The Ravens have a very thin cornerback room just a little over two weeks from the start of the 2023 regular season. Multiple injuries have impacted the depth of the unit, and Baltimore is doing all it can to fix that glaring issue. So much so, that the franchise is signing former USFL superstars.
Baltimore claimed Tae Hayes off waivers following his release from the Detroit Lions roster on Saturday following the team's first preseason game, according to a source confirming the news to The Baltimore Sun.
Field Yates also reported the news about the Ravens claiming Hayes off of waivers from the Lions on Twitter.
The Ravens have claimed DB Tae Hayes off of waivers from the Lions.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 13, 2023
At just 25 years of age, it can be said that Hayes has already seen it all. He started his pro career after going undrafted coming out of Appalachian State in 2019 by signing a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He then became a member of the Dolphins, Vikings, Cardinals, and Panthers.
Lastly for him in the NFL, the New England Patriots signed him to a contract and the Lions inked a summer deal with the CB this very August before cutting him.
His 2022 season included five games with the Panthers and two games with the Patriots. He put up similar numbers for both organizations, getting three tackles donning Pats and Panthers threads for a combined six over seven games.
Head Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the team's concerns about the lack of depth at the cornerback position saying the current situation is an issue, no question."
Hayes also had a stint in the USFL in the spring of 2022, when he helped the Birmingham Stallions to conquer the championship as a vital member of their secondary. In the NFL, Hayes has appeared in a grand total of 13 games spanning four years.
The Ravens secondary faced considerable stress in the first preseason game with coaches having to play some players for way too many snaps, and definitely more than they would have wished.
All of Ar'Darius Washington, Kevon Seymour, and Brandon Stephens endured significant playing time while Daryl Worley (who has transitioned to safety ahead of 2023) was forced into manning the outside corner on Saturday.
The acquisition of Tae Hayes won't add any quality to the current room, but it will at least add another warm body and some much-needed depth to the Ravens' cornerback lineup.