This should be relatively easy. Post draft, the Ravens still need a starting cornerback, veteran help at the edge rusher position, and arguably a little more help in the defensive line.
Outside Cornerback
At the outside cornerback spot, there are two obvious free agent targets. The 30 year old Marcus Peters and the 26 year old Rock Ya-Sin. Ya-Sin’s second year in the league was poor, but he played well over the past two seasons. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus gave him the 27th best coverage grade lined up wide, and the 23rd best grade when playing man press coverage. His yards per coverage snap was ranked fifth. Overall, he graded out as their 50th best corner last year (out of 118) and the 29th best in 2021 (out of 116).
Marcus Peters graded out as the 49th best corner last year (a push with Ya-Sin). Ya-Sin will never be the corner that Peters was at his prime. Marcus was simply elite as a cover corner. It’s a standard rule of thumb that after a torn ACL, year two of the comeback will be the player’s recovery peak. We all saw last year that Marcus’ recovery speed and quickness were negatively impacted. The issue with Peters: how much can he recover in 2023?
Would I sign both of these players? I don’t see either sliding over to the slot, so I think not. But the Ravens must sign at least one of them. I have no interest in Shaq Griffin or Troy Hill.
Slot Cornerback?
Bryce Callahan was once a solid nickel corner, though he was regularly injured. But he’s not that player anymore. This is a pass. Nor is there any other slot corner worth a contract. The Ravens will have to go with what they have here. I still think Pepe Williams can contribute at this position.
Post Draft Edge Rusher – One More Time?
It makes sense to bring back Justin Houston again, if he’s willing. Houston was very effective with a reduced workload last year, and there’s no reason not to give it another go. The Ravens need Houston, what with Odafe Oweh’s rushing quality suspect and the unknown of David Ojabo. Tavius Robinson doesn’t figure to be a contributor as a pass rusher, and Tyus Bowser should play his usual solid role (hopefully, better than last year). This group is screaming for Houston.
If not Houston, the equally old Melvin Ingram is the only real alternative. Ingram was also very effective last year, though not as successful at getting to the quarterback as Houston. But he gets a lot of pressures, and plays the edge reasonably well. He played more often than Houston last year, and showed some good juice.
Frank Clark is out there, but Clark is a one-dimensional pass rusher who has never held up well in the run. He’s a total fallback in case Houston and Ingram go elsewhere. I’m not interested in Jadeveon Clowney.
Interior Defensive Line
The Ravens added nothing here during the draft. Rayshad Nichols played well in limited time last year, but is he ready for rotational action in 2023? I might have some interest in Poona Ford, who is coming off a disappointing season after very good years in 2020 and 2021. He’s 27 years old. Chris Wormley is also out there, and before you puke realize that Wormley graded out very well the last two seasons with Pittsburgh.
June 1 Cut Candidates
Then there are the inevitable couple of players who will be released June 1. Perhaps the Ravens have a sense of who might come free. Candidly, that’s a bit too time consuming for me. But keeping some cap space available for a surprise useful cut is a typical Ravens strategy.
Ravens Post Draft Undrafted Free Agent Signings
Keaton Mitchell
The Ravens added an electric running back, Keaton Mitchell. I watched tape on Mitchell, and he’s a tiny back who breaks everything – and I mean everything – to the outside. But there’s a use for him if you’re creative. Here’s my prior write-up on Mitchell.
Mitchell is 5’8 and 179 lbs. from East Carolina. Mitchell is a blazer, having run a 4.37 forty, and he brings explosion, with outstanding vertical jump and broad jump testing. Mitchell is that electric juice ball that fans love to watch. He shakes those hips, and the tackler is grabbing his own ankles. This is a guy who you just can’t surround. He has absolute elite speed, agility, and burst. He has the ability to squeeze through small holes and then accelerate. He does not lose speed as he’s making his numerous cuts. If you’re looking for a guy who could hit a home run on any play Mitchell brings that.
But on the other hand, there’s simply no physicality to his game, and that makes it really hard to see him in the backfield on more than a handful of attempts per game. If ever there was a modern day scat back, Mitchell’s your man. If he gets to the outside, he’ll look to hit a home run every time. Literally every big play I saw from Mitchell involved him cutting it to the outside.
I can see him as a third down back where the ball is going to him, but he’ll never be able to handle NFL blitz packages. Creative offensive minds can find other opportunities for Mitchell, too. Some have suggested turning Mitchell into a receiver. I think it’s a difficult concept for a guy who tries to avoid contact. It’s hard to see him working the middle of the field as a slot receiver, and he’s just too small to try on the outside. But can you imagine Mitchell lined up on third down with Lamar Jackson? This guy could go anywhere after the first two rounds of the draft. Mitchell has little special teams experience. Round 4-6.
Others
The only other two names that showed some interest to me are Jaylon Thomas, a guard, and Camron Peterson, a defensive tackle. Of course, it’s difficult to know what quiet gems, if any, may be lurking here. We will see.
Soooo Interesting as usual