Now that the Baltimore Ravens have introduced the rookies to the NFL, they get a few weeks off before the season starts at training camp. The Ravens are a team that drafts well and works hard to find gems as UDFAs who can make the roster.
While these are often players who take time to develop on the practice squad, a rookie UDFA may make the roster occasionally. Who are three of the Baltimore Ravens UDFAs in 2023 that may end up on the 53-man roster when the smoke clears?
3. Trey Botts may make the Baltimore Ravens based on the numbers game
Trey Botts is a UDFA from Colorado State-Pueblo, a Division II school. That definitely contributed to him going undrafted. The good news is that Botts dominated his competition. Still, this will be a significant step up in competition.
The best news for him making the roster comes down to the numbers on the roster more than his play, though. The Ravens will almost certainly keep six defensive linemen for depth purposes. They have Justin Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington as the young starters, followed by Michael Pierce, Brent Urban, and Angelo Blackson as the experienced depth.
In the case of Pierce, he has not been healthy for a full year since the pandemic, and Blackson was signed late in the offseason after struggling on the Chicago Bears' awful run defense. There are some possibilities for a hole or two to open up in the top six. Rayshad Nichols is the name to watch because he is a second-year UDFA. Botts may be on that track of sitting a year, then competing like Nichols is this year. Or, an injury to Pierce or the flaming out of Blackson could lead him to him sneaking on as a first-year player. It is on the table. Of course, the play of Botts has to decide this as well, and we will see when training camp comes.
2. Tashawn Manning has a shot to make the Baltimore Ravens roster
Tashawn Manning was invited to the NFL Combine, so many in the community saw him being a draft pick when all was said and done. With that in mind, Manning is probably one of the highest-graded UDFAs that the Baltimore Ravens have on their roster.
Manning also has a great shot to make the roster based on his experience and the depth chart around him. Manning spent four years at Auburn before making his quest to the NFL as a full-time starter at Kentucky.
Overall, he played 1,878 snaps, with 737 coming last year. Tashawn Manning played 980 snaps at left guard, and 894 snaps at right guard over the course of his career. Almost all of his 737 snaps last year were at right guard.
There are two ways to look at this. Andrew Vorhees is the potential future at right guard, but his injury will prevent him from making the roster. So, does Manning fill the backup right guard spot for the time being? The other thought is that the left guard job is wide open, and anyone could step in and land it. Do the Baltimore Ravens see Manning start to earn it this summer and either keep him on the roster or even consider starting him?
Normally this would not be a possibility, but with the left guard job so wide open, it can be considered.
1. Baltimore Ravens have to be intrigued with Jaylon Thomas
Jaylon Thomas is an intriguing UDFA that the Baltimore Ravens signed from SMU. He is a five-year starter for the Mustangs, and the most significant thing going for him is that experience. He not only has the experience, he has it in five different positions. That is significant.
He played right tackle as a freshman, mostly as a reserve, but then moved to left tackle as a full-time starter in his second and third years. He moved from left tackle to left guard a bit in 2021, and then in 2022 he ended up playing all five positions.
Thomas finished with 2,234 snaps at left tackle, 398 snaps at left guard, 88 snaps at center, 186 snaps at right guard, and 662 snaps at right tackle.
If you know the Baltimore Ravens, you know they love this. Patrick Mekari was the Baltimore Ravens' backup center until he became their backup left tackle. The Ravens love to find that type of player, and he always becomes valuable due to his skill set.
Thomas will have to prove himself in training camp, but a few depth spots are in flux on the roster. Can the versatility force their hands and keep him on the roster? At the least, he is a player to follow and see where he is lining up when the Ravens head to training camp.