Less than three weeks after selecting nine players in the 2014 draft, the Ravens have all but one under contract after announcing they’ve signed first-round linebacker C.J. Mosley on Monday.
The University of Alabama product was the 17th overall selection and is expected to start at the weakside inside linebacker spot next to veteran Daryl Smith in the base 3-4 defense. Mosley was the highest selection made by the Ravens since defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was the 12th overall pick of the 2006 draft.
The 2013 Butkus Award winner made a strong impression with the coaching staff at rookie minicamp after members of the organization had been impressed with both his ability and leadership qualities throughout the pre-draft process. He totaled 320 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, 19 pass breakups, five interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 51 career games at Alabama and is third on the Crimson Tide’s all-time tackles list.
“He seems very comfortable in a defense. He understands the game very well. He’s been really well-coached, obviously, down [at Alabama],” head coach John Harbaugh said on May 17. “It’s not like he doesn’t know what gap he is fitting in. It’s not like he doesn’t know what adjustment to make. That’s a long way ahead for a rookie. Plus, he is athletic, and he moves around really well.”
Third-round safety Terrence Brooks is the only one of the Ravens’ nine draft choices who remains unsigned.
