Tag: Odafe Oweh

Penn State football 2021 NFL draft player signing tracker

How much are former Penn State players making on their rookie contracts in the NFL in 2021?

Penn State managed to send two players through the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, and one more in the second round. When all was said and done, a total of six Penn State players ended up hearing their names announced as NFL draft picks during the course of the 2021 NFL draft. But now that the draft is in the books, these players are already getting to work with their new NFL teams.

So, what now for these former Nittany Lions like linebacker Micah Parsons and tight end Pat Freiermuth? Signing those first NFL contracts! As is typical, the later-round draft picks are easier and quicker to sign their NFL contracts, as the higher draft picks tend to have a little more negotiating power even if rookie contracts can be relatively standard.

We’ll keep tabs on all of the draft pick contracts to be signed this year by Penn State players who have become NFL rookies in 2021, and we will update this information as needed when more information does become available. Contract details used here are obtained through the terrific sports contract resources available from Spotrac.

Watch: Ravens’ rookies try to name artists from the 90’s

The Baltimore Ravens drafted eight rookies in the 2021 draft. The team posted a video of the draft class trying to name artists from the ’90s

The Baltimore Ravens selected eight players in the 2021 NFL draft. Each of the prospects will be expected to make a big impact on the football field, but Baltimore also drafted them because of their off-field fit.

After releasing a video a few days ago of their 2021 class trying to name items from the ’90s, the team released another compilation of their rookies attempting to name ’90s bands.

The group tries to name Destiny’s Child, the Backstreet Boys, and even Nelly, but while rookies like Odafe Oweh were able to name what he saw with ease, others struggled. The entire Ravens 2021 draft class was born between 1997 and 1999, so seeing if they knew some of these bands from the ’90s was a fun way for fans to get a glimpse into the players’ lives.

Baltimore has always been a team that prides themselves on having great personalities in their locker room. It seems like they hit more homeruns with their most recent draft class, and it seems like they’ll fit in just fine with their new Ravens teammates.

Ravens’ free agent pass rushing options beginning to dwindle

The Baltimore Ravens could look to sign a veteran pass rusher in free agency. However, their options are slowly dwindling

The Baltimore Ravens lost a good amount of production from the edge position during the 2021 offseason. The team saw Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward leave in free agency, creating a huge need at pass rusher.

While the Ravens did end up re-signing edge defenders Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee, along with draft Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes, Baltimore doesn’t have a ton of pass rushing juice from the position right now. Even throwing in third-year edge Jaylon Ferguson doesn’t do much to ease some of the concerns that many have felt about the Ravens’ pass rush heading into the season.

Baltimore has explored outside options to help their ability to get to the quarterback, including visiting with former Colts edge rusher Justin Houston. However, the veteran options are slowly dwindling as players begin to find new homes after the 2021 NFL draft. Former Washington Football Team edge defender Ryan Kerrigan is the latest pass rusher to go off of the board, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CO-gn2jL0kq/

With Kerrigan now officially off of the market, that leaves the Ravens with only a few veteran pass rusher options remaining, with the biggest names including Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Olivier Vernon. Baltimore could opt to not sign an outside free agent and roll with who they already have, especially if they feel confident that players like Bowser, Ferguson, and Oweh can provide better production than some people anticipate.

When looking at the statistics for the edge defenders that the Ravens currently have on their roster, the combination of Bowser, McPhee, and Ferguson have combined for 52 sacks in 15 seasons between the three. For comparison, Houston has 97.5 sacks in his 10 year career. Oweh and Hayes don’t factor into the equation because they both haven’t played in and NFL game.

Overall, the Ravens have plenty of talent at the edge position. However, despite having players who can set the edge and drop back into coverage, right now it doesn’t seem like the team has any pure pass rushers who can be 10-12 sack players. That’s not to say that the pass rushers currently on Baltimore’s roster can’t develop into a sack artist with increased snaps, but the safer option could be to add a veteran who has proven that they can get to the quarterback consistently.

Ravens reportedly had Odafe Oweh and Gregory Rousseau ‘similarly-graded’ on draft board

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Odafe Oweh with the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. However, the team also liked Gregory Rousseau

The Baltimore Ravens made edge rusher Odafe Oweh one of their two first round picks in the 2021 draft, with the other being wide receiver Rashod Bateman. The organization seemingly fell in love with Oweh’s potential, and will hope to develop him into the next star pass rusher to put on a Baltimore uniform.

It was no secret that the Ravens needed pass rushing help after seeing Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward depart in 2021 free agency leaving a massive void at the edge defender position. While the team did re-sign Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee to go along with third year player Jaylon Ferguson, they needed more after losing so much production.

That’s where Oweh comes in. He should likely get a rather hefty amount of snaps out of the gate as the team looks to see what they have in him. However, Oweh wasn’t the only developmental pass rusher that Baltimore had their eye on in the draft. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reported that the Ravens also liked University of Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau and had him high on their board, and he was similarly rated to Oweh.

“All indications are that the Ravens prioritized coming out of the first round with a pass rusher and they considered Rousseau and Oweh, who were similarly-graded players on their board, at 27. They ultimately decided on Bateman, believing that he would have been taken before they were on the clock again at 31, and rolling the dice that either Rousseau or Oweh would still be there.”

It seems like Baltimore felt that pass rusher was a critical need for them, so they prioritized drafting one in the first round. They figured that Bateman would get scooped up before they had a chance to pick again at No. 31, so they took the wide receiver while hoping that either Oweh or Rousseau would make it to their second first-round pick.

Luckily for the Ravens, although Rousseau was taken by the Buffalo Bills with the 30th overall pick, Oweh fell into their laps at No. 31. Rousseau accumulated 15.5 sacks in 2019, but is relatively new to the edge position, playing wide receiver and safety before transitioning to the defensive line full time.

Oweh and Rousseau would have both been good options at No. 31, and it seems like Baltimore would have been fine taking either one of them. Oweh was the player that ended up falling, and the Ravens will look to develop him into a star.

Ravens could see immediate contributions from more rookies than usual in 2021

The Baltimore Ravens can value experience when it comes to handing out snaps. However, the 2021 rookies could contribute more than usual

The Baltimore Ravens selected eight players in the 2021 NFL draft. They filled many of their needs while also drafting quality prospects, adding up to a solid overall draft haul for the team.

Despite seemingly having great draft classes most years, something that has been a theme in recent years for Baltimore is the organization not playing many of their rookies unless they were an extremely high draft pick or play well enough to the point where the coaches can’t keep them off of the field.

For example, in 2020 the Ravens got major contributions from first-round pick Patrick Queen and second-round pick J.K. Dobbins, but even for Dobbins, he had to earn his way onto the field as he only had 25 carries through his first six weeks of the season. Other rookies such as Justin Madubuike, Malik Harrison, Devin Duvernay, and James Proche made some impact, but didn’t see the field nearly as much as some would have liked.

Despite Baltimore being a bit inconsistent when it comes to giving rookies playing time, within the Ravens’ 2021 draft class there is the potential to have more first-year contributors than usual. First-round pick Rashod Bateman should see plenty of snaps early as a main pass catching weapon for Lamar Jackson, while fellow first rounder Odafe Oweh will look to replace some of the edge rusher production that Baltimore lost in the offseason.

Other Ravens rookies who could make big impacts during their first year are guard Ben Cleveland, edge rusher Daelin Hayes, and fullback/tight end Ben Mason. All three players will be auditioning for big roles on the team from Day 1, and if they impress over the course of both training camp and the preseason, each could earn a massive amount of snaps.

Players such as defensive back Brandon Stephens, wide receiver Tylan Wallace, and cornerback Shaun Wade all have the talent and the ability to help Baltimore in their first season, but the positions they play are all extremely deep, so it could be hard for them to find playing time early, especially being mid-round draft picks. That’s not to say they won’t contribute during their rookie year, but their paths might be a bit steeper than some of their fellow teammates’.

The Ravens value experience and production at the NFL level when it comes to giving out snaps. That’s not to say they completely neglect rookies or other young players who don’t have as much time playing in the league, but it seems like sometimes Baltimore clearly favors veterans as opposed to younger players. That’s not a bad strategy to have, but in most cases talent is talent, regardless of age. The Ravens’ 2021 draft class has plenty of skill, and there could be more immediate contributions from them as opposed to years prior with different Baltimore draft classes.

Odafe Oweh says he can feel himself getting better during rookie minicamp

The Baltimore Ravens selected edge Odafe Oweh in the first round of the 2021 draft. He feels himself getting better during rookie minicamp

The Baltimore Ravens made edge rusher Odafe Oweh their second first-round pick of the 2021 NFL draft. Baltimore is high on Oweh’s ability to develop into an all-around player at the next level, as he was able to put together an amazing performance at Penn State’s Pro Day.

Oweh has been on the field at the Ravens’ rookie minicamp as he gets his first taste of life in the NFL. When speaking to the Baltimore media, he said that he can feel himself getting better and that he loves the way that things are going right now.

In college, Oweh displayed his great physical traits but never had a ton of production to show for it. While he did a good job defending against the run and being an all-around player, he only accumulated seven sacks in three years with the Nittany Lions, including zero in his final collegiate season in 2020.

Oweh will be relied upon in a big way by the Ravens in 2021. The team lost three edge rushers in free agency, so he’ll be one of many players asked to make up that production. He has plenty of room to grow, and hopefully he’s able to do a lot of developing during his rookie season.

Watch: Ravens’ 2021 draft class takes the field in Baltimore for first time at rookie minicamp

The Baltimore Ravens began their 2021 rookie minicamp on Friday. The team posted clips of their rookies on social media going through drills

The Baltimore Ravens were able to secure an extremely solid draft class in 2021, selecting eight talented players. The team is excited about what each prospect can bring to the organization, and will look to develop them into quality contributors.

Rookie minicamp for Baltimore began on Friday, and many first year players were seen taking the field in a Ravens uniform for the first time. Baltimore posted pictures and videos on their social media accounts showing their newest young prospects preparing for their first NFL minicamp.

Baltimore also posted some of their rookies going through drills and getting coached up.

The Ravens’ rookies will look to have a strong remainder of minicamp as they learn the playbook and get their feet under them.

Did the Ravens improve their roster enough during 2021 draft?

The Baltimore Ravens addressed multiple needs during the 2021 NFL draft. However, did they improve their roster enough?

As the Baltimore Ravens watched the 2021 NFL draft wind down, they came away confident that they had put together a great group of rookies who could come in and play quality football at the highest level. A big part of that was not only did they draft quality football players, but they also filled plenty of holes on their roster. However, did they improve their roster enough to be seen as true contenders for a Super Bowl?

In short, the answer is yes. No team is able to fill every single need with a high quality player unless they get extremely lucky with development, drafting, and free agency bargains. With Baltimore, they addressed many of their holes that were issues heading into the draft, and have already shown a willingness to round out their roster with free agents at the needs that they didn’t look at during the draft.

The Ravens took two wide receivers in Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace to add more talented weapons for Lamar Jackson. They drafted two edge defenders in Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes to try to offset the losses of Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward. They selected a guard to shore up the interior of their offensive line in Ben Cleveland, while also taking a do it all H-back in Ben Mason. The team also made sure to shore up their secondary by taking both Brandon Stephens and Shaun Wade.

That draft haul for Baltimore signifies an effort to put the best possible roster on the field in Week 1 of the 2021 season. However, the Ravens didn’t select an offensive tackle or a defensive lineman, sparking a bit of panic as to how they planned to fill out those positions. While the team hasn’t addressed the defensive line (and honestly doesn’t need to until the 2022 draft), Baltimore signed tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who should slot into the right tackle spot that so desperately needed a starter after the departure of Brown.

The draft is a way to fill holes while also leaving room to improve a roster in the remaining waves of free agency. The Ravens used that strategy to perfection, and still could use another veteran edge rusher to truly have minimal needs remaining to address. While Baltimore didn’t plug up every single hole on their roster during the 2021 draft, they improved their team and added enough talent to keep them in the Super Bowl contenders category.

Ravens ranked at No. 5 in Touchdown Wire’s post-draft power rankings

The Baltimore Ravens had a great 2021 NFL draft. Touchdown Wire ranks them at No. 5 in their post-draft power rankings

The Baltimore Ravens improved their team during the draft, filling out holes on their roster while also getting quality playmakers. The organization now boasts a very well balanced roster that can go toe to toe with any team in the league.

Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire put together post-draft power rankings of all 32 NFL teams, and he felt like Baltimore has what it takes to compete for a Super Bowl, giving the Ravens the No. 5 spot. He pointed to Baltimore’s acquisition of two quality wide receivers as a reason why he gave the Ravens a high ranking.

“Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was quite miffed in his pre-draft presser when it was presented to him by the media that his receiver group might be less than stellar. But the proof is in the picking, and Baltimore took two receivers with starting potential, which says it all. Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman gives the Ravens a contested-catch machine they haven’t had since Anquan Boldin (which is also the last time they won a Super Bowl), and fourth-round target Tylan Wallace from Oklahoma State is a speed slot receiver who could produce early.”

Farrar also talks about a few more of Baltimore’s 2021 selections, namely edge defender Odafe Oweh and guard Ben Cleveland.

“First-round edge rusher Odafe Oweh from Penn State could be a nice combination of Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue, the two pass rushers Baltimore lost in free agency, and if you have 6-foot-6, 343-pound guard Ben Cleveland blocking gap with free-agent acquisition Kevin Zeitler, defenses are going to make business decisions.”

In his rankings, Farrar ranked the Ravens ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and even the Kansas City Chiefs. The only two AFC teams that he ranks higher than Baltimore are the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 3 and the Buffalo Bills at the No. 2 spot. There are certainly plenty of talented teams in the NFL, and the Ravens are among the cream of the crop.

Watch: Ravens’ rookies react to getting drafted

The Baltimore Ravens selected eight great players in the 2021 draft. Watch the memorable moments that they shared with the organization

The Baltimore Ravens drafted eight players during the 2021 draft that they hope can come in and make immediate contributions while also continuing to grow. Not only did Baltimore think that they can have a positive impact on the field, but off of it as well.

Each player that the Ravens selected shared a special call with members of the organization including general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh. Those moments were documented in multiple places, and each one is plenty heartwarming.

Here are some of Baltimore’s draft picks finding out that they were members of the Ravens’ organization and their dream of playing in the NFL had come true.

WR Rashod Bateman:

Edge Odafe Oweh:

DB Brandon Stephens:

WR Tylan Wallace:

Edge Daelin Hayes:

Baltimore also released a video of every draft call that they made over the course of the 2021 draft in a 10 minute video that can be watched here.