As the Ravens began their voluntary offseason workout program at their Owings Mills training facility on Monday, they officially said farewell to 2019 third-round wide receiver Miles Boykin.
Having plummeted down the depth chart during his injury-plagued 2021 campaign, Boykin was scheduled to carry a salary cap number of just over $2.7 million after reaching proven performance escalators over his first two seasons, which led to Eric DeCosta moving on from the third player he selected in his first draft as general manager. The Ravens had previously hoped to work out a trade, but the 25-year-old’s departure will now save $2.54 million on this year’s salary cap.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wideout from Notre Dame started fast in his first training camp — even drawing a comparison to three-time Pro Bowl selection Michael Thomas from ex-teammate and former New Orleans Saint Willie Snead that summer — and was a strong blocker in Baltimore’s record-setting rushing attack. However, his slow development as a pass-catching option prompted DeCosta to draft four more wide receivers over the next two drafts. Boykin caught 32 passes for 464 yards and seven touchdowns over his first two seasons, but he made just one reception for six yards in eight games last year as he dealt with hamstring and finger injuries.
The Ravens also signed exclusive-rights free agents Tyler Huntley, Trystan Colon, Kristian Welch, and Nick Moore to their respective tenders on Monday. Those transactions were simple formalities with those players being back in the building for the start of offseason training.
The opening phase of the nine-week program lasts two weeks and is limited to strength and conditioning work as well as meetings and physical rehabilitation. Coaches aren’t permitted to lead players in on-field workouts during this portion of the offseason program.
This phase of the program is voluntary, of course, but many players attend regularly, especially young players and fringe veterans wanting to improve — or maintain — their footing within the organization. The Ravens will provide interview access to several players and head strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders on Wednesday, but photos and videos released by the team showed many players present for the first day, a list including Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey, Patrick Ricard, Tyus Bowser, Rashod Bateman, Patrick Queen, Patrick Mekari, Gus Edwards, Josh Bynes, Devin Duvernay, Justin Madubuike, James Proche, Ben Cleveland, Tyre Phillps, Broderick Washington, Sam Koch, Tony Jefferson, Geno Stone, Josh Oliver, Trystan Colon, Justice Hill, Daelin Hayes, Iman Marshall, Colon, Moore, and Welch among others.
The second phase of the program lasts three weeks and includes on-field workouts that may include individual instruction and drills as well as team practice as long as the offense and defense do not work against each other. No live contact is permitted, and drills must be conducted at “a walk-through pace.”
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The third and final phase of the program lasts four weeks and permits teams to conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity (OTAs), which remain voluntary. No live contact is permitted, but teams may run 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills. Teams may also hold one mandatory minicamp for all players during the final phase of the offseason program.
Teams are permitted to hold a seven-week development program as well as one minicamp for rookie players, which typically takes place the week after the draft.
Earlier this month, the NFL released the following dates for Baltimore’s OTA and mandatory minicamp schedule, but these have been subject to adjustments in the past:
First Day: April 18
OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-26, May 31-June 2, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 14-16
