Tag: Tylan Wallace

Former Ravens WR Qadry Ismail discusses if Baltimore currently has a No. 1 wide receiver

The Baltimore Ravens added talent at WR during the 2021 offseason. Former Ravens WR Qadry Ismail discusses if they have a true No. 1 WR

The Baltimore Ravens have added plenty of talent to their wide receiver room during the 2021 offseason. New players such as Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace can all contribute in a big way during the upcoming year due to their unique skill sets and natural athleticism.

On the Upon Further Review Podcast, former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail discussed if Baltimore currently has a No. 1 receiver on their roster. He talked about what his definition of a true No. 1 wideout is, along with the players who the Ravens did add in the offseason.

Instead of claiming that the Ravens have a true No. 1 receiver, Ismail instead says that the team has “go-to” receivers. He points out that right now in his mind, it remains to be seen if any of the pass catchers currently on Baltimore’s roster can be an “upper tier elite” wide receiver, but seems to be in wait and see mode, as young players such as Watkins, Bateman, Wallace need to establish some chemistry with Jackson to mesh with their new quarterback.

Overall, Ismail advocates that the Ravens have talent at the receiver position. He points to Bateman and Wallace as players who have talent, but although he says Baltimore has those “go-to” wideouts, he wants to see what happens in order to deem anyone a No. 1 wide receiver.

Josina Anderson says Ravens like their young receivers, Julio Jones not on their radar ‘at the moment’

The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to Julio Jones. Josina Anderson reported that Jones isn’t on the Ravens’ radar ‘at the moment’

The Baltimore Ravens added plenty of receiving help in the 2021 offseason, signing Sammy Watkins while also selecting Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace in the draft. However, despite adding that talent, they have been linked to another pass catcher in Atlanta star wideout Julio Jones.

While there’s no doubt that Jones would make Baltimore’s offense better, there are a few things that stand in the way of a deal, including money and draft capital. When asked by a fan if the Ravens got Jones, Josina Anderson reported that her understanding is that Baltimore likes the young core of receivers that they already have on their roster and that Jones isn’t on their radar “at the moment”.

The Jones to the Ravens rumors have been nonstop over the past week, but maybe this report will quell them a bit. Baltimore believes in who they’ve brought in already, and even though Jones is still one of the best receivers in the NFL, it seems like for now at least, the Ravens will believe in the receivers that they already have on the team.

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.

 

Pro Football Focus calls Ravens’ offense ‘one of the best in football’

The Baltimore Ravens have an electric offense. Seth Galina of Pro Football Focus says they’re “one of the best offenses in football”

The Baltimore Ravens had a historic 2019 season on the offensive side of the ball led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. The team set all kinds of records, and showed that they had what it took to be an explosive offense for years to come. While Baltimore’s offensive unit did take a small step back in 2020, they invested heavily at needs in the offseason that will hopefully help Jackson and company ascend to new heights in 2021.

Pro Football Focus’ Seth Galina believes that the Ravens’ have scary potential in 2021 on offense, calling them “one of the best in football.”

One of the key points that Galina mentions is the fact that Baltimore invested so much into their wide receiver corps heading into this season. Adding Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace as outside threats will benefit Jackson and the rest of the offense tremendously.

“Baltimore doubled down at an obvious position of need and made a sizable bet that at least one of first-round pick Rashod Bateman and fourth-round pick Tylan Wallace pans out early. The team has finally given Lamar Jackson his “X” receiver in an effort to get over the hump in the playoffs. This is a big deal for the Ravens’ offense, changing how offensive coordinator Greg Roman can call a game and how opponents may have to defend them.”

Galina also mentions the fact that Marquise Brown was the Ravens’ most utilized receiver on the outside in 2020, but he believes that will change in 2021.

“Individually, Marquise Brown played the most snaps out wide for Baltimore, and although I do think this is a way to keep him on the field while still running heavier sets with fullbacks and tight ends, Brown is probably a slot receiver if used correctly. He played only 22% of his snaps in the slot, which will change next season.”

Overall, Baltimore’s offense has the potential to be a force this season. The additions made at both wide receiver and offensive line will add experience and solid play all around. The Ravens have depth at every position on their offensive unit, and with a nice mix of stars and quality contributors, Baltimore should have one of the best offenses in the league both in 2021 and beyond.

Former Ravens WR Antoine Wesley signs with Cardinals

The Baltimore Ravens saw one of their former players depart, as wide receiver Antoine Wesley signed with the Arizona Cardinals

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of talent at the wide receiver position. They brought in Sammy Watkins in free agency while also selecting both Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace in the 2021 NFL draft. What was once a need now is one of the deepest positions on the roster, so the team might have to make some tough decisions in the future.

A move that Baltimore made a few months ago was deciding not to bring back Antoine Wesley, a third-year receiver out of Texas Tech. Wesley was looked as a player with promise, as he stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 206 pounds. He put up 98 receptions for 1,547 yards and nine touchdowns during his three years in college. After not having much production over his first two years with the Red Raiders, he caught 88 passes for 1,410 yards and all nine of his scores during his final year with the program.

On Friday, the Arizona Cardinals announced that they signed Wesley to a one-year deal. The former Raven will reunite with his college head coach in Kliff Kingsbury while entering a crowded wide receiver room in Arizona that’s headlined by DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and new addition A.J. Green.

Wesley could never fully put it together in Baltimore. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he spent the season on the practice squad, and in 2020 he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He impressed in training camp on multiple occasions, but ultimately ended up not being a part of Baltimore’s long-term plans.

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.

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.

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.