Tag: Charles Scarff

Ravens cut TEs Jerell Adams, Eli Wolf, and Charles Scarff

The Baltimore Ravens only have two tight ends on the roster after cutting Jerell Adams, Eli Wolf, and Charles Scarff at the roster deadline

The Baltimore Ravens made their third tight end spot a big deal this offseason. But as the team made cuts down to the 53-man roster, it seems they didn’t like any of the other tight ends they had.

According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Ravens cut tight ends Jerell Adams, Eli Wolf, and Charles Scarff. That leaves Baltimore with just Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle on the roster. It also likely indicates yet another expansion in role for Patrick Ricard, who has played on offense, defense, and special teams throughout his career.

Ricard was given some snaps at tight end throughout training camp and apparently impressed enough for the Ravens to gamble on their depth at the position. He’s previously shown some ability as both a blocker and pass catcher at fullback, catching 12 passes for 59 yards and three touchdowns over the last three seasons in Baltimore. Ricard got a heavier dose of action last year, catching eight passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

With the Ravens having brought former tight end turned offensive lineman Crockett Gilmore in for a tryout recently, Baltimore isn’t likely done figuring out their tight end group. But with everyone else cut, it seems like the answer is either Ricard or not on the roster right now.

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Mark Andrews offers insight, praise of tight ends competing for 3rd spot on depth chart

With three players all fighting for one roster spot at the bottom of the Baltimore Ravens depth chart, Mark Andrews offered his insight.

The Baltimore Ravens love to use multiple tight-end sets in their offense. With Hayden Hurst traded to the Atlanta Falcons this season, that opens up a coveted third spot on the tight end depth chart to competition. And with a handful of players vying for the job, it’s going to be a pretty interesting battle before rosters are trimmed down to 53 players on Sept. 5.

Mark Andrews, the top tight end on Baltimore’s roster, is excited for what he sees.

“The tight end room is definitely going to be a battle, and those guys are working hard,” said Andrews. “But there’s a lot of talent in our room right now.”

Both Andrews and Nick Boyle are locks to make the team. Andrews had a breakout season as a receiver in 2019 but is set up to further explode in his third year. Boyle is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and an underrated receiving threat too. That means the remaining group of Charles Scarff, Jerell Adams, and Eli Wolf are fighting for what is likely just one spot on the roster.

Many have given Wolf the best chance of making the team this year, especially after Jacob Breeland’s knee injury hadn’t recovered enough, pushing him to the reserve list. Though we should take it with a grain of salt, Wolf ran a ridiculously fast 40-yard dash of 4.43 seconds. That type of speed from a 6-foot-4 and 238-pound guy is an exciting proposition. Andrews has liked what he’s seen so far, specifically noting how quickly Wolf has picked up the playbook and his athleticism.

“Eli [Wolf], first of all, he’s done a great job of coming here and learning the system,” Andrews said. “He moves incredibly well, and I’m super excited to play with him some more and get on the field with him. But, he looks really good. I’m excited about that.”

Just because there are a few new faces this offseason, Scarff shouldn’t be discounted. He’s the player with the most time in the system, having been on Baltimore’s practice squad last season. That experience and the coaching staff’s familiarity with him could be the edge in an abbreviated offseason.

“Charles [Scarff] has been here for a year and knows the system extremely well,” Andrews continued. “Great blocker, has really good feet and he’s, honestly, pretty crafty with running routes.”

The newest member of the team is Adams, who was signed as a free agent last week following the team cutting Breelandto move him to the reserve list. Adams enters his fifth year in the NFL, something Andrews said was positive in this competition.

“Just being able to see him run routes and to see him move around,” Andrews continued. “He’s a guy that’s been in the league for a while and knows some things. So, he’s a good addition to the room.”

That’s a lot of praise coming from a Pro Bowl player. And it’s something coach John Harbaugh and his staff will need to sort through in short order at training camp. But having too many solid players fighting for a third tight end spot is a pretty good problem to have.

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Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard trade makes sense for Ravens at the right price

After trading away Hayden Hurst this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens should be eyeing up a trade for Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard

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The Baltimore Ravens saw a position of depth become a position of need when they traded tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. One of the strongest tight end rooms in the league was broken up and it has the Ravens looking for another quality piece entering the 2020 NFL Draft. However, a trade got Baltimore into this and a trade could get them out.

Even before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired Rob Gronkowski from the New England Patriots, O.J. Howard was on the trading block, according to the Athletic’s Michael Lombardi. It’s a trade the Ravens should at least look into and, depending on the price, pull off.

Howard was the No. 19 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Though he hasn’t exactly lived up to that draft status, his career hasn’t been a total bust. He’s caught 94 passes for 1,456 yards and 12 touchdowns throughout his three years with Tampa Bay. That isn’t otherworldly production, but it’s not anything to scoff at either.

There’s a reason Howard was taken so high in the draft, even if he hasn’t panned out perfectly. He’s extremely athletic and a proficient route runner. While he’s struggled with drops at times, he’s also flashed the potential to be an elite receiving target as well. He might not be a great blocker but he’s been used in that role with the Buccaneers at times as well. He’d likely have a similar role as Mark Andrews in Baltimore, which could be deadly in this offense.

With Gronkowski now in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers have killed much of their trade value in Howard. It seems obvious that he’s on his way out now and that could benefit the Ravens. Though Baltimore got a second-round pick in return for Hurst, Howard could come a lot cheaper right ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. A late fourth-round pick might be enough to get the trade done, which would be a small amount to pay for a proven player, especially with a lackluster draft class at tight end and an even weaker free-agent market as Baltimore’s other options.

As long as the Ravens pay less in a trade for Howard than they received for Hurst, it would be a net positive for them. They’d have replaced a starting-quality tight end with a starting-quality tight end while gaining extra draft capital in the process. That’s the type of magic we’ve come to expect from Baltimore’s front office.

There’s no guarantee the Ravens even view Howard as a trade target or that he’ll be traded at all. However, with a clear need for another tight end, Howard is the proven and potentially cheap answer here.

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