While the 2000 Baltimore Ravens are an iconic team with Hall of Famers all over the field, some of their best performers went unnoticed. Near the top of the list is Qadry Ismail, still one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of a Ravens franchise who has often struggled at that position.
In three years with the Ravens, the former Vikings pick recorded two 1,000-yard seasons despite Tony Banks and Elvis Grbac as his quarterbacks. The one year he didn't hit 1,000 was 2000, when he was the top receiver on a Super Bowl-winning team with arguably the greatest defense in league history.
The Ravens had success with one member of the Ismail family tree, so why not sign a second? Qadry may have been a second-round pick, but his son is getting a chance to carve out a role for himself as an undrafted free agent sensation.
The Ravens agreed to terms with former Samford wide receiver Qadir Ismail, who is Qadry's son. A 6-6 wide receiver with length and speed, signing Ismail was more than just a favor to his dad. He is a legitimate pro prospect with the athletic ability needed to stick in an ideal situation.
We have signed WR Qadir Ismail, son of Qadry 💜https://t.co/nNZd910RuO
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 20, 2024
Baltimore Ravens sign WR Qadir Ismail, son of Qadry Ismail
Ismail started his college career as a 6-6 quarterback at Villanova, but eventually converted to wide receiver and transferred to Samford. In his final three seasons in college, Ismail tallied 27 catches and 338 yards between the Wildcats and Bulldogs.
While that lack of tremendous production will make him a questionable fit on this roster, anyone with his frame, speed, and NFL bloodlines will get a look. If the Ravens didn't take a gamble on his enticing bag of physical tools, someone else would have. He could evolve into a solid practice squad Swiss Army Knife.
Ismail is one of many second-generation players trying to make NFL rosters. High draft picks Joe Alt, Kris Jenkins Jr, and Luke McCaffrey were all brought up by former NFL mainstays. Ismail joins a group of undrafted free agents including Frank Gore Jr. in Buffalo and Terique Owens (son of Terrell Owens) in San Francisco.
Ismail is one of the few Ravens wide receivers in the early 2000s who managed to consistently get open and reel off big chunk plays. If his son is one-third the player he was, Baltimore could end up with one of the steals of the UDFA market.