Ravens: 3 takeaways from the first week of 2021 OTAs
By Justin Fried
2. Eli Wolf is pushing for a roster spot with the Ravens
The Ravens are expected to have a fierce battle at tight end this summer with a number of intriguing players fighting for roster spots toward the bottom of the depth chart.
But after the first stage of OTAs, the one player who undoubtedly shined the most was Eli Wolf.
An undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 2020, Wolf spent his entire rookie season developing on the practice squad. That one year of development seems to have served him well as he looked more comfortable on the practice field than he did a year ago.
Wolf was one of the stars of the week showing strong hands and flashing with his athleticism. The converted wide receiver is still learning the position, but the early signs are promising.
The 24-year-old still faces an uphill battle as he looks to lock down a roster spot. Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Patrick Ricard, and Ben Mason seem to have guaranteed roles on the team.
Assuming the Ravens keep one more tight end/fullback, Wolf will have to beat out special-teams standout Eric Tomlinson, offseason trade acquisition Josh Oliver, Jacob Breeland, and Tony Poljan.
It’s a crowded depth chart, but Wolf might possess the greatest upside of them all.
Oliver also flashed, but if Wolf continues to impress as he did in OTAs, it’ll be hard to keep him off the initial 53-man roster.