Tyus Bowser – Page 20 – Syndication Server

6 Ravens primed to break out in 2020

The Baltimore Ravens got a lot out of their young talent last year, featuring a few breakout stars. Which players could break out in 2020?

The Baltimore Ravens had nothing short of a fantastic season in 2019, taking the league by storm by breaking record after record, dominating opponents, and finishing with the best record in franchise history. It was a truly unexpected breakout on many levels by a team that was being written off early and often. However, it wasn’t just pure luck the Ravens were able to pull off such an impressive season.

They build an offensive system around their quarterback, attacked on defense with an exotic blitzing scheme, and relied not only on their stars, but also the young players that were looking to make a name for themselves. That lead to players like Chuck Clark, Orlando Brown Jr, Mark Andrews, and more stepping up and breaking out.

Looking ahead to 2020, there are a plethora of Ravens who could break out. Let’s take a look at who they are.

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

WR Marquise Brown

When the Ravens selected Brown with the 25th pick in the 2019 pick, they expected great things. However, they knew picking him came with risks too.

Brown stands at just 5-foot-9 and weighs 166 pounds. Those are extremely small measurables for a wide receiver, but Baltimore was clearly confident that his ability outweighed his small stature. Brown also wasn’t completely healthy when he was drafted by Baltimore. He suffered a foot injury late in the year playing for the Oklahoma Sooners and had to have lisfranc surgery to correct it. The surgery kept him out for an extended period of time, which included most of training camp and the preseason. No one knew how Brown would perform once the regular season started, but it’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint, hauling in 46 targets for 584 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 games.

Those numbers by themselves are impressive for a rookie wide receiver playing in a run-heavy offense, but what makes Brown primed for a breakout sophomore campaign is the fact that he played all of 2019 hindered by that same lisfranc injury. He was playing with a screw in his foot and said he wasn’t yet at 100%. Now with a full season under his, an offseason of hard work, and a screw removed from his foot, Brown could very well be on his way to his first 1,000-yard season.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Ravens re-sign OLB Pernell McPhee to a 1-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens brought back OLB Pernell McPhee after not addressing the position in the 2020 NFL Draft.

[jwplayer F8Ab3iCt-ThvAeFxT]

The Baltimore Ravens came out of the 2020 NFL Draft without any additional help at one of their more pressing needs: outside linebacker. While that’s a huge vote of confidence in guys like Jaylon Ferguson and Tyus Bowser, it wasn’t realistic for Baltimore to go into the season without at least one more outside linebacker that could start.

The Ravens had some options following the 2020 NFL Draft but decided to go back to a familiar face, re-signing Pernell McPhee to a one-year contract, according to a tweet from the team.

McPhee was brought in last offseason after the departures of Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith. He was expected to just provide some experienced depth but the continued struggles of Tim Williams and Bowser early on forced McPhee into the starting lineup. McPhee would start the first seven games of the season, posting three sacks and nine quarterback pressures, before a triceps injury put him on injured reserve. In his absence, Bowser and Ferguson steadily improved while defensive coordinator Don Martindale turned up the pressure through frequent blitzes.

It was figured the Ravens could turn to free-agent outside linebacker Clay Matthews after showing interest in him last offseason. But with the coronavirus pandemic potentially shortening the players’ ability to digest the playbook and get on-field reps this offseason, Baltimore’s choice to go with someone that was already acclimated to the team and scheme could prove to be a wise move.

While McPhee proved to be effective when healthy, the Ravens will likely give Bowser and Ferguson a chance to battle it out for the starting job opposite Matthew Judon.

[vertical-gallery id=44750]

5 winners and 4 losers from the Ravens’ 2020 draft

With all the 2020 NFL Draft picks in, which Baltimore Ravens have to look over their shoulders and who can breathe a sigh of relief?

The 2020 NFL Draft came and went, and Baltimore Ravens once again were able to secure another impressive draft class. The team had 10 total draft picks and were able to capitalize on each of them by either taking the best player available on the board or getting great positional value.

Baltimore filled a lot of holes on their roster, got new weapons on both sides of the ball, and continued to stock up not only for the upcoming season but for the future as well. The long-term view by general manager Eric DeCosta and company is a big reason why the franchise has stayed so successful for years.

Although the Ravens got a great haul in the draft, 10 draft picks is a lot to house on a roster that is already so deep and went 14-2 just a season ago. For all the excitement a new draft class brings, it also means a few players have to look over their shoulders as their role on the team could be reduced or their roster spot will go elsewhere entirely.

Let’s take a look at four winners and three losers for Baltimore based on their 2020 draft.

Winner: QB Lamar Jackson

Jackson already led the Ravens to their best regular-season record in franchise history, won the league MVP and set a ton of franchise and NFL records in the process. While his second year was magical, a third-year ascension could be in play thanks to all the work DeCosta and the front office put into the 2020 NFL Draft.

While the team addressed defense in the first round, they selected running back J.K. Dobbins with the 55th overall selection. Dobbins was considered one of the best, if not the best, running back in the class. His selection proves that the Ravens are committed to building up the system that fits Jackson so well.

In the third round, the Ravens selected Devin Duvernay, the wide receiver out of Texas. In the sixth round, the team traded up and selected SMU wide receiver James Proche. The two wide receivers come to Baltimore known for their great hands and they’ll help Jackson by catching everything he throws while being versatile enough to be moved around to create mismatches. They’re a great fit with what offense the Ravens currently run.

The addition of extra offensive linemen are always welcome, and Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson should immediately compete for a starting job with Ben Powers and D.J. Fluker.

Jackson might have been sitting around watching the draft this year but he automatically becomes a winner in this process. The Ravens built around him, giving him weapons and protection for the next few years, clearly believing that he can grow even more as a quarterback in his third year.

Pages: 1234567

4 players the Ravens could try to trade at the 2020 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens could look to add more picks in the 2020 NFL Draft or move up for a player they love, trading one of their own to do so

The Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to have nine picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including seven in the first four rounds. With so many early-round picks, you might not think the Ravens have much of a need for even more. But with Baltimore’s love of stockpiling picks by trading back and some opportunities to move up for great prospects, the Ravens might be eager to pull off some trades in the 2020 NFL Draft.

But Baltimore doesn’t have to just use their nine picks to make moves. The Ravens have a handful of players currently on the roster that could garner some attention from other teams. Under general manager Eric DeCosta, Baltimore hasn’t been afraid to send a player packing and could look to do so on draft day for the right price.

With wheelin’ and dealin’ in mind, let’s take a look at four players who could be on the trading block during the 2020 NFL Draft.

OLB Matthew Judon

The most obvious and likely candidate to be traded on draft day is Judon. The Ravens used the franchise tag on him, which set them back $15.83 million on their salary cap. If Baltimore thinks they can replace him reasonably enough in the 2020 NFL Draft or in free agency following and they get the right package of picks presented to them, I think the Ravens would be willing to part with their leading sack producer from last season.

Pages: 1234

2017 NFL Draft has been boom or bust for Ravens

Of the Baltimore Ravens’ seven picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, four are now no longer on the team while two have turned into stars.

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams at scouting and drafting talent. They’ve been able to find stars and key contributors in pretty much every round over the last two decades. From guys like Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis in the first round to star outside linebacker Matthew Judon in the fifth round, you can usually count on Baltimore making the most of each draft.

However, the 2017 NFL Draft apparently ran hot or cold for the Ravens. With news that Baltimore is trading defensive end Chris Wormley to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it marks yet another 2017 draft pick that is no longer on the team.

Of the Ravens’ seven selections in that draft, four are now with different teams, with Wormley being the highest-drafted of the group. Offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and Wormley have both been traded, guard Nico Siragusa was cut and eventually signed off Baltimore’s practice squad and outside linebacker Tim Williams was outright cut after struggling for four games last season.

On the flip side, when Baltimore hit, they hit hard. The Ravens’ first-round pick was Marlon Humphrey, who has turned into one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Safety Chuck Clark was Baltimore’s sixth-round pick and their final of the 2017 NFL Draft. Though he might not be well known around the league, the Ravens clearly think highly of him, signing him to a three-year contract extension early.

The only player remaining that hasn’t situated himself in the hot or cold category is former second-round pick outside linebacker Tyus Bowser. Prior to last season, it seemed as though Bowser could be on his way out as a failed project but he stepped up his game over the course of the 2019 season. Bowser finished with five sacks, 14 pressures and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. As Bowser enters his final year, this is his make-or-break season and the last chance for Baltimore to ring everything out of the 2017 NFL Draft.

[vertical-gallery id=43099]