Ravens: 4 players with the most to prove in 2021 training camp
By Justin Fried
1. Jaylon Ferguson, OLB, Ravens
Perhaps the biggest competition the Ravens will have this summer is at outside linebacker. After losing both Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency, the Ravens will need a number of players to step up and replicate their production as best as possible.
One player they’re hoping finally breaks through is Jaylon Ferguson.
A third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ferguson has failed to make the impact the Ravens hoped he would through his first two NFL seasons.
The former Louisiana Tech star played 51 percent of defensive snaps as a rookie and was expected to play a significant role, but he managed just 2.5 sacks and nine QB hits.
He returned in 2020 but slowly faded out of the defensive gameplan as the season went on. So much so that he was rendered a healthy scratch for the final few games of the regular season and in the postseason.
Ferguson is being given one last chance to make an impact this season, but he’ll face some stiff competition.
Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee are the veterans of the group and could be early favorites to receive the most playing time. There are also 2021 NFL Draft picks Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes who figure to be in the mix.
Ferguson isn’t guaranteed anything. He’ll need to fight his way onto the field with a standout performance in training camp.
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Perhaps no player on the Ravens roster has more to prove this summer than Jaylon Ferguson.