Tag: Eric DeCosta

Ravens initial 90-man roster arranged by uniform number ahead of training camp

Baltimore Ravens’ 90-man roster at the start of 2024 training camp

The Baltimore Ravens have officially reported to the Under Armour Performance Center for the start of training camp with the first practice scheduled for Sunday morning.

There will be starting jobs and roster spots up for grabs, which should make for some intriguing position battles throughout camp and the preseason.

Currently, the Ravens have 90 players on their roster, and that will be trimmed down to 53 ahead of the start of the regular season, and by August 27.

With training camp underway, here’s an updated look at the Ravenss’ initial 90-man roster at the start of training camp, organized by jersey number.

Do the Ravens still believe in head coach John Harbaugh?

Did you know Ravens HC John Harbaugh owns the record for the most road playoff wins (eight) by a head coach in NFL history?

Few franchises around the NFL have shown long-term faithfulness to their head coach. However, entering his 16th season as the Baltimore Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh has been an exception to that practice.

Let’s pretend Harbaugh didn’t coach quarterback Joe Flacco into stardom despite the waves of criticism at the end of the 2012-2013 season. Flacco’s development almost backfired on Harbaugh, as he won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award and saved the Cleveland Browns’ season last year.

The Ravens finished just 10-6 that year, but Harbaugh won two straight road games versus Peyton Manning and Tom Brady before winning Super Bowl XLVII. The unforgettable glory is worth mentioning.

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Harbaugh has had noticeable success in the NFL and owns the record for the most road playoff wins (eight) by a head coach in NFL history. While Harbaugh has lost a few AFC Championship games, he closed the deal the first time he made the Super Bowl.

Harbaugh was one win away from playing in Super Bowl LVIII, and his optimism has wavered. The franchise believes Harbaugh can and will return the Ravens to the AFC Championship this year. The road to redemption sits right before this team that came up short this past winter.

Ravens rookie OT Roger Rosengarten will greatly help improve pass protection in 2024

The Baltimore Ravens will need to be more efficient pass blocking in 2024. Can rookie T Roger Rosengarten aid them in this agenda?

In NCAA CFB last season, Baltimore Ravens rookie offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten played for all 15 games. Rosengarten was a powerhouse in a Washington Huskies offense that produced 5,155 total passing yards in 2023.

If Rosengarten effectively protected rookie Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in college, perhaps Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta hopes Rosengarten can lessen the sacks allowed on quarterback Lamar Jackson.

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Although offensive linemen are rarely the poster boys for the NFL Draft, NFL scouts understand the importance of this position. Furthermore, Rosengarten is a tall, athletic powerhouse, and it will be essential to help secure the edge on zone running plays for running back Derrick Henry.

Ravens’ fans may also see more vertical passing from quarterback Lamar Jackson next season if pass protection improves. Baltimore allowed 17 sacks in 2024, so drafting Rosengarten was a wise decision. Rosengarten will be tasked with blocking big names like Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett, and the headache that is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson in his first season in the NFL.

Just like the Ravens were one victory away from a Super Bowl appearance,  Rosengarten was just a few plays away from the 2023-24 NCAA championship. Rosengarten’s championship aura may mesh well with a franchise that believes it’s just a few adjustments away from turning the tide.

Ravens almost made a trade with Chiefs that could have cost them OT Roger Rosengarten

Ravens almost made a trade with Chiefs in 2nd round of NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 NFL Draft needing to address the offensive line in a big way. While they did not come away from the first round with an offensive tackle like many hoped, the Ravens did land one in round 2 with Washington’s Roger Rosengarten at pick 62.

While speaking on The Ravens Lounge, Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta revealed that he almost made a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to move back two spots. The Ravens instead stuck at 62 and selected Rosengarten, while the Chiefs traded up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers to select BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia at 63.

“The Chiefs called us and offered us to go back two spots, I think a fifth-round pick and maybe a seventh-round pick, I forget,” DeCosta said. “I know a fifth was involved. Which for two spots, you’d think is pretty good, right? So we debated doing that. And then, when we called them back I said, ‘Yeah, we’d probably do that.’ We called them back and they said, ‘No we’re not interested.’ So then we pick Roger [Rosengarten]. We’re sort of under the impression that both teams, the 49ers and the Chiefs both wanted Rosengarten. And so, when Rosengarten got picked, the Chiefs traded with San Francisco to get the next tackle which was [Kingsley] Suamataia. San Francisco, I would assume was happy then, since Rosengarten was picked, to go back and get a little bit extra.”

DeCosta later said that he suspected both teams behind Baltimore wanted Rosengarten.

“You never know 100 percent, but we had some people tell us that this was the case. Both teams, the 49ers and the Chiefs, both wanted Rosengarten,” DeCosta said. “So when Rosengarten got picked, the Chiefs traded with San Francisco to get the next tackle. I would have been very angry had we traded for the Chiefs and they had taken Rosengarten. I would have been in a dark place.”

In the end, the Ravens stayed and got their guy. Rosengarten will now compete for the starting right tackle position with Daniel Faalele.

Eric DeCosta liked WR Xavier Worthy but says Ravens were looking for an ‘outside big-bodied guy’

After veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 NFL Draft with the possibility of adding another player at the position, even as early as the first round. Instead, the Ravens ended up …

After veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 NFL Draft with the possibility of adding another player at the position, even as early as the first round.

Instead, the Ravens ended up taking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 overall pick, waiting until the fourth round to address wide receiver with the selection of North Carolina’s Devontez Walker.

While speaking on The Ravens Lounge, general manager Eric DeCosta talked about the possibility of drafting Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round.

“Worthy is a heck of a player, an explosive guy, a guy that I liked a lot as a prospect,” DeCosta said. “But looking at him, he’s a little bit like a Zay [Flowers]/[Marquise]Hollywood Brown type of guy. We have a Zay. For us, we were looking for a different body type this year. We were looking for an outside big-bodied guy. I subscribe to the theory that it’s like a restaurant. You go to a restaurant, you want a lot of different things on the menu. You don’t want all the same thing on the menu. At the receiver position, it is smart to have different types of receivers.”

Worthy broke the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.21 seconds. The Ravens did not even have the chance to take the Longhorn receiver as the Kansas City Chiefs traded with the Buffalo Bills to jump two spots ahead of Baltimore and select Worthy with the No. 28 overall pick.

WATCH: Nick Samac’s passionate NFL draft call with the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 NFL Draft needing to address the offensive line with multiple selections. After taking Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round, the Ravens did not select another offensive lineman until …

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 NFL Draft needing to address the offensive line with multiple selections. After taking Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round, the Ravens did not select another offensive lineman until the seventh round when they took Michigan State center Nick Samac with the No. 228 overall pick.

Similar to fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker earlier in the day, Samac had an emotional phone call with general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh after being drafted by Baltimore.

After losing center Sam Mustipher in free agency, Samac has a clear path to earning the backup role to starter Tyler Linderbaum. Samac could also compete for a starting guard position after the Ravens lost both Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson in free agency.

Baltimore has a notable track record of developing mid-to-late-round offensive linemen, with recent examples including Ben Powers, Bradley Bozeman, and even the undrafted Patrick Mekari. While Samac might not see the field right away for the Ravens, there is a solid chance that he could find his way into the lineup down the road after learning under renowned offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris.

Eric DeCosta talks about the role of Chuck Smith in evaluating pass rushers

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager …

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked if his evaluation of athletic pass rushers has changed because of Chuck Smith.

“I really pay attention to [pass rush coach] Chuck [Smith],” DeCosta said. “when he talks, I listen because he is a great pass-rush specialist, and he’s looking for specific traits, and he gets excited by certain guys, and I like that. I love his enthusiasm. He’s a joy to work with in the draft meetings because you know if he loves a guy, and that’s exciting. That’s what you want as an evaluator and as a guy that organizes the draft. You really want your scouts and your coaches to take ownership of certain guys and get on the table for guys, and Chuck does that, and he’s a great coach. So, if he sees these traits in somebody, I get excited. I think we all saw how our guys developed last year and emerge and what we did, and I think Chuck is a big part of that.”

Smith’s impact was clear in his first season in Baltimore, not only for the outside linebackers but for the entire defensive line. The Ravens led the NFL in sacks with 60 with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike leading the way with 13 — earning him a four-year, $98 million contract from Baltimore. Veteran outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy also enjoyed their best seasons from a sack standpoint, totaling 9.5 and 9 sacks respectively.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta thinks RB Rasheen Ali can contribute right away

The Baltimore Ravens added another running back to their offense by selecting Marshall’ Rasheen Ali with the No. 165 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Ravens made a splash in free agency by signing veteran running back …

The Baltimore Ravens added another running back to their offense by selecting Marshall’ Rasheen Ali with the No. 165 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Ravens made a splash in free agency by signing veteran running back Derrick Henry to take over as the team’s bell-cow runner, but Ali will have a chance to earn a role behind him.

Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta was asked if he felt that Ali could contribute right away, similar to 2023 undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell, who had a substantial impact on the field last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

“Yes, I think that’s right. [Rasheen Ali]’s an explosive guy. I think he runs hard. He finishes his runs. He catches the ball well; he can run routes; he’s a good pass protector. Like I said, at the Senior Bowl, he was a guy that I noticed very quickly. He got hurt, but during the practice week, he was very explosive, and I think we all took note. We had him visit a few weeks ago. He’s an interesting kid. He’s got a great background – other than the fact that he’s from Cleveland, of course – but he’s got a great background, and I think he will be a good player for us. ”

Mitchell will likely take some time to recover from the late-season injury, giving Ali a chance to earn reps alongside Henry and Justice Hill in the Ravens’ backfield.

Eric DeCosta talks about T.J. Tampa’s slide to the fourth round

The Baltimore Ravens made several value picks in the 2024 NFL Draft when using consensus big boards as a comparison. One of those picks was Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 130 overall pick in the fourth round when many expected him to …

The Baltimore Ravens made several value picks in the 2024 NFL Draft when using consensus big boards as a comparison. One of those picks was Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 130 overall pick in the fourth round when many expected him to come off the board as early as the second round. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked his thoughts on why Tampa fell so far in the draft.

“I can’t speak to other teams,” DeCosta said. “We really liked [T.J. Tampa], and honestly, we’ve doubled up on positions before – probably four or five times – and it’s worked out well for us. Honestly, we would have taken him a lot higher had we not taken Nate [Wiggins in the first round], I would have to say. So, he didn’t necessarily have a great 40 [-yard dash] time. He had a Big 12 Pro Day, and he did not run at the Combine, so that might have hurt him a little bit, but for us, we see the length, we see the size, we see the leaping ability [and] his ability to play the football. He’s a tough guy. He tackles well. We’re excited. We think he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder and play well.”

Tampa was the second cornerback selected by Baltimore in the draft after taking Clemson’s Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 overall pick in the first round.

Eric DeCosta talks about exceptional value from Ravens 2024 draft class

The Baltimore Ravens were able to draft a number of players much later than many expected them to come off the board during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Ravens selected cornerback, Nate Wiggins, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, wide receiver Devontez …

The Baltimore Ravens were able to draft a number of players much later than many expected them to come off the board during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Ravens selected cornerback, Nate Wiggins, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, wide receiver Devontez Walker, and cornerback T.J. Tampa later than their position on the consensus big board put together by Wide Left Football’s Arif Hasan.

Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta was asked if he felt the Ravens got exceptional value with their 2024 draft class.

“I do. I think that this was one year that the board – you’ll often hear me say, ‘Oh man, we had a chance; we missed out on some guys,’ but this year, we were patient,” DeCosta said. “And the board – more often than not, not in every single case – but the best player was at a position of need. So, we basically started just checking off boxes, working our way down through each pick. We were basically able to just cross them off, cross them off, cross them off with a really good player. So, from that standpoint, I think it was good. It was really good. I think the coaches and the scouts – we did a good job communicating. One of the things that we have is a dialogue throughout the Draft – this guy or that guy, what do we think and how does this guy fit? You might have two players at different positions, and they’re graded the same. And, you’re trying to figure out, how do you split hairs between these two players, and you do it with talking to your coaches. You do it looking at the analytics, but you also do it looking at the players that you might get in the next round or moving back. And what does that pool of players look like at those positions? This year, I think it worked out really well.”

Baltimore needs their rookie class to contribute early on after losing several quality players to free agency this offseason.