The Baltimore Ravens draft T.J. Tamps with the No. 130 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With the No. 130 pick in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected T.J. Tampa, cornerback, Iowa State.
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 189 lbs.
School: Iowa State
Honors: Third-team AP All-American (2023). First-Team All-Big 12 Conference.
2023 stats: 12 games, 44 tackles, 7 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss.
Kyle Phoenix’s analysis: While other picks have felt best player available with a minor lean toward need — be it fortune or intent — the selection of Tampa is an unquestionable best player available pick. Tampa has been a highly-graded prospect, going as high as first-round buzz from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and the No. 8 cornerback for The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
According to Brugler, Tampa could’ve been a Georgia Bulldog after head coach Kirby Smart pushed to sign him after watching Tampa at a 7-on-7 tournament.
Day 3 is when you swing on boom-bust prospects and Tampa feels like a boom. Good, sticky coverage who was highly recruited and made plays.
Scouting Reports
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein
Physical cornerback with long arms and an above-average ability to ruin catch tries when he’s in the vicinity. Tampa has decent closing burst but appears to lack true top-end speed. He can charge up his press punch and does a nice job of staying connected to routes from trail technique. However, he allows separation windows to open when playing from a backpedal in off-man coverage. Tampa can handle some man matchups, but his last-second pass breakups will turn into completions against pro receivers. His demeanor, instincts and ball skills should make him a Day 2 target and eventual starter for a zone-heavy cover unit.
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) draft guide:
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Iowa State, Tampa lined up at left outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s zone -heavy scheme. After initially recruiting him as a wide receiver, the Cyclones’ coaches (including former NFL cornerback Hank Poteat) saw Tampa’s potential at cornerback and helped develop him into one of the top defensive players in the Big 12 — he allowed just one touchdown catch in his final 934 defensive snaps. Tampa has the ingredients to be a pressman corner, but he did his best work on tape from off coverage, where he accurately saw through receivers to the quarterback and overlapped zones to drive on throws. Despite having only three interceptions on his college resume, he plays the ball well, with the timing to attack the catch point simultaneously with receivers. Overall, Tampa gets a little sticky with his footwork at the top of routes, but he doesn’t lose much separation and plays with the size, range and ball skills to be disruptive. He has the tools and potential to be a starting perimeter cornerback in various schemes.
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