Many players on the Baltimore Ravens’ 90-man roster are already established as productive NFL contributors, while others — like the rookies — will enter training camp with time and space to grow. And then there’s a group, as there is every year, caught somewhere between those realities.
Several recent draftees still hold realistic hope of developing into productive, starting-caliber pieces of a contending team but don’t have the luxury of time. These four Ravens are young, talented and facing pressure this summer to prove their value in order to make the roster:
Cornerback Anthony Averett
Averett’s provided a handful of encouraging signs over his first two NFL seasons. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Alabama filled in admirably for the injured Marlon Humphrey during a trip to play the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs his rookie year. And last season, Averett made three starts, contributed occasionally on special teams and turned in solid play in an expanded role during the regular-season finale.
Yet he’s struggled to take a lasting leap up the Ravens’ depth chart.
Part of that’s not Averett’s fault. Baltimore has prioritized loading up on quality veteran depth at corner, leaving young players at the position with a steep uphill climb to see the field. Humphrey, fellow All-Pro Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith and Tavon Young round out the top four cornerbacks on the roster for 2020.
Even so, Averett lost playing time to Maurice Canady early last season and hasn’t shown the versatility to emerge as an option as an inside cornerback when Young’s battled injuries.
The 5-foot-11 Averett remains an intriguing prospect because of his blazing speed, raw athletic traits and coachability. He just hasn’t played consistently well enough to force coaches to find a spot for him on the field week in and week out.
With 2019 fourth-round pick Iman Marshall hoping to show improvement and plenty of experienced defensive backs locked into contracts, Averett needs to make his move soon if he intends on leaving a large imprint in Baltimore.
Wide receiver Jaleel Scott
Last training camp, Scott emerged as a practice-time star. The Ravens’ technology clocked him running as fast as anyone on the field, according to coach John Harbaugh, and he often used his 6-foot-6 frame to sky over defenders to haul in impressive catches. He led the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in the preseason.
None of that carried over into the regular season. Scott, another 2018 fourth-round pick who spent his first professional season on the injured reserve list, was a non-factor during meaningful games in ‘19.
He suited up for just three of 16 regular-season contests and finished with one catch for 6 yards.
The Ravens have drafted four receivers the past two years, and sturdy slot specialist Willie Snead and special teams ace Chris Moore remain on the roster. Scott’s talented enough to keep coaches and teams optimistic about his future. But unless he has an even better showing in training camp this summer, he probably won’t get the chance to stick with the Ravens for a shot at regular-season success.
Defensive tackle Daylon Mack
Mack, a 330-pound nose tackle, was a fifth-round rookie last season who failed to take advantage of an opening for playing time and eventually landed on injured reserve. That wouldn’t be too big of a concern for Mack had the Ravens not drafted two interior linemen in April and re-signed nose tackle Justin Ellis.
If Mack and 2020 fifth-rounder Broderick Washington are neck-and-neck in the race for a roster spot come August, the Ravens will almost surely keep the more recent pick. Mack needs to clearly outplay his competition in training camp, unlike some other young players who might have more wiggle room on the path to the regular-season roster.
Safety DeShon Elliott
Moments of promise in practice and disappointing injuries have defined Elliott’s professional career so far. He landed on injured reserve with a broken arm during his rookie season in 2018. Last year, a week after veteran safety Tony Jefferson tore his ACL to open an opportunity for playing time in the secondary, Elliott suffered a season-ending knee injury of his own.
In 2020, the Ravens will have options for how to fill out their depth chart behind starting safeties Earl Thomas and Chuck Clark. Harbaugh said Jimmy Smith could play the position, Anthony Levine remains a valuable role player entering his ninth season in Baltimore and seventh-round rookie Geno Smith is eager to compete for time on the field.
Baltimore’s coaches will find space for Elliott in the locker room and on the field only if he stays healthy and turns his glimpses of potential into a static image.
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Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLive’s Ravens coverage on Facebook and Youtube.
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4 Baltimore Ravens young players facing make-or-break training camp - PennLive
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