OTL: Decision Day for Ravens, Patrick Queen

May 1 doesn’t seem like an important day for the National Football League in comparison to the preceding weekend, but it is. Not only is it the deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year option for 2020 first-rounders – in the Ravens’ case, Patrick Queen – but free agent signings no longer count towards the compensatory pick formula for the 2024 draft, kicking off another wave of free agency.

Predictions:
– PQ will not have his 5th year option picked up
– Rock Ya-Sin and Justin Houston will be signed once Lamar Jackson’s deal is formalized. #RavensFlock

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) May 1, 2023

I agree with Cole on all counts. The selection of Trenton Simpson in the third round on Friday makes it clear that Queen’s long-term future is not in Baltimore. The Ravens might still pick up his fifth-year option – projected to be $12.7 million by OverTheCap – if they’re close to trading Queen and his next team wants the extra year. But his salary would be among the top-10 of inside linebackers, which may not accurately represent Queen’s value.

Just before publication, heard this:

The Ravens will not pick up Patrick Queen’s fifth/year option, source says.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 1, 2023

We’ll see if it becomes official, but Jeff Z is usually quite reliable.

The ‘you can never have too many corners’ Ravens also surprised many by not taking a cornerback with one of their top picks in the draft. While I’m a huge fan of Kyu Blu Kelly’s game – more on him later – it’s clear that Baltimore has something in place to shore up their secondary. Marcus Peters would make sense, but I prefer the younger Rock Ya-Sin on a two- or three-year deal while the recently-drafted cornerbacks get up to NFL speed.

Sign me up for the Justin Huston reunion, though. His discovery of the Fountain of Youth in Baltimore has been a revelation, with the 34-year-old leading the team in backfield production in the last two seasons.

There are some other veteran names out there that I’d kick the tires on, like Kyle Van Noy and Adrian Amos, but I haven’t gotten over my excitement for the Ravens incoming draft class.

Our 2023 #NFLDraft class. pic.twitter.com/569UzC2aOb

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 30, 2023

I’ve given my initial thoughts on Zay Flowers and Trenton Simpson, so I’ll focus on the Ravens’ Day 3 picks.

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Ravens Draft Class 🐦‍⬛ #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/kOACFs342A

— 🏜 (@SimplyAS10) April 30, 2023

Ole Miss DE Tavius Robinson is the kind of physical specimen that Baltimore loves to take a chance on with a Day 3 pick. There’s plenty to unlock in his game, but his nose for the ball and relentless, violent finishing ability is a great foundation to build from, not to mention his long, bendy frame.

Tavius Robinson:

• Senior, Mississippi
• 6’6 260lbs
• seven sacks
• eight tackles for loss
• five forced fumbles (2nd in FBS)

pic.twitter.com/uHkNVd330d

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) April 29, 2023

It will be interesting to see how he fits into Baltimore’s defense. Mike Macdonald is not married to his players’ listed positions, but he’ll still need to find a role for Robinson. If the fourth-rounder stays at 260 pounds, he will likely stay on the edge, but adding some mass could give him the flexibility to kick inside and use his length to cause problems for offensive guards in pass protection.

I love the Ravens’ next pick, Stanford CB Kyu Blu Kelly. For my money, he’s one of the best press-man specialists in the class, with both the length and the short-area quickness to stymie opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage. He’s patient in coverage, which keeps him from getting caught out of position where his lack of elite long speed can get him in trouble.

New Ravens CB Kyu Blu Kelly against Jordan Addison this past season in man pic.twitter.com/x74trlHXVG

— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) April 29, 2023

Blu Kelly didn’t play in the slot too much in college, but I think he could do so in the NFL if he can become more physical and aggressive against opposing ballcarriers. Too often, he gets caught behind blocks and struggles to make an impact in run defense and against screens. But he’s got Marlon Humphrey’s seal of approval, and that’s more than good enough for me!

Next up is Oregon OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, a well-built, physically-gifted blocker who graded out well at right tackle in college. He’ll probably kick inside to guard in the NFL, but that versatility to play tackle in a pinch is always appreciated in Baltimore.

New Ravens OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu was one of my top RD 6-7 targets. 6'5" 317 w/easy power & plus movement skills. Needs plenty of refinement using his hands + playing w/more consistent leverage, but a lot to like at pick 199

Report: https://t.co/MZMap632ZM

10 play snapshot: pic.twitter.com/pn1GuHlTYd

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 29, 2023

The Ravens have hit on late-round linemen quite a few times in recent years, so Aumavae-Laulu could develop into a startable guard by the end of his rookie deal. He certainly has the athletic profile to do so, and Joe D’Alessandris has a history of refining technique while maintaining players’ competitive, physical style of blocking.

After that, it seemed like the Ravens would be done on Day 3, but they traded back into the draft to take USC OL Andrew Vorhees, a shrewd EDC move to secure a highly-touted prospect who nearly went undrafted due to an ACL tear at the Combine.

Andrew Vorhees tore his ACL during the NFL combine, but that didn't stop him from benching the MOST reps of any player (38).

Today, he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens 🙌

(🎥: @uscfb) pic.twitter.com/T2p0OQ9W1P

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 29, 2023

He came back the next day to put up 38 bench press reps, tops in the 2023 draft class. That physical and mental toughness was thought to keep his draft stock high enough to get selected, and the Ravens probably didn’t want to use one of their five picks on a redshirt rookie. Vorhees’ college tape is that of a future NFL starting offensive lineman, though, and his Combine performance has to give the team some confidence in his ability to come back from his injury. This will go down as a steal once Vorhees is starting on the Baltimore’s offensive line in the next few seasons.

But as always, the Ravens weren’t done adding to their team during draft weekend, signing a large undrafted free agent class including 6-foot-4 Maryland wideout Dontay Demus Jr. and speedy ECU running back Keaton Mitchell.

Resharing this after Dontay Demus signed with the Ravens as an UDFA. Take all that talk about UDFA's not being talented and shove it.
Demus can play, and I'm glad he will get the chance to prove it in Baltimore.#NFLDraft https://t.co/HHNgd3ukmu

— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) May 1, 2023

An exciting name on the #Ravens UDFA list is Keaton Mitchell of ECU.

He was on my list of RBs that I thought would be drafted. 4.37 speed fits the need to spread defense horizontally.

He's the son of @BigMitch42 , who had AFCD 2000 kick-6 at Ten:#Ravensflock pic.twitter.com/f0SRTGrpc4

— Ken McKusick (@FilmstudyRavens) April 30, 2023

Both players bring exciting physical profiles and solid college production to Baltimore, and will very much be in the mix for a roster spot come August. There’s plenty of time for those training camp battles to take shape; for now, I’m content with the simple fact that the Baltimore Ravens became a better football team this weekend.