ExtremeRavens Posted 8 hours ago Posted 8 hours ago Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has an appreciation for what it takes to beat the odds of not having his name called during the NFL draft and still making it in the league. Undrafted out of North Texas in 2014, he signed with Baltimore, racked up four tackles (including one for a loss) and a quarterback hit in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers and went on to make the 53-man roster. He finished the season second on the team with seven special teams tackles and two years later won the job as the starting weak-side linebacker. Orr was also part of a unique group. In 20 of the past 21 years, an undrafted player has made the Ravens’ roster. That number figures to grow this year, with a handful of undrafted rookies pushing to add their name to the list. Saturday’s preseason finale against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium will therefore mark the last, best opportunity for those on the bubble of a roster loaded with talent and with few openings to make their case. “If you can be consistent, it’s going to equal production,” Orr said earlier this week. “It is really cool to see a lot of guys taking the consistent efforts they’ve put in practice [and] carrying it over to the games. Now they’ve started to make a name for themselves and put themselves in a really good position. So this week and then on Saturday [during] the game, [if] they keep that going, [there are] going to be a lot of guys that are going to make our team or make somebody else’s possibly.” With that in mind, here are the six Ravens with the most at stake with roster cuts coming Tuesday: Safety Beau Brade One of Baltimore’s undrafted rookie free agents who seems destined to make the team is safety and training camp darling Reuben Lowery, who has been around the ball all summer. If he does, he would join Kyle Hamilton, first-round rookie Malaki Starks and Sanoussi Kane. This is where roster dynamics and special teams could come into play. If Baltimore decides to go with five safeties, Brade, who has special teams experience, will be on the team. If there’s a desire to add to other positions, though, the former River Hill and University of Maryland standout is in jeopardy. The Ravens' Beau Brade gestures toward fellow safety Sanoussi Kane during practice. Both are competing for a spot on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Linebacker Jay Higgins IV If Lowery has been the most talked about undrafted rookie free agent, Higgins is a close second. In the Ravens’ first preseason game against the Colts, the former All-American out of Iowa made a leaping interception in the fourth quarter, then added a pass deflection. Last week against the Cowboys, he led the team with six tackles and strip-sacked quarterback Will Grier, resulting in a turnover. With inside linebacker Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Jake Hummel and fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan all expected to make the team, the question then becomes, does Baltimore decide to keep a fifth inside linebacker? It seems unlikely, but it also could be hard to stash Higgins on the practice squad given all the attention he’s gotten. Linebacker Chandler Martin See above. The Ravens aren’t keeping both Higgins and Martin on the roster, so only one of them has a chance to break through. Higgins figures to have the advantage, but Martin has impressed coaches. “I think he and Jay have both done a really good job,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They’ve learned the defense well and played well and have done well on special teams, so I am very happy. [Martin] is in the mix. He’s one of those guys in the mix, for sure.” Cornerback Keyon Martin Similar to Chandler Martin, Keyon Martin has perhaps been a bit overshadowed by his fellow defensive backfield mate, Lowery. The Ravens also like to have a lot of cornerbacks. Given the injury histories of Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, neither of whom has practiced of late, perhaps they will be inclined to keep as many as seven on the roster with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Alexander, Awuzie, T.J. Tampa Jr. and Jalyn Armour-Davis all expected to be on the team. If they add another, Keyon Martin, who made a splash play with a sack on Dallas quarterback Joe Milton III for a safety last week, figures to be next in line. Another strong game this week could make it difficult for the Ravens to get the undrafted free agent to the practice squad. Defensive lineman C.J. Okoye At 6 feet 6 and 370 pounds, Okoye, the Nigerian-born lineman who didn’t even play college football, is a tantalizing prospect. Though he’s unlikely to make the roster with Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins and rookie Aeneas Peebles all ahead of him in the pecking order, he certainly has a shot at the practice squad. Even then, though, there is competition with veteran Brent Urban and C.J. Ravenell. One thing that could help, though, is the one international designation teams are allowed, which would bump the Ravens’ practice squad from 16 to 17 players. Running back Rasheen Ali Harbaugh said earlier in training camp that his plan was to keep four running backs. If that holds, Ali will be the fourth back behind Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell. But it’s also possible that the coach will be more interested in adding to another position with more need. Ali has looked good at times on kick returns, but will that be enough to chew up a roster spot? A strong performance against the Commanders could also land the 2024 fifth-round pick a job on another team’s 53-man roster. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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