Mink: I'm impressed with this rookie class so far, and I get the sense that coaches are as well. Here's my insight into the group:
- Fourth-round inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan is a very athletic prospect with a mature demeanor. His abilities dropping into coverage stood out most to me during OTAs and minicamp, and he got his hands on one pass.
- Sixth-round cornerbacks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam can both play. Kone has excellent traits, and Longerbeam is very quick. Longerbeam also looks bigger than his listed 5-foot-11, 174-pound size.
- Sixth-round defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles stood out in one minicamp rep when watching him specifically, as he showed off his excellent lateral quickness and split a gap to get in the backfield quickly.
- Sixth-round wide receiver LaJohntay Wester flashed during OTAs with some impressive snags and one deep reception after a juggle that likely would've gone for a touchdown.
- It's a shame we haven't gotten to see third-round offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. due to his shoulder injury yet, and it's tough to evaluate offensive linemen Carson Vinson and Garrett Dellinger before the pads come on.
- Tyler Loop and undrafted rookie John Hoyland are engaged in a competitive kicking battle and have each had up-and-down results as they work on various aspects of their game.
Robertson: There's a reason the Ravens were quick to sign Alexander. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the top cornerbacks in the league when healthy. "When healthy" is the important piece of that equation.
Alexander struggled with injuries in Green Bay, only playing seven games in each of the last two seasons. That said, I think Alexander gets the first crack at being the other starting outside cornerback opposite Nate Wiggins.
Marlon Humphrey is set to see significant snaps in the slot again, and Alexander is probably at the top of the pecking order in terms of proven experience.
Regardless of who runs out for the first few snaps of the season, Baltimore has the option to use a variety of combinations at corner. Humphrey put it best after minicamp:
"A quote that's never been said and probably will never be said in NFL history is, 'We've got too many corners that can cover,' so I think that's a great problem to have," Humphrey said.
Mink: If the Ravens are going to make one more big impact signing, I would expect it to be at safety. Right now, Sanoussi Kane or Beau Brade are in line to be the No. 3 safety, which is a key position in the Ravens' secondary. While both have flashed in practices this offseason, Baltimore may want more veteran depth following Ar'Darius Washington's Achilles injury.
The Ravens already have more talented pass rushers than the 53-man roster may be able to accommodate, and I want to let some of the young guys there get reps to grow. At guard, I think the Ravens feel good about the competition between Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland.
Robertson: If there's one player on the Ravens' defense that can line up anywhere, it's Hamilton. Adding Starks, who played a lot of free safety at OTAs and minicamp, to the mix only frees up Hamilton even more.
Hamilton's move back to more of a traditional safety last season was a huge reason behind the defense's turnaround, and I would expect a similar role this year. He lined up as a free safety on 31% of his snaps last year and 68% at either box safety (including as a dime linebacker), slot corner, or on the defensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.
That versatility will keep any option open, with Head Coach John Harbaugh saying that an opposing offense "isn't going to know who's going to be back there on any given play." Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has embraced having a positionless defense and added during OTAs that Hamilton and Starks' roles could change "week to week." To Orr's point, I think it'll be matchup-dependent on how much Hamilton plays near the line of scrimmage.
