Ravens grab S.C. State safety Christian Thompson with 4th-round compensatory pick

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Looking to add depth at the safety position, the Ravens selected South Carolina State safety Christian Thompson with their fourth-round compensatory pick at No. 130 overall.
After backup safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura departed in free agency, the Ravens found themselves in a tenuous situation at the position with starters Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard entering the final year of their respective contracts. Baltimore signed veteran Sean Considine to a one-year contract, but Thompson provides a long-term option to develop as well as an immediate special-teams contributor.
Thompson began his career at Auburn but elected to transfer to South Carolina State after receiving limited action while adjusting to playing in the secondary. He was a linebacker in high school.
“He is a hard hitter,” coach John Harbaugh said. “As [secondary coach] Teryl Austin says, he is a thick hitter. He really gets after people physically. He ended up at South Carolina State for various reasons. I think he has learned from whatever mistakes he has made.”
Thompson has ideal size for the safety position at 6-foot-0 and 211 pounds and can play either safety spot.

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