Having kept at least one rookie free agent on the season-opening 53-man roster in 17 of the last 18 seasons, the Ravens take their undrafted signings seriously as 17 players were officially inked to deals for the start of this weekend’s rookie camp.
Unsurprisingly, Baltimore signed six undrafted rookie wide receivers after trading No. 1 wideout Marquise Brown and not selecting one with any of their 11 picks in last weekend’s draft. Whether any of these first-year receivers will be worthy of a roster spot remains to be seen, but there should be no shortage of opportunities with only four wide receivers who played regular-season snaps last season — Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, and Tylan Wallace — returning for 2022.
General manager Eric DeCosta also added four undrafted linebackers with the Ravens not having much depth inside or on the edge.
In addition to these 17 signings and the 11 draft picks, the Ravens have invited a number of tryout players to Owings Mills for the rookie camp with some having a legitimate chance to be signed at some point in the coming days and weeks. Despite the Naval Academy announcing several days ago that former Midshipmen linebacker Diego Fagot was joining the Ravens, he was not listed among the official signings, making his current status unclear.
Below is a brief look at all 17 rookie free agents who had officially signed contracts as of Friday afternoon:
WR Slade Bolden, Alabama
Skinny: One of the more recognizable names after making 42 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last year, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound slot receiver has limited athleticism to go with good hands and special-teams ability.
WR Shemar Bridges, Fort Valley State
Skinny: At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, the 24-year-old has good size and registered 98 catches for 1,358 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 career games, earning an invitation to play in the 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.
QB Anthony Brown, Oregon
Skinny: The 6-foot-1, 217-pound quarterback made 42 starts over a five-year collegiate career with Boston College and Oregon and ran for a career-high 658 yards last season.
WR Trevon Clark, California
Skinny: The 6-foot-3, 193-pound wideout started 10 games and caught 33 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns for the Bears last season, leading the Pac-10 and ranking seventh in the nation at 19.9 yards per catch.
OT Aron Johnson, South Dakota State
Skinny: The 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman made 40 career starts between left and right tackle and was part of an offense that ran for 231.7 rushing yards per game and allowed only 10 sacks last season.
ILB Zakoby McClain, Auburn
Skinny: Projected by some to be a late-round pick, the 5-foot-11, 227-pound McClain was a two-year starter at Auburn and plays a physical and fast style that should give him a chance to crack the roster if he excels on special teams.
OLB Jeremiah Moon, Florida
Skinny: The combination of 6-foot-5, 247-pound size and athleticism is intriguing, but his extensive injury history and multiple position changes leave his optimal fit at the next level a mystery the Ravens are interested in exploring.
S Chris Moore, Georgia State
Skinny: Not to be confused with the former Ravens wide receiver, the 6-foot-1, 216-pound safety spent four years at Virginia before spending his final two collegiate seasons at Georgia State, making 104 tackles in 22 career games there.
DT Rayshad Nichols, Stephen F. Austin
Skinny: The 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive lineman collected 136 tackles, 16 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 51 career games over five seasons, but 10 of those sacks game last season.
RB Ricky Person, North Carolina State
Skinny: Playing quite a bit over his four seasons with the Wolfpack, the 6-foot, 217-pound back ran for 1,979 yards and 14 touchdowns in his 40 career games, 14 of them starts.
WR Makai Polk, Mississippi State
Skinny: Considered another late-round draft candidate, the 6-foot-3, 197-pound Polk played two seasons at Cal before transferring to Mississippi State and catching a whopping 105 passes for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021.
ILB Josh Ross, Michigan
Skinny: Undersized at 6-foot and 225 pounds, Ross is very familiar with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and led the Wolverines with a career-high 106 tackles, making him a name to watch despite perceived limitations in pass coverage.
CB David Vereen, Newberry
Skinny: The 5-foot-9, 188-pound defensive back played in 38 career games for the Division II school, collecting 112 tackles, five interceptions, and 35 pass breakups.
WR Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
Skinny: The versatile 6-foot-2, 204-pound Webb saw action at wide receiver, running back, and on special teams, accumulating 102 receptions for 2,151 yards and 22 touchdowns over 57 career games.
OLB Chuck Wiley, Texas-San Antonio
Skinny: Over a combined six seasons at Ole Miss and Texas-San Antonio, the 6-foot-2, 251-pound Wiley collected 137 tackles and 11 sacks in 59 games, 28 of which were starts.
CB Denzel Williams, Villanova
Skinny: After starting for three years at Sacred Heart, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Williams appeared in 15 games over two seasons with Villanova, finishing with 28 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.
WR Devon Williams, Oregon
Skinny: A 6-foot-5, 211-pound frame allows Williams to high-point the ball effectively and his 35 receptions for 557 yards and four touchdowns last season were career highs, but his ability to separate and route-running skills are question marks.
