Tag: Kyu Blu Kelly

Ravens’ 2023 rookie class ranked middle of the pack among all 32 teams

Baltimore Ravens’ 2023 rookie class ranked 17th among all 32 teams

The first season for the 2023 NFL rookie class is now in the books.

Using one year of data, CBS Sport’s Chris Trapasso ranked all 32 team’s draft classes.

The Baltimore Ravens landed at No. 17, with first-round wide receiver Zay Flowers listed as the sole Year 1 hit.

“Flowers made noticeable contributions to the Ravens boosted passing attack,” Trapasso wrote. “His 21 missed tackles forced was fourth among all receivers in football in 2023. After his selection in the first round, Baltimore, with an uncharacteristically small class, didn’t get much impact, and a fifth-round pick, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, didn’t even make the team out of camp.”

Several players from the 2023 class could be in line for expanded roles this season. Most noticeably, third-round pick Trenton Simpson will likely replace free agent Patrick Queen as an inside linebacker next to Roquan Smith. Simpson flashed his speed and playmaking ability against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the regular season.

Seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees could be in line to compete for a starting spot as both right guard Kevin Zeitler and left guard John Simpson are set to hit free agency. Baltimore traded back into the seventh round to select Vorhees after he slid down the board due to a torn ACL he suffered at the combine.

Sixth-round pick Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu could also compete for one of the guard positions, while fourth-round pick Tavius Robinson could be in line for a more significant workload at outside linebacker after notching one sack as a rookie.

Seahawks re-sign CB Lance Boykin to reserve/future contract

Naturally, the team’s first official transaction since they made Mike Macdonald their new head coach involves a cornerback.

In Baltimore they love their defensive backs just as they have in Seattle these last 15 years or so. Naturally, the team’s first official transaction since they made Mike Macdonald their new head coach involves a cornerback. According to Aaron Wilson, Seattle has re-signed cornerback Lance Boykin to a reserve/future contract.

Players who sign these type deals typically end up on the practice squad the following season. That’s also where Boykin spent most of the 2023 campaign. In the end, he only made it on the field for one regular season game, putting in 10 total snaps against the Giants.

Looking ahead, there’s not much of a path for Boykin to get more playing time unless it’s on special teams. The Seahawks had an obscenity of riches at corner this year, even deep enough to waive Kyu Blu Kelly, who was a superb fifth-round pick by the Ravens out of Stanford. He’s now with the Commanders.

After the season ended, the team signed seven other players to reserve/future deals. That list includes edge Levi Bell, wide receivers Easop Winston Jr. and Cody White, running back Bryant Koback, safety Jonathan Sutherland, tight end Tyler Mabry and local nose tackle Matthew Gotel.

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Commanders claim rookie CB Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers

Kelly was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Surprisingly, the Washington Commanders released veteran cornerback Danny Johnson on Wednesday. Washington made the move to claim rookie cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers from the Green Bay Packers.

The Commanders releasing Johnson isn’t necessarily the biggest surprise. Since signing with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Johnson has been released multiple times and spent time on the practice squad. However, he just signed a two-year extension in March after playing well down the stretch in 2022.

Johnson ends his time in Washington appearing in 66 games with eight starts. He recorded 96 tackles and one interception. Johnson also returned 38 kickoffs, averaging 22.5 yards per return.

The chance to land a young player like Kelly, who Washington liked in the pre-draft process last offseason, was an opportunity the Commanders couldn’t afford to pass up. The 6-foot-0, 193-pounder from Stanford was a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft but was waived during final cuts in August.

Kelly was claimed by Seattle, where he appeared in five games before being waived again on Nov. 11. That’s when the Packers claimed him, and he appeared in one game for Green Bay. In total, the rookie has appeared in six games this season but has played only two defensive snaps. Most of his action came on special teams.

During his time at Stanford, Kelly was a three-year starter and two-time second-team All-Pac 12 selection.

The Commanders have a connection to Kelly. Quarterbacks coach Tavita. Pritchard was with Kelly for all four of his seasons at Stanford, where he served as the offensive coordinator.

According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the Los Angeles Rams — Washington’s opponent this week — tried to claim on two different occasions this season.

Kelly’s father, Brian, a former second-round pick out of USC in 1998, played 11 NFL seasons, including 10 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The elder Kelly had 22 interceptions during his NFL career and also won a Super Bowl.

Rams once again tried to claim rookie CB Kyu Blu Kelly and failed

For the second time this season, the Rams tried to claim Kyu Blu Kelly, and for the second time, he went to another team

The Los Angeles Rams must really like what rookie cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly brings to the table because for the second time this season, they attempted to claim him off waivers. And for the second time, they were beaten out by another team due to the waiver order.

According to Mike Garafolo, the Rams put in a claim for Kelly, but because the Commanders were higher in the waiver order due to their worse record, they were awarded the corner. The Rams also tried to claim him in November after the Seahawks cut him but that time, the Packers had higher priority so he went to Green Bay.

Kelly is a fifth-round rookie who was drafted 157th overall by Seattle but has now been cut by two teams in his first season in the NFL. The Rams have decent depth at cornerback but with Duke Shelley on injured reserve, perhaps they wanted some additional help behind the starters.

The Rams, of course, will face the Commanders on Sunday afternoon, but it’s unlikely Kelly is going to play on defense in that game. Although, with Washington ranking last in the NFL against the pass, perhaps Kelly will get thrown into the mix right away.

Seahawks 53-man roster tracker: QB, LB elevated from practice squad

Our 53-man roster tracker is updated.

The Seattle Seahawks announced a couple of practice squad elevations on Saturday ahead of today’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Recently re-signed third-string quarterback Sean Mannion has been elevated as a contingency in case starter Geno Smith is unable to play. Smith is listed as questionable with elbow and groin injuries. The Seahawks also elevated linebacker Patrick O’Connell, who gives them some extra depth in case Jordyn Brooks is inactive – he is also listed as questionable.

Here’s the team’s updated 53-man roster by jersey number (Dec. 10).

Packers claim CB Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers from Seahawks

The Packers claimed CB Kyu Blu Kelly, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, off waivers from the Seahawks.

The Green Bay Packers claimed cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly off of waivers from the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Kelly was a fifth-round pick out of Stanford by the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He was waived by the Ravens at final roster cutdowns in August and claimed by the Seahawks. Over five games in 2023, Kelly played 38 special teams snaps.

During the preseason, Kelly was on the field for 118 snaps from scrimmage. He produced six tackles, gave up six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets and had one penalty. The Ravens played him primarily outside at corner.

Kelly (6-0, 193) is 22 years old. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds (1.49-second 10-yard split), hit 36″ in the vertical leap and covered 10-11 in the broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine.

At Stanford, Kelly was a four-year starter and two-time All-Pac 12 pick who appeared in 38 games and produced three interceptions and 26 pass breakups. He was invited and participated in the Senior Bowl.

The corresponding roster move was releasing defensive back Innis Gaines. Kelly must pass a physical in Green Bay before he’s added to the 53-man roster officially, but a roster spot still needed to be opened beforehand.

Seahawks announce 4 roster moves going into Week 10 game

The Seattle Seahawks announced four roster moves on Saturday that will impact today’s game against the Washington Commanders.

The Seattle Seahawks announced four roster moves on Saturday that will impact today’s game against the Washington Commanders.

Here’s a quick review of yesterday’s transactions.

Seahawks 53-man roster tracker: Leonard Williams in, Cody Thompson out

Here’s the updated 53-man roster by jersey number going into tomorrow’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

The Seahawks are serious about making a deep postseason run this year. Just hours after their home win over the Browns, Seattle pulled off a trade that should help them get there. The front office has sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder to the Giants in exchange for Leonard Williams, one of the top interior pass rushers in the league.

To make room for Wiliams, the Seahawks have waived wide receiver Cody Thompson. Our roster tracker is now updated (Oct. 31).

Jim Nagy: Senior Bowl had fringe top 100 grade for Kyu Blu Kelly

Adding Kelly will provide even further depth for the Seahawks, either on defense or contributing on special teams. 

Well, this is certainly an interesting development. The Seattle Seahawks recently claimed cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, who was waived by the Baltimore Ravens. Interestingly, Kelly was drafted by the Ravens in the 5th round in the 2023 NFL draft – just this spring!

Essentially, the Seahawks have a bonus 5th round pick in Kelly. As we learn more about this young man, there is an interesting tidbit about his draft grade.

Seattle’s secondary is deep, but one or two injuries can change that in a hurry! Adding Kelly will provide even further depth for the Seahawks, either on defense or contributing on special teams.

One hallmark of the Legion of Boom was how deep it was, top to bottom. It is clear Seattle is trying to create a new L.O.B. for the next generation. Part of the equation is building up the depth.

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John Harbaugh, Josh McDaniels both wanted Seahawks waiver wire pickups

Both said they were hoping to stash those players on their respective practice squads.

The Seattle Seahawks were awarded two players off waivers yesterday. Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly was claimed from the Baltimore Ravens, who used a fifth-round draft pick on him only a few months ago. Also, linebacker Drake Thomas out of NC State was claimed off the Las Vegas Raiders, who really don’t seem to know what they’re doing at any level of this.

The back end of Baltimore’s defense will be fine without him, but Kelly makes what was already an obscenely deep and talented Seattle cornerback room even better. Some analysts believe this is the best corner room Pete Carroll has ever had. Meanwhile, Thomas gives the team some excruciatingly-needed extra depth at linebacker – arguably their greatest defensive need outside of screaming for somebody to send help at iDL.

Later in the day, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels commented, both saying they were hoping to stash those players on their respective practice squads.

Seattle’s roster as it stands heading into the season is not quite Super Bowl contender level, but it’s a whole lot better than average.

10 days to go!

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Seahawks 53-man roster tracker

Seahawks practice squad tracker