Tag: Shaun Wade

Grading the Shaun Wade trade for the Ravens

How did the Ravens do in their trade of Shaun Wade?

The Baltimore Ravens made a somewhat surprising move on Thursday, trading rookie cornerback Shaun Wade to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round selection and a 2023 fifth-round selection. Wade gets a fresh start in New England, while Baltimore gets compensation for a player who seemingly wouldn’t have made their 53-man roster.

When looking at the deal, the Ravens did end up getting back a pick in the round that Wade was selected in. Throwing in a seventh-round selection of top of that doesn’t make it a bad deal at all for Baltimore. However, it is disappointing to see the team move so quickly off of a promising young player that they drafted, as Wade had only been with the team for a few months.

Trading Wade feels like it had more to do with the depth that the Ravens have in their secondary as opposed to what the rookie didn’t or couldn’t do. The former Ohio State University star was fighting for a roster spot with talented players such as Chris Westry, Nigel Warrior, Ar’Darius Washington and Geno Stone, which most likely meant that multiple defensive backs wouldn’t make the team that probably deserved to.

Baltimore made a tough decision to part with Wade. He has all of the tools to become a great football player at the NFL level, so it’s unfortunate that they traded away a guy that they invested in less than six months ago. However, netting some draft capital in return is a plus, and if the Ravens were going to let him go anyway, it was a decent overall haul.

Grade: B

Ravens reportedly trade rookie fifth-round pick to Patriots

The Ravens traded a member of their 2021 draft class to the Patriots

The Baltimore Ravens have multiple talented playmakers in their secondary. Cut down day always brings multiple tough decisions, but with many players stepping up during the preseason, the team knew that the couldn’t keep everyone on their opening day roster.

On Thursday, Baltimore made one of those tough decisions, sending rookie defensive back Shaun Wade to the New England Patriots in return for multiple draft selections.

Wade was considered a steal by many when the Ravens selected him in the fifth round (160th overall) in the 2021 draft. He was labeled as a second-round or even in some cases a first-round talent after a phenominal 2019 season at Ohio State University , but decided to return to school in 2020, where he struggled mightily and tanked his draft stock.

The rookie was competing with defensive backs such as Chris Westry, Nigel Warrior, Ar’Darius Washington and Geno Stone for a roster spot. The trade of Wade seemingly indicates that he wasn’t going to make the 53-man roster, and Baltimore did a good job of finding a trade partner to get back compensation for him instead of losing a talented player for nothing, as he was unlikely to pass through waivers after getting released.

Report: Patriots closing in on deal to trade for Ravens rookie CB Shaun Wade

The Patriots add some much-needed cornerback depth.

The New England Patriots are close to a deal to trade for Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Shaun Wade, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Ravens drafted Wade in the fifth round this year.

New Engalnd has been ailing at the cornerback position where Stephon Gilmore has been on the physically unable to perform list and Jonathan Jones appeared to suffered an injury in practice on Thursday. If Jones misses time, he would leave the depth chart with J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams, Michael Jackson and Myles Bryant (who has spent more time at safety this year) along with a handful of other unproven players.

Wade has put together an impressive preseason, with 25 coverage snaps and a 0.0 quarterback rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus. He has also logged an interception.

Wade had an impressive season with Ohio State in 2019 but wasn’t as sharp in 2020. The 6-foot-1 cornerback played predominantly in the slot for the Buckeyes after struggling enormously on the outside, particularly against NFL-bound receivers.

“Wade needs to get his fundamentals right and find the right position and scheme fit in order to be more than an average backup in the league,” NFL.com’s Lance Zuerlein wrote.

It seems the Patriots are prepared to help Wade do the work.

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Stock up, stock down from Ravens’ 17-14 preseason win over Saints

Stock up, stock down from Ravens’ 17-14 preseason win over Saints

The Baltimore Ravens took down the New Orleans Saints in their opening game of the 2021 preseason by the score of 17-14. There were a lot of takeaways from the game on all three sides of the ball for Baltimore, both good and bad.

Plenty of players either increased or decreased their stock based off of their performance on Saturday night. Many showed why they deserved a roster spot, while other faltered in live game action.

We take a look at which Ravens made their stock go up and who saw their stock fall in the preseason opener.

Ravens could have tough decisions to make at the CB position

Ravens could have tough decisions to make at the CB position

The Baltimore Ravens are a team that has been known for their strong secondary over the course of their franchise history. From former ballhawks like Ed Reed and Chris McAlister to current players such as Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith, opposing teams have had to account for years of talent at the position.

Heading into the 2021 season, Baltimore has plenty of players ready to contribute and make an impact in their secondary. However, that could mean that the team will have to make some tough decisions when it’s time to cut the roster down to 53 players.

In reality, the Ravens will most likely keep six cornerbacks on their roster. However, that number could fluctuate in either direction based off of needs or injuries elsewhere. If Baltimore does decide to keep six corners, it would make sense for those six to be Humphrey, Smith, Marcus Peters, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett and Shaun Wade.

Those six are extremely talented players, but if no other cornerback makes the roster, it would mean that other roster candidates such as Davontae Harris, Khalil Dorsey, Chris Westry and others would be on the outside looking in. Harris and Dorsey both showed flashes with Baltimore in 2020, while Westry is an intriguing young player.

Even if the Ravens do have to part with a few talented players during cut day, they should be able to add a few cornerbacks with potential to their practice squad. Baltimore has not been fortunate over the last few seasons with injuries in their secondary, but hopefully 2021 will bring much more good fortune and the team will stay flush with healthy talent at the cornerback position.

John Harbaugh ‘looking forward’ to competition at cornerback

The Baltimore Ravens are set to have a huge training camp battle at cornerback. John Harbaugh says he’s looking forward to it

The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of depth at multiple different positions in 2021. Depth is always a good thing, but it can cause some tough decisions to have to be made when it’s time to cut the roster down to 53 players.

One of the deepest positions on Baltimore’s roster right now is cornerback. They have a mix of top-end talent as well as promising young guys, which makes their secondary dangerous. When asked about the heated competition that will ensue over the next couple of weeks, head coach John Harbaugh said that he’s “looking forward” to it.

“I think that’s a good term – heated. [I expect it to be] absolutely heated. I think [pass game coordinator/secondary] Coach [Chris] Hewitt and [defensive backs] Coach [D’Anton] Lynn have done a tremendous job with those guys throughout the course of the whole offseason, and those guys have responded very well. So, I’m looking forward to that competition that you’re talking about in training camp. It’s a very talented group, and the best players will be the guys that play the best. I can’t wait to watch it play out.”

It seems like the Ravens already have six cornerbacks who are locks to make their roster in Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett, and Shaun Wade. However, if the team does decide to keep only six at the position, that would mean talent players like Davontae Harris, Iman Marshall, Khalil Dorsey and other would be on the outside looking in.

As training camp and the preseason progress, certain players will begin to separate themselves from others as they fight for roster spots. However, with Baltimore already looking like they have their top six cornerbacks, it could be an uphill but fierce battle for any other available spots at the position.

Shaun Wade has the potential to do big things with the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Shaun Wade with the 171st overall pick in the 2021 draft. He has the potential to be a big steal for Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens feel like they were able to secure a phenominal 2021 draft class. Headlined by players like Rashod Bateman and Odafe Oweh, the team drafted for need while also taking talented players in the process.

One player who has the potential to be an absolute steal for Baltimore is cornerback Shaun Wade. The former Ohio State defensive back was selected by the Ravens with the 171st overall pick in the draft. He suffered a massive fall in the 2021 draft as opposed to where he would have gone in 2020 due to an interesting story.

Wade originally decided to return to Ohio State after having a fabulous 2019 season from the slot. Many slotted him in as a first or second round selection in the 2020 draft. However, he wanted to play for his school and hoped to improve his draft stock in the process. After the Coronavirus pandemic swept over the world, he opted out of the 2020 college football season, only to reverse that decision a few months later. The choices he made did not go as planned.

The former Buckeye struggled immensely during the 2020 season after moving from the slot to the outside. He effectively tanked his draft in doing so, which put Baltimore in the position to select him in the fifth round of the 2021 draft instead of potentially much higher just one year ago.

Despite losing out on being a Day 1 or even a Day 2 selection, Wade’s fall might have been a blessing in a disguise for all parties. It’s believed that the cornerback is viewed as a slot option by the Ravens, which is where Wade is at his strongest. He also will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best cornerbacks in the league including Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, and even Tavon Young. That should help him be able to hone in on his skills while not being pressured by playing significant snaps early unless there are a plethora of injuries.

Being selected in the fifth round will most likely motivate Wade to prove the teams that passed on him wrong. He’ll work to be the best cornerback he can be, and it’s arguable that he couldn’t have landed in a better spot than Baltimore. There’s no denying his ability, and with him most likely moving back inside, he has the potential to be one of the biggest steals of the 2021 draft.

 

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.

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.

LOOK: Shaun Wade officially signs rookie contract with Baltimore Ravens

Former Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade has officially signed his rookie contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

As we get further and further removed from all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the 2021 NFL draft, we’ll start to see all of the former Ohio State football players that were selected officially sign their contracts. That day came for former Buckeye defensive back Shaun Wade on Wednesday.

Wade went into last year as a first-round graded cornerback, but the combination of a pandemic, injury, and falling short of high expectations on the field resulted in him slipping all the way down to the fifth round, where he was snatched up by the Baltimore Ravens.

And now, according to a tweet from the Ravens official Twitter account, it appears as though Wade has officially inked his rookie contract.

We’ll be rooting for Wade to fulfill those lofty expectations that were heaped upon him prior to this season. From what we’ve seen with the skill he possesses, there’s a good chance of that happening. If so, the Ravens may have gotten the steal of the draft.

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