Tag: Baltimore Ravens UDFA

Ravens waive UDFA CB Jeff Hector

In an effort to get down to the 80-man roster limit for training camp, the Baltimore Ravens waived UDFA CB Jeff Hector Friday.

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Twitter they have waived undrafted free agent cornerback Jeff Hector.

Hector was signed as a UDFA out of Redlands, a Division-3 school. Hector played in 20 games over the last two seasons, accounting for 47 total tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles. He had eight interceptions for Redlands last year, returning them 178 total yards. Hector was also the team’s kickoff returner, finding the end zone once in 20 returns over the last two years.

This is another in a series of moves Baltimore has made this week in order to get down to the 80-man training camp roster limit under the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. The Ravens waived offensive linemen Evan Adams, Daisahwn Dixon, R.J. Prince, and kicker Nick Vogel on Monday in an announcement made via Twitter. The team also announced they’ve placed UDFA tight end Jacob Breeland on the non-football injury (NFI) list.

Baltimore hasn’t been immune from roster trouble thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Both offensive tackle Andre Smith and return specialist De’Anthony Thomas declined to play this season under the league’s COVID-19 opt-out protocol. The Ravens also placed UDFA safety Nigel Warrior on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

With 10 other cornerbacks on the roster already, Hector was simply the odd man out in an odd offseason. Baltimore has more pressing needs for depth at other key positions like the offensive and defensive lines, and outside linebacker.

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Ravens sign 3 undrafted free agents, including Utah QB Tyler Huntley

The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to extend their streak of 16 consecutive seasons with a UDFA making the 53-man roster.

The Baltimore Ravens got quite the haul in the 2020 NFL Draft, selecting 10 players to their already stacked roster. But it’s the Ravens’ work following the draft that has been lauded by many and they’re looking to continue that work this offseason. According to a press release from Baltimore, the Ravens have signed three undrafted free agents.

C Trystan Colon-Castillo, Missouri
QB Tyler Huntley, Utah
K Nick Vogel, Alabama at Birmingham

All three players offer great competition and depth for training camp. Baltimore will be looking to continue their 16-year streak of at least one UDFA making the 53-man roster. The Ravens have gotten great results from their UDFAs previously, seeing guys like linebacker Bart Scott, center Mike Flynn, and running back Priest Holmes work their way into starting roles and becoming household names.

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However, out of the three just signed, Colon-Castillo has the best chance of making the roster. Center Matt Skura is rehabbing from a gruesome knee injury suffered last season that sent him to injured reserve, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for training camp. Patrick Mekari, a UDFA last season, started in his place and played well but will likely see competition this offseason.

Both Huntley and Vogel are seemingly locked out from the roster bout could impress enough to get signed elsewhere. Lamar Jackson is the unquestioned franchise quarterback and both Trace McSorley and Robert Griffin III are locked in as backups behind him. Though the Ravens have kept an extra kicker in the past — Kaare Vedvik — Baltimore has the NFL’s most accurate leg in Justin Tucker.

Baltimore surely isn’t done signing UDFAs quite yet, though. Typically, players come into rookie minicamp as a tryout and are signed afterward but with the coronavirus making OTAs virtual and physicals harder to get, the UDFA process is likely going to be a little less standard than previous years.

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Baltimore Ravens 2020 UDFA tracker

The UDFA period starts immediately after the 2020 NFL Draft and the Ravens want to continue the streak of a UDFA making the 53-man roster

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The 2020 NFL Draft is over and 255 picks have had their dreams of being drafted has come true. But for those that didn’t hear their name called, their journey is far from over. With the draft completed, the undrafted free agent process starts.

Players from around the country will have their phones ringing off the hook as general managers and scouts call them to either outright sign them to contracts or to invite them to workouts. While it’s easy to think any player that didn’t get drafted isn’t good, that’s simply not true and the Ravens are the only proof you need of that. Baltimore has seen at least one UDFA make the final 53-man roster for 16 consecutive seasons.

These are the UDFA players the Ravens have either signed or invited to workouts.

Baltimore Ravens UDFAs:

Position Name School
C Trystan Colon-Castillo Missouri
DE John Daka JMU
QB Tyler Huntley Utah
TE Eli Wolf Georgia
S Nigel Warrior Tennessee
RB/FB Bronson Steiner Kennesaw State
RB Chauncey Rivers Mississippi State

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