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Odell Beckham Jr. was a shooting star for the Ravens, burning bright but moving quickly through Baltimore. After penning an emotional farewell on Instagram in March, he has landed in his next destination. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is headed south and signing with the Miami Dolphins, a source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The deal is reportedly for one year and $3 million with incentives that can stretch it to $8.25 million. Last year, Beckham signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Ravens. That move was done in part to entice Lamar Jackson into signing a long-term extension after the quarterback told the Ravens as part of his negotiations that he would like them to sign Beckham and DeAndre Hopkins, who ended up with the Tennessee Titans. Baltimore landed Beckham and Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million extension shortly thereafter. In March, the Ravens released Beckham in part as a cost-cutting measure. Baltimore restructured the 31-year-old’s contract in January, eliminating the void years, which allowed the team to designate him as a post-June 1 release. Under Beckham’s original deal, the remaining years would have voided and the Ravens would’ve taken an $11.068 million cap hit. Had they not released him by the March deadline, a $50 million place-holder salary for 2025 would have become fully guaranteed. In joining Miami, Beckham adds to what is already one of the NFL’s top offenses and fastest receiver groups with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But while Beckham was a transcendent and popular figure in Baltimore, his production on the field was mostly mediocre. He had just 35 catches for 565 yards in 14 games last season, and his three touchdowns marked his lowest total of any year in which he played at least 12 games. He missed two games early in the year because of an ankle injury before sitting out the regular-season finale to rest for the playoffs. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roster reset: Where do draft picks fit in as rookie minicamp kicks off? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins was always on the fast track, even when he wanted to be Cam Newton Baltimore Ravens | Ravens pick up fifth-year option on OLB Odafe Oweh Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens, AFC North got better through NFL draft, but so did the Chiefs | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens and highlighting the biggest winners and losers from the NFL draft Beckham averaged just 4.4 targets and 2.5 catches per game last season, though he did post a career-high 16.1 yards per catch. The former New York Giants star also had moments of brilliance, too. In a November win over the Cincinnati Bengals, he had a season-high 116 yards on four catches. Two games later, in a showdown against his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, he had 97 yards and a touchdown, again on four receptions. And in a December tilt against Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium with the top seed in the AFC on the line, he made a spectacular 33-yard grab at the goal line to help set up a 1-yard touchdown run that put Baltimore in front for good in an eventual 56-19 blowout win. But in the playoffs, Beckham had just four catches for 34 yards and no touchdowns in two games as the Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC championship game. “I absolutely love this place,” he said after the loss. “This felt like a home. It felt amazing for me. The city of Baltimore … I wanted it for the city of Baltimore more than anything. I wanted them to be able to have that moment [when] we’re all standing on the field, and ‘The Bank’ [M&T Bank Stadium] is rocking, but [we] just came up short. “If there is anything I felt about myself — regardless of anybody’s opinion or anything like that — is that I know that I can still play football, and I know that I still have [stuff] in the tank.” View the full article

After a free agent exodus of a dozen players, among other roster moves, there’s no sugar coating it: The Ravens will need some of their rookies to fill starting roles and others to contribute significantly in the 2024 season. The first step for Baltimore’s draft picks and undrafted free agents begins Friday, with the start of a three-day rookie minicamp in Owings Mills. But first-year players aren’t the only ones working. The NFL’s voluntary offseason program has already begun, with two weeks of meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation kicking off April 15. Beginning May 20, Baltimore will begin the first of its organized team activities, followed by a three-day mandatory minicamp June 10-12 before players break until training camp. The Ravens’ 90-man roster will continue to take shape over the next several weeks and months, from the addition of undrafted free agents to potential veteran signings and other roster maneuvering. How will the depth chart shake out? Here’s an early look. Quarterback The top two spots are set, with two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson the starter and coach John Harbaugh having already declared veteran Josh Johnson, who will turn 38 in two weeks, the backup. After that is where things get interesting, with the Ravens having used a sixth-round pick on Devin Leary and Harbaugh saying the Kentucky alum will “probably be the third quarterback this year.” That could leave second-year man Malik Cunningham, whom the Ravens signed off the New England Patriots’ practice squad, potentially looking for work. Running back Another position where the top spot is set, four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry was the Ravens’ biggest free agent splash of the offseason. Behind him, Justice Hill, who is also a contributor on special teams, is in the final year of his contract, while Keaton Mitchell, the flashy undrafted rookie from a year ago, continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December. The addition of Rasheen Ali in the sixth round helps. With Mitchell on the mend, the quick and dynamic back from Marshall should get plenty of opportunities in training camp and preseason. Owen Wright, a 2023 undrafted free agent, would likely be headed for the practice squad. North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker joined the Ravens as a fourth-round pick. (Chris Seward/AP) Wide receiver Zay Flowers ascends to the top spot after leading the Ravens in catches and yards last season. 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman is essentially right there, too, after signing an extension that keeps him in Baltimore through 2026. Veteran Nelson Agholor returns for another season after signing a one-year extension, but this is where things start to get interesting. The Ravens used a fourth-round pick on Devontez Walker, a big, speedy but unpolished receiver out of North Carolina, and signed Baltimore native and former Pro Bowl returner Deonte Harty last month. Then there’s Tylan Wallace, who has been a special teams stalwart and did a nice job returning punts in a fill-in role last year, and unproven second-year receiver Sean Ryan. Tight end/fullback This is the one position on the roster that will likely look the same this season, with 2021 All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection Mark Andrews leading the way, followed by Isaiah Likely, who filled in beautifully when Andrews went down with an ankle injury last season, and fellow 2022 fourth-round pick Charlie Kolar. After that comes Scotty Washington, along with probably another tight end or two, at least through training camp. Patrick Ricard, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, will continue to play a role at fullback and in-line tight end. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins was always on the fast track, even when he wanted to be Cam Newton Baltimore Ravens | Ravens pick up fifth-year option on OLB Odafe Oweh Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens, AFC North got better through NFL draft, but so did the Chiefs | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens and highlighting the biggest winners and losers from the NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 2024 draft, including splendid timing with top two picks Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley will be back at left tackle after restructuring his contract and taking a pay cut, while second-round pick Roger Rosengarten should have the inside track to the right tackle job over Daniel Faalele. Patrick Mekari could also be an option on the right side, though the Ravens prefer the versatile veteran in a utility role who can play any of the five offensive line positions. Guard Both spots are open after Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departed in free agency, and there isn’t a clear-cut answer to who will step in and start for them. On the left side, Andrew Vorhees, who missed his rookie season last year while he recovered from a knee injury, should be the favorite, while 2021 third-round pick Ben Cleveland could be tabbed for the right side if he continues to progress from the solid work he did in limited snaps last season. There’s also free agent signing Josh Jones, who has experience at guard and tackle, though Harbaugh noted Jones’ experience on the left side. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu got starting reps as a rookie last summer but never saw the field once the games counted. Tashawn Manning and TyKeem Doss, meanwhile, were both on the practice squad last year and should be back. Center This is one offensive line spot the Ravens don’t have to worry about. Tyler Linderbaum is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection, though he will be extension-eligible after the season and should command a big payday. With Sam Mustipher having left in free agency, seventh-round rookie Nick Samac figures to back up Linderbaum, though Mekari could fill in if necessary. Defensive tackle/end Another group that will look identical to last year, Justin Madubuike headlines the interior after a 13-sack season that landed him a four-year, $98 million extension. After that, it’s Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, 2022 third-round pick Travis Jones and 32-year-old veteran Brent Urban. The Ravens also have Rayshad Nichols, who spent the past two seasons on the practice squad, and veteran Bravvion Roy. Outside linebacker Jadevon Clowney, who had 9 1/2 sacks last season, left in free agency, but Kyle Van Noy, who had nine sacks, is back. The Ravens also picked up the fifth-year option on 2021 first-round pick Odafe Oweh, keeping him in Baltimore for two more seasons. After that, 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo will have to show that he’s fully healthy and can be an impact player. Malik Harrison’s ability to set the edge in run defense could give him the nod, though he can also play inside. Third-round draft pick Adisa Isaac was productive at getting to the quarterback at Penn State and is likely a rotational player along with Tavius Robinson, while Malik Hamm, a City College graduate, is more of a project. Inside linebacker After the free agent departure of Patrick Queen, the Ravens are confident Trenton Simpson, whom they drafted in the third round last year, can step in and start. Meanwhile, two-time All-Pro Roquan Smith will continue to anchor the group, with Chris Board and Josh Ross next in line. Expect Baltimore to add another couple of players here, though, just to be able to get through training camp if nothing else. Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa adds depth to the Ravens’ secondary. (Paul Vernon/AP) Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens will be the favorites to start outside, though the Ravens loaded up on this position in the draft with first-round pick Nate Wiggins and fourth-round selection T.J. Tampa. Wiggins will be a contributor immediately, and his speed and ball skills should allow Baltimore to move Humphrey to the inside if needed. Arthur Maulet also returns in his slot role, along with 2022 fourth-round pick Damarion “Pepe” Williams. Tampa, meanwhile, projects more inside and possibly as a third safety. The rookie additions could also leave the oft-injured Jalyn Armour-Davis on the bubble. Ka’Dar Hollman, another free agent signing, brings special teams experience, and the Ravens also have Trayvon Mullen, Tre Swilling and Christian Matthew. Safety With Geno Stone’s free agent departure, the third safety role will be up for grabs behind All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and veteran Marcus Williams. Ar’Darius Washington is one option, though he’s proven better as a nickel corner, while seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane likely won’t be ready. Undrafted free agent Beau Brade, a former River Hill and Terps star, could also be in the mix. Given the versatility of the Ravens’ defensive backs, it’s possible they could slide one of the aforementioned players into that role or add a veteran in free agency considering the solid and inexpensive options still available. Special teams Justin Tucker and Jordan Stout will be the Ravens’ kicker and punter, respectively, while long snapper Nick Moore should be fully recovered after suffering a torn Achilles tendon last summer. View the full article

Before Nate Wiggins and Devontez Walker became rookie teammates on the Ravens, selected three rounds apart in last week’s NFL draft, they were Atlantic Coast Conference rivals and already intimately familiar with each other. Walker led North Carolina in touchdown catches last season and was a favorite target of quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick. Wiggins was Clemson’s star cornerback. In a game last November at Memorial Stadium, Walker was the one charged with blocking Wiggins on a running play late in the first quarter when Wiggins broke free of his grasp and chased down and stripped running back Omarion Hampton of the ball at the goal line, turning a would-be 64-yard touchdown run for the Tar Heels into a touchback for the Tigers. Three quarters later, with North Carolina trying to rally from an 11-point deficit with just over 2 1/2 minutes remaining, Walker was Maye’s target on the sideline when Wiggins jumped the route for a game-sealing interception. A year earlier, late in the third quarter of the ACC championship game, it was Wiggins who intercepted a pass from Maye and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown to end another comeback attempt. “He’s probably the best player I’ve ever went against,” Walker said last week of Wiggins. “He was very fluid in his technique, very fast — he was one of the few guys that was hip-for-hip with me.” Wiggins, whose 40-yard dash time of 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine was second only to Texas wide receiver and Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Xavier Worthy’s record 4.21 mark, has always been fast. It set him apart from his peers at an early age, but it only tells part of his story. Born to Tamika Lucas — a single mother at age 19 who had to forgo a college basketball scholarship to raise two girls, Tanesha Lucas, now 31, and Jonae Wiggins, 23, on the south side of downtown Atlanta — Wiggins began playing football at age 4 at Pittman Park. His introduction to the game, however, was inauspicious: Wiggins routinely cried about having to go onto the field. “He did not want to be on the field,” Lucas told The Baltimore Sun. “As he got comfortable and conquered his fear — he was a child who didn’t like to get hit — every time he got the ball he was running as fast as he could. One game he must’ve scored about 14 touchdowns. No one could catch him. “When he started playing 8-and-under, I started seeing different plays and moves he was doing that a lot of kids had to be taught and it was natural for him. I knew he was special.” Wiggins thought he could be, too. In a fifth-grade book project titled “Pen, Paper Action!!! A Collection of Children’s Literature,” classmates penned short stories such as “The Roller Coaster of Death” and “Don’t Be Left Home Alone.” On page 17, Wiggins appropriately authored one called “The Football Superstar.” He wrote about himself playing like and following in the steps of quarterback Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Auburn to a national championship. In the story, Wiggins went on to be selected in the first round of the draft by the Seattle Seahawks and won the starting quarterback job in training camp. In the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, he completed 25 passes, including seven for touchdowns, with no interceptions, and he eventually propelled the Seahawks into the Super Bowl on a quarterback sneak. In fifth grade, Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins wrote a story about becoming an NFL quarterback. (Courtesy) “I used to play quarterback back in the day,” said Wiggins, who weighs about 60 pounds less than the 245-pound Newton, the 2011 No. 1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers who became the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and three-time Pro Bowl selection. “I thought I was going to be Cam Newton. Turns out, I’m a cornerback.” Wiggins also played basketball, baseball and idolized former Seahawks cornerback and three-time All-Pro Richard Sherman while growing up. By the time he reached his sophomore year at Grady High School, he was fully focused on football and being a cornerback. That led to Lucas and Wiggins’ stepfather, Chad Baker, to connect with a trainer through Wiggins’ youth football coach, Kimario Smith, to strengthen the youngster’s gangly frame and hone his skills. Justin Miller is the founder and CEO of Pro-Fit Performance in suburban Atlanta. The former defensive back was a 2005 second-round pick of the New York Jets who spent six seasons in the NFL, including stints with the then-Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions. “He was super twitchy,” Miller, who also played at Clemson, told The Sun of the first time he met Wiggins. “If you saw him moving, he was gangly and goofy because he was [6 feet tall] at 13. Then he kind of flipped out of a turn during a drill and in my head I was like, ‘Oh, [crap], he’s gonna be special.’” In Miller, along with James Davis, who came out of the same 12-and-under program Wiggins played in before making it to the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Browns in 2009, the scrawny teen also saw a path. An endless string of highlights didn’t hurt. Looking for better competition his senior year of high school to increase his profile, Wiggins transferred to Westlake in Atlanta — the same school that has produced several high-profile NFL players, including Newton. Once there, Wiggins didn’t accumulate much film playing cornerback, though, coach Bobby May said. “Nobody threw at him,” May told The Sun. “I don’t want to sound like that, but he didn’t make any plays on defense because everybody was scared of him.” Given Wiggins’ exploits as a receiver on offense, it’s easy to understand why. In the first round of the Georgia 6A playoffs, he took a toss sweep 71 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play. The next time he touched the ball, he scored on a 78-yard passing play. Two games later, he had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. “I didn’t really want to play cornerback,” Wiggins said. “I wanted to play receiver, but [my parents] were like, ‘There’s a lot of receivers that are fast.’ There are not that many cornerbacks that [are] tall that can do what I can do. I just started training, and it paid off.” Added May: “He could probably be in the NFL playing receiver if he wanted to. He obviously made the right choice playing defensive back.” That was evident at Clemson, where Wiggins landed after flipping his commitment to LSU. Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins forces a fumble by North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton just before the goal line on Nov. 18, preventing a touchdown. (Jacob Kupferman/AP) Miller told Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed — a former assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles alongside Ravens coach John Harbaugh — that he thought Wiggins had tremendous potential as a defensive back. Still, there was a learning curve, on and off the field. “It was a culture shock,” Wiggins’ stepfather told The Sun. “Coming up, he never had to get his own food, never had to drive anywhere. His time management was bad. “Now he had to do it on his own. That was the hardest part for him; gotta be here, gotta be there, can’t wake up late.” Wiggins, just 17 when he arrived as a freshman, struggled so much that he called his parents crying and wanting to transfer. “I wouldn’t allow that because if you go somewhere else and you’re not happy you’re gonna want to transfer again and we’re not doing that,” Lucas told The Sun. “So I made him stay there and buy in and [told him] do what you need to do.” When it came to football, though, there was no shortage of confidence. As a freshman, Wiggins declared that nobody could outrun him. Before the start of the 2022 season, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei called him one of the best defensive backs in the country. Wiggins concurred, telling an audience of reporters, “Y’all are going to see this year. I got a show for you.” It wasn’t long before he delivered on his promise. Though he gave up four catches and 68 yards on six targets in a 51-45 double overtime win over Wake Forest, Wiggins came up with the game’s biggest play, breaking up a fourth-and-6 pass from Sam Hartman to receiver A.T. Perry in the end zone to seal the win. Other performances stood out as well, including last season against Florida State and Miami. Against the Seminoles, he largely shut down Keon Coleman, a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills this year. Against the Hurricanes, he showed off his blazing speed, chasing down speedy receiver Brashard Smith from behind and stripping him just as he got to the goal line on the 80-yard run (though Miami recovered the ball for a touchdown). Then there was Wiggins’ signature play of running down North Carolina’s Hampton, which Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said was “one of the greatest football plays I’ve ever seen.” Wiggins never had a doubt, saying, “I knew I was going to catch him.” In 34 games over three seasons at Clemson, Wiggins finished with 50 tackles, 24 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal attempt. The Ravens introduce first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins alongside coach John Harbaugh, left, and executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta, right. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) At 6 feet 1 and 173 pounds (though he has since added about 10 pounds), with blazing speed, terrific ball skills and big play ability, Wiggins was one of the top-rated cornerbacks in this year’s draft. Still, when the 20-year-old fell to No. 30 in the first round, he was not happy. He expected to be the first cornerback taken (Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold went before him at Nos. 22 and 24 to the Eagles and Lions, respectively). “It was crazy,” Wiggins said. “But, I’m here now, and I’m about to make everybody pay who looked over me. They’re going to see what they passed up.” The Ravens had no intention of passing up on Wiggins if he was still there when they were on the clock, general manager Eric DeCosta said. That much was evident by how quickly they turned their pick in. Less than a minute had expired from their 10-minute allotment. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens pick up fifth-year option on OLB Odafe Oweh Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens, AFC North got better through NFL draft, but so did the Chiefs | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens and highlighting the biggest winners and losers from the NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 2024 draft, including splendid timing with top two picks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens stick to script and come away with solid draft class | COMMENTARY “He is a ridiculous athlete — very, very quick-footed, efficient,” DeCosta said. “He’s fast. He’s tough. He’s competitive. In our division, we play a lot of really good receivers, and you have to get off the field on third downs. … This is a guy that can come in here and play meaningful football right away for us.” There’s also little concern over his thin frame. “When you watch the tape; he comes up and smacks people,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what he does. He’s not afraid of the physical part of it at all. He’s a complete corner. First of all, he’s rangy, and he can run. He’s got very good feet, he changes direction, he puts his hands on people in press, and he runs up and tackles people with some physicality.” First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr was more blunt in his assessment: “We felt like we got the best defensive player in the draft.” Orr also noted Wiggins’ football IQ, saying the team ended it’s 20-minute interview with him at the scouting combine after only a few minutes because the young corner checked all the boxes. That includes off the field. One of Wiggins’ goals is to give to those less fortunate, which is why at age 19 he started the Wiggs Worldwide Foundation for underprivileged members of the community where he grew up in Atlanta. It’s something he plans to extend to Baltimore, too. “This world and life is hard,” Lucas told The Sun. “He always said if I ever make it I want to give back to the community where it started.” Which is perhaps why after Wiggins was drafted, his mother thought about the beginning of his journey and the book project in which he wrote his NFL dreams into existence. “We never thought anything about it and when all this came about I pulled it back out and reflected back onto that moment,” she said. “He had already written his own story. Now it’s time to just execute it all.” View the full article

Less than a week after using a draft pick on a former Penn State pass rusher, the Ravens made a somewhat surprising decision about another one on their roster. Baltimore on Tuesday picked up the fifth-year option for Odafe Oweh, which will keep the outside linebacker under contract through the 2025 season. Picking up the option will cost $13.251 million. The Ravens had until Thursday to decide on him and fellow 2021 first-round draftee Rashod Bateman, but the wide receiver signed an extension last week that will keep him in Baltimore through the 2026 season. “We are happy to announce that the Ravens will be picking up Odafe Oweh’s fifth-year option,” general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. “We look forward to watching him play great football for us this year.” That Baltimore decided to pick up the option underscores its belief in the 25-year-old former first-round pick despite his inconsistencies. Drafted 31st overall in 2021, the 6-foot-5, 257-pound Oweh has shown flashes of brilliance and improved since his rookie year, but his production has been underwhelming with just 13 career sacks and no more than five in any one season. He has also struggled to get near the quarterback with regularity, averaging just over 19 pressures a season for his career. Last season, Oweh got off to a solid start with two tackles and three pressures in the Ravens’ season opener against the Houston Texans and eventual NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, but he injured his ankle in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the next four games. Oweh finished with five sacks and just 15 pressures, though he ranked 14th in win rate percentage among edge rushers with at least 270 snaps on passing plays, according to Pro Football Focus. By comparison, however, there are other edge rushers in the same price range, or less, that had better numbers than Oweh last season. Chase Young had 7 1/2 sacks and 25 pressures with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers in 2023 before signing a one-year, $13 million fully guaranteed deal with the New Orleans Saints last month. Leonard Floyd, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the 49ers, had 10 1/2 sacks and 25 pressures for the Buffalo Bills last year. Though the Ravens became the first team to lead the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game last season, there are significant questions about its pass rushers going into this season. Keeping Oweh does at least maintain continuity with the thought that he could be poised to break out. While Baltimore re-signed outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who had a career-high 9 1/2 sacks last season, running mate Jadeveon Clowney departed for the Carolina Panthers in free agency after matching his career high with nine sacks as well as being a valuable edge setter against the run. Injuries have limited David Ojabo, a 2022 second-round pick, to just five total games his first two years. The Ravens also released veteran Tyus Bowser, who had five sacks in 2019 and seven in 2021, after he unexpectedly missed all of last season with a mysterious knee injury. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens, AFC North got better through NFL draft, but so did the Chiefs | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens and highlighting the biggest winners and losers from the NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 2024 draft, including splendid timing with top two picks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens stick to script and come away with solid draft class | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: Georgia DL, Morgan State DB, Maryland OL, Ole Miss WR among additions Last month at the NFL owners’ meetings, coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism about his two young outside linebackers. “I think [Ojabo] and Odafe are going to be partners in crime,” he said. “I think those guys are going to play great together. They are ready to roll, man. “Every time I talk to them, every time I see them, they are brimming with enthusiasm. … They are both healthy. I can’t wait to get to work with those guys.” On the outside, the Ravens drafted Tavius Robinson last year and Adisa Isaac out of Penn State in the third round this year, but both are unproven. Perhaps Oweh will prove a smart decision. Time will tell. This story might be updated. View the full article

The Kansas City Chiefs have won the last two Super Bowls, so whenever they make a move to get better, 31 other NFL teams can’t help but shake their collective heads. So, when the Chiefs traded up to acquire Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy at the end of the first round and moved up again in the second to take BYU offensive lineman tackle Kingsley Suamataia, it happened. The champs got better. Again. The Ravens made progress and had a solid draft, but so did the rival Steelers and Bengals. So did the Colts, another AFC foe. The Chiefs? The consensus is that they had a great draft, and that’s bad news for the rest of the AFC because they already have the best quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes and a roster full of young, talented players. Now, Kansas City has rebuilt a receiving corps with Worthy, who ran he 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in a record 4.21 seconds. He’ll join former Raven Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, another speedster whom the Chiefs signed in free agency. Brown was never a tough receiver in Baltimore, but the modern-day NFL is about having elusive and speedy receivers. We all remember what Kansas City coach Andy Reid did with the speedy Tyreek Hill from 2016 through 2021. The Chiefs selected Suamataia with the 63rd overall pick and he’ll battle either Wanya Morris, a third-round pick last season, for the starting left tackle job or eventually secure a starting spot on the right side. Kansas City led the league in pass block win rate in each of the past two seasons. And now they’ll be even better. They also added safety Jaden Hicks, a fourth-round pick out of Washington State, who will eventually find some playing time in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense before the end of the season. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh went old school. A year ago, the Steelers took Broderick Jones with the 14th pick to anchor their defensive line, and this weekend they helped solidify their offensive line by taking Washington left offensive tackle Troy Fautanu with the No. 20 pick and West Virginia center Zach Frazier with their next pick, 51st overall. Combined with guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels, Pittsburgh should have one of the best units in the NFL. A year ago, they already had a strong running game paced by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, but the passing game should improve with the addition of free-agent quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers took wide receiver Roman Wilson in the third round, and while the Michigan product had only 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, Pittsburgh has a history of producing quality receivers. The Bengals bulked up their offensive line by taking Georgia’s Amarius Mims in the first round. (Michael Conroy/AP) The Steelers weren’t the only conference rival to beef up. Cincinnati added some bulk to its interior lines with Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, the 18th overall pick in the first round, and Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins and Texas A&M nose tackle McKinnley Jackson in the second and third rounds, respectively. Mims might need some time to develop as a tackle, but Jenkins and Jackson will add to a defense that allowed 126.2 rushing yards per game last season. The Bengals also added Alabama receiver Jermaine Burton, who had 39 catches for 798 yards and eight touchdowns last season, to pair with an already elite unit that features Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cincinnati has two decent cornerbacks in Cam Taylor-Britt and D.J. Turner, but TCU’s Josh Newtown, taken in the fifth round, will add to the depth, especially in passing situations. The key, as it is for every team in the NFL, is to keep the starting quarterback healthy, and if Joe Burrow recovers from a wrist injury that sidelined him for much of the second half of the season, the Bengals will contend for the division crown. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens stick to script and come away with solid draft class | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Drafting offensive linemen who can protect Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must be a priority | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Former Terps, River Hill star Beau Brade leans on faith, work ethic entering NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens would be wise to target Ed Reed’s cousin, Trey Taylor, in NFL draft | COMMENTARY Indianapolis, which finished 9-8 last season, also had a strong draft. The Colts drafted UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round and then added Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second. Some questioned Mitchell’s character and work ethic, but remember, this is the NFL, not the Boy Scouts. The Colts also added Pittsburgh offensive lineman Matt Goncalves in the third round and Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini in the fourth. Goncalves can play either guard or tackle, but tackle might be his best position. The Colts, though, like the Steelers, Bengals and Ravens, improved significantly, but it’s yet to be determined if it was enough to catch Kansas City. When the Chiefs traded up four spots with Buffalo to get Worthy, you knew Worthy had to be special. When they made a similar deal with the San Francisco 49ers to move up a spot to select Suamatai, it became clear Kansas City is going all-in on a three-peat. A lot of the good teams got better, but did any draft as well or sign enough free agents so far to stop Kansas City? That’ll be the story of the 2024 season. View the full article

How did the Ravens fare in this year’s NFL draft? After three days, it felt like one of those movies that you’ve seen countless times but always end up watching when you come across it on TV, like Shawshank Redemption, Goodwill Hunting or Gladiator. Put another way, their performance was good, familiar and filled a void. Or in Baltimore’s case, multiple needs after a free agent exodus of a dozen players this offseason along with other moves that left gaps all over the roster, particularly on the offensive line, where there will be at least three new starters in 2024. As for how well the Ravens addressed those holes, the early takeaway is predictably solid. From a letter grade standpoint, most draftniks put them in the range of A-minus down to B, which is nearly always the area they seem to fall into. That also perhaps explains why they are far more often picking closer to the end of each round than near the top of it. Over the past 21 years, Baltimore remarkably has had just one pick in the top 10 (left tackle Ronnie Stanley, No. 6, in 2016). The New York Jets, meanwhile, have had 10 top-10 picks in that span, including No. 2 overall selection Zach Wilson in 2021. Three disastrous seasons later, the quarterback was traded to the Denver Broncos. Here’s a look at how the Ravens fared as well as the biggest winners and losers from this year’s NFL draft. Grading the Ravens Again, this class feels like a grade of a B. With nine offensive linemen off the board by the time the Ravens were on the clock, they filled another need with a long, fast, rangy cornerback in Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, who could end up being a very good successor to Marlon Humphrey on the outside. There are questions about how good Washington tackle Roger Rosengarten, Baltimore’s second-round pick, can be, but he has positional versatility at tackle or guard in the Ravens’ eyes and his mobility could be a big asset. First-round draft pick Nate Wiggins, center, with assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt, left, and defensive coordinator Zach Orr, will be an immediate contributor for the Ravens. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac checked off another need and was more productive in college than his teammate Odafe Oweh. North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker gives Lamar Jackson another speedy deep threat and should add value on special teams. Doubling up with cornerback T.J. Tampa in Round 4 was also an interesting move given that many projected him much higher, while shifty Marshall running back Rasheed Ali gives the Ravens another option along with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. And seventh-round center Nick Samac, who will likely see action at guard, would have likewise gone earlier if not for a late-season injury. In other words, the Ravens do what they usually do and fill needs with young talent that should end up being good value relative to where each player was picked. Biggest winners Chicago Bears: Speaking of teams picking in the top 10, the Bears had two of the first nine picks this year and they did well with each, taking 2022 Heisman winner and Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and Washington star wide receiver Rome Odunze ninth. Then they added Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, who was at or near the top of the second tier of offensive linemen, in Round 3. With Odunze, Keenan Allen and former Terp D.J. Moore, along with a solid offensive lineman who can help keep Williams from having to run for his life, the Bears might have finally found the franchise quarterback they’ve been searching for since Jim McMahon. Quietly, general manager Ryan Poles is rebuilding the Bears into the great franchise they once were. Philadelphia Eagles: While Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, coach John Harbaugh and owner Steve Bisciotti were generally subdued inside the team’s Owings Mills facility following each pick, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was high-fiving everyone in Philadelphia’s draft room so much his hand must have been sore by the end of the weekend. There was reason to celebrate, though, with the Eagles nabbing perhaps the draft’s best defensive back (Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell) in the first round and then adding what could be their version of Kyle Hamilton with Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean in Round 2. Pass rusher Jalyx Hunt, taken in the third round, is an intriguing small school project from Houston Christian with big-time athleticism, while fourth-round pick and speedy Clemson running back Will Shipley is a nice yin to the yang of bruising Saquon Barkley. And the Eagles’ Day 3 picks of Michigan guard Trevor Keegan, huge Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson and Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of a former Philadelphia great, have a high ceiling. Kansas City Chiefs: Like the Ravens, the Chiefs almost never draft high, with one pick in the top 10 in the past 11 years and three Super Bowl titles to go along with it. Their late first-round pick of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL scouting combine history, along with BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia in Round 2 and Washington State safety Jaden Hicks on Day 3, were all good values. Pittsburgh Steelers: Harbaugh is fond of saying the offensive line is the most important element of any good football team, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan feel similarly. After using last year’s 14th overall pick on left tackle Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh took Washington tackle Troy Fautanu and West Virginia center Zach Frazier in the first two rounds this year. Those three, along with guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels, should give the Steelers one of the best lines in the league, which they’ll need in front of quarterback Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields). Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson and N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson, who won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker, should also contribute immediately. Washington Commanders: General manager Adam Peters did the smart thing by staying at No. 2 and taking Lamar Jackson 2.0, quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels out of LSU. Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton was also a solid choice at No. 36 — he could be their version of Justin Madubuike. Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil is a former wide receiver who is athletic, fast and had six interceptions last season, including two for scores, and should be a great fit in the slot. Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott gives Daniels a reliable outlet who can also block. TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman is versatile, has a big wingspan and should play right away. Temple linebacker and Delaware native Jordan Magee was an intriguing, athletic Day 3 pick who could stick as a solid contributor. Biggest losers Atlanta Falcons: Drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at all, never mind eighth overall, when Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins this offseason was easily the biggest head-scratcher of the draft and the conversation between general manager Terry Fontenot and owner Arthur Blank quickly became a meme that will go down in draft night lore. Then they reached on selecting Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro 35th overall when Newton, who was more productive, was still available. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 2024 draft, including splendid timing with top two picks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens stick to script and come away with solid draft class | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: Georgia DL, Morgan State DB, Maryland OL, Ole Miss WR among additions Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sign former Terps, River Hill safety Beau Brade as undrafted free agent Baltimore Ravens | NFL draft tracker: Ravens take North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, Kentucky QB Devin Leary on Day 3 Denver Broncos: Coach Sean Payton’s effusive praise for quarterback Bo Nix made it sound like he was trying to convince himself that he made the right call using the 12th overall pick on a quarterback many projected to go at the end of the first round or the second. Yes, he led the country in completion percentage (77.4) and yards (4,508) for Oregon last season and has improved significantly from earlier in his five-year college career. But the Broncos have multiple needs and there are still questions on how Nix will handle NFL blitzes and decision-making when he has to extend plays. Cleveland Browns: The good news is the Deshaun Watson debt is paid. The bad news is the cost of it included having just two picks in the first four rounds this year. While the Steelers, Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals all got better, Cleveland drafted Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. and Michigan guard Zak Zinter, neither of whom are expected to be major contributors in 2024. Tennessee Titans: When the Los Angeles Chargers snagged Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt ahead of the Titans, the best thing they could have done was move back to acquire more picks to fill their multiple needs. Instead, the Titans reached with Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham, who could also be tasked with moving to left tackle after playing entirely on the right side in college. Their second-round pick, Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, might also have been available later after a DUI arrest earlier this month. At 6-4, 366 pounds. he has an NFL body, but he also comes with question marks. Malik Cunningham: Once touted by John Harbaugh as an intriguing option at quarterback and wide receiver for the Ravens, Cunningham’s stay in Baltimore might be short after all with the Ravens using a Day 3 pick on Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary. When Harbaugh was asked about Leary, he dubbed him as the probable No. 3 quarterback for Baltimore, with Josh Johnson already slated for the backup role behind Jackson. View the full article

The Ravens wasted no time addressing two of their greatest needs, selecting cornerback Nate Wiggins and tackle Roger Rosengarten in the first two rounds of the draft. They proceeded to fill out their nine-player class with solid values at edge rusher and wide receiver. Here are five things we learned from their 2024 draft. The Ravens were smart, lucky or both in the timing of their first two choices Once the board is set, with scouts’ takes on players examined and reexamined, Eric DeCosta’s mind turns to game theory. Where will runs on certain positions pop off? When will scarcity set in? How many potential trade partners will be eager to climb or fall back? You hear the Ravens general manager describe these mental simulations, and it’s apparent that the draft remains one of the great fascinations of his life. Going into Thursday night’s first round, DeCosta thought the Ravens would come away with an offensive lineman or a cornerback at pick No. 30. If he didn’t like the values at either position, he would trade back. But he figured he could miss out on the first tier of tackles and still come up with a starter in round two or three. At cornerback, he’d have only the one chance to strike. Sure enough, a feeding frenzy ensued for offensive players of all types, including tackles. The top cornerbacks waited through 10 picks, then another 10. The Ravens wouldn’t need to move an inch to have their choice of three players — Wiggins, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry — widely linked to them in mock drafts. They couldn’t say Wiggins’ name fast enough when the time came. The next four cornerbacks flew off the board in the first 11 picks of the second round. “We feel fortunate,” DeCosta said. “We took Nate, and then we saw those corners go at the beginning [of Round 2] — all of the guys we liked get picked.” The second round broke their way as well. Teams lined up to snatch wide receivers, then defensive tackles, then corners. The offensive tackles, prom kings on Day 1, found themselves relegated to the corner. DeCosta said he felt jumpy at one point, wondering if his preferred target, Rosengarten, really would fall to pick No. 62. They considered an offer to move down a few spots but opted to stay put and again, had a choice between appealing options: Rosengarten and BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, both rated as potential Day 1 starters at right tackle. Again, they made their pick and in the immediate aftermath, watched all their favorite tackles and guards vanish. “I’ve never seen anything like what we saw today, where every single guard and tackle on the front board got picked in a span of 20 picks,” DeCosta said. “Never seen that before.” Two positional runs, and the Ravens managed to be on the front end of both of them. DeCosta could hardly have gamed out a more serendipitous big picture. Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins defends against Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. on Nov. 11. (Jacob Kupferman/AP) In Nate Wiggins, they went with a different style of corner In DeJean, the Ravens could have picked a rugged, versatile defensive back and potential special teams star. In McKinstry, they could have opted for another accomplished product of the Nick Saban cornerback tree. Either would have fit the image of the defensive backs they’ve drafted and signed in recent years. Instead, they chose Wiggins, a lithe sprinter dinged by draft pundits for his lack of thump as a run defender. Here’s the thing: If you clock a 4.28-second 40-yard dash with a spidery frame and fluid hips tailor-made for shadowing world-class receivers, maybe you don’t need to be a big hitter. Marlon Humphrey’s calling card is his inside-outside versatility. Marcus Peters at his All-Pro peak with the Ravens was the league’s best ballhawk. Brandon Stephens plays rough and feisty. But the Ravens haven’t had a coverage artist who could shut down one side of the field in recent years. Wiggins has that potential. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr and defensive pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt beamed at Wiggins’ introductory news conference. They’re sold not only on the 20-year-old’s physical dynamism but on his acumen. Hewitt said he cut short his meeting with Wiggins at the NFL scouting combine because the kid needed just a few minutes to convince him of “what was in between the ears.” They downplayed concerns about Wiggins’ slight build, with Hewitt noting the passion he showed on a pair of chase-down strips in his last season at Clemson. DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence he’ll bulk up quickly. None of that will dictate how we look back at the Wiggins pick. Modern NFL defenses rise and fall on third down and late-game situations — stopping the pass when you know it’s coming. A shutdown corner is a major building block in that quest, and the Ravens believe they found one. The Ravens’ tackle choice reflected a sea change under Todd Monken This was another stylistic conundrum. Did you prefer the quick feet of Rosengarten, the former basketball player who protected Michael Penix Jr.’s blind side at Washington? Or the burlier, more powerful Suamataia? Analysts were divided, but the Ravens went with finesse, a reflection of where Monken wants to take their offense, employing more zone concepts and depending on tackles who can block quick edge rushers without aid. Harbaugh said he expects Rosengarten to compete for the team’s open right tackle job, presumably against mammoth Daniel Faalele. “In our offense, we do a lot of things out in space,” DeCosta said. “Guys have to be able to pull, and our screen game was good this year. And we get these guys out there, and we have fast players, and our quarterback, obviously, is a tremendous athlete, so you want guys that are mobile. We want big, strong guys, but we want these guys to be mobile, too.” That’s Rosengarten, who ran the fastest 40-yard time of any lineman at the combine and received wide praise for exploding out of his stance. He didn’t allow a sack in two seasons as Washington’s starting right tackle. It’s power the 6-foot-5, 308-pound Rosengarten lacks, at least relative to the tackle prospects ranked ahead of him in a deep class. “Lacks ideal mass in his lower half to sit down and anchor versus power,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote. “He’s a young player,” DeCosta said. “He’s going to get stronger, [and] we’ll get him in the weight room. He’s a very gifted athlete. He’s played some left tackle. He played left tackle at the Senior Bowl. [He has] very good feet, body mechanics, change of direction, agility. He’s just got to get physically stronger, as a lot of guys do, and so, he will.” Another quality the Ravens like is Rosengarten’s self-awareness, a theme he echoed when he spoke with reporters. “I think there’s a lot in my game that I need to critique and get better at,” he said. Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa, left, defends Ohio wide receiver Tyler Walton on Sept. 16. (Paul Vernon/AP) With two boxes checked, the Ravens felt free to chase value and more value DeCosta spoke of the anxiety he felt about missing on a cornerback or tackle. With Wiggins and Rosengarten in hand, he saw the rest of the draft as “an open highway.” “We can just sit back and just draft the best guys that we see on the board,” he said, “without any real thought to position or how they’re going to fit roster-wise; we’re just going to draft the best football players.” Their next three picks, Penn State edge rusher Adisa Isaac, North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker and Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa, play positions where the Ravens wanted to add depth. It’s not as if they ignored specific needs. But these choices were defined more by the value they represented, according to consensus boards. Isaac, who led the Big Ten in tackles for loss, received borderline second-round grades from several top evaluators, and the Ravens got him at the end of the third. Even if his primary value comes as a third-down disruptor, he was a fine choice. The Ravens are betting outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith can unlock more production from his flexible, 6-foot-4 frame. Walker might have a lower floor than similarly ranked receiver prospects because he’s not known as a route technician, but his size and vertical speed give him a higher ceiling. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. felt Walker could have been a significantly higher pick with another year of college experience. Tampa was the biggest steal of all on paper, listed as a second-round talent by Kiper and Brugler and too good for the Ravens to pass up at the end of the fourth. A 4.58-second 40-yard dash on his pro day probably depressed his draft position, but Brugler wrote that with his size and ball skills, Tampa has “the tools and potential to be a starting perimeter cornerback in various schemes.” DeCosta referred to Tampa as a “guy we quite honestly could have taken on the second day of the draft as a press corner.” We could argue the Ravens needed a safety more than another cornerback, but that wasn’t the point of their efforts Saturday. In a class short on draftable players, they spent the afternoon grabbing guys who could be starters or high-end reserves under the right circumstances. Most of those drafted in the middle and late rounds never make much mark on the NFL, so it was time to take those swings DeCosta loves to talk about. From left, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and director of college scouting David Blackburn speak to the media after finishing up the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) If there was a disappointment, it was the Ravens not drafting another offensive lineman with a chance to start at guard They accomplished their mission at tackle, but the Ravens also need starters at both guard spots. Andrew Vorhees is akin to a mid-round pick after his redshirt rookie season. Ben Cleveland is still looking for a shot in his fourth season. Offseason addition Josh Jones was a 2020 third-round pick. Those are three maybes for a team that had the luxury of depending on Kevin Zeitler the last three seasons. A third- or fourth-round guard would have been another maybe but would have at least freshened up the competition. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens stick to script and come away with solid draft class | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: Georgia DL, Morgan State DB, Maryland OL, Ole Miss WR among additions Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sign former Terps, River Hill safety Beau Brade as undrafted free agent Baltimore Ravens | NFL draft tracker: Ravens take North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, Kentucky QB Devin Leary on Day 3 Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ analytics and belief in Rashod Bateman are why they didn’t take WR early in NFL draft As DeCosta said, other teams took that possibility out of the Ravens’ hands by snatching 10 guards and tackles over the first 22 picks of the third round. They might have taken Connecticut’s Christian Haynes or Kansas’ Dominick Puni over Isaac but didn’t have the chance. Their board said the value was largely sucked out of the guard class by pick No. 93. “In the fourth round, we probably had a couple opportunities to get somebody, and quite honestly, looking at [Walker], looking at [Tampa], we kind of knew when we had a chance to select those guys that we might miss out on one of the better guards available,” DeCosta said. “I think we have some viable guys to compete. I’m excited about the group overall, and honestly, I don’t feel too bad about it because of the type of guys we got in the fourth and fifth round.” The Ravens also could use a third safety to replace Geno Stone and complement starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. They have Ar’Darius Washington and added Purdue’s Sanoussi Kane with their last of nine picks but seem likely to sign a veteran free agent. DeCosta reiterated that the draft was a significant step, but still only a step, in building the 2024 Ravens. “We’re not finished, for sure,” he said Saturday. “I’m not going to sit up here today and say, ‘Oh, the team is set. We’ve got this great team.’ We have a lot of work to do, and there’s a lot of different ways to do that. We have a lot of different opportunities between now and September to build the team.” View the full article

On some days, boring is good. The Ravens had a couple of those days during the NFL draft this past weekend, and that’s a good thing because everything seemed to fall into place. There were no trades or reaches on selections, and the Ravens basically stayed with the script. Will they challenge for a Super Bowl title in 2024? That remains to be seen, but they appeared to upgrade in the secondary with Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins as their top pick and added much-needed depth on the offensive line with second-round selection Roger Rosengarten, an offensive tackle out of Washington. Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, chosen in the third round, adds to the pass rush. The Ravens might have a speedy outside threat in fourth-round selection Devontez Walker, a wide receiver from North Carolina. Other than adding more interior linemen on both sides of the ball, which could come later in free agency, the Ravens’ draft was solid. “It was a productive three days,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “There were no trades. We had a few opportunities, but in the end we stayed with what made the most sense for us. It takes a village to have a successful draft, and I’m very proud of the men and women upstairs.” The Ravens went into the draft wanting to add offensive linemen, especially tackles, but nine came off the board before the team’s No. 30 overall selection in the first round. The Ravens then chose Wiggins, who was generally considered the No. 2 cover corner in college football last season behind Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22. It was a good move. Offensively, the Ravens can’t match quarterbacks such as the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen or maybe even the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud in the postseason, but they can at least slow them down, which is exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs did to the Ravens in the AFC championship game with cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed. With Brandon Stephens on the outside, Wiggins on the other side and Marlon Humphrey playing over the slot, the Ravens should have good nickel and dime packages. It still would have been interesting to see whether the Ravens would have taken Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton if the Dallas Cowboys hadn’t selected him at No. 29. The Ravens didn’t have much of a choice except to take Rosengarten with the No. 62 pick. He was ranked around where the Ravens selected him, and Baltimore needed a tackle after trading right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets in exchange for draft picks and watching left tackle Ronnie Stanley struggle through an injury-hampered 2023 season. Rosengarten ran the 40-yard dash in 4.92 seconds, which is impressive for a 6-foot-5, 308-pound tackle. He played on the right side in college, which was the blindside for left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Rosengarten has a strong initial punch and is a good finisher. He fits into the Ravens’ scheme because he is versatile enough to play guard, so that works out well if Rosengarten can’t beat out Daniel Faalele for the starting right tackle job or if Ben Cleveland or Andrew Vorhees falters at guard. According to DeCosta, the Ravens are excited about both Cleveland and Vorhees. The hope here is that Rosengarten can pass block, an area in which the offensive line has struggled in recent years. Washington running back Dillon Johnson, left, gestures to fans with offensive lineman Roger Rosengarten after Johnson scored a touchdown against Utah on Nov. 11. (Lindsey Wasson/AP) “Just coming from college, we were [a] pass-heavy offense, so obviously I feel very confident in a pass set, but also in my run blocking,” Rosengarten said. “I feel like my run blocking is underrated. We were kind of in that spread offense — spread offense, run-scheme, zone-scheme, but it doesn’t matter what scheme it is, I feel confident within run-pass screens, getting out in space. I just feel confident in it all.” There was a lot of clamor among fans about the Ravens taking Isaac in the third round instead of a receiver or guard, and that’s understandable. DeCosta said a decision was partially made because of the recent contract extension negotiated with third-year receiver Rashod Bateman. That was a gamble, a big one. The NFL is a bottom line league and Bateman has only 93 catches for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns in four largely injury-riddled seasons. He didn’t merit the extension, regardless of the situation. Maybe another issue came into play. The Ravens traded receiver Marquise Brown on Day 1 of the 2022 draft, and they didn’t offer linebacker Patrick Queen an extension at the start of last season. What do Brown, Queen and Bateman have in common? All three were first-round picks, respectively, in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It would look bad on the Ravens if all three left Baltimore without receiving contract extensions. The Bateman deal practically had to be done, and the Ravens haven’t excelled in drafting receivers since moving to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996. As for guards, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe and Conneticut’s Christian Haynes were already chosen before the Ravens selected Isaac. Most offensive lines have a weakness at guard, and that’s OK if a team has a quality center such as Tyler Linderbaum. Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac celebrates after recovering a fumble by Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara on Sept. 23 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Barry Reeger/AP) Edge rusher, though, was a problem. The Ravens have two young outside linebackers in David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh, but Ojabo has struggled with injuries and Oweh is inconsistent. The Ravens needed a young player who could join veteran Kyle Van Noy, but there might be one problem with Isaac. Despite the 37 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks he had last season, he appears to be one-dimensional like other former Nittany Lions pass rushers Oweh and Chop Robinson, who went to Miami Dolphins with the No. 21 pick. They are all speed rushers but don’t have any counter or change-of-direction moves. That sounds like another major job for assistant coach and pass-rushing “guru” Chuck Smith. “I’ve heard a lot about him throughout my college career. I’ve always heard the name — Chuck Smith, Chuck Smith — and just never was able to put a face to it,” Isaac said. “So now, it all came full circle, and I’m able to work with him one-on-one. So, it’s just amazing, and I’m just excited to learn. “There’s a lot of great coaches and a lot of experience, so I’m just excited to improve myself and meet all of these exciting coaches and players.” Barring unforeseen circumstances, the top three draft picks should make the team, but the odds aren’t in favor of the remaining six. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: Georgia DL, Iowa DE, Maryland OL, Ole Miss WR among additions Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sign former Terps, River Hill safety Beau Brade as undrafted free agent Baltimore Ravens | NFL draft tracker: Ravens take North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, Kentucky QB Devin Leary on Day 3 Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ analytics and belief in Rashod Bateman are why they didn’t take WR early in NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac with No. 93 pick in 2024 NFL draft Walker, the fourth-round pick, fits a Ravens need. He is exceptionally fast (4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and a long strider who specializes in vertical routes. He is not known for getting much separation going in and out of his breaks, but he can take the top off a defense. “Definitely a vertical threat, but I feel like the speed, cuts at the top of the route and things like that, I feel like I’m very good in that aspect and running away from defenders,” Walker said. “Still need a little work at the top of the route, cleaning up steps and things like that, but I feel like releasing off the ball and being a vertical threat, those are the two strong points of my game.” Because the Ravens have had so many injuries in the secondary, DeCosta chose Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 130 pick in the fourth round. The Ravens picked up Marshall running back Rasheen Ali a round later, and he is a big back at 5-11 and 206 pounds. He rushed for 1,135 yards last season and also had 28 catches for 213 yards. To finish off the picks, the Ravens took Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary in the sixth round, followed by Michigan State center Nick Samac and Purdue safety Sanoussi Kane with their last two selections in the seventh. Teams always bring in several quarterbacks to start training camp, and the Ravens are always looking for depth on the interior lines. The final picks were basically a formality, but the Ravens followed DeCosta’s script before the draft. He stayed with it to complete a boring but solid three days. View the full article

With the 2024 NFL draft over, the Ravens have turned their attention to the undrafted market. Baltimore entered the draft with 61 players and made nine picks, leaving space to add a big class. Here’s a look at the additions: Maryland safety Beau Brade: The Clarksville native and former River Hill star surprisingly wasn’t picked despite being ranked No. 143 overall on the consensus big board. But he’ll get a chance to compete for a roster spot with the team he grew up rooting for. The 6-foot, 203-pound Brade led the Terps in tackles each of the past two seasons, twice earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. The team captain had three interceptions, 14 passes defended and eight tackles for loss combined over the past two seasons while missing just one game because of injury. He played at the Senior Bowl in February and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds at his pro day. Georgia defensive lineman Tramel Walthour: Walthour is signing with the Ravens, according to a source with direct knowledge of the agreement. After starting his career at Hutchinson Community College, Walthour played five seasons for the Bulldogs, winning back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. The 6-3, 273-pound defensive lineman played in 13 games last season, including five starts, and recorded 11 tackles and one sack for a loss of 11 yards in the SEC championship game against Alabama. He finished his career with 49 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and two sacks. Alabama center-guard Darrian Dalcourt: The Havre de Grace native and former four-star prospect at St. Frances announced on Instagram that he’s joining the Ravens. The 6-2, 309-pound Dalcourt played in 39 games with the Crimson Tide, including two seasons as the starting center. As a graduate student this past season, he split time at right guard, making five starts. Maryland offensive lineman Corey Bullock: Another former Terp is heading to Baltimore. After being named second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at North Carolina Central, the 6-2, 307-pound Bullock transferred to Maryland and started 11 games at left guard this past season. He was the second-highest rated pass-blocking guard in the Big Ten with a 79.6 grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Iowa defensive end Joe Evans: The former high school quarterback turned walk-on linebacker saved his best for last, recording 9 1/2 sacks his senior season and setting a school bowl game record with four sacks against Tennessee in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The 6-1, 246-pound Evans, an Ames, Iowa native, started all 27 of the Hawkeyes’ games the past two seasons and racked up 121 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 23 sacks. He also posted standout athletic testing numbers at his pro day, including a vertical leap of 41 1/2 inches and a 4.67-second 40-yard dash. His time in the shuttle (4.11 seconds) and three-cone (6.98 seconds) drills were faster than any edge defender at the combine. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sign former Terps, River Hill safety Beau Brade as undrafted free agent Baltimore Ravens | NFL draft tracker: Ravens take North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, Kentucky QB Devin Leary on Day 3 Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ analytics and belief in Rashod Bateman are why they didn’t take WR early in NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac with No. 93 pick in 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens take Washington OT Roger Rosengarten with No. 62 pick in second round of 2024 NFL draft Duke defensive tackle Ja’Mion Franklin: The Ridgely native and former North Caroline High School standout started his career at Notre Dame before transferring to Duke ahead of the 2021 season. In 50 career games (including 26 consecutive starts at defensive tackle to finish career), the 6-1, 311-pound Franklin recorded 70 tackles, 8 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, six passes defended and two quarterback pressures. The 2023 team captain put up 36 reps in the bench press at his pro day, which would have ranked second at this year’s combine. Ole Miss wide receiver Dayton Wade: The 5-9, 176-pound Wade started his college career at Western Kentucky before transferring to Ole Miss, where he caught 55 passes for 830 yards and four touchdowns this past season. Despite his small frame, he’s shown a knack for making outstanding catches down the field. The Atlanta native ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and recorded a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump. Rutgers wide receiver Isaiah Washington: The 6-2, 206-pound Washington is experienced, playing in 58 games (including 25 starts) to tie the school record. A former teammate of current Ravens wide receiver Sean Ryan, Washington totaled 74 receptions for 927 yards and three scores in his college career. The Jacksonville, Florida, native ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 38 inches. North Central (Illinois) wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy: The 6-foot, 208-pound Hardy led the team in receiving each of the past two seasons, including 75 catches for 1,353 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023. The Associated Press first-team All-American also rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and completed 3 of 3 passes for 25 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Cardinal to record passing, receiving and kickoff return touchdowns and an interception in the same game Dec. 2 in national quarterfinal win at Wisconsin-La Crosse. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds. Temple linebacker Yvandy Rigby: Born and raised in Turks and Caicos, Rigby moved to Atlantic City before high school and transferred to Egg Harbor Township High in New Jersey as a sophomore. He earned a single digit jersey number (No. 0) at Temple, a tradition given to those who lead by example on and off the field. Ribgy battled injuries throughout his college career but was productive when on the field, recording 207 career tackles in 35 games, including 16 starts. He also had four sacks and two forced fumbles. Lock Haven running back Chris Collier: The Elmhurst, New York, native is the first known Bald Eagle signed to an NFL roster since Mike Packer with the New York Jets in 1972, according to the school. The 5-10, 203-pound running back earned some buzz after his pro day at Temple on March 26, where he finished in the top-10 among NFL combine running backs in the 40-yard dash (4.50), bench press (21 reps), vertical jump (36 1/2 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) while ranking first in the shuttle (4.20 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.95). Collier led the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in rushing yards (1,393) and ranked second in rushing touchdowns (12), helping lead the Bald Eagles to their first five-win season since 1982. Kansas State long snapper Randen Plattner: The 6-2, 244-pound Plattner played in 62 career games, the second most in school history. He served as the primarily long snapper for all punts and field goals/extra-point attempts the final three seasons of his career. This story will be updated. View the full article

When Beau Brade walked into his first defensive backs meeting at Maryland in 2020, the vanguard leading the depth chart featured junior Jakorian Bennett, sophomores Nick Cross and Deonte Banks and freshman Tarheeb Still. Year over year, each of those three left College Park to hear their name called in the NFL draft. Brade surprisingly wasn’t picked this weekend despite being ranked No. 143 overall on the consensus big board, but he’ll still get a chance to join his former teammates in the NFL. The Ravens signed Brade as an undrafted free agent, the Maryland football team announced on X, formerly Twitter. With the Ravens in need of a third safety behind Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams after the departure of Geno Stone in free agency, Brade will have a chance to make the 53-man roster. The Ravens also drafted Purdue safety Sanoussi Kane in the seventh round Saturday. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun before the draft, Brade said he grew up a Ravens fan and learned the game while studying Ray Lewis, the Ravens’ Hall of Fame middle linebacker. “I grew up a Ray fan,” Brade said. “He was that guy I tried to be so I tried to hit people hard like Ray Lewis, and I had that work ethic too.” It wasn’t until the stars in front of him began to graduate that Brade got his shot. He played in five games as a freshman, largely on special teams. Brade then appeared in 12 of 13 contests as a sophomore before stepping into a starting role for all 13 games as a junior, when he finished with a team-high 85 tackles (55 solo). He led the Terps in tackles again as a senior with 75 total and 48 solo. His six pass breakups were the team’s second most, rounded out by four tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. “We all got the same mindset,” Brade told reporters at the NFL scouting combine of his Maryland predecessors. “That’s just, whoever lines up against us is gonna get the work. We feel like we’re dogs and nobody can beat us. I feel like our mentality is really what created us to be what we’re gonna be in the future.” Brade carved his own path, in part, by growing alongside five future pros (Jordan Mosley was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022). He also ingested a variety of coaching perspectives, having played under three defensive coordinators while at Maryland. Where it was harder to foster strong coach-player relationships, he said, “I feel like in the long run it made me better.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: Georgia DL, Iowa DE, Maryland OL, Ole Miss WR among additions Baltimore Ravens | NFL draft tracker: Ravens take North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, Kentucky QB Devin Leary on Day 3 Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ analytics and belief in Rashod Bateman are why they didn’t take WR early in NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac with No. 93 pick in 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens take Washington OT Roger Rosengarten with No. 62 pick in second round of 2024 NFL draft Schematics largely remained the same but the playbook terminology was an ever-evolving piece under rotating leadership. Brade said that gave him a leg up when meeting with scouts and teams. It was a particular advantage at this year’s Senior Bowl. The 6-foot, 203-pound wrecking ball ranked 14th among safeties at the NFL scouting combine in production score, according to Next Gen Stats. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, a tick slower than the average NFL starter at his position. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein envisions Brade as a steady and capable backup safety. “Brade offers some dual-safety qualities and can align as a split safety or near the line of scrimmage for best results,” Zierlein wrote. “He can be a disruptive add-on defender in the box, but he doesn’t possess an enforcer’s power as a hitter. Brade is fairly average in run support by NFL standards, but he’s capable. While his eyes and instincts are nothing special in coverage, he does play with good ball skills when it comes time to challenge the throw.” Scouts laud Brade’s aggressiveness in disrupting ball carriers and exceptional closing speed. He’s become known for his tackling technique and grip strength, as well as his fluidity both in the box and in deep coverage. Long before getting the call from an NFL team, the three-star prospect made 450 career tackles at River Hill, which ranked second in Howard County history. He eclipsed at least 107 each season, including 126 as a junior. And he broke the school record for tackle assists (184). Brade was a dynamite two-way player for the Hawks, earning 2019 Howard County Defensive Player of the Year honors and being named a two-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection. He finished seventh in the league in rushing yards as a senior with 652, complemented by five touchdowns on 89 carries. That wrapped up a four-year stat line of 169 carries for 1,145 yards and eight touchdowns. There were 17 other schools that recruited Brade out of River Hill, including North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Michigan. Maryland’s business school and proximity to home ultimately swayed his decision. Then-second year coach Mike Locksley and his staff originally thought to flip Brade to running back before allowing him to play his natural position at safety. Brade committed to a program coming off a three-win season, then was part of a turnaround that included three bowl victories in as many years –– a first in program history. His name is etched into the Howard County record books. He was part of a revitalized program at College Park. Now, he’ll have the chance to make his mark at football’s highest level. View the full article

The Ravens entered the final day of the NFL draft on Saturday with six picks — Nos. 113 (fourth round), 130 (fourth round), 165 (fifth round), 218 (sixth round), 228 (seventh round) and 250 (seventh round). Here’s a look at whom they’ve taken. No. 113: North Carolina WR Devontez Walker: Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, allowed just one completion of 20-plus yards last season. Who was it against? Walker. “He was probably the best player I ever went against,” Walker said via Zoom. “He’s very fast. He’s one of the few guys that was hip for hip with me.” Now they will be teammates. In selecting Walker, the Ravens get a speedy, vertical threat for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Described as a long-striding, straight-line burner, the 6-foot-1, 193-pound receiver ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. He finished last season with 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games after being cleared to play by the NCAA with a reversal of its decision on his eligibility following his transfer from Kent State. Walker began his college career at North Carolina Central. Asked who he has tried to model his game after, Walker named a receiver Ravens fans are all too familiar with. “Ravens fans are not gonna a like it, but [former Cincinnati Bengals star] A.J. Green was somebody I loved growing up,” said Walker, who acknowledged that his route running also needs more polish at the NFL level. “I idolized him a little bit — big, fast, could make those contested catches.” He’s also looking forward to playing with Jackson. “I’ve been watching Lamar since he came out of high school, watched him at Lousville,” he said. “I think he’s a great football player. He’s somebody I wished I was on his team and now that wish is coming true.” Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa gets set for a play against Oklahoma State on Sept. 23. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) No. 130: Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa: The Ravens perhaps got some insight on their fourth-round pick from their first-round selection, Wiggins: The two were roommates during the NFL scouting combine. Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar also played with Tampa at Iowa State. And in landing its second cornerback of the draft, Baltimore perhaps got great value. The 6-1, 189-pound Tampa is ranked the No. 55 player on the consensus big board (and No. 38 on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s board). His average speed and 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds at his pro day was maybe one reason why he fell so far, something that the former star high school basketball player says he plans to use as motivation. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ analytics and belief in Rashod Bateman are why they didn’t take WR early in NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac with No. 93 pick in 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens take Washington OT Roger Rosengarten with No. 62 pick in second round of 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | With Nate Wiggins still on the board, the Ravens couldn’t turn their pick in fast enough Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need “There’s definitely a chip on my shoulder from here on out for all the teams that skipped me and all the corners that went before me,” he said via Zoom. “I’m gonna use that as fuel every day.” A hamstring injury also kept him from playing in the Senior Bowl, though his long arms and playmaking ability are just two of the attributes that stand out. Tampa broke out in his third season at Iowa State, starting every game while leading the Cyclones with 10 pass breakups and holding opponents to a 46% catch rate, helping him land a second-team All-Big 12 selection. In 12 games last season, Tampa allowed a passer rating of 54.8 and only one touchdown catch in 411 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, he allowed just one touchdown catch in his final 934 defensive snaps. “TJ Tampa gon be the steal of the draft yall don’t even know,” New York Jets running back Breece Hall, Tampa’s former teammate, posted on X on Friday night. Tampa, meanwhile, feels like he’ll fit in well with the Ravens’ physical style of play despite his slight frame. He said he looks forward to learning from Marlon Humphrey while continuing to prove doubters wrong. “I’ve been on the bottom of a depth chart before,” he said. “I’m willing to work my way up again. I’m excited to get started.” Given the Ravens’ question marks at corner beyond Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Wiggins and Maulet, Tampa could have an opportunity to contribute sooner than later. This story will be updated. View the full article

As the clock struck 11 p.m. Friday inside the Ravens’ facility in Owings Mills and the third round of the NFL draft neared its conclusion in Detroit, general manager Eric DeCosta turned in the team’s final selection of the day, pick No. 93 overall. A handful of intriguing wide receivers were still available for the taking. That list includes Oregon speedster Troy Franklin; Central Florida’s Javon Baker, whom ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller compares with Kansas City Chiefs star Rashee Rice; and towering 6-foot-6 Florida State standout Johnny Wilson. With Baltimore’s wide receiver group tremendously thin beyond its top three of second-year star Zay Flowers, mercurial Rashod Bateman and solid but unspectacular veteran Nelson Agholor, it’s certainly a position of need. Instead, the Ravens opted for an outside linebacker from a familiar place, Adisa Isaac out of Penn State. “What you have to try to do in these situations is look at your needs and who’s the best player available,” DeCosta said. “And then what are your chances of getting a player at these other positions in these coming rounds.” Indeed, it is a deep class of wide receivers and with fourth-round picks at Nos. 113 and 130 overall, there’s a chance the Ravens could use one of those picks Saturday to potentially nab a receiver good enough to contribute this season. But having also signed Bateman on the eve of the draft to a contract extension through 2026 perhaps also factored into the equation. “I am extremely excited to watch Rashod this year,” DeCosta said Friday night. “I think his best football is ahead of him. To get him back was kind of a no-brainer.” It is also something of a risk, albeit a calculated one. In three seasons since the Ravens drafted Bateman out of Minnesota with the 27th overall pick, the 24-year-old has been fully healthy for just one season, which came last year when he had 32 catches for 367 yards and only one touchdown. That came after a 2022 season in which he suited up for only six games before Lisfranc surgery on his left foot ended his year. The injury is a notoriously unpredictable one, and at one point last spring Bateman thought he was headed for another season-ending procedure. In his rookie year, groin surgery also caused him to miss the first five games. There were other things that were off in 2023, too, most notably his connection with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Despite Bateman having one of the best separation rates in the NFL last season, several passes were either off the mark when he was open or went somewhere else entirely. Still, Bateman’s elite speed, route running and hands — the same elements that made him a tantalizing pick three years ago — are impossible to ignore and difficult to replicate. He also showed an ability to overcome tribulations, on and off the field. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac with No. 93 pick in 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens take Washington OT Roger Rosengarten with No. 62 pick in second round of 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | With Nate Wiggins still on the board, the Ravens couldn’t turn their pick in fast enough Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY All of which is why the Ravens didn’t bother waiting to decide on his fifth-year option. Just over a week before a May 2 deadline to pick it up or decline it, they instead extended his contract, and that was all that was needed to understand Baltimore’s feelings about its receivers. Then came another one through the first two days of the draft when they chose Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten and edge rusher Isaac with their top three picks. The Ravens could have drafted a receiver, still a position of need. Instead, they doubled down on their belief in Bateman as well as what their analytics told them about what players would be available when. “It’s something he wanted. It’s something we wanted,” DeCosta said of bringing back Bateman. “I just feel like he’s a really, really talented player who’s had some bad luck with injuries.” View the full article

The Ravens went to a familiar well with their final pick of the second day of the NFL draft on Friday night. With the 93rd overall pick in the third round, Baltimore selected Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac. It marks the second time in four years that the Ravens have drafted a Penn State pass rusher after taking Odafe Oweh in the first round in 2021. Oweh had helped recruit Isaac to Penn State, and now they’ll be reuinted. “We’re real tight,” Isaac said. “He was a great big brother to me, coming into Penn State. … So for now, for it to come full circle, it’s a very unique situation.” After losing outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney in free agency and with questions surrounding a largely young pass-rushing group that includes Oweh and 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo, the Ravens added a prospect who was plenty productive for the Nittany Lions. Isaac was a team captain and All-Big Ten selection who had 37 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 13 games as a redshirt senior last season. He also finished fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game (1.2) and fifth in sacks per game (0.6). Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he got a look at Isaac early on in his process. DeCosta’s daughter attends Penn State and he went to the Nittany Lions’ first home game of the season, a 38-15 win over West Virginia. But he saw more on film, just not Isaac’s own. Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac sacks Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa on Nov. 4 in College Park. (Nick Wass/AP) With offensive linemen among the Ravens’ draft needs, he watched tape from the Big Ten, except in his search for a blocker it was Isaac who kept “wreaking havoc.” “He’s got great length,” DeCosta said. “He’s got heavy hands. He’s got some different moves. He’s got speed, quickness, and I think he’s tenacious. And so I think all of those things, when we think about our best pass rushers, I think those are a lot of the traits those guys have.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens take Washington OT Roger Rosengarten with No. 62 pick in second round of 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | With Nate Wiggins still on the board, the Ravens couldn’t turn their pick in fast enough Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Three takeaways from the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Isaac’s self-assessment? “I’m just disruptive, very lengthy, bendy, twitchy, very violent player,” he said. “I feel like I’m very versatile. I can make plays on dropping, make plays on rushing, make plays in the run game.” The Ravens could use some. Their outside linebacker group is relatively young and has question marks. They brought back veteran Kyle Van Noy, but Oweh has been inconsistent and Ojabo has struggled to stay healthy. Which is why coach John Harbaugh sees Isaac as someone who will be expected to contribute in the 2024 season, at least as a rotational piece they can move around. Isaac has a few goals, too. “I need that [Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes sack,” he said. “And I need that [Buffalo Bills’] Josh Allen sack.” View the full article

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was blunt in his answer Thursday night when asked if he felt Baltimore could get an offensive linemen who could contribute immediately in Friday’s second round of the NFL draft. “Yes, I do,” he said. So, no surprise here as the Ravens selected Roger Rosengarten of Washington with the 62nd overall pick. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | With Nate Wiggins still on the board, the Ravens couldn’t turn their pick in fast enough Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Three takeaways from the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of Ravens’ selection of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in first round of NFL draft With three starters from last season’s line having departed via free agency or trade, the unit is perhaps the Ravens’ biggest need in terms of sheer volume. Gone are guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, signing lucrative deals with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, respectively, while right tackle Morgan Moses was dealt to the Jets in a draft pick swap. The Ravens have also drafted at least two offensive linemen in six of the past eight drafts, so it was hardly a surprise that they continued that trend late in the second round. After selecting Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the 30th overall pick on Thursday, offensive line help became their next priority. And with more than a handful of defensive tackles and cornerbacks chosen in the second round, it easily became a reality. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Rosengarten was part of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line, last season. He started all 15 games at right tackle in 2023 and 28 for his career. This story will be updated. View the full article

Zach Orr was ready to fight for his man. He had told Nate Wiggins as much when the Clemson cornerback met with Ravens coaches on a predraft visit. As it turned out, Orr did not have to convince general manager Eric DeCosta when pick No. 30 came up and Wiggins was still waiting for a team. “You saw how fast the pick got turned in,” Orr, the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, said Friday as the team introduced Wiggins to reporters. Dressed in a white suit with a Ravens cap perched high on his head, Wiggins cracked up the room when he noted he was in the bathroom Thursday night at the moment the team called. Every NFL staff showers its first-round pick with praise in the first 24 hours, but there was palpable eagerness from both sides regarding the Wiggins-Ravens union. “Obviously, you can see the smiles on our faces,” Orr said. “What stood out to me the most is that in the big-time games, at the big-time moments — you’re talking about third down, fourth down, two-minute, end of half — whenever the ball came his way, he made the play.” Defensive pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt needed just a few minutes of conversation with Wiggins to decide the 20-year-old has what it takes between the ears. His game footage was equally convincing. “All I had to do was just go ahead and turn on the tape,” Hewitt said. “You’re just like, ‘Goddog, look at this guy go.’ Whenever it was time for a guy to make a play, this guy was making plays all over the field.” He pointed to a pair of chase-down strips that showed off both Wiggins’ speed (4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and his fire. “Those are like game-changing plays,” Hewitt said. “And those are the kind of guys we look for.” Ravens first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins poses with coach John Harbuagh, left, and executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta, right, at the team’s facility Friday in Owings Mills. (Nick Wass/AP) Wiggins, who will wear No. 2 for the Ravens, acknowledged the “up-and-down” experience of waiting for his name to be called on a night when the first 14 picks were used on offensive players. “They going to see that they passed up,” he said of the teams picking ahead of Baltimore. But the Atlanta native seems convinced he’s in the right place, playing for a franchise built on great, attacking defense with coaches who badly wanted him. Hewitt said he didn’t play cornerback until ninth grade and then only reluctantly. As a youth player he lined up under center. “I thought I was going to be Cam Newton,” he said. His dreams next turned to wide receiver. His parents and coaches, however, convinced him that his length and speed would set him apart on the defensive side of the ball. “There’s a lot receivers that are fast,” he said. “I mean, there’s not that many cornerbacks who are tall and can do what I do.” Sage advice that eventually led him to Clemson, where he earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and became one of the top draft prospects at his position. The Ravens are convinced Wiggins’ speed, length, awareness and confidence will make him a formidable match for the best pass catchers in the world as early as this season. The team already has a pair of incumbent starting cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, not to mention veteran nickel back Arthur Maulet. But coach John Harbaugh talked Thursday about the variety of options Wiggins will create, with Humphrey or Stephens able to shift inside when the matchups are favorable. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Three takeaways from the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins on being selected by the Ravens | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of Ravens’ selection of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in first round of NFL draft “With a guy that’s as talented as this guy is, it doesn’t matter if you’re playing man or zone or whatever it is,” Hewitt said. “The other part about it is he’s got a high football IQ. Going through the whole process, when we were at the combine, I think I stopped the meeting after like three minutes. It was like it was over; the guy was so smart.” Evaluators gushed over Wiggins’ coverage tools. ESPN’s Louis Riddick referred to him as a “prototypical Raven” and a “home run pick.” If draft pundits knocked him, it was for his slender fame and minimal impact as a tackler. “Baltimore will need to help him be a little bit more of an urgent defender against the run,” wrote NFL Network analyst and former Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah. The Ravens insist Wiggins will bulk up and say they saw plenty of aggression in his game tapes. “He comes up and tackles, comes up and hits. He plays physical,” Orr said. “He’s only 20 years old. He’s got a lot of time to grow. But on tape, I didn’t see anything about him being undersized. He flew up, set the edge in the run game, played physical with wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. We have no concerns about that at all.” View the full article

The party is just getting started. The first round of the NFL draft is over, and with it came a record-setting focus on one side of the ball. A record 23 offensive players were taken in the top 32 picks, breaking the previous mark of 19. That’s both good and bad news for the Ravens. The good news is Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins fell into their laps at No. 30 overall, and there are plenty of talented defensive players remaining heading into Day 2. The bad news is they still need an offensive lineman (or two, or three) after nine were picked in the opening round. Here’s a look at some of the Day 2 prospects at positions of need who could be available for the Ravens when they pick at No. 62 overall in the second round and No. 93 in the third. Offensive line Kiran Amegadjie, Yale: The self-proclaimed “most interesting prospect in the draft,” Amegadjie (KUH-ron Ah-meh-gah-G) is the son of African immigrants and a lightly recruited two-star prospect out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois who blossomed into an NFL prospect. He’s considered raw, but he made 24 starts at both left tackle and right guard at Yale and has the physical tools (6 feet 5, 325 pounds, 36 1/8 inch arms) to develop into a starter. Christian Haynes, UConn: The former Bowie High School star started 49 games over five college seasons, all at right guard, and earned second-team All-America honors in 2022. A Senior Bowl standout, the 6-3, 317-pound Haynes ranked seventh among guards in athleticism score at the NFL scouting combine. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State: Compared with “SpongeBob SquarePants” by The Athletic’s Nate Tice for his thick build, the 6-3, 322-pound Beebe put together a special senior season, becoming a finalist for the Outland Trophy (given to the nation’s top interior lineman) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (the “Academic Heisman”) while earning first-team All-America honors. He projects as a guard but also has experience at left and right tackle. Brandon Coleman, TCU: After spending most of his childhood in Germany, Coleman picked up football as a junior in high school and started his college career at community college before gradually earning more playing time at TCU. The 6-4, 313-pound played both tackle and guard for the Horned Frogs and posted strong testing numbers at the combine, including a 40-yard dash of 4.99 seconds and a 34-inch vertical jump. Blake Fisher, Notre Dame: In 2021, Fisher became the first freshman offensive lineman at Notre Dame to start a season opener in 15 years before suffering a knee injury and missing most of the season. He started 26 straight games at right tackle to finish his college career and has the size (6-6, 310 pounds), length (34 3/8 arms) and athleticism to compete for a starting spot. Dominick Puni, Kansas: The former no-star recruit began his college career at Division II Central Missouri before blossoming with the Jayhawks, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors at left tackle in his fifth season. He cross-trained at tackle, guard and center during practice and tested well at 6-5 and 313 pounds, putting him in the mix to be taken in the middle rounds. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Three takeaways from the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of Ravens’ selection of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in first round of NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall: ‘Ecstatic that he fell to us’ Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL draft updates: Offensive players dominate in record-setting first round Christian Mahogany, Boston College: Recruited in the same 2019 class as Ravens wide receiver and former Eagles star Zay Flowers, Mahogany rebuffed offers to transfer and made 34 starts over three seasons at left and right guard. The 6-3, 314-pound prospect is a powerful run blocker with a strong build who tested better than expected at the combine. Isaiah Adams, Illinois: A native of Ontario, Canada, Adams played at Wilfrid Laurier University and Garden City (Kansas) Community College before landing at Illinois, where he made 25 starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle and became a team captain. The 6-4, 315-pound Adams projects as a guard with the size, strength and mobility to push his way onto the field. Wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington: As part of a standout receiving trio alongside Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, the 6-1, 203-pound Polk posted career highs in catches (69), yards (1,159) and touchdowns (9) this past season as the Huskies reached the national championship game. Pro Football Focus wrote that Polk is “one of the best ‘go up and get it’ contested catch receivers in this class,” and he’s earned praise for his instincts and toughness. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky: Drawing comparisons with Deebo Samuel because of his ability to break tackles and pick up yards after the catch, the 5-11, 215-pound Corley dominated Conference USA with 79 receptions for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. Most of his production came out of the slot and on quick catches near the line of scrimmage, so his development as a route runner and ability to make contested catches are concerns. Roman Wilson led national champion Michigan in receiving with 48 catches for 789 yards. (Mark J. Terrill/AP) Roman Wilson, Michigan: Wilson led the national champion Wolverines in receiving with 48 catches for 789 yards and showed a knack for finding the end zone, scoring 12 touchdowns. The 5-11, 185-pound slot receiver can be overpowered at the catch point and as a blocker because of his size, but his speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) makes him a tough cover. Javon Baker, Central Florida: The former four-star recruit began his college career at Alabama but struggled to earn playing time in a loaded receiver room, leading to a transfer. He blossomed at UCF, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons. The 6-1, 202-pound Baker is a big-play threat, with his 21 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023 ranking fourth-best in the class. Johnny Wilson, Florida State: There’s a lot to like about Wilson, starting with his imposing size at 6-6 and 231 pounds. He’s inconsistent, which is why he’s considered a late Day 2 or even Day 3 pick, but his large catch radius and acceleration are tantalizing for a team in need of a big-bodied receiver. Jalen McMillan, Washington: The 6-1, 197-pound McMillan was far from a third option in the Huskies’ prolific passing offense. He still got enough looks to finish with more than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons, relying on nuanced route running and ability to find holes in coverage to get open. Malik Washington, Virginia: If small, feisty receivers are your type, Washington is the man for you. He’s only 5-8, but he’s a burly 194 pounds and uses his strong hands to make contested catches. After leading Northwestern with 694 yards in 2022, he transferred to Virginia and exploded for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns on 110 receptions with only three drops. The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, South California’s Brenden Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns last season. (Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Brenden Rice, Southern California: The son of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice has started to make a name for himself after a standout finish to his college career. Playing with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, the Colorado transfer caught 45 passes for 791 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pac 12 honors. The former track sprinter is a pretty impressive blocker, too. Edge rusher Austin Booker, Kansas: The Ravens were one of several teams to bring Booker in for a visit, perhaps to get a closer look at his unique 6-4, 240-pound frame. Booker didn’t get the chance to show much on tape, playing only 505 snaps in his college career, but his length, speed-to-power rushes and relentless pursuit make him an intriguing Day 2 prospect. Adisa Isaac, Penn State: Isaac is 66th overall on the consensus big board but is ranked 38th by PFF, who writes that the team captain “has the handwork and pass-rush profile of an NFL starter.” The 6-4, 247-pound Isaac needs to get stronger, but he was much more productive than teammate and first-round pick Chop Robinson after recording nine sacks in 2023. A Baltimore native and former St. Frances standout, Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell had 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hurries last season. (Michael Hickey/Getty) Chris Braswell, Alabama: The Baltimore native and former St. Frances standout earned some first-round buzz earlier this year after a breakout season for the Crimson Tide that included 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hurries. The 6-3, 251-pound Braswell could use some refinement, but his combination of power, speed and length is alluring. Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian: It’s hard to find a more Ravens-type player in this draft than Hunt, who began his college career as a 6-2, 195-pound safety at Cornell before turning into a 6-4, 252-pound pass-rushing menace. With his explosiveness and length, he racked up 13 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons and was named 2023 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year. You can bet his versatility will be appealing to the Ravens’ brain trust. Jonah Elliss, Utah: The 6-2, 248-pound Elliss doesn’t have the prototypical size or strength of a standout pass rusher, but his hand usage, agility and high motor made him a productive player. He earned second-team All-America honors in 2023 after leading the team with 16 tackles for loss and ranking sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 12 sacks. Bralen Trice, Washington: The 6-3, 245-pound Trice is another prospect who got first-round love near the end of the season for his relentless and physical play style. His short arm length (32 1/2 inches) hurt both his pass-rushing plan and his ability to wrap up ball carriers, but the team captain was productive (28 1/2 sacks in four seasons) and played with a sense of urgency. NFL draft Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7: Saturday, noon TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network View the full article

When the Dallas Cowboys selected Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton one spot ahead of the Ravens with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night, it basically completed a sweep of the top offensive linemen in the draft. So, the Ravens countered with another strong move by choosing Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 pick. Besides the offensive line, the Ravens had two other main weaknesses entering the draft: wide receiver and cornerback. Wiggins was generally considered one of the top five at his position in college. The two-year starter at Clemson has enough versatility to play either cornerback or safety and gives the secondary something it definitely lacked a year ago: speed. Wiggins can flat-out fly. At the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds. Combined with a 6-foot-2, 173-pound frame, he might develop into a shutdown cornerback, which the Ravens haven’t had for several years. The Ravens wanted to rebuild an offensive line that had been depleted through free agency with both starting guards, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, signing with the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions, respectively. The Ravens also traded starting right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets in exchange for draft picks. There was speculation that 10 offensive linemen would go in the first round, and nine were gone before the Ravens were on the clock. The addition of Wiggins has to help, not only because of his ability but because he gives the team some options. One of the Ravens’ starting cornerbacks, Marlon Humphrey, is coming off an injury-hampered 2023 season in which he missed seven games. His best days might be behind him. Another starting cornerback, Brandon Stephens, played well last year and turned out to be one of the team’s top defensive players. But Stephens is in the final year of his rookie contract, and if he has another stellar season, he will command a huge payday. So, Wiggins fits perfectly. He also gives the Ravens the luxury of moving Humphrey back inside near the line of scrimmage or over the slot receiver. That’s Humphrey’s best position, which became evident when he got beat outside several times last season. Humphrey no longer has the speed to run with outside receivers, but Wiggins does. It’s impossible to teach. The other things are coachable. Wiggins had 24 pass breakups and three interceptions, including two for touchdowns, in 34 career games at Clemson. According to several draft reports and his film, he has good closing and recovery speed and can change directions well. He played both cornerback and receiver at Westlake High School in Atlanta. There are questions about Wiggins being strong in run support, but that reminds me of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, who once said, “show me a cornerback that can tackle and I’ll show you a corner who can’t cover.” Wiggins’ size might be a problem to some, but the Ravens have had small cornerbacks who have played well before, such as Duane Starks and Samari Rolle. There have been Hall of Fame players who were “small” for their positions in their rookie seasons but filled out well after a year or two in the weight room. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Three takeaways from the Ravens’ first-round draft pick, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins on being selected by the Ravens | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of Ravens’ selection of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in first round of NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall: ‘Ecstatic that he fell to us’ Besides Starks in 1998, the Ravens have had success with other cornerbacks taken in the first round, including Chris McAlister (1999), Jimmy Smith (2011) and Humphrey (2017). The Ravens have been hit hard by injuries in the secondary over the past couple of years, but they were able to survive in 2023 with Ronald Darby and Arthur Maulet at cornerback. Now, they have Wiggins, a player they rated highly. “We’re very, very excited to draft Nate Wiggins, in my opinion, the best cover corner in the draft,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. He might be right. View the full article

The Ravens drafted Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall, adding perhaps the best outside coverage specialist in the class after the top offensive linemen had been taken. Here are three takeaways on the pick. The Ravens didn’t go with the most fun pick, but they chose the guy most likely to help their secondary right away There were two excellent values available when the Ravens picked, and both were cornerbacks. Cooper DeJean of Iowa would have made the most intriguing story. As a big, fast, productive player who would fit at nickel, safety or cornerback and contribute immediately on special teams, DeJean screamed Raven. How tantalizing would it have been to watch new defensive coordinator Zach Orr play around with him and Kyle Hamilton in positionless schemes? Instead, the Ravens went with Wiggins, whose role is clear. “In my opinion, the best cover corner in the draft,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. It’s hard to argue with the logic behind the pick when Brandon Stephens is headed into the last year of his rookie deal and Marlon Humphrey is coming off an injury-hampered season. If they’re both healthy, Wiggins will give Orr an embarrassment of riches at one of the most important positions in football. Humphrey will be able to shift inside in some matchups, as will Stephens. “We’re just going to have a lot of options,” coach John Harbaugh said. Wiggins defended 25 passes in his last 23 games at Clemson and essentially eliminated downfield plays in his last season for the Tigers. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. He’s long and fluid enough to stick with almost any receiver. At 6 feet 1 and 182 pounds (at his pro day), he is skinny, but Harbaugh said he has no concern Wiggins will vanish in run defense. “When you watch the tape, he comes up and smacks people,” he said. “The weight doesn’t impede him at all.” DeCosta said the Ravens expected Wiggins to be gone in the first 20 picks. When he was still on the board as their choice neared, “if Nate was there, we were going to pick him.” Draft pundits generally concurred with DeCosta’s value assessment. As much excitement as the Ravens might have created with the versatile DeJean, they could not turn away when a potential shutdown corner dropped in their laps at the end of the first round. A first round that skewed heavily to offense led the Ravens right back to defense As much as we speculated about offensive linemen who might drop to No. 30, the top tackles generally went according to projections. Dallas snagged the last of them, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, at pick No. 29. It was the defenders who waited and waited as teams lined up to add quarterbacks and pass catchers. The Ravens, fundamentally opposed to reaching for a lesser player just to fill a need, seemed more and more likely to end up with a bargain defensive back or pass rusher. DeCosta said Wiggins was their top priority. If he was gone, the Ravens would have considered another (unnamed) cornerback or traded down. When they gamed out draft scenarios ahead of Thursday, DeCosta kept coming back to one conclusion: If they did not land a potential starting cornerback in round one, they probably would not find him in Rounds 2 or 3. “We felt like we honestly had to come out of the first round with most likely a corner or an offensive lineman,” DeCosta said. The possibility of trading down was real, with as many as eight scenarios on the table. The Ravens picked Wiggins because they felt he was too good to pass up. “When you get a player that you have highly rated, whom you love, who fills a position of need, then you’ve got to take him,” DeCosta said. He added that he’s confident potential starting offensive linemen will still be available in Friday’s second and third rounds. The Ravens didn’t punt on that priority. They simply adapted to the shape of a draft that left significant value on the defensive side of the ball in the last 10 picks of the first round. Positional need, value and opportunity synced up, which is a pretty good summation of the philosophy that has carried the Ravens through 29 years of drafting. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens draft pick Nate Wiggins can be the shutdown corner they need | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of Ravens’ selection of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in first round of NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall: ‘Ecstatic that he fell to us’ Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL draft updates: Offensive players dominate in record-setting first round Nate Wiggins’ personality fits his job Elite physical traits only get you so far as an outside corner matched one-on-one with the arrogant supermen who play NFL wide receiver. You have to covet the isolation and the clash of mighty egos. Wiggins clearly does. He talked about being on a coverage island like it’s his true home. “The tape speaks for itself,” he told Baltimore reporters on a Zoom call. Can he match steps with some of the quickest athletes in the world? “I’ve always been the fastest guy on the field,” he said. Such boldness will endear him to Ravens fans raised on several generations of brash defensive superstars. The Atlanta native won’t turn 21 until the end of August but already speaks the same language as many of the great defensive backs who came before him. “It’s a very hard position to play,” DeCosta said. “A lot of guys can’t do it. The biggest thing is — and John [Harbaugh] always says it — you’ve got to actually cover people. You’ve got to guard people. It’s a hard thing, and Nate has proven that he can do that very, very well.” View the full article

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Here’s what The Baltimore Sun staff had to say immediately after the Ravens selected Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. Brian Wacker, reporter: A record run of 14 consecutive offensive players going off the board to start the draft meant that the Ravens had a juicy bounty of defensive options by the time they were on the clock with the 30th pick, which is how they incredibly ended up with Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. At 6 feet 1 and 173 pounds, he is slight, but he can fly. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds and had 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal in 1,377 career snaps over 34 career games for the Tigers. Baltimore came into the night with offensive line its biggest area of need, but with all the top tackle options off the board and a boatload of picks needed to trade up, they took their next best option with cornerback, another area of need and a position the Ravens always look to stockpile. The last time they took a cornerback in the first round was when they drafted Marlon Humphrey 16th overall in 2017. Now they might have found his eventual replacement. Childs Walker, reporter: With the top offensive linemen wiped out, the best values left at No. 30 were cornerbacks. The Ravens went with Nate Wiggins, a long, fast confident outside cover specialist out of Clemson. He averaged more than one pass defended per game over his last two seasons and backed that up by running the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the combine. Wiggins is lean at 6-1, 173 pounds, but he showed plenty of willingness to pursue ball carriers. With Brandon Stephens entering the last year of his rookie deal and Marlon Humphrey coming off an injury-plagued season, this was a good time to draft a young future starter at one of the sport’s premium positions. Wiggins will be another lauded first-round pick for general manager Eric DeCosta. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens select Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with 30th overall pick in 2024 NFL draft Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL draft updates: Offensive players dominate in record-setting first round Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 draft cheat sheet: Picks, team needs, how to watch and more Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 6.0): Connecting the dots for one last first-round projection Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ 5 biggest needs entering NFL draft and how they could fill them Mike Preston, columnist: Wiggins gives the Ravens speed in the secondary and ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. He has good size at 6-1 and 173 pounds and might develop into a shutdown corner. He has good recovery speed and also can play safety if needed. A lot of the good offensive tackles were off the board when the Ravens picked in the first round, so this appears to be a good selection. C.J. Doon, editor: This is a bit of a surprise to me. With other standout cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry still on the board, the Ravens go with Wiggins, who weighed in at a paltry 173 pounds at the NFL scouting combine. That ranks in the second percentile among cornerbacks since 1999 in the MockDraftable database. He’s earned praise for his sticky man-to-man coverage skills and plays with a competitiveness the Ravens clearly love, but it’s going to be difficult to hide him in run support in certain situations, even if he puts on more weight. The board didn’t break in the Ravens’ favor after nine offensive linemen went ahead of them — including Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton to the Dallas Cowboys right before Baltimore picked — so it’s understandable why they went in this direction. Corner is a position they needed to address, and adding the consensus 24th-ranked player near the end of the first round is great value. I just wonder whether Wiggins can hold up in a black-and-blue division that loves to run the ball. Tim Schwartz, editor: Speed kills, and that’s what the Ravens are getting with this pick. Wiggins lacks the size you might covet — he’s only 173 pounds — but he ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. They had their choice of cornerbacks based on how this draft worked out, but my gut tells me they were eyeing an offensive lineman with the 30th pick, and Baltimore’s selection came just after a run of them. We all scratched our heads last year when they didn’t take a cornerback early in the draft and we all looked silly after Brandon Stephens, Ronald Darby and Arthur Maulet stepped up and did the job. Now they get their guy, someone with enough starting experience at an elite school who can step in right away and help. It’s good insurance, too, with Marlon Humphrey’s contract getting more expensive by the year. View the full article

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is fond of saying Baltimore can never have too many cornerbacks, and two weeks ago he conveyed as much by adding that he would love to pick one at some point in this year’s NFL draft. That point came in the opening round Thursday night when the Ravens selected Nate Wiggins from Clemson with the 30th overall pick. It marks the first time they have taken a cornerback in the first round since 2017 when they drafted Marlon Humphrey 16th overall. In drafting Wiggins, they also might have found their eventual replacement for Humphrey, or at least someone who could contribute immediately. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL draft updates: Quarterbacks, offensive linemen and receivers dominate first round Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 2024 draft cheat sheet: Picks, team needs, how to watch and more Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 6.0): Connecting the dots for one last first-round projection Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ 5 biggest needs entering NFL draft and how they could fill them Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens’ three most recent drafts, from Rashod Bateman to Andrew Vorhees While the Ravens have a solid duo on the outside with Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, along with Arthur Maulet returning for another season in the slot, Humphrey is coming off an injury-hampered season in which he played 10 games and the fewest defensive snaps (541) of his career after undergoing foot surgery last summer. Stephens performed well last season, but he was initially tabbed for safety before being pressed into cornerback duty and is due to become a free agent after the 2024 season. “That’s a position that typically you never have enough due to injuries and different things — guys will break down through the course of the season,” DeCosta said during the Ravens’ predraft news conference earlier this month. “Our depth has always been tested in the secondary.” In taking Wiggins, a 6-foot-1, 173-pound long and athletic corner with elite speed, the Ravens get a player who had 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal in 1,377 career snaps over 34 games, including 18 starts. He also ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash (4.28 seconds) at the 2024 NFL scouting combine and his wingspan allows him to match up with bigger receivers. Though Wiggins had only three interceptions in his career at Clemson, he had 21 pass breakups the past two seasons, including nine last year. If there is a concern about Wiggins’ ability at the next level, it would be run defense. He is not the prototypical physical cornerback the Ravens covet, though he has added about 10 pounds since the scouting combine and performed well in both man and zone coverage for the Tigers. “The Ravens always value players who can rush the quarterback and guys who can cover pass catchers,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wrote. “Wiggins has outstanding cover ability, but Baltimore will need to help him be a little more of an urgent defender against the run.” This story will be updated. View the full article

The Baltimore Sun’s live coverage of the 2024 NFL draft. Read more. View the full article

The NFL draft has finally arrived. After finishing an NFL-best 13-4 and reaching the AFC championship game last season, the Ravens are poised to add a large rookie class. It all begins Thursday night with the first round in Detroit. Before the Ravens are on the clock, here’s everything you need to know: What time is the draft, and how can I watch? The 2024 NFL draft kicks off in Detroit with the first round Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by Rounds 2-3 on Friday at 7 p.m. and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday at noon. Live coverage will be on NFL Network, NFL+, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. What is the draft order? Here is the order of picks for the first round: Chicago Bears (from Carolina) Washington Commanders New England Patriots Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Chargers New York Giants Tennessee Titans Atlanta Falcons Chicago Bears New York Jets Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos Las Vegas Raiders New Orleans Saints Indianapolis Colts Seattle Seahawks Jacksonville Jaguars Cincinnati Bengals Los Angeles Rams Pittsburgh Steelers Miami Dolphins Philadelphia Eagles Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland through Houston) Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Arizona Cardinals (from Houston) Buffalo Bills Detroit Lions Ravens San Francisco 49ers Kansas City Chiefs How many picks do the Ravens have? After a few trades, including a draft pick swap with the New York Jets in the deal for right tackle Morgan Moses last month, the Ravens have nine total selections. No. 30 (first round) No. 62 (second) No. 93 (third) No. 113 (fourth, from Denver via N.Y. Jets) No. 130 (fourth) No. 165 (fifth) No. 218 (sixth, from N.Y. Jets) No. 228 (seventh, from N.Y. Jets) No. 250 (seventh) What are the Ravens’ biggest needs? Here’s a deeper look at the positions the Ravens are most likely to fill in the draft, including offensive line, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and safety. Who are some of the prospects the Ravens could target? Here’s a look at which players at positions of need could be available for the Ravens when they’re on the clock at No. 30 overall. • Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims • Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton • Arizona offensive tackle-guard Jordan Morgan • BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia • Oregon guard-center Jackson Powers-Johnson • Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell • Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey • Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy • Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman • Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson • Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson • Iowa cornerback-safety Cooper DeJean • Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry • Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 6.0): Connecting the dots for one last first-round projection Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ 5 biggest needs entering NFL draft and how they could fill them Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens’ three most recent drafts, from Rashod Bateman to Andrew Vorhees Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Drafting offensive linemen who can protect Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must be a priority | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Answering NFL draft questions and grading Eric DeCosta Who are the prospects with ties to Baltimore and Maryland? Hat tip to “The Beast” draft guide from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. • Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams (Bowie/Gonzaga) • Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa • Maryland wide receiver Jeshaun Jones • Maryland wide receiver Tyrese Chambers (Baltimore/Poly) • Bowie State wide receiver James McNeill • Morgan State wide receiver Treveyon Pratt • Morgan State tight end Abdou Diop • Michigan running back Blake Corum (St. Frances/St. Vincent Pallotti) • Maryland offensive lineman Delmar “DJ” Glaze • Maryland offensive lineman Corey Bullock (Accokeek/Gwynn Park) • Maryland offensive lineman Mike Purcell • Maryland offensive lineman Amelio Morán • Maryland offensive lineman Aric Harris • Morgan State offensive lineman Dexter Carr • Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu (Waldorf/Gonzaga) • Connecticut offensive lineman Christian Haynes (Bowie/Bowie HS) • Maryland offensive lineman Gottlieb Ayedze (Germantown/Northwest HS) • Maryland defensive lineman Christian Teague (North Hagerstown/Morgan State) • Maryland defensive lineman Tre Colbert • Towson defensive lineman Jesus Gibbs • Towson defensive lineman Samuel Obiang • Bowie State defensive lineman Cameron Chesley (Fort Washington/Morgan State) • Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson (Gaithersburg/Quince Orchard) • Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell (Baltimore/St. Frances) • Charlotte edge rusher Eyabi Okie-Anoma (Baltimore/St. Frances) • Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (Olney/Good Counsel) • Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs (Glen Burnie/McDonogh) • Morgan State linebacker Noah Washington • Morgan State linebacker Devan Hebron (Lanham/Duval HS) • Morgan State linebacker Lawrence Richardson • Maryland safety Beau Brade (Clarksville/River Hill) • Maryland cornerback Tarheeb Still • Maryland cornerback Ja’Quan Sheppard • Morgan State cornerback Jae’veyon Morton • Bowie State defensive back Mychale Salahuddin • Morgan State safety Jordan Toles (Baltimore/St. Frances) • Towson cornerback Robert Javier • Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson (Waldorf/North Point) • Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart (Baltimore/Good Counsel) • Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson (Upper Marlboro/Wise) • Michigan cornerback Josh Wallace (Bowie/DeMatha Catholic) • Pittsburgh cornerback A.J. Woods (Germantown/Northwest) • Maryland punter Colton Spangler (Pasadena/Chesapeake-AA) • Towson running back-kick returner D’Ago Hunter Who are the Ravens’ most recent first-round picks? 2023: Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers, No. 22 overall 2022: Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, No. 14 2022: Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, No. 25 2021: Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, No. 27 2020: LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, No. 28 2019: Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown, No. 25 2018: South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst, No. 25 2018: Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, No. 32 2017: Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey, No. 16 2016: Notre Dame left tackle Ronnie Stanley, No. 6 Latest mock drafts • 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 6.0): Connecting the dots for one last first-round projection • Dueling Ravens mock drafts: Two views on how to rebuild a Super Bowl contender • 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 5.0): Ravens beat writer Brian Wacker predicts the first round More Ravens draft coverage • Grading the Ravens’ three most recent drafts, from Rashod Bateman to Andrew Vorhees • Mike Preston: Drafting offensive linemen who can protect Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must be a priority | COMMENTARY • Ravens roundtable: Answering NFL draft questions and grading Eric DeCosta • Why the NFL draft is so important for the Ravens, both this year and next • Mike Preston: Former Terps, River Hill star Beau Brade leans on faith, work ethic entering NFL draft | COMMENTARY • Mike Preston: Ravens would be wise to target Ed Reed’s cousin, Trey Taylor, in NFL draft | COMMENTARY • Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS • Ravens’ John Harbaugh bullish despite questions ahead of NFL draft: ‘We’re going to have a heck of a team’ • The Ravens have hosted a slew of players before the NFL draft. A closer look provides some insight. View the full article

Mock draft season is over. The real thing begins Thursday night in Detroit, which means it’s time to put the pencils down and give one last prediction. After sifting through all the information, identifying the best prospects and pondering which teams will be motivated to shake up the board, here’s our best guess at how the first 32 picks will play out: 1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California With a talented offense and an ascending defense, Chicago has a chance to be good right away with Williams under center. The question is, how aggressive will the Bears be with only three remaining picks at Nos. 9, 75 and 122? 2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU Nobody knows for sure what the Commanders will do, but Daniels has emerged as the betting favorite to be new general manager Adam Peters’ first pick. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner said he’d be “blessed” to go to Washington, which has an abundance of picks in the top 100 to build around its franchise quarterback. 3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina The Patriots could look to trade down if they are blown away by an offer, but ownership will likely prefer to stick and pick a quarterback. Maye has the mobility, arm strength and poise to be a star, and he could even sit for a while behind Jacoby Brissett as he works on his technique. 4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The Cardinals have enough draft picks to maneuver up and down the board the way general manager Monti Ossenfort did last year, but sometimes it makes the most sense to stay put. Arizona needs blue-chip talent, and Harrison is the consensus No. 1 player among a database of 96 analysts, according to Arif Hasan of Wide Left. 5. Minnesota Vikings (mock trade via LA Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan This is a trade that makes sense for both teams. The Vikings need a quarterback, and new coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz need more picks to rebuild a depleted roster. McCarthy might not be coach Kevin O’Connell’s preferred prospect, but he’s certainly more exciting than Sam Darnold. 6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington My guess is the Giants only want to trade up for a quarterback if it means landing Maye, and he’s gone. So why Odunze over Nabers? While not as explosive, Odunze is a better “X” receiver who can win on the outside and make catches in traffic, which would be a better complement to the shifty and fast receivers the Giants already have. 7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame As good as this offensive line class is, this pick should be a no-brainer for the Titans. Alt is a tier above the other pass protectors in this class and should be a cornerstone piece for new coach Brian Callahan and his father, renowned offensive line coach Bill Callahan. 8. New York Jets (mock trade via Atlanta): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Can you name any of the Jets’ wide receivers behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams? For this all-in strategy to work, quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs more playmakers. Nabers’ speed and explosiveness trump a desire to draft an insurance policy behind 33-year-old tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. 9. Chicago Bears: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas GM Ryan Poles might see the benefit in trading down and acquiring more picks, but there’s also a chance to grab the best defensive player in the draft. Murphy can be the dominant interior penetrator coach Matt Eberflus craves. 10. Atlanta Falcons (mock trade via NY Jets): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA The Falcons move down a few spots and still get the draft’s top pass rusher. Latu seems to have been given the all-clear after his neck injury in college, giving Atlanta its best edge rusher since John Abraham was in town. 11. Los Angeles Chargers (mock trade via Minnesota): JC Latham, OT/G, Alabama Harbaugh believes the offensive line is the foundation of his team. With his size and strength, Latham might have the highest ceiling of any blocker in this class and can help establish a road-grading mentality on offense. 12. Los Angeles Rams (mock trade via Denver): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia The Rams have a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to be patient. Moving up to pair the versatile, explosive Bowers with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp is a dream scenario for coach Sean McVay as he seeks another Super Bowl run with quarterback Matthew Stafford. 13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT/G, Oregon State If the Raiders don’t find a way to trade up for a quarterback, perhaps they’d take one here. But that feels a little rich for Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., who are outside of the top 30 in the consensus rankings. Las Vegas needs a starting right tackle, and Fuaga can step in immediately. 14. New Orleans Saints: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Offensive line is the most glaring need for New Orleans considering the questionable health of Ryan Ramczyk and the disappointing play of Trevor Penning. Fashanu makes too much sense from both a need and value standpoint. 15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo The Colts could be a surprise team that moves up to draft one of the top wide receivers or Bowers, but cornerback is a much more glaring need. Mitchell is a big, fast and aggressive player who fits the mold for traits-minded GM Chris Ballard. 16. Philadelphia Eagles (mock trade via Seattle): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama When GM Howie Roseman finds a player he likes, he isn’t afraid to move up to get him. The Eagles’ aging secondary was one of the league’s worst down the stretch last season and could use an infusion of young talent. 17. Green Bay Packers (mock trade via Jacksonville): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia The Packers need to find a long-term replacement for left tackle David Bakhtiari. There’s a clear tier break after Mims at tackle, which might incentivize Green Bay to trade up and secure a player with rare size and movement skills who can develop into a star. 18. Cincinnati Bengals: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas Is this too early for Worthy? Probably. Will a team talk itself into getting the most out of his NFL scouting combine-record 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash? Absolutely. The Bengals are an intriguing fit for Worthy alongside stars Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the latter of whom might not be in town beyond this season after requesting a trade. 19. Denver Broncos (mock trade via LA Rams): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama The Broncos still need a quarterback after trading for Zach Wilson, but they don’t take one here. Turner fills a glaring need at pass rusher for a defense that has few building blocks on top of standout cornerback Patrick Surtain II. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington The Steelers moved up for offensive tackle Broderick Jones last year, but this time they can stick and pick. Fautanu is athletic, aggressive and has the versatility to play all five spots along the line. 21. Arizona Cardinals (mock trade via Miami): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State With a chance to add one of the draft’s premier pass rushers, the Cardinals make a move. Verse, a former unranked recruit and Albany transfer, has the tools to become the team’s best defensive player sooner than later. 22. Seattle Seahawks (mock trade via Philadelphia): Graham Barton, G/C, Duke As tempting as it might be for new coach Mike Macdonald to build his defense, the Seahawks can’t wait very long to address their offensive line. Barton can slot in at center or guard and has experience at tackle in case of emergency. 23. Los Angeles Chargers (mock trade via Minnesota): Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa New Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter had a lot of success at Michigan with versatile defensive backs such as Dax Hill and Mike Sainristil. DeJean is an elite athlete who could line up all over the secondary and make plays. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ 5 biggest needs entering NFL draft and how they could fill them Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens’ three most recent drafts, from Rashod Bateman to Andrew Vorhees Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Drafting offensive linemen who can protect Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must be a priority | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens roundtable: Answering NFL draft questions and grading Eric DeCosta Baltimore Ravens | Why the NFL draft is so important for the Ravens, both this year and next 24. Buffalo Bills (mock trade via Dallas): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU After losing Gabe Davis and trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, the Bills see a chance to move up and grab their next impact receiver. Thomas is a dangerous vertical threat who has the traits to develop into a true No. 1. 25. Jacksonville Jaguars (mock trade via Green Bay): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas It wouldn’t be shocking to see GM Trent Baalke go the other direction and make an aggressive trade up for a cornerback or one of the top wideouts. In this scenario, the Jaguars move down and come away with a prospect who has the size and movement skills to be an All-Pro-caliber receiver with more consistent effort. 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State Robinson doesn’t have the size or production of a typical first-round pass rusher, but the Gaithersburg native and Maryland transfer has rare athleticism and quickness to consistently beat blockers off the edge. 27. Miami Dolphins (mock trade via Arizona, Houston): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois The Dolphins trade down and still come away with a top prospect at a position of need. Newton is a touch undersized for the position, but he can still shed blocks with the best of ’em and would help fill Christian Wilkins’ big shoes in the middle of the defense. 28. Dallas Cowboys (mock trade via Buffalo): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma There’s a lot of pressure on the Cowboys to come away with multiple starters in this draft, and that starts with figuring out the offensive line. Guyton might not be ready to start at left tackle right away, but his size and athleticism are worth betting on. 29. Washington Commanders (mock trade via Detroit): Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona ESPN analyst Jordan Reid said Washington trading into the first round is the “worst kept secret” in the draft. With several tackle-needy teams ahead of them, the Commanders make a move to secure Morgan, a smooth mover who has the versatility to play guard or tackle. 30. Ravens: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Maybe it’s unrealistic to expect the Ravens to land a player as highly ranked as McKinstry, but sometimes that’s just how the board falls. With Marlon Humphrey coming off an injury-riddled season and Brandon Stephens entering a contract year, the Ravens need to bolster their depth at cornerback. 31. San Francisco 49ers: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina It would come as a surprise if the 49ers traded Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk, but neither is signed beyond 2025. Legette is big, fast and explosive with the ball in his hands, and would provide valuable insurance if San Francisco decides to move on from one of its top two receivers. 32. Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU Entering the draft, the Chiefs’ top option at left tackle is 2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris. Suamataia is far from a finished product, but the former five-star recruit is an explosive athlete with room to grow who can develop into a reliable starter. 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The Ravens’ draft board is mostly set at this point. Save for a few “tweaks,” as general manager Eric DeCosta put it earlier this month, they have a pretty good idea of whom they will draft at No. 30 in the first round and beyond, with adjustments made along the way based on who’s still available. Unlike last year, when Baltimore entered the draft with just five picks — its fewest since 1999 — DeCosta has nine selections this time. Given the various holes on the roster after more than a dozen players from last year’s 13-4 team headed elsewhere because of free agency or other moves, the Ravens will need every one of them. If they are to compete for another AFC North title and their first Super Bowl appearance in more than a decade, they have to find several players who can contribute as rookies, and in some cases significantly so. That’s just one reason DeCosta could look to add even more picks to this year’s haul with a draft day trade or two, with the belief that the more picks he has, the more likely he can find players who can make an immediate impact. “It’s great to have additional picks,” DeCosta said during the team’s predraft news conference two weeks ago. “You certainly have to have players that you covet and that you want to draft. So, that’s always a factor with every draft. “I always think about it as, ‘What picks do you need to get the players that you want to take?’ You can have some great picks, but if the board doesn’t fall the right way, and you’re looking at a bunch of players that aren’t any better than the players you have on your roster, those picks don’t really help you very much. I like the idea of having more picks, but I want to have more picks in a specific range in the draft. If we can get that done, then I could see us being in a good position to really maximize our chances to find good players.” In terms of those players and what the Ravens need most, here’s a look at the positions they’re most likely to fill in the draft, which begins Thursday night in Detroit. Offensive line With three starters from last season’s line having departed via free agency or trade, this is easily the Ravens’ biggest need in terms of sheer volume. Gone are guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, signing lucrative deals with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, respectively, while right tackle Morgan Moses was dealt to the Jets in a draft pick swap. Coach John Harbaugh said earlier this month that there are “absolutely” young players already on the roster who can step in, but all of them have question marks. Is Daniel Faalele ready to take a sizable leap forward in Year 3 to become an every-down starter at tackle? Did Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu improve enough from his rookie year after getting beaten out by Simpson last summer? How will guard Andrew Vorhees fare after missing his rookie season because of a torn ACL? Baltimore has versatile veterans in Patrick Mekari and Josh Jones, but they are mostly rotational players. The good news for Baltimore is that the two deepest positions of this draft class are offensive line and wide receiver. The Ravens have also drafted at least two offensive linemen in six of the past eight drafts, so don’t expect this one to be any different. Ravens coach John Harbaugh talks with wide receiver Rashod Bateman during practice last season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Wide receiver There’s certainly an argument to be made that this is the Ravens’ biggest need, with second-year receiver Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and unspectacular but dependable veteran Nelson Agholor the top three on the depth chart and the group thin after that. The only other receivers on the roster are Tylan Wallace, who has played mostly on special teams his first three seasons, and Sean Ryan, who played zero snaps as a rookie last year. The good news is, it’s a deep class. There should be plenty of opportunities for the Ravens to add an immediate contributor to this group, whether that’s early in the draft or in the middle rounds. Given the abundance of offensive linemen and receivers, it’s possible Baltimore could trade out of the first round, acquire an extra pick or two and bolster both positions. Edge rusher The Ravens made a smart decision to bring back veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who had a career-high nine sacks last season. Signed for $9 million over two years, he’s a much more affordable option than Jadeveon Clowney, whom the Carolina Panthers are paying $20 million over two seasons after he recorded 9 1/2 sacks for the Ravens last year. There are questions about the rest of the Ravens’ pass rushers, though, including whether Odafe Oweh can somehow find consistency in Year 4 and if David Ojabo can remain healthy after essentially missing his first two seasons because of injuries. Baltimore has a history of signing veteran pass rushers during the summer and it’s a route they’ll likely take again with some options still out there, including Emmanuel Ogbah, Yannick Ngakoue and Shaq Lawson. Unlike the offensive line and wide receiver class, this is not a deep draft or even one with high-end talent. Consider the strong chance that the top pass rushers will likely be off the board before the Ravens are on the clock, and it’s less likely they’ll find a major contributor via the draft. With safety Geno Stone, right, in Cincinnati and cornerback Brandon Stephens, left, entering the final year of his deal, the Ravens need reinforcements in the secondary. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Cornerback The Ravens are in good shape with Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens on the outside and Arthur Maulet returning in the slot. Baltimore also signed free agent Ka’Dar Hollman, though the 29-year-old has just two starts across three seasons and has mostly played special teams and as a depth piece in the defensive backfield. Beyond that, the group, much like the receiving corps, is thin. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 6.0): Connecting the dots for one last first-round projection Baltimore Ravens | Grading the Ravens’ three most recent drafts, from Rashod Bateman to Andrew Vorhees Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis of the Ravens’ contract extension for WR Rashod Bateman Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Rashod Bateman signs contract extension, keeping him in Baltimore through 2026 Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Drafting offensive linemen who can protect Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must be a priority | COMMENTARY Things only get more concerning when factoring in Humphrey’s age (he turns 28 in July), recent injuries (foot and calf in 2023) and pricey contract ($22.8 million cap hit in 2024). Stephens, meanwhile, is set to become a free agent after this upcoming season and could become cost-prohibitive given rising contract figures and other players who will become extension-eligible at the same time, notably All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. Damarion “Pepe” Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis, meanwhile, have struggled to be consistent, both in their play and ability to stay on the field. The Ravens like to say they take a “best player available” approach in the draft, and a cornerback such as Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry might check that box near the end of Round 1. Safety Much like cornerback, Baltimore has no concern with its top two players at the position, Hamilton and Marcus Williams. But the Ravens like to use three safeties, and Geno Stone’s departure to the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals leaves a void. The Ravens have Ar’Darius Washington, but he was used primarily in the slot last season. Stephens, originally tabbed for a safety role last year, gives them flexibility, but moving him would stress the outside. If either Hamilton or Williams gets injured, as the latter did last year, there would be a big problem. Adding another player to the rotation either in free agency or the draft makes sense. NFL draft Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7: Saturday, noon TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network Ravens draft picks Round 1: No. 30 Round 2: No. 62 Round 3: No. 93 Round 4: No. 113 (from Denver Broncos through Jets) Round 4: No. 130 Round 5: No. 165 Round 6: No. 218 Round 7: No. 228 (from Jets) Round 7: No. 250 View the full article