The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL at finding diamonds in the rough. Whether that's late in the draft or in undrafted free agency, the Ravens know what they're looking for at these points and have seemingly found another player that fits the mold.
Keyon Martin was signed as a UDFA out of Louisiana and he had one heck of a hill to climb when he joined the Ravens after not hearing his name called on draft day. Very few people expected Martin to be a legitimate roster threat but after the preseason he put together this summer, if he does earn a spot on the 53-man roster, he'd have absolutely earned it.
Why Keyon Martin is the Ravens' biggest preseason winner
The battle that UDFAs face when signing with a team is always a difficult one. They went undrafted, meaning no team wanted to spend a draft pick on them and right off the bat, that puts them behind players who actually heard their names called.
That didn't stop Martin from tearing it up this preseason. The Louisiana product recorded a safety against the Cowboys and then might have sealed his roster fate with a pick-six against the Commanders. Sure the guy didn't get drafted but he's shown that he can pack a punch and the Ravens would be fools not to keep him around.
The one thing working against Martin when it comes to making the roster is that the Ravens would likely have to carry seven cornerbacks if they opted to keep him. It feels worth it but will the coaching staff agree?
The other cornerbacks who will make the team are Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and T.J. Tampa. Throw Martin in there and that's quite the group.
With how much the Ravens value their defense, Martin has done everything he can to show why he belongs to be a part of this unit. Now it's time to reward him and see what he can bring to the team during the regular season.