American Football

Ravens 2024 Draft Grades: High marks across the board

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Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK

Grades range from A to B-

2024 NFL Draft: Final quick-snap grades for all 32 teams

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Baltimore Ravens

Grade A-

Draft picks

Clemson DB Nate Wiggins (No. 30 overall)

Washington OT Roger Rosengarten (No. 62)

Penn State LB Adisa Isaac (No. 93)

North Carolina WR Devontez Walker (No. 113)

Iowa State DB T.J. Tampa (No. 130)

Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (No. 165)

Kentucky QB Devin Leary (No. 218)

Michigan State C Nick Samac (No. 228)

Purdue DB Sanoussi Kane (No. 250)

Day 1 grade: B

Day 2 grade: A

Day 3 grade: A

Analysis: The Ravens had yet another solid draft. Wiggins’ elite recovery speed earned him a first-round slot, but he must answer questions about how his lean frame and inconsistent tackling translates to the next level. Rosengarten and Isaac were great value picks at two need spots.

I liked the selection of Walker, an outside playmaker, early in Round 4, even after the team re-upped Rashod Bateman. Tampa’s size and strength at the catch point made him worthy of a Day 2 pick, but Baltimore landed him on Day 3. Ali is coming off a biceps injury suffered at the Senior Bowl. Leary’s arm and experience gained him a draft spot. Samac’s a powerful interior lineman.

2024 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams

Trevor Sikkema, PFF

BALTIMORE RAVENS: A-

Wiggins — The Ravens select the lengthy but light Wiggins to play alongside Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton in their secondary. Wiggins’ closing speed is elite, and he showed good press ability in college despite his frame. He led the ACC with an 89.4 PFF coverage grade over the last two seasons. If he can handle NFL receivers’ play strength, he has immense potential.

Rosengarten — The Ravens may have found their new starting right tackle in Washington‘s Roger Rosengarten. He needs to add some strength, but he is a high-effort player and an excellent pass protector. He posted a 79.9 true pass set grade in 2023, which was far better before a tough fourth quarter in the national championship game. If he acclimates to NFL play strength, he could be one of the steals of the second round.

Isaac — Isaac’s slide ends, as PFF’s 38th-ranked player lands in Baltimore. While he needs to add strength to hold up to the grind of an NFL season, he already has great handwork to win as a pass-rusher. Since 2022, he has recorded 69 pressures and 13 sacks while generating a 13.1% pass-rush win rate. Isaac also dominated in run defense, posting an 11.4% run-stop percentage, fourth among edge rushers.

Walker — The Ravens finally land a wide receiver, and it’s a player who many expected to be off the board by now. His 10 receptions on throws 20-plus yards downfield ranked third in the ACC, so he can be a big-play threat in Baltimore right away.

Tampa — T.J. Tampa is a highly skilled cornerback when utilized in single coverage, and Iowa State gave him the keys to the castle on most of their defensive snaps. He went against very solid competition in the Big 12 in 2022 and 2023 and impressively held his own. Tampa will fit well within the Ravens’ defensive backfield, where tackling is also prioritized.

Ali — Ali has had some massive seasons for Marshall, having racked up over 1,100 rushing yards in b021 and 2023. Over the last three seasons, he has 69 rushes of at least 10 yards. Baltimore continues to add depth to their backfield, with Ali filling in behind Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell.

Leary — The Ravens were expected to address quarterback at some point in this draft as they look to improve their backup options to Lamar Jackson. Leary in his lone season at Kentucky earned a 72.1 PFF grade, with 17 big-time throws and 23 turnover-worthy plays.

Samac — Samac allowed one sack and 13 total pressures on 345 pass-blocking reps in 2023. In the run game, he was at his best on pull leads, earning positive grades on 33.3% of reps without a single negative grade play while executing the run concept.

Kane — Kane wasn’t on the PFF big board, earning just a 56.9 PFF coverage grade in his final season at Purdue. He played 1,748 snaps over three seasons at Purdue, and his 70.1 PFF run-defense grade in 2023 indicates that his best route to snaps early will come on special teams.

2024 NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper’s winners, losers, sleepers

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

Baltimore Ravens: B+

Top needs entering the draft: Cornerback, offensive line, edge defender

The Ravens parted ways with a handful of starters from their 13-4 team, including guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson, right tackle Morgan Moses, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, cornerback Ronald Darby and linebacker Patrick Queen. They have a few players from the 2022 and 2023 drafts who could step up as starters this season, but there are big shoes to fill at important positions. So, what did GM Eric DeCosta do on the first two days of this draft? He landed three guys in my top 51, all of whom could be big-time rookie contributors, and got value with each selection.

Nate Wiggins (30) is one of the fastest cornerbacks in this class, a long and gifted cover man with good instincts. Though he’s a little light at 173 pounds, he’ll grow into his frame in time. Roger Rosengarten (52), one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft, could step in and start at right tackle in 2024. Edge rusher Adisa Isaac (93) went a full round below where I rated him. He had 16 tackles for loss last season and outshined teammate Chop Robinson on tape, though Isaac doesn’t have the same kind of upside as a pass-rusher.

Wideout Tez Walker (113) and cornerback T.J. Tampa (130) were tremendous picks on Day 3. I thought Tampa might end up in Round 1 at one point, but there are questions about his recovery speed. Baltimore has had a great history of late-round running backs, and Rasheen Ali (165) could be the next one to make the team.

DeCosta did it again in this class; there are some excellent prospects here. It’s not quite in the “A” tier, though.

2024 NFL Draft grades for every team: Patriots, Chiefs with awesome hauls; Cowboys, others receive poor marks

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports

Baltimore Ravens

Even with trusty right-hand man Joe Hortiz now GM’ing the Chargers, Ravens shot-caller Eric Costa once again proved why he’s one of the shrewest GMs in the league with this draft haul.

Wiggins absolutely flies and has serious man-to-man coverage capabilities. Rosengarten is another high-caliber athlete at a vital position. Isaac was a bit of a gamble, but the payoff could be massive, and the same is true for Walker. If nothing else, he can be a serious vertical threat in a sizable frame. This offense needs that. Tampa is a little stiff but plays with that classic Ravens physicality at the line of scrimmage.

Samac gives me major Bradley Bozeman vibes. Late-round selection with awesome balance and run-game mastery. Leary has a strong arm and can connect on anticipatory throws. Not a super sexy class. But a job well done.

Grade: B+

2024 NFL Draft Grades: Analysis of Every Team’s Picks

Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: A-

Analysis: Baltimore used the first round to reinforce its secondary, nabbing Wiggins as a tough, undersized corner at 173 pounds. In the second round, general manager Eric DeCosta replaced departed right tackle Morgan Moses with Rosengarten, then found a productive edge in Isaac to round out the first two nights.

NFL draft grades: Bears, Steelers lead best team classes as Cowboys stumble

Nate Davis, USA Today

13. Baltimore Ravens (B)

When you’re drafting at the end of every round, maybe you reach just a little in spots. Yet it seems like they did a good job – per usual – marrying value, talent and need. First-round CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson) is a supreme athlete, and his tackling will improve – because the Ravens will demand that. Second-rounder Roger Rosengarten (Washington) should be the new right tackle, while third round OLB Adisa Isaac could be a factor on passing downs straight away. And the value picks kicked in on Day 3 with deep threat WR Devontez Walker (North Carolina) and CB T.J. Tampa (Iowa State), who could give Wiggins a battle to get on the field first.

NFL Draft grades 2024: All 32 draft classes ranked from best (Steelers, Eagles) to worst (49ers, Raiders)

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News

4. Baltimore Ravens

Grade: A

Analysis: The Ravens once again locked into their key positions of need under Eric DeCosta and practiced patience in letting values drop to them. Wiggins and Tampa have a chance to be a special starting cornerback duo in time. Issac is their style of edge rusher, while Walker provides a key missing element at receiver to help Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Baltimore doesn’t make bad picks in relation to having the right talent available. Ali added needed backfield depth behind Derrick Henry, and Leary is a good developmental athlete.

Complete 2024 NFL Draft Grades: Analysis and Breakdowns for All 7 Rounds

Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network

Baltimore Ravens

Overall Grade: A-

Say what you want about the Baltimore Ravens, but they consistently navigate the draft board very well over the years. Despite many linking the team to a wide receiver on Day 1, the team added Clemson CB Nate Wiggins on Day 1.

They then followed up that selection by finding a potential future replacement for Kevin Zeitler or John Simpson at guard with Roger Rosengarten in the second round.

Other exceptional value picks were Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa and Marshall running back Rasheen Ali in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively.

NFL DRAFT GUIDE: Team Grades

Danny Kelly, The Ringer

Baltimore Ravens

GRADE B-

THIS WAS A DOWN-THE-FAIRWAY DRAFT FOR THE RAVENS, who did what they always seem to do each year by picking up a handful of talented future contributors. I liked the selection of cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first round, giving the team an uber-athletic, plug-and-play starter on the outside. The team turned around in the second round and grabbed a smooth-moving right tackle in Roger Rosengarten, who lacks power and ballast as a blocker but brings quick feet and good hand work to a position of need. Rosengarten has the traits to play at either left or right tackle.

Penn State’s Adisa Isaac gives the Ravens another disruptive pass rusher to add to the rotation, and North Carolina receiver Devontez Walker is a field stretcher who could work his way onto the field as a big-play threat. Baltimore got excellent value with their selection of corner T.J. Tampa late in the fourth round. He was my 83rd ranked player overall, and combines excellent length with playmaking instincts. He adds to the Ravens’ depth to that position and could emerge as a future starter. All in all, an unflashy but solid haul for the Ravens.

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