With their final three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens took Kentucky QB Devin Leary, Michigan center Nick Samac, and Purdue safety Sanoussi Kane. RSR staff react to the picks here.
Darin McCann
Devin Leary
I did expect the Ravens to take a late shot at a potential backup this year, and Leary fits that mold. He’s a smart guy who was a captain at two different schools, per NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein, who added that Leary might find success in a play-action-based passing attack. Another arm for camp, but there’s a path to a roster spot if he can stand out.
Nick Samac
The Ravens have been thought to be looking for a replacement for Sam Mustipher as the backup center, and Samac figures to figure in that competition. He started for three years in the Big 10, and that’s big-boy football. The pick makes sense.
Sanoussi Kane
Kane appears to be a box safety/sub linebacker who is at his best close to the line and coming downhill. Those guys have value, but he should probably commit hard to special teams if he wants to make his mark early.
Nikhil Mehta
I’ll be one of the few who really likes this Devin Leary pick. He already had solid reviews from scouts at the Combine before a great throwing session. It’s a good Day 3 dart throw for a potential long-term backup on a rookie deal.
I’m less familiar with Nick Samac, but I have been calling for a long-term backup center in this draft. Samac fits that bill, with enough size to train up at guard and potentially get a look there later in his rookie contract.
Sanoussi Kane was not the safety many were expecting at 250. Like most Day 3 safeties, his best fit is as a downhill strong safety/dimeback in defense with clear potential on special teams.
I’ll wait to watch more film to critically evaluate the picks, but as for the process, I’m a fan. Addressing key long-term needs on Days 1 and 2 allowed a pure BPA approach on Day 3, and if the Ravens got their guys, it’s hard to fault the approach.
The meat of this class came in on Thursday and Friday; the late Day 3 picks are more about value and potential than immediate upside.
Jared Pinder
Round 6
Honestly this was a head-scratcher for me. I understand there was a need for a backup with Cunningham apparently being moved to a skill position, but this was the wrong backup to take. His tape just wasn’t good and Pratt was the better option. Don’t really get this one by EDC.
Round 7
Nick Samac is a good bet to win the backup center job. He is a good player with length and was a team captain for the Spartans. He is recovering from an injury so it is to be determined how ready he will be for the Season.
Sanoussi Kane is a hard-hitting box safety who will look to compete for a job. He wasn’t invited to the combine so there aren’t testing numbers for him. He looks like he can at least compete for a camp job.
Kevin McNelis
I can’t see I saw a QB pick coming. Maybe the Devin Leary selection signals that they’re not sold on Josh Johnson or Malik Cunningham as backups for this coming season, and bringing in a backup with five years of experience and an SEC pedigree will help stir the pot. Still, Leary’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page with 25 TDs to 12 INTs last season, and he’s far from a system fit as a rushing QB with -60 rushing yards last season. I gather there’s been conversation about how good his passing mechanics are, so silver linings there. I get that when you’re into the 6th and 7th rounds, you’re throwing darts, but it seems like darts at safety and guard could’ve landed some high upside depth at those positions.
The front office would never admit it, but I’ll bet you they had their hearts set on Beaux Limmer, and that when the Rams snatched him at 217, it threw a wrench in their plans and they had to pivot to another O-line choice. Michigan State Center Nick Samac has Big 10 experience, which is no small thing for O-line play, and run blocking is one of the better parts of his game, so at the very least, he could develop into a viable backup Center behind Tyler Linderbaum. I doubt you’ll see Samac getting into a battle for Guard depth, but maybe the Ravens see versatility in his game.
Through no fault of his own, Sanoussi Kane’s selection is going to ruffle some local feathers by being picked at 250, only because his name isn’t Beau Brade. Kane’s addition does add some Safety depth, and decent athleticism with an overall RAS of 8.18. At 6’0” and 215 running a respectable 4.52, Kane’s primary role is likely on special teams. With the track record the Ravens have of guys blossoming as late picks, though, maybe he learns behind the vets and has some Geno Stone-type growth.
I don’t think the feeding frenzy is over yet. I liked some of the guys that went undrafted, and I’d imagine medicals or unknown off-field stuff will surface later as reasons they slid. That said, if we can land Gabe Hall, Beau Brade or Curtis Jacobs as UDFAs, I’d be over the moon.
Rob Shields
For years, I have been saying the Ravens do not need to have a running QB as the backup. Any system can suit QBs. You may take certain plays out of it but all in all, it’s similar.
One of the quiet things about the Ravens org over the years is their ability to develop QBs, the failure of Kyle Boller notwithstanding. Will Leary develop? Who knows, but backup QB is a real need and hopefully that will work out.
The one thing I’m surprised about this draft is that they didn’t take a second lineman earlier. It’s OK that they didn’t but I’m surprised. They did manage to grab a potential a guy that has a lot expedience in a major college and great league. The Ravens have a history of being able to develop late round offensive linemen, so maybe? You take the flyer if you see something.
The last time they took a safety in the 7th round, it was Geno Stone, who was also at a Big Ten school. Safety is a need and Kane had a solid RAS score, so he’s worth the flyer.
