The Baltimore Ravens wasted no time hopping on the undrafted free agent train after the well-received 2024 NFL Draft, as they managed to sign more than a dozen quality athletes who may not have shown enough to convince a pro team out there to take a chance on their raw athletic ability.
Not only are there bunches of UDFAs who end up making the final 53-man roster and becoming reliable pros, but the Ravens have been a particularly fertile ground for those players in the past. Justin Tucker, Priest Holmes, and Bart Scott went from being undrafted to becoming stars, and the Ravens could set the stage for yet another launch to stardom.
The Ravens will likely keep one or two members of their undrafted class close by, as Baltimore has historically done a great job of trawling the UDFA market looking for diamonds in the rough. Any one of these four players could end up turning into a player who makes the final roster.
5 UDFAs who could make Baltimore Ravens' roster
5. Darrian Dalcourt, OG, Alabama
Dalcourt spent five years at Alabama, holding down a full-time starting job how two years before splitting time at right guard during his final season. While Alabama's pedigree as an offensive line producer will get teams interested, his poor testing numbers as an athlete made him much less attractive.
His versatility could make him as attractive to the Ravens as seventh-rounder Nick Samac, who is likely slotted in as the backup center behind Tyler Linderbaum. The bones of a solid lineman are there, and the Ravens could benefit if they stash him on the back end of the roster as a rookie.
UDFA LB Yvandy Rigby could make the Baltimore Ravens
4. Yvandy Rigby, LB, Temple
A three-year contributor with the Owls, Rigby was often overshadowed by teammate amd new Washington Commanders fifth-round pick Jordan Magee. Looking at his numbers and tape shows that he is more than worth a chance as an NFL backup and potential special teas dynamo.
Rigby finished his final three seasons with 190 tackles and four sacks, showcasing solid speed and hitting ability. With the linebacker situation outside of Roquan Smith both messy and far from being settled, Rigby might be fast enough to beat out a fringe veteran player and stick as a backup.
3. Joe Evans, EDGE, Iowa
The Hawkeyes' offense was putrid, but the defense was among the best in the country once again. Evans was a classic Big Ten end who gutted out high-volume production on the back of a relentless motor while simultaneously overwhelming opponents with crazy athleticism.
Evans finished his five-year Iowa career with 28 sacks. Evans recorded better 3-cone and shuttle times than any of the edge rushers at the NFL Combine, and he tallied a solid 4.67 40-yard dash at 252 pounds. While a bit small at 6-1, Evans' production and solid athleticism could make him a worthwhile backup who works his way into the rotation.
UDFA WR Dayton Wade could make the Baltimore Ravens
2. Dayton Wade, WR, Ole Miss
While Wade is coming from an offense that is nothing even close to what he will experience in the pros and clocks in at a very tiny 5-9 and 175 pounds, his speed and overall athletic talent helped him take off as one of Jaxson Dart's best downfield playmakers during his two years as a Rebel.
Wade recorded 803 yards on 55 catches last year, showing some serious separation skills and elusiveness as a ball carrier. While Deonte Harty has some equity built up in the league as a returner, it's not crazy to envision a future in which Wade ends up filling the same role at the back end of the depth chart.
1. Beau Brade, SAF, Maryland
One player who stands out amid the collection of Ravens players vying for the unlikely shot of making the 53-man roster is Brade. Considering his college pedigree, and status as a more refined defensive back. Baltimore using a pick on Purdue's Sanoussi Kane over him was mildly surprising.
Using Arif Hasan's consensus Big Board (which aggregates dozens of expert big boards from top draft analysts), Brade has some serious pedigree. Brade was the third-highest-ranked player (trailing only UCLA EDGE Gabriel Murphy and Miami DT Leonard Taylor) and the top defensive back who was not selected in the Draft.
UDFA Safety Beau Brade could make the Baltimore Ravens
Brade's tackling ability leaves something to be desired due to inconsistent pursuit angles, and he likely went undrafted primarily due to a lack of solid speed. Despite that, Brade projects as a quality backup safety who shows smart zone coverage instincts and some excellent run support.
Brade, who picked off three passes and amassed 160 tackles in the last two seasons, was productive enough to be the lynchpin in a Maryland secondary that also sent Tarheeb Still to the NFL. The Ravens have high hopes for Kane, but in terms of being a pure coverage defensive back, Brade is currently miles above the Purdue alum as a player.