May 7, 2025 • 25 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing discuss some of the intriguing undrafted rookies who could make this year's 53-man roster.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are gonna talk about
the Ravens undrafted rookie class because we know, Garrett, that
you make all these draft picks and as soon as
that ends, are fans they're so rabid, they are just
so into it that they're immediately locked into all right,
who are the undrafted players that.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
The Ravens are drafting?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And it makes sense, right, The Ravens have a rich
history of undrafted rookie free agents hitting big and so
you never know who the next gem will be and
fans are always interested in that.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So we're gonna give you our most.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Likely candidates to compete for a spot on the fifty
three men roster.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's always funny.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
I wonder something I've always kind of been curious about
is whether every team has the same level of interest
from a fan base standpoint, yeah in undrafted players or
is it just the fact that the Raves have had
such a great history when it comes to these undrafts
free agents that answer like who's the next diamond of
the ring? I don't know which it is. If every
team is having the same conversation. But there is always
(01:05):
so much interest around the undrafted prospects.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
There's just something alluring about finding that that diamond in
the rough or or finding that late round steal that
like Ravens fans just they they live for it. And
so we get more questions during training camp and OTAs
and whatnot about which undrafted guy is standing out than
like how the rookie.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Draft picks are doing.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
It's like how's Malachi Sarks? Like that's the second biggest question.
This is the biggest question, is like which we're.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Literally not even so so anyway, all right, let's dive
into it, Garrett. Well, actually, before before you do that,
we should say that. And I think that it's going
to be tough for an undrafted rookie this year to
crack the fifty three man roster because you have so
many draft picks.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You have eleven guys.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I mean, it might be tough for all eleven draft picks, yeh,
to make the fifty three man roster. And when you
step back and take a look at the roster already,
it's pretty well defined even before the draft started, and
so I don't know that there's a lot of spots
up for grabs. With that said, it's never impossible. You
(02:12):
never rule that out. Somebody could. Hey, an undrafted guy
could beat out one of those six round draft picks. Right,
it's a sixth round pick. You're not guaranteed a roster
spot on the fifty three. And also those practice squad
spots are really competitive to get a spot on the
peace squads. So I'll prefasit with that that of all years,
(02:34):
I think this might be a tougher one to make
the roster.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I think that will be a challenging road for any
of these guys to make the fifty three, in particular,
just considering the roster composition and the fact that there's
eleven draft picks. However, if we were having this conversation
a year ago after the draft, I think we would
have been saying similar things and that, like it's just
hard in general for undrafted guys to make the roster,
(02:58):
and but that's part of what makes this game so fun,
Like that's part of what the conversation is so So
that's part of why this conversation is so interesting. Because
none of these guys it's always always the Cinderella story.
This is always the team in the bracket that surprises everybody,
and it's the upset especially that everybody misses, Like that's
part of what makes this so interesting. And so like
(03:20):
even last year, you know, the Ravens had Bo Braid
who ended up making the fifty three manter roster of
the safety local safety from Maryland out a training camp.
It was him and Soonoosi came. He both ended up
making the team. And so I think that, like when
we were looking at it a year ago, was like
it might be one of those two guys, it ends
up being both of them.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So sometimes that can happen.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well, I go back to the twenty twenty two draft class,
which also had eleven draft picks, and I just pulled
up the undrafted free agent class from that year, and
I'm trying to remember, did Josh Ross he made a team,
made the fifty three, So there you go. That was
eleven picks. We probably were having a very similar conversation. Yeah,
and so it can be done. And even players from
(04:00):
that undrafted Jeremiah Mune was in that class. I mean,
he ended up playing here in Baltimore and now he's
been still the Steelers for a couple of years and
so it's certainly not impossible. So all right with that
all said Garrett, who to you stands out as, all right,
this guy's got a chance.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I go to the area where the Ravens from a
roster standpoint, probably need to still add, and that's the
defensive line. And I look at Jason Jones out of
Auburn six six three and twenty five pounds. When we
sat down with Eric for the podcast, the one point
that he highlighted is like, the area that we didn't
really have a chance to add during the draft was
the big body defensive raven That's the spot Michael Pierce retired.
(04:40):
The Ravens are a little bit thin in terms of
having that space eater on their defensive line who can
gobble up blocks, really be a force in the running
game and allow the guys behind them to go and
make tackles.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
That's what Jason Jones is.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Again, He's a big body guy who has this track
recorder of like he's not going to go and get
the quarterback for five sacks a season, but he I mean,
he had one and a half sacks in his three
college season.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
See, I don't think you're looking for a sack ard.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
He's not a sack ard.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
You're looking for a block eater, run stuffing guy, but
that's what they already drafted.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
A niis Peebles.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
If you're looking for defensive line pressure and sacks as people,
that's Peoples.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
But like, if you're looking for a guy who can
potentially stuff the run, that's Jason Jones. And and he's
a big time prospect him. He played three years at Oregon,
probably one season at Oregon and then three at Auburn.
So like he's played at big time college programs and
now he comes here to Baltimore, and I think he's
got he's got a legitimate chance. And the Ravens have
had actually a track record of guys. Uh, look at
(05:37):
Michael Pierce. Like Michael Pierce was a guy who came
in and earned his spot as an undrafted rookie, played
really well in the training camp, and then of course
had a great preseason where he earned his way onto
the team. With the way he played in the preseason,
that could be a similar situation for Jones. If he's
gonna make the team, he's gonna have to make a
splash in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, I'll stick with the defensive line. And here's another
interesting guy. And now he was on a tryout oring
rookie mini camp, So we'll see if he signs a contract. Yeah,
but nose tackle Nash Hutmaker of Nebraska is a really
interesting prospect. I mean, this is a got All Big
Ten Honorable mention both his junior and senior years. He
(06:15):
was a two year starter, had sixty four tackles twelve
tackles for loss in six and a half sacks over
these two years, so production, you know, and can get
after you a little bit for a nose tackle especially,
But really the most interesting thing about him is he's
one of the best wrestlers in South Dakota history. Yeah,
I mean the guy finished his high school career with
(06:37):
seventy three straight pins. He didn't lose a match between
his freshman and senior seasons.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
We got a if he ends up, like you mentioned,
he was on a tryout basis, So if he ends
up getting signed to the ninety man roster for the
rest of the offseason and into training camp, there's gonna
be some battles between him and Tyler Linderbaum, who also.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Was a state jam he was was he a stage
think he was a state but he was a great wrestler,
great wrestler in Iowa.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
So those two guys are gonna have some battles in
camp yep.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Nash was a four time state wrestling champion in South Dakota.
He actually after the twenty twenty three football season, dropped
forty five pounds and joined the Mascot wrestling team and
he qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, so nickname is.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
The Polar Bear. I love about this guy.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I love everything about it.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
He is a football player.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
You mentioned all his wrestling and I started with the
football stats.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I started that, but like you know, I mean, the
Ravens have a track record with these guys with the
wrestling backgrounds. You know, the leverage, the strength, the just
the body control that it takes, like it it legitimately
is a really good tool for these defensive linemen to have.
And uh, you know Kelly Greg That's who I My
mind immediately goes back to Kelly Greg. Just I mean
(07:52):
a buddy guy I think was the nickname I'm trying
to remember. And uh, an all timer, you know, just
Ravens like likable dude and he was a wrestler, a
big time wrestler and even wrestles some guys in the
locker room.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I remember footage of that.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So could Nash, you know, hopefully become that kind of
you know, underdog story, it'd be cool.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
They're just gonna have to clear out the lockers, put
a big wrestling mat in there. It's Nash for slender Bomb.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
That the epic content. You're the social media guy.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We'll got lots to see if they be down for
that to put the wrestling in the locker room and
everybody gets after it.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Well, and we had our guy Reichsteiner. That's a different,
different kind of wrestling. That dude, My friend is a
big w w guy. Reich Steiner's like becoming one of
the guys. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So if people are have no idea what Ryan's talking
about right now, a few years ago, we had a
player came in as a fullback, undrafted player, Bronson Reichsteiner,
and he is now if you're a WWE wrestling fan,
he is now one of the rising stars in wrestling.
He goes by Braun the Breaker, and we actually did
a podcast with him back when he came here and
talked about his wrestling background. His dad was a big
(08:59):
wrestling w W so yeah, Steiner, it's uh, yeah, he was.
It's kind of cool to see his development. But yeah,
different type of wrestling.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Different type of wrestling.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
We're gonna but I think he started in like traditional stuff, right,
you don't start with breaking chairs.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
That's the first thing when you're in fourth grade. Well,
when your dad's in wrestling, maybe.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Coming off the top route anyway, I digress. Maybe that's
the future for Nash.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
But first he's got to play some football here in Baltimore,
so it'll be interesting to see if he makes the
make or gets a contract as one of the undrafted Roya.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Honestly, a lot of times, like just so listeners know,
rookie mini camp happens, and this is a chance. You
get everybody on camp and you see how they look,
get an early taste of the playbook, just make sure
everybody can line up in the right place, like all
those kind of fundamental things. But there's also a bunch
of guys who are here who weren't drafted, who weren't
even actually signed, but are here on a tryout basis.
(09:53):
And then after mini camp, the front office coaches they
get together and decide, okay, or any of these guys
who were here for tryouts, could they come and join
the team for the rest of the offseason, Like let's
adjust this ninety man roster a little bit. And even
some guys like, hey, maybe there's not a spot right now,
but they get signed early in training camp if they
feel like there's a need at one of these positions.
So well, there usually is some movement after rookie mini camp,
(10:16):
and we'll see if there is any this year.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
All right.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
A guy that I'll point to as a potential option
is Jay Higgins and inside linebacker out of Iowa.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Two year starter.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
He was kind of a leader of that Iowa defense
or evens have a good track record of taking guys
from Iowa two hundred and ninety five tackles over the
last two seasons, six foot two for most in college footy,
most of college football. I mean, tackling machine, almost three
hundred tackles the last two years. The guy is just
a tackling machine, six foot two hundred, twenty five pounds,
And so he's just a guy that, like was a
(10:47):
leader of the Iowa defense. Is a guy who can
make a ton of tackles in the middle of the field.
Of course, with that type of background, he would factor
in on special teams if he were to make the roster.
That's how he would find his way onto the team, honestly,
is from a special team standpoint. The thing that's working
against him, and this is the case for a lot
of the players that we're talking about, is just is
(11:09):
the spot there. The Ravens have, of course ro qwand Smith,
Trent and Simpson. They drafted Teddy Buchanan, they signed from
the Rams Jake Hummel, So like they have four linebackers there,
Humble and Buchanan and Simpson all could be special teams
players as well. So like the opportunity is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, do you keep five inside lineback a little bit
limited there, that's the question.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Do you keep five inside linebackers? Basically right?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
And that's always one of those ones where it's like
do you keep another an extra offensive lineman or do
you have five inside linebackers? Or you know, how many
dbs are you keeping on the fifty three. But I
think he'll push and push for a spot. I mean,
he's a unanimous All American first team All Big Ten.
He's a Big ten linebacker. The year, you know, I
mean Dame Brugler of the Athletic friend of Lounch projected
(11:59):
Higgins's six or seventh round pick. So you know, I
think this was one of the bigger names and most
accomplished guys that the Ravens landed in their undrafted class.
The size, you know, six foot two, twenty five, you know,
he doesn't have He's not a big guy. That's probably
why he went undrafted despite all of his accomplishments.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
But measurables, like from a size an athletic testing standpoint,
are not off the charts.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
But the production.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I mean, he's the only player from a major conference
with at least one hundred tackles and four interceptions last year.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So production, well the other thing too.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
And when you talk about history, the Ravens from an
undrafted rookie standpoint, have a great track record of finding
linebackers like.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
That goes back to exact years and years and years,
and so it's like whenever these classes come out, I
always circle the inside.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
That's always like when Linebackerho's like, all right, he's going
to be in the conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Well, when your defensive coordinator is a former undrafted inside linebacker.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
You know that helps.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I mean just Zach of course, was an undrafted rookie linebacker.
Bart Scott was an undrafted linebacker. Chris Board was an
undrafted linebacker. Here al Albert mcletch, we could keep going.
Josh Ross you just mentioned has like made the team
that nobody expected that a couple of years ago. So like,
there is definitely a rich history of.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Insideline backs are missing guys. Yeah, we definitely are.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
We like those ones just jump off, jump out to me,
and so I think that they I think that he's
got a chance, even though at this point the numbers
are stacked against him a little bit.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yep. Another interesting name is guard Jared Penning, and that
last name might ring a bell in Ravens fans' minds
because his older brother, Trevor Penning, was a player that
I know a lot of Ravens fans really wanted to
come to Baltimore here a few years ago. He was
in the twenty twenty two draft class and he was
a first round pick of the New Orleans Saints.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Trevor Penning was at tackle.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Jared is more of a guard six' five, three, nineteen you,
know wasn't quite as accomplished as his older, brother but
versatile guy switched from left tackle to right tackle At
Northern iowa his last. Season can obviously play god as.
Well that's kind of where he projects in THE. Nfl
participated in The Hula, bowl and, uh you, KNOW i
(14:05):
think he's obviously got the. Lineage, Yeah Trevor penning was
known for being just a, nasty just dog. Like that's
how he got so much draft. Buzz was that The Senior.
Bowl he was just punking, guys was just fighting everybody
in punking. People you, know it hasn't been he hasn't
had the smoothest start to HIS nfl, career to be.
Honest you know it's been had some ups and, downs but,
(14:26):
hey Maybe jared kind of follows in his footsteps and can.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Thrive you're you're just.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
How much ink did you spell On Trevor? PENNING i
mean you wrote a hundred stories about.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Him he was a popular.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Guy he wrote a.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Lot about, him very, popular as we talked about him
a lot on the. Podcast so you're just looking to
dust off some of the stories and you're.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Like, well if there's if there's a guy that you
circle the name, for like first training camp fight A,
Penning jared might be the guy that you circle he's
yet in his.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Blood, yeah it's.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
True and also a lot of times those undrafted guys
are probably at the top of the list or some
of those training camp scuffles.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Or or the.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Other the flip side of that is like you're, like,
Look i'm. Undrafted i'm not trying to ruffle any feathers
out of. Year Like i'm also not trying to get
yelling at, Right so it could go could go either.
Way some of these guys are trying to make a
statement and stand up for themselves out there some of
these hot. Practices but, YEAH i think that he's an interesting.
NAME i, mean just when you talk about someone whose
older brother's first round, pick that especially who was connected
(15:26):
to The ravens during the pre draft.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Process he was a ton of mock drafts had The
ravens taking him that year and it didn't. Happen BUT
i think that that's a name that definitely stands out
when you look at. It the offensive line thing is
interesting because The ravens are, like they're they're deep at
offensive line at draft of, three they drafted, three they
re Signed Ben, cleveland and then they just recently Signed Joe.
Nobloom nobloom out of the L A rams has been
(15:49):
a starter at left. Tackle he's been a tackle starter
in THE. Nfl So, NOBLEM i think is a really
just to talk about him, quickly, LIKE i think this
is a really nice signing because it he basically is
A Josh jones replacement from a year.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Ago he's a.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Swing tackle who can be your backup left tackle if,
needed and and so that gives The, RAVENS i, mean
that's an incredibly important spot if you need. It and
then it also gives The ravens the ability to, say all,
Right Emory, jones like you can focus in at guard
potentially if The ravens feel like he's best suited as
AN nfl, guard he can play. Guard and then it
(16:25):
also like you're not in As Carton vinson exactly With Carson,
vincent if you needed to have somebody step in at left,
tackle you have a veteran to do, it and it's
Not Carson vincent coming from AN hbcu school as.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
A rookie late round pick doing.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
IT i just think it gives The ravens like really
good depth and then allows, you.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Oh, yeah it solidifies a lot of things in that, Room,
yes and and really helps define roles that suit these
players for where they're at in their. Careers And i'll
also add that, THOUGH i think that makes it harder
for some of these offensive tackles that The ravens have
in their undrafted rookie class to crack the fifty.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Three, CERTAINLY i think it'd be very.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Hard and you also Have Carson, vincent, who like usually
an undrafted player is all, right he's gonna be a
little more. Developmental, Obviously Carson vincent's already a developmental offensive.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Tackle SO i think it's hard for those guys that
would be an uphill. Climb maybe they. Could he got
a spot on the practice.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
SQUAD i, mean just when you look at the offensive,
line you have four or five starters back from last,
year though that's just pencil In Andrew vorhees at left
guard for the. Discussion, now so that's your that's. Five
then you drafted. Three that gets you to. Eight then
you Add nobloom that gets you to. Nine recent you
have Resigned Bank. Cleveland that gets you to. Ten, right
ten offensive. LINEMAN i don't know that they're gonna have
ten offensive lineman on the fifty three manter.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Roster they.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Couldn't they.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Couldn't but now you're talking about you're not gonna have
that extra. Linebacker you're not gonna Have.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well vincent's gonna be a game day and active most,
likely but Potentially, yeah but, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
AGREE i just think that that's those spots are going
to be really hard to come yes along that offensive.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Line all, Right one last player here before we take
a break THAT i want to mention is tight end
tight End Sam pitts out Of Minnesota, duluth small school,
guy you, know, big big, dude six six two forty.
Five and the reason THAT i highlight him is because
The ravens didn't draft the tight, end which was something
that we thought could. Happen they obviously have their their
big three locked in And Mark, Andrews Charlie hohler And isaiah,
(18:25):
likely but there's not a lot of. Depth kadeer Is
mail reportedly left to go sign with The Las Vegas.
Raiders who why are they trying to poach our tight
ends all the time on our practice? SQUAD i don't
like that they're trying To Darren waller us, again but
good luck To. Kadeer, yeah and so The ravens don't
really have a ton of depth there at the. Position
(18:48):
SO i think that that's an interesting undrafted rookie to
keep an eye, on probably not for the fifty, three
but for the practice squad at.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Least, Yeah so all, right we're gonna take a quick.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Break when we come, back we'll round out this conversation
and also answer some. Questions you're listening to The lounge.
Podcast we are coming to you from The Sea Geek.
Studio we want to mention our partners At Draft King.
Sportsbook they are an official sports vetting partner of The
Baltimore Ravens Draft King. Sportsbook The crown is. Yours so
another undrafted possibility for The ravens is that. Kicker of,
course they Drafted Tyler loop in the sixth. Round he
(19:18):
was the first time the franchise has ever drafted a.
Kicker On, monday the team announced that they are Released Justin.
Tucker so as it stands right, Now Tyler loop is
the one kicker who is on the roster and he's
a favorite to win that. Job Jeff's reebeck From The
athletic reported That wyoming Kicker John hoyland is also expected
(19:38):
to sign After Rookie mini. Camp he was here on
a tryout basis for Rookie mini caamp again From. Wyoming
and so there could be a battle between those two,
Guys loop And hoyland for a roster spot rookie.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Battle and do The ravens bring in a veteran at
some point obviously a critically important, position AND i wouldn't
rule out the possibility at some point this summer they
sign a veteran to compete with those two. Rookies but you,
Know Justin tucker made the team as an undrafted, rookie
so certainly a track record there's not. Impossible, Yeah AND
(20:12):
i think it's just. GOOD i think that that's an
interesting battle when you have two rookies pushing each.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
OTHER i think that that could be really.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Interesting John hoyland he went thirteen of twenty last year At.
Wyoming the previous year he is twenty two of twenty,
five including ten of ten from inside forty five.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
YARDS i, MEAN i think that The ravens want some
competition there At, kicker like they made it clear during
the draft press conferences and also when we sat down
and talk With eric last week That Tyler luke Was
Randy brown's favorite. Guy he was the one that said
to go find me a, kicker and he was the
number one guy that they came back, with and so
he's got the he's the ads on favorite to win that.
(20:49):
Position AND i certainly think that he has a ton
of potential and could do. That but you want to
have competition for a, rookie especially a late round, guy
and so nothing is guaranteed By Andy, stretch and so
they've earned, competition and could they do it with a
veteran as well later in the. Process, POTENTIALLY i think
that that possibility.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Exists the best man, WINS i mean, HONESTLY i, MEAN
i Agree Tyler loop was the guy That randy, picked
but he was a sixth round. Pick it's not like
you invested a third round pick in, him you. KNOW i,
mean so the difference in a sixth round pick and
an undrafted guy isn't vast and from from an investment,
standpoint so, like may the best man? Win AND i
(21:28):
would Agree Tyler loop is the. Favorite he was the
guy that they. Picked BUT i think If John hoyland
kicks really well over the summer and beats, him, out
then he beats him. Out, YEAH i, think and of
course you know he still needs to sign a. Contract
this is all, reports but, yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Yep again that goes back to what we were talking
about earlier with the the tryout basis that happens during
this recommitty camp and there's usually a little bit of
roster movement after the. Fact we'll see if he ends
up signing that, contract As rebec, said is likely to.
Occur all, right a question here that we. Got as,
always you can email us at the lounge At ravens
DOT nfl dot. Net the email here is From johannis who,
(22:03):
SAID i loved the episode, yesterday BUT i still need
to understand why The ravens Shows Malachi starks over Nick Emon.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Worri the nick emun.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Wary just the listeners know he was a super talented
safety out Of South, carolina and in the email he
writes that he killed it at the. Combine his stats are.
GREAT i know That sarks has more experience and came
from a better program At, georgia but the best rated
safety in my mind Was Emon. Worri and Then Emo
warri ends up going To seattle With mike. McDonald of,
(22:32):
course Former ravens defensive. Coordinator So johannes is just asking
Why starks Over Emon.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
WORRI i, MEAN i think that the short, Answers Malachi
starks checked more, boxes AND i, think, YEAH nicki memory
tests a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Better at the.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
COMBINE i think from a production's production, standpoint they were
pretty much on level. FOOTING i wouldn't say anybody had an,
edge but you, know, Yes emore blew up the. Combine
malachi didn't necessarily buil up the, combine.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
But is a very athletic.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Dude fast has all the athletic attributes you, want maybe
not to the testing degree Of Nick Ema, moory but
plenty athletic. Enough AND i Think malachi checks some other
boxes perhaps That nick didn't in terms of like the,
leadership the football intelligence on the, field the. VERSATILITY i
think he probably has a little bit more versatility Than Emon.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Worri and if you're looking.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
At what the best compliment To Kyle hamilton would, BE
i Think Malachi starks as a better compliment probably Than
Emon morriy would.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Be Iman worri is.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
In my, eyes kind of very similar To Kyle hamilton
in a big bodied you, know can play close to
the line of scrimmage and bang around in. There Whereas,
malachi The ravens really feel like his best position and
he can play, many but his best position is kind
of as that free. Safety he can play him single,
high you, know kind of be the center fielder with
(23:56):
a big time range over the, top making plays over the.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Top that's not Really Nick Emon moorey's. Strength, Yeah SO
i Think.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Malachi checked more boxes and AND i think he was
a better fit for the for what The ravens wanted
to Compliment Kyle.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
HAMILTON i just think, Overall malachi was a better overall.
Player he was a number one rated safety on The ravens.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Board this is.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
A three, year super productive player At, georgia had a
pick like his fourth college play playing in THE sec
on super talented defense that won the national. Championship so
like he came in right, away was an impact player At,
georgia played throughout his college, career incredibly smart and like
the testing, thing Like Emon wore had the better overall.
Combine he was the guy that everybody was talking about
(24:41):
from a testing standpoint coming out of the. Combine but
as we've both said, before that kind of disguises the
fact that it makes you think That Malachi starks had
a bad.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Combine he.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Didn't he was very he had he was very incredibly
highly on some of the other testing, categories not the
forty like e and he's not as big as even,
worry but like he's plenty. Athletic and then you match
that with the, production the, intelligence the, leadership who he
is as a, person the film, study all.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
That you checked all the. BOXES i Mean Eric consta
said it on the. Podcast that was the exact.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Quote he checked all the.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Boxes so if you check all the, boxes it's hard
for another guy to beat you.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Out, yeah, right ALEC i got A a.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Plus, yeah and so you can't top, that, Right so
we appreciate the.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Question there you hat us and as always you can
email us at the lounge At ravens DOT nfl dot.
Nets we are going to continue breaking down everything over
the course of the off. Season OTA's are around the
corner and now that the draft is in the rear
view mirror and then schedule release is coming up next
week scheduled THE nfl Scheduled Travel, draft which means it's
the Travel, draft which is always a fun episode and.
(25:49):
Again that schedule drops Next wednesday, night eight, pm.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
So we are very excited about.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
That thank you so much for, listening and we will
talk with you again soon
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are gonna talk about
the Ravens undrafted rookie class because we know, Garrett, that
you make all these draft picks and as soon as
that ends, are fans they're so rabid, they are just
so into it that they're immediately locked into all right,
who are the undrafted players that.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
The Ravens are drafting?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And it makes sense, right, The Ravens have a rich
history of undrafted rookie free agents hitting big and so
you never know who the next gem will be and
fans are always interested in that.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So we're gonna give you our most.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Likely candidates to compete for a spot on the fifty
three men roster.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's always funny.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
I wonder something I've always kind of been curious about
is whether every team has the same level of interest
from a fan base standpoint, yeah in undrafted players or
is it just the fact that the Raves have had
such a great history when it comes to these undrafts
free agents that answer like who's the next diamond of
the ring? I don't know which it is. If every
team is having the same conversation. But there is always
(01:05):
so much interest around the undrafted prospects.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
There's just something alluring about finding that that diamond in
the rough or or finding that late round steal that
like Ravens fans just they they live for it. And
so we get more questions during training camp and OTAs
and whatnot about which undrafted guy is standing out than
like how the rookie.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Draft picks are doing.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
It's like how's Malachi Sarks? Like that's the second biggest question.
This is the biggest question, is like which we're.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Literally not even so so anyway, all right, let's dive
into it, Garrett. Well, actually, before before you do that,
we should say that. And I think that it's going
to be tough for an undrafted rookie this year to
crack the fifty three man roster because you have so
many draft picks.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You have eleven guys.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I mean, it might be tough for all eleven draft picks, yeh,
to make the fifty three man roster. And when you
step back and take a look at the roster already,
it's pretty well defined even before the draft started, and
so I don't know that there's a lot of spots
up for grabs. With that said, it's never impossible. You
(02:12):
never rule that out. Somebody could. Hey, an undrafted guy
could beat out one of those six round draft picks. Right,
it's a sixth round pick. You're not guaranteed a roster
spot on the fifty three. And also those practice squad
spots are really competitive to get a spot on the
peace squads. So I'll prefasit with that that of all years,
(02:34):
I think this might be a tougher one to make
the roster.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I think that will be a challenging road for any
of these guys to make the fifty three, in particular,
just considering the roster composition and the fact that there's
eleven draft picks. However, if we were having this conversation
a year ago after the draft, I think we would
have been saying similar things and that, like it's just
hard in general for undrafted guys to make the roster,
(02:58):
and but that's part of what makes this game so fun,
Like that's part of what the conversation is so So
that's part of why this conversation is so interesting. Because
none of these guys it's always always the Cinderella story.
This is always the team in the bracket that surprises everybody,
and it's the upset especially that everybody misses, Like that's
part of what makes this so interesting. And so like
(03:20):
even last year, you know, the Ravens had Bo Braid
who ended up making the fifty three manter roster of
the safety local safety from Maryland out a training camp.
It was him and Soonoosi came. He both ended up
making the team. And so I think that, like when
we were looking at it a year ago, was like
it might be one of those two guys, it ends
up being both of them.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So sometimes that can happen.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well, I go back to the twenty twenty two draft class,
which also had eleven draft picks, and I just pulled
up the undrafted free agent class from that year, and
I'm trying to remember, did Josh Ross he made a team,
made the fifty three, So there you go. That was
eleven picks. We probably were having a very similar conversation. Yeah,
and so it can be done. And even players from
(04:00):
that undrafted Jeremiah Mune was in that class. I mean,
he ended up playing here in Baltimore and now he's
been still the Steelers for a couple of years and
so it's certainly not impossible. So all right with that
all said Garrett, who to you stands out as, all right,
this guy's got a chance.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I go to the area where the Ravens from a
roster standpoint, probably need to still add, and that's the
defensive line. And I look at Jason Jones out of
Auburn six six three and twenty five pounds. When we
sat down with Eric for the podcast, the one point
that he highlighted is like, the area that we didn't
really have a chance to add during the draft was
the big body defensive raven That's the spot Michael Pierce retired.
(04:40):
The Ravens are a little bit thin in terms of
having that space eater on their defensive line who can
gobble up blocks, really be a force in the running
game and allow the guys behind them to go and
make tackles.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
That's what Jason Jones is.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Again, He's a big body guy who has this track
recorder of like he's not going to go and get
the quarterback for five sacks a season, but he I mean,
he had one and a half sacks in his three
college season.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
See, I don't think you're looking for a sack ard.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
He's not a sack ard.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
You're looking for a block eater, run stuffing guy, but
that's what they already drafted.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
A niis Peebles.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
If you're looking for defensive line pressure and sacks as people,
that's Peoples.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
But like, if you're looking for a guy who can
potentially stuff the run, that's Jason Jones. And and he's
a big time prospect him. He played three years at Oregon,
probably one season at Oregon and then three at Auburn.
So like he's played at big time college programs and
now he comes here to Baltimore, and I think he's
got he's got a legitimate chance. And the Ravens have
had actually a track record of guys. Uh, look at
(05:37):
Michael Pierce. Like Michael Pierce was a guy who came
in and earned his spot as an undrafted rookie, played
really well in the training camp, and then of course
had a great preseason where he earned his way onto
the team. With the way he played in the preseason,
that could be a similar situation for Jones. If he's
gonna make the team, he's gonna have to make a
splash in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, I'll stick with the defensive line. And here's another
interesting guy. And now he was on a tryout oring
rookie mini camp, So we'll see if he signs a contract. Yeah,
but nose tackle Nash Hutmaker of Nebraska is a really
interesting prospect. I mean, this is a got All Big
Ten Honorable mention both his junior and senior years. He
(06:15):
was a two year starter, had sixty four tackles twelve
tackles for loss in six and a half sacks over
these two years, so production, you know, and can get
after you a little bit for a nose tackle especially,
But really the most interesting thing about him is he's
one of the best wrestlers in South Dakota history. Yeah,
I mean the guy finished his high school career with
(06:37):
seventy three straight pins. He didn't lose a match between
his freshman and senior seasons.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
We got a if he ends up, like you mentioned,
he was on a tryout basis, So if he ends
up getting signed to the ninety man roster for the
rest of the offseason and into training camp, there's gonna
be some battles between him and Tyler Linderbaum, who also.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Was a state jam he was was he a stage
think he was a state but he was a great wrestler,
great wrestler in Iowa.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
So those two guys are gonna have some battles in
camp yep.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Nash was a four time state wrestling champion in South Dakota.
He actually after the twenty twenty three football season, dropped
forty five pounds and joined the Mascot wrestling team and
he qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, so nickname is.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
The Polar Bear. I love about this guy.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I love everything about it.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
He is a football player.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
You mentioned all his wrestling and I started with the
football stats.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I started that, but like you know, I mean, the
Ravens have a track record with these guys with the
wrestling backgrounds. You know, the leverage, the strength, the just
the body control that it takes, like it it legitimately
is a really good tool for these defensive linemen to have.
And uh, you know Kelly Greg That's who I My
mind immediately goes back to Kelly Greg. Just I mean
(07:52):
a buddy guy I think was the nickname I'm trying
to remember. And uh, an all timer, you know, just
Ravens like likable dude and he was a wrestler, a
big time wrestler and even wrestles some guys in the
locker room.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I remember footage of that.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So could Nash, you know, hopefully become that kind of
you know, underdog story, it'd be cool.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
They're just gonna have to clear out the lockers, put
a big wrestling mat in there. It's Nash for slender Bomb.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
That the epic content. You're the social media guy.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We'll got lots to see if they be down for
that to put the wrestling in the locker room and
everybody gets after it.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Well, and we had our guy Reichsteiner. That's a different,
different kind of wrestling. That dude, My friend is a
big w w guy. Reich Steiner's like becoming one of
the guys. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
So if people are have no idea what Ryan's talking
about right now, a few years ago, we had a
player came in as a fullback, undrafted player, Bronson Reichsteiner,
and he is now if you're a WWE wrestling fan,
he is now one of the rising stars in wrestling.
He goes by Braun the Breaker, and we actually did
a podcast with him back when he came here and
talked about his wrestling background. His dad was a big
(08:59):
wrestling w W so yeah, Steiner, it's uh, yeah, he was.
It's kind of cool to see his development. But yeah,
different type of wrestling.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Different type of wrestling.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
We're gonna but I think he started in like traditional stuff, right,
you don't start with breaking chairs.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
That's the first thing when you're in fourth grade. Well,
when your dad's in wrestling, maybe.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Coming off the top route anyway, I digress. Maybe that's
the future for Nash.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
But first he's got to play some football here in Baltimore,
so it'll be interesting to see if he makes the
make or gets a contract as one of the undrafted Roya.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Honestly, a lot of times, like just so listeners know,
rookie mini camp happens, and this is a chance. You
get everybody on camp and you see how they look,
get an early taste of the playbook, just make sure
everybody can line up in the right place, like all
those kind of fundamental things. But there's also a bunch
of guys who are here who weren't drafted, who weren't
even actually signed, but are here on a tryout basis.
(09:53):
And then after mini camp, the front office coaches they
get together and decide, okay, or any of these guys
who were here for tryouts, could they come and join
the team for the rest of the offseason, Like let's
adjust this ninety man roster a little bit. And even
some guys like, hey, maybe there's not a spot right now,
but they get signed early in training camp if they
feel like there's a need at one of these positions.
So well, there usually is some movement after rookie mini camp,
(10:16):
and we'll see if there is any this year.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
All right.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
A guy that I'll point to as a potential option
is Jay Higgins and inside linebacker out of Iowa.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Two year starter.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
He was kind of a leader of that Iowa defense
or evens have a good track record of taking guys
from Iowa two hundred and ninety five tackles over the
last two seasons, six foot two for most in college footy,
most of college football. I mean, tackling machine, almost three
hundred tackles the last two years. The guy is just
a tackling machine, six foot two hundred, twenty five pounds,
And so he's just a guy that, like was a
(10:47):
leader of the Iowa defense. Is a guy who can
make a ton of tackles in the middle of the field.
Of course, with that type of background, he would factor
in on special teams if he were to make the roster.
That's how he would find his way onto the team, honestly,
is from a special team standpoint. The thing that's working
against him, and this is the case for a lot
of the players that we're talking about, is just is
(11:09):
the spot there. The Ravens have, of course ro qwand Smith,
Trent and Simpson. They drafted Teddy Buchanan, they signed from
the Rams Jake Hummel, So like they have four linebackers there,
Humble and Buchanan and Simpson all could be special teams
players as well. So like the opportunity is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, do you keep five inside lineback a little bit
limited there, that's the question.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Do you keep five inside linebackers? Basically right?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
And that's always one of those ones where it's like
do you keep another an extra offensive lineman or do
you have five inside linebackers? Or you know, how many
dbs are you keeping on the fifty three. But I
think he'll push and push for a spot. I mean,
he's a unanimous All American first team All Big Ten.
He's a Big ten linebacker. The year, you know, I
mean Dame Brugler of the Athletic friend of Lounch projected
(11:59):
Higgins's six or seventh round pick. So you know, I
think this was one of the bigger names and most
accomplished guys that the Ravens landed in their undrafted class.
The size, you know, six foot two, twenty five, you know,
he doesn't have He's not a big guy. That's probably
why he went undrafted despite all of his accomplishments.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
But measurables, like from a size an athletic testing standpoint,
are not off the charts.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
But the production.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I mean, he's the only player from a major conference
with at least one hundred tackles and four interceptions last year.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So production, well the other thing too.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
And when you talk about history, the Ravens from an
undrafted rookie standpoint, have a great track record of finding
linebackers like.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
That goes back to exact years and years and years,
and so it's like whenever these classes come out, I
always circle the inside.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
That's always like when Linebackerho's like, all right, he's going
to be in the conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Well, when your defensive coordinator is a former undrafted inside linebacker.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
You know that helps.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I mean just Zach of course, was an undrafted rookie linebacker.
Bart Scott was an undrafted linebacker. Chris Board was an
undrafted linebacker. Here al Albert mcletch, we could keep going.
Josh Ross you just mentioned has like made the team
that nobody expected that a couple of years ago. So like,
there is definitely a rich history of.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Insideline backs are missing guys. Yeah, we definitely are.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
We like those ones just jump off, jump out to me,
and so I think that they I think that he's
got a chance, even though at this point the numbers
are stacked against him a little bit.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yep. Another interesting name is guard Jared Penning, and that
last name might ring a bell in Ravens fans' minds
because his older brother, Trevor Penning, was a player that
I know a lot of Ravens fans really wanted to
come to Baltimore here a few years ago. He was
in the twenty twenty two draft class and he was
a first round pick of the New Orleans Saints.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Trevor Penning was at tackle.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Jared is more of a guard six' five, three, nineteen you,
know wasn't quite as accomplished as his older, brother but
versatile guy switched from left tackle to right tackle At
Northern iowa his last. Season can obviously play god as.
Well that's kind of where he projects in THE. Nfl
participated in The Hula, bowl and, uh you, KNOW i
(14:05):
think he's obviously got the. Lineage, Yeah Trevor penning was
known for being just a, nasty just dog. Like that's
how he got so much draft. Buzz was that The Senior.
Bowl he was just punking, guys was just fighting everybody
in punking. People you, know it hasn't been he hasn't
had the smoothest start to HIS nfl, career to be.
Honest you know it's been had some ups and, downs but,
(14:26):
hey Maybe jared kind of follows in his footsteps and can.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Thrive you're you're just.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
How much ink did you spell On Trevor? PENNING i
mean you wrote a hundred stories about.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Him he was a popular.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Guy he wrote a.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Lot about, him very, popular as we talked about him
a lot on the. Podcast so you're just looking to
dust off some of the stories and you're.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Like, well if there's if there's a guy that you
circle the name, for like first training camp fight A,
Penning jared might be the guy that you circle he's
yet in his.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Blood, yeah it's.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
True and also a lot of times those undrafted guys
are probably at the top of the list or some
of those training camp scuffles.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Or or the.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Other the flip side of that is like you're, like,
Look i'm. Undrafted i'm not trying to ruffle any feathers
out of. Year Like i'm also not trying to get
yelling at, Right so it could go could go either.
Way some of these guys are trying to make a
statement and stand up for themselves out there some of
these hot. Practices but, YEAH i think that he's an interesting.
NAME i, mean just when you talk about someone whose
older brother's first round, pick that especially who was connected
(15:26):
to The ravens during the pre draft.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Process he was a ton of mock drafts had The
ravens taking him that year and it didn't. Happen BUT
i think that that's a name that definitely stands out
when you look at. It the offensive line thing is
interesting because The ravens are, like they're they're deep at
offensive line at draft of, three they drafted, three they
re Signed Ben, cleveland and then they just recently Signed Joe.
Nobloom nobloom out of the L A rams has been
(15:49):
a starter at left. Tackle he's been a tackle starter
in THE. Nfl So, NOBLEM i think is a really
just to talk about him, quickly, LIKE i think this
is a really nice signing because it he basically is
A Josh jones replacement from a year.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Ago he's a.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Swing tackle who can be your backup left tackle if,
needed and and so that gives The, RAVENS i, mean
that's an incredibly important spot if you need. It and
then it also gives The ravens the ability to, say all,
Right Emory, jones like you can focus in at guard
potentially if The ravens feel like he's best suited as
AN nfl, guard he can play. Guard and then it
(16:25):
also like you're not in As Carton vinson exactly With Carson,
vincent if you needed to have somebody step in at left,
tackle you have a veteran to do, it and it's
Not Carson vincent coming from AN hbcu school as.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
A rookie late round pick doing.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
IT i just think it gives The ravens like really
good depth and then allows, you.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Oh, yeah it solidifies a lot of things in that, Room,
yes and and really helps define roles that suit these
players for where they're at in their. Careers And i'll
also add that, THOUGH i think that makes it harder
for some of these offensive tackles that The ravens have
in their undrafted rookie class to crack the fifty.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Three, CERTAINLY i think it'd be very.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Hard and you also Have Carson, vincent, who like usually
an undrafted player is all, right he's gonna be a
little more. Developmental, Obviously Carson vincent's already a developmental offensive.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Tackle SO i think it's hard for those guys that
would be an uphill. Climb maybe they. Could he got
a spot on the practice.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
SQUAD i, mean just when you look at the offensive,
line you have four or five starters back from last,
year though that's just pencil In Andrew vorhees at left
guard for the. Discussion, now so that's your that's. Five
then you drafted. Three that gets you to. Eight then
you Add nobloom that gets you to. Nine recent you
have Resigned Bank. Cleveland that gets you to. Ten, right
ten offensive. LINEMAN i don't know that they're gonna have
ten offensive lineman on the fifty three manter.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Roster they.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Couldn't they.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Couldn't but now you're talking about you're not gonna have
that extra. Linebacker you're not gonna Have.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well vincent's gonna be a game day and active most,
likely but Potentially, yeah but, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
AGREE i just think that that's those spots are going
to be really hard to come yes along that offensive.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Line all, Right one last player here before we take
a break THAT i want to mention is tight end
tight End Sam pitts out Of Minnesota, duluth small school,
guy you, know, big big, dude six six two forty.
Five and the reason THAT i highlight him is because
The ravens didn't draft the tight, end which was something
that we thought could. Happen they obviously have their their
big three locked in And Mark, Andrews Charlie hohler And isaiah,
(18:25):
likely but there's not a lot of. Depth kadeer Is
mail reportedly left to go sign with The Las Vegas.
Raiders who why are they trying to poach our tight
ends all the time on our practice? SQUAD i don't
like that they're trying To Darren waller us, again but
good luck To. Kadeer, yeah and so The ravens don't
really have a ton of depth there at the. Position
(18:48):
SO i think that that's an interesting undrafted rookie to
keep an eye, on probably not for the fifty, three
but for the practice squad at.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Least, Yeah so all, right we're gonna take a quick.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Break when we come, back we'll round out this conversation
and also answer some. Questions you're listening to The lounge.
Podcast we are coming to you from The Sea Geek.
Studio we want to mention our partners At Draft King.
Sportsbook they are an official sports vetting partner of The
Baltimore Ravens Draft King. Sportsbook The crown is. Yours so
another undrafted possibility for The ravens is that. Kicker of,
course they Drafted Tyler loop in the sixth. Round he
(19:18):
was the first time the franchise has ever drafted a.
Kicker On, monday the team announced that they are Released Justin.
Tucker so as it stands right, Now Tyler loop is
the one kicker who is on the roster and he's
a favorite to win that. Job Jeff's reebeck From The
athletic reported That wyoming Kicker John hoyland is also expected
(19:38):
to sign After Rookie mini. Camp he was here on
a tryout basis for Rookie mini caamp again From. Wyoming
and so there could be a battle between those two,
Guys loop And hoyland for a roster spot rookie.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Battle and do The ravens bring in a veteran at
some point obviously a critically important, position AND i wouldn't
rule out the possibility at some point this summer they
sign a veteran to compete with those two. Rookies but you,
Know Justin tucker made the team as an undrafted, rookie
so certainly a track record there's not. Impossible, Yeah AND
(20:12):
i think it's just. GOOD i think that that's an
interesting battle when you have two rookies pushing each.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
OTHER i think that that could be really.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Interesting John hoyland he went thirteen of twenty last year At.
Wyoming the previous year he is twenty two of twenty,
five including ten of ten from inside forty five.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
YARDS i, MEAN i think that The ravens want some
competition there At, kicker like they made it clear during
the draft press conferences and also when we sat down
and talk With eric last week That Tyler luke Was
Randy brown's favorite. Guy he was the one that said
to go find me a, kicker and he was the
number one guy that they came back, with and so
he's got the he's the ads on favorite to win that.
(20:49):
Position AND i certainly think that he has a ton
of potential and could do. That but you want to
have competition for a, rookie especially a late round, guy
and so nothing is guaranteed By Andy, stretch and so
they've earned, competition and could they do it with a
veteran as well later in the. Process, POTENTIALLY i think
that that possibility.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Exists the best man, WINS i mean, HONESTLY i, MEAN
i Agree Tyler loop was the guy That randy, picked
but he was a sixth round. Pick it's not like
you invested a third round pick in, him you. KNOW i,
mean so the difference in a sixth round pick and
an undrafted guy isn't vast and from from an investment,
standpoint so, like may the best man? Win AND i
(21:28):
would Agree Tyler loop is the. Favorite he was the
guy that they. Picked BUT i think If John hoyland
kicks really well over the summer and beats, him, out
then he beats him. Out, YEAH i, think and of
course you know he still needs to sign a. Contract
this is all, reports but, yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Yep again that goes back to what we were talking
about earlier with the the tryout basis that happens during
this recommitty camp and there's usually a little bit of
roster movement after the. Fact we'll see if he ends
up signing that, contract As rebec, said is likely to.
Occur all, right a question here that we. Got as,
always you can email us at the lounge At ravens
DOT nfl dot. Net the email here is From johannis who,
(22:03):
SAID i loved the episode, yesterday BUT i still need
to understand why The ravens Shows Malachi starks over Nick Emon.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Worri the nick emun.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Wary just the listeners know he was a super talented
safety out Of South, carolina and in the email he
writes that he killed it at the. Combine his stats are.
GREAT i know That sarks has more experience and came
from a better program At, georgia but the best rated
safety in my mind Was Emon. Worri and Then Emo
warri ends up going To seattle With mike. McDonald of,
(22:32):
course Former ravens defensive. Coordinator So johannes is just asking
Why starks Over Emon.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
WORRI i, MEAN i think that the short, Answers Malachi
starks checked more, boxes AND i, think, YEAH nicki memory
tests a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Better at the.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
COMBINE i think from a production's production, standpoint they were
pretty much on level. FOOTING i wouldn't say anybody had an,
edge but you, know, Yes emore blew up the. Combine
malachi didn't necessarily buil up the, combine.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
But is a very athletic.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Dude fast has all the athletic attributes you, want maybe
not to the testing degree Of Nick Ema, moory but
plenty athletic. Enough AND i Think malachi checks some other
boxes perhaps That nick didn't in terms of like the,
leadership the football intelligence on the, field the. VERSATILITY i
think he probably has a little bit more versatility Than Emon.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Worri and if you're looking.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
At what the best compliment To Kyle hamilton would, BE
i Think Malachi starks as a better compliment probably Than
Emon morriy would.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Be Iman worri is.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
In my, eyes kind of very similar To Kyle hamilton
in a big bodied you, know can play close to
the line of scrimmage and bang around in. There Whereas,
malachi The ravens really feel like his best position and
he can play, many but his best position is kind
of as that free. Safety he can play him single,
high you, know kind of be the center fielder with
(23:56):
a big time range over the, top making plays over the.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Top that's not Really Nick Emon moorey's. Strength, Yeah SO
i Think.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Malachi checked more boxes and AND i think he was
a better fit for the for what The ravens wanted
to Compliment Kyle.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
HAMILTON i just think, Overall malachi was a better overall.
Player he was a number one rated safety on The ravens.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Board this is.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
A three, year super productive player At, georgia had a
pick like his fourth college play playing in THE sec
on super talented defense that won the national. Championship so
like he came in right, away was an impact player At,
georgia played throughout his college, career incredibly smart and like
the testing, thing Like Emon wore had the better overall.
Combine he was the guy that everybody was talking about
(24:41):
from a testing standpoint coming out of the. Combine but
as we've both said, before that kind of disguises the
fact that it makes you think That Malachi starks had
a bad.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Combine he.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Didn't he was very he had he was very incredibly
highly on some of the other testing, categories not the
forty like e and he's not as big as even,
worry but like he's plenty. Athletic and then you match
that with the, production the, intelligence the, leadership who he
is as a, person the film, study all.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
That you checked all the. BOXES i Mean Eric consta
said it on the. Podcast that was the exact.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Quote he checked all the.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Boxes so if you check all the, boxes it's hard
for another guy to beat you.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Out, yeah, right ALEC i got A a.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Plus, yeah and so you can't top, that, Right so
we appreciate the.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Question there you hat us and as always you can
email us at the lounge At ravens DOT nfl dot.
Nets we are going to continue breaking down everything over
the course of the off. Season OTA's are around the
corner and now that the draft is in the rear
view mirror and then schedule release is coming up next
week scheduled THE nfl Scheduled Travel, draft which means it's
the Travel, draft which is always a fun episode and.
(25:49):
Again that schedule drops Next wednesday, night eight, pm.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
So we are very excited about.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
That thank you so much for, listening and we will
talk with you again soon
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