After failing to select a cornerback until the fourth round of last month’s draft, the Ravens added veteran depth to their secondary with the signing of eighth-year cornerback Jerraud Powers on Friday.
The one-year deal is worth $1.75 million, according to NFL Network.
Most recently with the Arizona Cardinals, the 5-foot-10 Powers has started 82 games in his NFL career and will likely compete with Shareece Wright for the starting cornerback job opposite Jimmy Smith. A 2009 third-round pick of Indianapolis, the Auburn product has the ability to play both outside and in the slot, bringing more versatility to new secondary coach Leslie Frazier’s cornerback group that also includes veterans Kyle Arrington and Will Davis as well as 2016 draft picks Tavon Young and Maurice Canady.
Powers has collected 380 tackles, 11 interceptions, 69 pass breakups, two sacks, and three forced fumbles in his NFL career. In 2015, the 28-year-old missed three games due to hamstring and calf injuries, but he started all other games including Arizona’s two playoff contests.
By waiting until after May 12 to sign Powers, the Ravens are still in line to receive a compensatory pick for the departure of starting left guard Kelechi Osemele as all unrestricted free agents signed after that date do not factor into the formula.
The Ravens also waived veteran wide receiver Marlon Brown, defensive end Nordly Capi, safety Nick Perry, and defensive back Jermaine Whitehead on Friday.
A feel-good story as a rookie free agent who caught 49 passes for 524 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, the 6-foot-5 Brown struggled in each of the last two seasons and was considered a long shot to make the 53-man roster this fall. After the Ravens elected not to tender him as a restricted free agent, they had re-signed him to a one-year contract in March.
The organization also announced it signed first-round offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley to a four-year contract, leaving only third-round defensive end Bronson Kaufusi and sixth-round wide receiver Keenan Reynolds unsigned from their 2016 draft class.
