Tag: Brandon Stephens

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirms a potential contract extension for CB Brandon Stephens

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirms a potential contract extension for CB Brandon Stephens

Baltimore has a stacked roster and is one of the few teams capable of winning a Super Bowl over the next two or three years.

If this team remains elite with Lamar Jackson and his enormous contract on the books, there are looming financial decisions to be made. One financial decision will be the status of cornerback Brandon Stephens, considered one of the team’s top pending 2025 free agents.

During his recent press conference, GM Eric DeCosta reiterated the team’s plan to keep as much of its young talent as possible. Still, he acknowledged the challenge of paying an ascending guy at a premium position.

“Brandon had as good a year last year as anybody on the team, and I love his attitude,” DeCosta said. “Love how he just takes care of his business as a player, and I think he’s going to make another jump this year. Again, he’s a guy that we certainly want to keep here long term. It’s not without challenge. He plays a position where the best players are highly compensated, but we’ll do our best.”

https://Twitter.com/Ravens/status/1829151225356660854

Stephens started 16 games at cornerback, and the converted safety logged two interceptions and a 65.5 grade in coverage.

He finished 21st among qualifying corners in coverage DVOA with 11 passes defended.

An extension would create $1,648,800 in cap space.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Eric DeCosta confirms teams attempted to acquire talent from Ravens secondary

Eric DeCosta confirms teams attempted to acquire talent from Ravens secondary

The Ravens have one of the NFL’s deepest secondaries after drafting Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa and signing Eddie Jackson before training camp. With such depth, teams around the league are looking for a trade partner.

Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta said he received calls around cutdown day with teams interested in Baltimore’s secondary depth. DeCosta says he declined all deals, wanting to maintain extra bodies in an area where the team has struggled to keep players healthy.

“We’re strong in the secondary and we stayed strong,” DeCosta said.

https://Twitter.com/Ravens/status/1829151077708542215

The Ravens kept 11 defensive backs on the roster, with projected starting corners Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens backed by first-round rookie Nate Wiggins, rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa, and returning players Jalyn Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington. Veteran slot corner Arthur Maulet is starting on injured reserve after having an arthroscopic knee injury, but he’s eligible to return after Week 4.

At safety, the Ravens have starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams, with veteran Eddie Jackson and rookies Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade behind them.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Ravens vs. Packers: Top photos from preseason finale at Lambeau Field

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field

It’s only the preseason, but the Ravens will head towards the 53-man roster cutdown date with a sour taste after a 30-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday afternoon. Josh Johnson was 5-7 for 71 yards and one passing touchdown, while Michael Pratt led Green Bay in passing, going 8-12 for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Packers were dominant on the ground, amassing 193 rushing yards, as Ellis Merriweather led all ball carriers with 16 yards for 74 yards. The Packers held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore by 326 yards to 177 for John Harbaugh’s bunch. With Baltimore now turning its attention toward the Chiefs, here’s an instant analysis of the loss. ***

Ravens vs. Falcons: Top photos from Baltimore’s 13-12 win in preseason Week 2

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason Week 2 matchup

Backup quarterback Josh Johnson was perfect on the afternoon, and rookie Emory Jones added a 56-yard touchdown throw to Dayton Wade in the second half to lift the Baltimore Ravens to a 13-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.  The Ravens snapped a three-game preseason losing streak, while Atlanta had 343 yards of total offense but was 4-13 on third downs. Baltimore had another putrid day on the ground, rushing for 71 yards on 30 attempts.  With the team set to start preparation for the preseason finale, here are the top photos from the win over Atlanta. ***

Ravens CB Nate Wiggins is excited to play in an experienced secondary

Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins is excited to play in an experienced secondary

The Baltimore Ravens drafted cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. He put together an incredible performance in the team’s first preseason game of the year against the Philadelphia Eagles, showing the skill set that the team drafted him for.

Wiggins talked to the media during training camp and expressed excitement over playing in an experienced secondary. He mentioned how he can ask anybody in the defensive backs room if he has one, learning on the fly with players in his corner who have plenty of NFL experience.

“I feel like that’s going to help me a lot. Like you said, I could just go to anybody in the DB [defensive backs] room, asking them questions. I feel like that is going to help me in the long run.”

With Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Kyle Hamilton, and Marcus Williams in the fold for Baltimore, Wiggins will have no shortage of veterans to lean on throughout his rookie season. The former Clemson star is expected to play a significant role in Baltimore’s defense this year, especially when defending faster players on opposing offenses.

Top photos from Ravens 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens returned to the field for live game action for the first time since their heartbreaking, 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.

Baltimore hosted Philadelphia at M&T Bank Stadium, with both teams on similar arcs, and championship paths. Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson sat out along with key starters on both sides of the football.

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott made a 49-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 16-13 victory after Baltimore quarterback Emory Jones — who had just entered the game — was sacked and fumbled on the next play.

The recovery by Patrick Johnson gave Elliott his final opportunity of the night.

With Baltimore set to start preparation for the Falcons in the second week of the preseason, we’re looking at the top photos from Friday night.

***

NFL Preseason Week 1: Can the Ravens defend the Eagles passing game?

Baltimore Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins will tested by Philadelphia Eagles WR’s Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith in their upcoming exhibition game.

The Baltimore Ravens intentionally drafted to replenish their depth chart at the defensive back position earlier this spring. They’ll get a chance to see the implications of the 2024 NFL draft when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason opener tonight.

Ravens’ rookie Nate Wiggins will tested by Eagles’ rookie wide receivers, including Johnny Wilson and former Texas A&M speedster Ainias Smith. Earlier this spring, I suggested that the Ravens draft Smith because his upside makes him an asset in special teams even if he does not make the frequent rotation needed in the 11-man personnel on offense. Nevertheless, Wilson’s game is a little different from Smith’s. Standing six feet six inches tall, Wilson creates an offensive nightmare for defensive backs, and with Ravens’ rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker already terrorizing Wiggins at practice, Wilson may excel in week 1 of the NFL preseason.

For the Ravens, not much of an update has surfaced on Iowa State draftee defensive back T.J Tampa. Consequently, Ravens’ fans may see heavy playing time given to defensive back Jalyn Armour-Davis and 22-year-old safety Sanoussi Kane in the preseason debut.

Ultimately, it is presumptuous to assume the Ravens will be the same defensive powerhouse they were a season ago with zero evidence. In the preseason, veteran safety Eddie Jackson and defensive back Brandon Stephens may see extra reps to assist the second-string players with adjusting to the tenacity at the NFL level.

Kyle Hamilton raves about the speed in Ravens’ secondary

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton marveled at the speed in the team’s secondary

The Baltimore Ravens have invested plenty of resources into their secondary throughout their franchise history. For the 2024 season, Baltimore is loaded with veteran and young talent, which should shine throughout the year.

When asked about the team’s secondary, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton marveled at all of the speed that the team has on the unit. He said it looks fast, with Nate Wiggins running a 4.2 40-yard dash and Hamilton even admitting he’s probably the slowest player in Baltimore’s secondary.

“Yes it does look fast to me as well. It’s kind of funny – you look around the room – Nate [Wiggins] obviously ran a 4.2 [40-yard dash at the NFL Combine]. I’m probably the slowest guy in there, at least [from times] at the Combine. But yes, we’ve got Marlon [Humphrey] in there, Marcus [Williams] is running; everybody is running in that room. I think that’s a big thing, along with us conditioning and being out here getting a lot of reps. Running fast for a long time [and] not getting tired is a huge advantage, especially going into the later parts of the season. Let’s just say we can’t get off the field in a series, and we’re going into play 13 in the high red zone, and we need a stop – that’s something that we might’ve given up a touchdown on last year, so we’re just building on conditioning and adding more speed to the room.”

The good thing for Hamilton is that speed isn’t the be-all and end-all. He is a highly talented player, and his skill set fits in rather nicely with the rest of the players in the team’s secondary and on the defense in general.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Ravens training camp: Top photos from Day 5 of practice

We’re looking at the top photos from Day 5 of Baltimore Ravens training camp practices

The Ravens had a day off from training camp on Thursday but returned to the Under Armour Performance Center on Friday and Saturday for their first two full-padded summer practices. Lamar Jackson returned to the lineup after a medical evaluation for flu-like symptoms. At the same time, the team honored the late Jacoby Jones on the day that family and friends traveled to New Orleans for his funeral services. With Sunday’s practice quickly approaching, here are takeaways and notes from Saturday’s session. ***

Eddie Jackson calls Ravens secondary one of the deepest groups since Alabama

Eddie Jackson calls the Baltimore Ravens secondary one of the deepest groups ever

Eddie Jackson has been involved in some elite defensive back play and helped Bears star Jaylon Johnson become one of the NFL’s best.

After getting released, Jackson waited and finally signed a one-year deal with the Ravens just before the first training camp practice. Jackson called Baltimore a perfect fit, and when asked about the Ravens’ defensive back group, he called the unit “one of the most competitive” and deepest since his time at Alabama.

The Ravens lost their No. 3 safety, Geno Stone, in free agency, and they’ve been in the market for a potential replacement since March. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl selection with 15 career regular-season interceptions, will join the dynamic duo of Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton, one of the league’s top safety tandems.

The cornerback group includes Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Arthur Maulet, Nate Wiggins, and T.J. Tampa.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]