The Baltimore Ravens have signed four players to reserve/future contracts ahead of next season.
We may still be months away from the start of the 2018 regular season but the Baltimore Ravens are already making moves. No, it isn’t any free agents signings but the Ravens signed four players to reserve/future contracts this season.
Here’s a look at who the Ravens chose to keep around. All four players finished the season on the practice squad.
QB- Josh Woodrum
RB- John Crockett
FB- Ricky Ortiz
OT- Steven Moore
Reserve/future contracts are one or two-year deals available to players who didn’t finish the season on the active roster. These players usually spend most of their time on the practice squad and this secures they stay around under team control for at least a year. Whether that means the team decides to keep these players the entirety of the summer is up for debate but the Ravens felt these four players provide some kind of importance heading into the 2018 season.
Second-year undrafted quarterback Josh Woodrum made noise for the Ravens during the preseason but was cut in favor of Ryan Mallett. Many thought Woodrum deserved a fair chance and now he can play his way on to the active roster this season with Ryan Mallett testing free agency.
Fullback Ricky Ortiz was also a player the Ravens kept for most of the preseason but decided to keep off the active roster. After losing Kyle Juszczyk, it was undrafted defensive lineman Pat Ricard who filled the void at fullback this season and was quite effective. If the Ravens are looking for more of a natural at the position, Ortiz could be an option.
Crockett and Moore joined the Ravens’ practice squad during the regular season and showed enough to be kept around during the new year. Moore provides some depth on the offensive line, especially with a versatile James Hurst set to be a free agent. Crockett had a big-time career with three years at North Dakota State and is another running back to add to the mix.