Anonymous NFL Executives Judge Ravens Draft Class Positively
Since the close of the draft, we’ve heard how pundits and analysts feel about the Ravens’ draft. Now, with the help of The Athletic’s Mike Sando, the opinions of those inside the NFL are being shared.
Sando spoke with unnamed executives, who noted the Ravens’ draft selections were about getting value at premium positions.
“Two things about this class stood out to me: The first five picks all play premium positions, and four of those were drafted significantly later than their consensus rankings,” Sando wrote.
An executive agreed with his assessment.
“When you can hit on positions of impact, it helps to be cost-controlled at positions commanding a premium on the market,” an exec told said to Sando.
The Ravens weren’t the only ones to believe cornerback Nate Wiggins was the best cover corner in the NFL draft. One executive shared the same thought, but also why Wiggins wasn’t taken as the first corner off the board.
“Nate Wiggins was the best cover corner in the draft,” an exec said. “He falls a little because he did not compete as consistently as you’d like, but going into that Baltimore culture, they have to feel good. They are not a team you really question.”
The executives were overall high on the Ravens’ 2024 draft class.
“Rosengarten is an underrated pick,” another exec said to Sando. “He is going to be similar to like Spencer Brown in Buffalo, a starting tackle. They have done a good job developing rushers, too, so I like them taking the Penn State kid (Isaac). Tampa ran in the 4.5s and might have gotten the benefit of the doubt from some because he has length.”
Two Undrafted Rookies Named Most Likely to Make Roster
With the undrafted rookie class announced and rookie minicamp in the books, pundits projected which of the 22 UDFAs have the best shot at making the initial 53-man roster. Two players, safety Beau Brade and the intriguing outside linebacker and fullback Joe Evans, were named.
Beau Brade, Safety, Maryland
Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler: “It was a shock to not hear Beau Brade’s name called on draft weekend. The hybrid defender made a living sniffing out run plays and erasing tight ends up the seam at Maryland. Last season alone, Brade totaled 75 tackles, four tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. While this year’s safety class left much to be desired from top to bottom, Brade now has a clear opportunity to make the Baltimore Ravens’ roster as a multi-faceted contributor.”
Baltimore Beatdown’s Joshua Reed: “While the Ravens took a safety in the 2024 NFL Draft, it didn’t come until their final pick with the selection Sanoussi Kane, who is more of a pure box safety than an ideal replacement for Geno Stone, who departed in free agency. Enter Brade, who was a surprising prospect who wound up going undrafted after many pundits projected to go as early as the fourth round. Even though there is still a strong likelihood the Ravens add a veteran safety to help replace Stone’s presence in the backend, Brade can play both in the box and split safety, so 2023 All-Pro Kyle Hamilton can come down in and play a hybrid role. He is the most likely of all undrafted rookies to contend for a roster spot but could be challenged by Morgan State’s Jordan Toles, who is an LSU transfer from Baltimore and recorded career highs with 66 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and five pass breakups.”
Joe Evans, OLB/FB/TE, Iowa
The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han: “With 28 career sacks, Evans ranks fourth in Hawkeyes history. He made 9.5 sacks his senior year. A former high school quarterback, Evans walked on at Iowa as a linebacker. By 2022, he was a full-time starter. … Evans was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media and was given All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches. He had an impressive pro day. … The Ravens have depth along the defensive line, although some of those players are veterans with only a year or two left in the league. They added outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the draft. However, Evans could earn a spot as a backup or he could position himself on the practice squad to earn a chance if there are injuries.”
Reed: “The former Big Ten standout was another surprising prospect who went undrafted after putting up impressive numbers on a vaunted Hawkeyes defense during his college career but it likely could be attributed to his less-than-desirable arm length at just 30.5 inches. Throughout 50 games in five seasons, he recorded 28 sacks, including four in just four games as a true freshman in 2019, seven in 2021, 6.5 in 2022 and a career high 9.5 in 2023. Evans also recorded four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six batted passes during his career. … Evans possesses a high motor that seemingly never stops until the play is dead and the ball carrier is down and showed he can be a great finisher not just a consistent generator of pressures which is still highly valuable. He will be challenging Hamm for the sixth and likely final edge defender spot which should be a fierce competition to watch that will go down to the wire and could be determined in the preseason finale.”
2024-05-06 13:48:58
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