The Baltimore Ravens signed Angelo Blackson, a defensive lineman from the Chicago Bears. The deal will be small, and he only is guaranteed a chance to make the roster, but based on the Ravens' depth chart, he should have a good shot.
Baltimore Ravens sign Angelo Blackson
Blackson will be entering his ninth season in the NFL so he is a trusted veteran at this point. He spent the last two seasons in Chicago but fell out of favor in 2022. However, that can be explained by the Bears adjusting to a new front office, and coaching staff in 2022. The coach and GM that he signed to play for in 2021 were not on the team anymore, and he was asked to play out of position.
Angelo Blackson is more comfortable in the 5-technique role as a DE in a 3-4 look more than he was in the 3-technique role as a DT in a 4-3 look. So, coming to the Baltimore Ravens should help him.
With that in mind, he should be able to make an impact this season. The Ravens typically keep six defensive linemen along the interior. When you look at the Ravens depth chart, the team has Michael Pierce, and Travis Jones as the nose tackles. Then, along the interior, it would be Broderick Washington and Justin Madubuike rushing from nickel looks.
Behind them would be Brent Urban and Angelo Blackson. Urban was on the Chicago Bears in 2020, and Blackson replaced him in the same role in 2021, so the two definitely fit a similar style of player.
The reality is that the Baltimore Ravens needed to add some depth along the defensive line. Blackson checks in at fifth or sixth on the depth chart mainly because there are nothing but questions behind him.
Rayshad Nichols was a UDFA last year, and he was active for a game with the Ravens. Still, before Blackson came in, he was getting close to looking like a roster lock. They needed to add competition. The only other names in the room at this point are Kai Caesar and Trey Botts, and both of them are rookie UDFAs.
So, rather them guaranteeing one of those unproven players a roster spot, they brought in Angelo Blackson. Blackson will be the favorite to make a roster spot, but if he does get cut this summer, it would mean that one of the young UDFAs legitimately won the job, and were not just handed it due to numbers.