agent signings of two-time All-Pro Odell Beckham Jr. and veteran Nelson Agholor. Now it will get Flowers, who joins Beckham and Rashod Bateman because the workforce’s high three targets.
Next in line are Devin Duvernay, Agholor and James Proche II or Tylan Wallace, with Andy Isabella, Shemar Bridges, Mike Thomas, Tarik Black and undrafted free agent Dontay Demus rounding out the group. The Ravens probably received’t end final within the NFL in yards amongst vast receivers like they did final 12 months.
It’s additionally price watching what they do with Duvernay. A Pro Bowl choice as a kick returner in 2021, he’s in all probability too costly at $4.3 million if he doesn’t have a extra notable position on offense. Demus led the Terps in receiving yards in 2019, 2020 and thru the primary 5 video games of 2021 earlier than happening with a season-ending knee damage. He had seven 100-yard video games for Maryland earlier than the damage however none final season, although his finest sport (5 catches, 67 yards) did come in opposition to No. 2 Ohio State.
Guard and sort out
Most of the beginning offensive line is again, with a wholesome Ronnie Stanley at left sort out, Morgan Moses at proper sort out, Kevin Zeitler at proper guard and Tyler Linderbaum at middle. Left guard, after Ben Powers left for the Denver Broncos in free company, is as soon as once more up for grabs.
The underachieving Ben Cleveland and John Simpson, who struggled with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier than coming over on the finish of final season, will battle for the beginning position, although veteran Patrick Mekari and second-year professional Daniel Faalele might be prospects as effectively, in line with coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens additionally chosen two offensive linemen within the draft, Oregon’s Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Southern California’s Andrew Vorhees.
Vorhees, whom they received by buying and selling again into the seventh spherical with the Cleveland Browns for a 2024 sixth-round choose, received’t play this season after he tore his ACL in the course of the NFL scouting mix in March. But as a five-year starter at USC and Pro Football Focus’ top-rated offensive lineman within the Pac-12 the previous two years, he was ranked a lot larger than the place he was drafted and will find yourself being a steal as soon as he’s wholesome.
Sixth-round choose Aumavae-Laulu, in the meantime, performed principally proper sort out for the Ducks but in addition received snaps at guard, so that provides the Ravens some flexibility.
“I think he can play both,” DeCosta mentioned, including that offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris could have a greater concept on one of the best spot for him as soon as he’s in camp. “The things that stand out with him [are] he’s huge, he’s got explosive power, knocks guys down on down-blocks. He runs really well for a big man. When you watch him pull or get out on leads on the frontside plays, he can really cover ground. He plays with a great temperament. So, [there’s] a lot to like about a big man who plays physical.”
Inside linebacker
Shortly after the Ravens drafted Clemson inside linebacker Trenton Simpson within the third spherical, Patrick Queen tweeted, merely, “Sheesh.” That instructed him (and everybody else) all they wanted to find out about what the Ravens had been going to do when it got here to Queen’s fifth-year choice.
On Monday, they formally declined it, that means Queen will spend this season alongside Roquan Smith within the center earlier than changing into a free agent in 2024. The Ravens may commerce Queen earlier than or in the course of the season, however they’d want a starter (or good draft capital) in return they usually’re not prone to get it for the 23-year-old, who broke out final season to steer the Ravens in tackles with 117. With $100 million over 5 years already tied up in Smith, committing to maintain Queen at the price of $12.7 million subsequent season was a nonstarter.
As for Simpson, he’s quick (4.43-second 40-yard sprint time) and versatile, having performed in protection and on the sting at Clemson, so he’ll probably see the sphere in a wide range of conditions and be part of Malik Harrison as a backup on the within, with Josh Ross, Del’Shawn Phillips and Kristian Welch behind them.
“He’s gonna help us a lot of different ways,” Harbaugh mentioned of Simpson. “I see him as a four-down linebacker eventually.”
Outside linebacker
The Ravens have good depth right here that may get even higher if they bring about again free agent Justin Houston, who led Baltimore in sacks final season with 9 1/2 and has expressed in returning. As it stands now, Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser would be the starters on the rush and strongside positions, respectively, with David Ojabo and most probably fourth-round choose Tavius Robinson backing them up. Daelin Hayes and Jeremiah Moon are behind them.
At 6 toes 6 and 257 kilos with lengthy arms, Robinson is the sort of edge rusher who ought to match proper in with the Ravens. He led Ole Miss with seven sacks and compelled 5 fumbles final season.
Robinson, a Canada native who twice made the dean’s honor roll at Ole Miss, mentioned he has tried to mannequin his sport after Las Vegas Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby and his “relentless motor.”
Another participant got here to thoughts for DeCosta, although, which could make clear how the Ravens will use Robinson.
“I think we got a guy who plays very, very hard,” DeCosta mentioned. “[He] runs well, very, very physical, long reach. From a comparison standpoint, [he is] probably more like a guy like Za’Darius Smith. [He] can kick inside, can play outside. [He is] physical.”
Cornerback
One of the most important holes the Ravens had this offseason was at cornerback. They initially addressed the place within the fifth spherical Saturday, deciding on Kyu Blu Kelly out of Stanford with the 157th total choose, however the larger information got here Wednesday with the signing of free agent Rock Ya-Sin, who visited the workforce in March and provides Baltimore an instantaneous starter reverse All-Pro Marlon Humphrey.
“It’s an important position,” DeCosta mentioned of cornerback. “What we’ve seen is you can never have enough good corners to start the season and throughout the season. That’s a fast way to get beat, is to not have enough corners on the field.”
Which is why the Ravens added Ya-Sin, a 2019 second-round choose who can step proper in after spending his first three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and final 12 months with the Raiders. When wholesome, he’s been reliable. Other corners on the depth chart embrace, so as, Brandon Stephens, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion “Pepe” Williams, Daryl Worley, Kevon Seymour, Trayvon Mullen and Bopete Keyes.
As for the 6-foot, 191-pound Kellyhe figures to be behind Williams and might want to battle for taking part in time. Eventually, he might be a high quality slot nook and a dependable starter at a place that wants one. But his choice, as was the case with about half the Ravens’ picks, was for the long run.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com