Tag: Miles Boykin

Ravens place two WRs on injured reserve, sign TE Eric Tomlinson

The Ravens placed two wide receivers on injured reserve and signed veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson

The Baltimore Ravens surprised a few people when they decided to keep seven wide receivers on their final 53-man roster. The talent of the players that they kept is unquestioned, it was still unexpected in some circles due to the fact that the team needed depth elsewhere.

Miles Boykin was the primary surprise, as he had been sidelined for most of training camp with a hamstring injury. It wouldn’t have been shocking if he had been placed on injured reserve outright or just released. However, Baltimore values him as a player and trusts his talent, so he remained with the team.

On Wednesday, the Ravens announced three roster moves, all involving players on the offensive side of the ball.

It’s unclear how much time both Boykin and Bateman will miss. Bateman is expected back sometime in September by the team, while not much has been said about Boykin’s injury.

Tomlinson was expected back with the team after he was cut on Tuesday. Head coach John Harbaugh said fellow tight end Nick Boyle isn’t ready to play yet, but he did return to practice on Wednesday, which is a good sign. Tomlinson could be on the roster only until Boyle is ready to play, or the team might just decide to carry four tight ends altogether.

Ravens trim roster to 53 players, officially announce 21 moves

The Ravens officially announced 21 roster moves, trimming their team to 53 players

The Baltimore Ravens trimmed their final roster to 53 players on Tuesday. There were multiple tough decisions that had to be made, and although they parted with many talented playmakers, their roster still consists of a great mix of depth who all have diverse skill sets and can play multiple positions.

Shortly after the 4 pm EST deadline to trim the roster, Baltimore officially announced the moves that they made to get their final team to the required number of players, which included plenty of transactions that made a lot of sense but also a few definite surprises that shocked quite a few people.

Some of the surprises include the Ravens letting go of OLB Pernell McPhee, DB Anthony Levine Sr., and DB Nigel Warrior. All three players could return to the team in some way, with McPhee and Levine being more likely to at this point, as Warrior has to clear through waivers. Another surprise was Miles Boykin making the final roster, as he hasn’t played much during camp and has struggled a bit during his first two NFL seasons.

The initial 53-man roster won’t be what the team likes in a few days. Players such as Rashod Bateman and Nick Boyle are likely to be placed on injured reserve, paving the way for others to be re-signed. Guys who were cut from other teams could peak the Ravens’ interest as well, which could spark another move. There is still a bit of roster construction to do, but overall Baltimore has a very good initial team.

Bleacher Report says Ravens should propose trade involving young WR

Bleacher Report says the Ravens should propose a trade involving one of their talented young receivers

When fully healthy, the Baltimore Ravens have a plethora of talent at the wide receiver position. However, with cut down day quickly approaching, the team will most likely have to part with some talented playmakers.

One of the wideouts who could end up on the outside looking in is Miles Boykin. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report named one trade that each NFL team should propose ahead of the 2021 season, and he said that Baltimore should propose trading Boykin to the Atlanta Falcons for a Day 3 pick. When explaining his choice, Gagnon mentioned that the former Notre Dame star still has the potential to grow into a role with the right team.

“With Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman joining Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay on the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver depth chart, there might not be much room left for Boykin. But the 2019 third-round pick still has the skill set to grow into a significant role with the right team, and Atlanta could see him as a potential replacement for Jones at the X receiver spot.”

Gagnon also mentions that Baltimore probably wouldn’t get a huge haul for Boykin due to the fact that he hasn’t produced at a high level so far.

“The payoff wouldn’t be gigantic for the Ravens because Boykin hasn’t put up big numbers early in his career, but since the 24-year-old is a potential cut candidate anyway, a middle-round draft pick might suffice.”

With Boykin seemingly unlikely to make the Ravens’ final 53-man roster, finding a trade partner to get some compensation back for him makes sense. Atlanta seems like a viable trade destination, and it would make sense if the two teams discussed a deal surrounding Boykin in a low risk, high reward move for both teams.

Ravens’ wide receivers impress during Thursday’s practice

Ravens’ wide receivers impress during Thursday’s practice

The Baltimore Ravens have been working through plenty of injuries over the course of the first few weeks of 2021 training camp. While the team is hoping to get healthy sooner rather than later, guys sitting out have given other players opportunities to step up and make a name for themselves.

On Thursday, Baltimore was missing wide receivers Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin and Deon Cain due to injuries. That provided the chance for players such as Sammy Watkins, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace to impress during reps.

Even though there were multiple deflections that resulted in interceptions, it’s encouraging to see players stepping up in the absence of so many receivers. Other guys who made big plays on Thursday included Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington, and Kristian Welch, with Lamar Jackson also having a good day of practice himself. The Ravens will play their first preseason game on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints, where a lot of guys will look to make a big impact as they try to earn a roster spot.

8 players to watch during Ravens’ Week 1 preseason game vs. Saints

8 players to watch during Ravens’ Week 1 preseason game vs. Saints

The Baltimore Ravens will soon have a great chance to see how some of their practice standouts will perform in live game action. The team will face the New Orleans Saints on Saturday in their first preseason game of the 2021 season, which is another step to figuring out who will make Baltimore’s 53-man roster.

There will be plenty of players to keep an eye on over the course of the preseason, especially those who are on the roster bubble. Through a few weeks of training camp practices there have been those who have helped their stock and those who have hurt it.

Let’s dive into eight players to keep an eye on during the Ravens’ Saturday preseason game against New Orleans.

Injuries becoming huge factor at Ravens training camp

Injuries becoming huge factor at Ravens training camp

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their 2021 training camp in late-July with high hopes for what their team could accomplish before the start of the regular season. While they’ve seen plenty of positive developments from a number of their players, a major storyline is beginning to overshadow some of the other things that have happened at camp so far.

Football is a physical sport that will result in injuries for every team. However, Baltimore has dealt with an onslaught of injuries ever since practice began, as through early-August they’ve seen a growing list of players go down with ailments.

Some of the players to suffer and injury during practice and miss time include wide receivers Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Rashod Bateman and Deon Cain, offensive linemen Kevin Zeitler and Bradley Bozeman, as well as defensive backs Jimmy Smith and Nigel Warrior. That doesn’t even include players who missed time with COVID related absences in quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Gus Edwards.

Despite the injuries so far, luckily none of them have been season-ending. Most of them are regarded as minor, but there are a few such as with Bateman and Smith that might take a bit longer to heal.

One of the reasons why so many Ravens going down early in training camp is a big deal is because of the reps that injuries cost players. For roster hopefuls such as Miles Boykin, Deon Cain and Nigel Warrior, they’re losing out on snaps that are now being given to their competition. While Boykin has begun camp a bit slow, Cain and Warrior were off to great starts, but missing enough time could keep them on the outside looking in.

Another big thing to look at when it comes to so many players being out of practice is continuity. For example, on the offensive line Baltimore has had to use many different combinations and move guys around, something that can be problematic early on once it’s actually time to have a one specific group play together long-term and establish chemistry. With Zeitler and Bozeman being out, as well as Ronnie Stanley slowly coming back from an injury, it will be important for the starting group of linemen to get familiar with each other as quickly as possible.

It’s been unfortunate how many injuries the Ravens have had to deal with since they’ve opened training camp. A big priority for them is getting their injured players back at full strength, but in the meantime, they do have plenty of depth to work through the remainder of training camp, the preseason, and even the regular season if need be.

Should the Ravens go after N’Keal Harry?

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of talent at the wide receiver position. Should they make a move for N’Keal Harry?

The Baltimore Ravens made it a point to revamp their wide receiver room during the 2021 offseason. They added Sammy Watkins in free agency while also drafting both Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. However, could Baltimore look to add yet another pass catcher to their already improved receiver group?

Jamal Tooson, the agent of New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry, released a statement on Tuesday requesting a trade on behalf of his client. Tooson noted that 86 targets through two seasons have not been up to the expectations that the wide receiver and the organization had when he was drafted two years ago.

With New England having the up-and-coming Jakobi Meyers, along with free agent additions Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, there might not be a lot of opportunity for Harry in a Patriots uniform. With that being said, should the Ravens pursue the disgruntled wide receiver?

In short, the answer is no. After being selected with the No. 32 overall pick, Harry has caught 45 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been nearly the player that New England expected when they drafted him, and that comes down to factors including injuries and an overall lack of development.

Harry wouldn’t cost nearly as much in draft capital (and salary) as a player such as WR Julio Jones, who was traded this offseason. But even so, it seems Harry’s path in the NFL has been similar to that of Ravens WR Miles Boykin — a big-bodied pass catcher who hasn’t quite been able to put it all together.

Despite all of the reasons why a potential move for Harry doesn’t make sense for Baltimore, it is certainly possible that the team could entertain the idea of trading for him. He was extremely productive at Arizona State in contested-catch situations and has a skill set that could be maximized with the right coaching and opportunity. Coaches such as Tee Martin and Keith Williams could be just the right people to help Harry unlock his full potential.

While Harry has time to turn things around after a slow start to his NFL career, there just isn’t a lot of room on the Ravens roster for him. The additions of Watkins, Bateman, and Wallace — combined with the presence of players such as Boykin, Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay and James Proche — make it hard for Harry to even be guaranteed a roster spot, let alone be provided with plenty of opportunities.

With extremely deep offense, Ravens might have to make some difficult decisions

The Baltimore Ravens brought in plenty of playmakers to round out their offense. However, they could have to make some tough decisions

The Baltimore Ravens have always been a team that values depth at as many positions as possible. Having so much depth is a good problem to have, but sometimes it can create roster crunches that turn into tough decisions.

In 2021, Baltimore might have put together one of the deepest rosters they’ve ever had. The team only has a few minor needs, and even those don’t necessarily have to be addressed, as the players already on the roster can make those holes seem smaller than they actually are if they perform at a high level.

On the offensive side of the ball in particular, the Ravens made sure to add plenty of talented playmakers that can not only play at a high level, but also fit their style of play. Both the additions and the players already on the roster have bought into Baltimore’s style of offense, which is extremely important.

When looking at how deep each position on the offense actually is, one would be hard pressed to find any huge weaknesses. The team has three quality young quarterbacks, including a star in Lamar Jackson. They have three great young running backs as well that compliment each other while also bringing something different to the table than the other two.

Where the offseason additions begin to be seen is at the wide receiver position, where the team added Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace to compliment players such as Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay. At tight end, the team has a plethora of options behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle, and the offensive line saw a boost with the acquisitions of Kevin Zeitler, Alejandro Villanueva and Ben Cleveland, as they’ll team up with Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman and others.

Having all of that depth is a good thing for the Ravens, but once it’s time for the team to trim their roster to 53 players, it could result in a few difficult roster decisions for Baltimore. At quarterback, the team might have to choose between Tyler Huntley and Trace McSorley if they need an extra roster space. Wide receivers Miles Boykin and James Proche seem like they’re going to be fighting over one roster spot. At tight end, there are a plethora of options who could try to secure the third tight end spot in Jacob Breeland, Eli Wolf, Eric Tomlinson, Josh Oliver, and others. Even on the offensive line, there will be training camp battles to determine multiple positions, and players like Ben Bredeson, Ben Powers, Tyre Phillips and more will have their hands full competing for both starting spots and roster spots.

Overall, the Ravens will go into the 2021 season with a well-rounded roster that can sustain good play even in the event of injuries. However, the team will most likely have to let some talented players go once it’s time to cut their roster down for the regular season.

 

Ravens WR Tylan Wallace signs rookie contract

The Baltimore Ravens now have five of their eight rookies from their 2021 draft class under contract, as Tylan Wallace inked his rookie deal

After signing half of their 2021 NFL draft class to contracts a few days ago, the Baltimore Ravens were able to secure another one of their picks as wide receiver Tylan Wallace signed his rookie contract on Friday morning before the first day of 2021 rookie minicamp.

When asked about what signing his deal meant to him, Wallace took a step back and reflected on his journey.

Wallace was a fourth-round selection for Baltimore in the 2021 draft. The former Oklahoma State wideout put up 205 receptions for 3,434 yards and 26 touchdowns during his four years in college. He’ll look to make an early impact as another weapon for Lamar Jackson, but he could be looking at an uphill battle for meaningful snaps. He’ll have to compete with Rashod Bateman, Sammy Watkins, and potentially even Miles Boykin for targets on the outside, where he’s projected to play.

With Wallace signing his rookie deal, the Ravens now have five of their eight 2021 rookies under contract, with edge defender Odafe Oweh, guard Ben Cleveland, and defensive back Brandon Stephens as the only players from Baltimore’s 2021 draft class yet to sign.

How much will Ravens’ rookie WRs contribute in 2021?

The Baltimore Ravens drafted two pass catchers during the 2021 draft in Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. How much will they contribute?

The Baltimore Ravens drafted two phenominal wide receivers in Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. The team spend a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick respectively on the two, so they will most likely look for the pair to contribute in some way during the 2021 season. However, it’s fair to ask just how much both will see the field in their rookie seasons.

It’s rather safe to say that Bateman will be asked to do more than Wallace on day one. There’s a reason that Baltimore spent the 27th overall selection on Bateman, and he should see immediate snaps in the Ravens’ offense. He will most likely see the majority of his snaps on the outside, as Baltimore already has plenty of slot options on their roster and Bateman can be extremely physical and aggressive while catching the football. He will also probably be asked to use his sharp route running to get open over the middle of the field, where quarterback Lamar Jackson has favored throwing the football so far during his young career.

For Wallace, his situation is a bit different. There will certainly be times where he’ll be on the field and contributing, but his playing time might be a bit harder to come by. The Ravens now have an extremely deep group at wide receiver, and although Wallace projects as an outside threat, he’ll be competing with the likes of Bateman, Sammy Watkins, and even potentially Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin for those snaps.

There’s no doubt that Wallace has the ability to step up and make an impact if a receiver goes down with an injury, but Baltimore seemingly favors veterans over rookies unless there’s a major hole or they were a high draft selection, so in his first year Wallace might be overlooked at times for other players. Even Devin Duvernay or James Proche could get snaps over him due to seniority, although both of them project as slot players, not outside receivers.

All in all, the Ravens selected two very talented pass catchers who should be a big part of what the organization does on offense for a very long time. However during their rookie seasons, they could be left on the sideline in some situations in favor of veterans. That’s not to say either can’t make a huge impact, and while Bateman will probably see more action out of the gate than Wallace, both will have roles that they can fill nicely.