The Baltimore Ravens’ front office has earned a reputation for being one the best in the NFL, scouting and drafting star talent over the years. But perhaps their best work has been done after the draft, with the undrafted free agents.
The Ravens have a history of finding diamonds in the rough with their UDFA classes. Stars have been born from the group, from linebacker Bart Scott to kicker Justin Tucker, Baltimore has gotten quite a lot of value from the forgotten draft prospects. Entering this offseason, the Ravens have had at least one UDFA make the 53-man roster for the last 16 consecutive years.
With the 2020 NFL Draft over, Baltimore brought in 21 UDFAs to fight for roster spots. While some are pretty clearly training camp fodder, others have a legitimate chance of making the cut and extending the Ravens’ streak. Whether it’s from outstanding talent or being at a more shallow position, these eight players have the best shot of making the Ravens’ 53-man roster in 2020.
TE Jacob Breeland
With the trade of Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons, there’s a third spot on Baltimore’s tight end depth chart. Obviously, Nick Boyle and Mark Andrews are in the first two spots but Charles Scarff is far from a lock to make the team as the third option, even if he was on the practice squad with the Ravens last year. With a competition brewing at tight end, Breeland has the experience and college production to point to him being in the mix.
Breeland had his best season at Oregon in 2019, despite playing in just six games. He caught 26 passes for 405 yards and six touchdowns, proving he’s a pretty effective weapon. He’s got a big frame at 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, and with solid hands, Breeland is a good option in the receiving game. While his blocking isn’t the worst I’ve ever seen, he’ll be more useful as a chip-blocker before going out for a route.
The biggest knock against Breeland is that he’s coming off a season-ending injury, tearing his ACL and meniscus, requiring surgery. Though he had to miss the NFL Scouting Combine, he suffered the injury in October, which means he could still be healthy enough to really compete for the roster spot at training camp.