The Baltimore Ravens ended the 2018 Draft with a total of 12 selections thanks to a few draft day trades. Ozzie Newsome was masterful once again at trading back to stockpile more picks to bring in as much talent as possible. In what may be his last draft as general manager for the Ravens, Newsome is hoping this class will be his best one yet.
With training camp already underway and preseason set to kick off this Thursday, below are four rookies that fans should keep their eyes on.
Four Baltimore Ravens Rookies to Watch During the NFL Preseason
1. Lamar Jackson, Quarterback
This is seemingly a no-brainer. The Ravens traded back into the first round to select quarterback Lamar Jackson, which shows how highly they think of him. Fans are extremely anxious to see whether or not Jackson can become the Ravens new signal caller for the future but they’ll have to be patient. The expectation in Baltimore by many is that Jackson will sit behind Joe Flacco this entire season because they are in no rush to throw him into the fire. So far in training camp, however, the reviews have been very encouraging in terms of Jackson’s progression. Ravens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was asked specifically about Jackson’s development and he said, “He’s way ahead of the curve. This guy is a hard, hard worker, a tough-minded guy.”
Once the preseason begins, all eyes will be on Jackson to see if he can lead an NFL team. Yes, he did run a pro-style offense under coach Bobby Petrino at Lousiville but the NFL is a different beast. Jackson will have to make quicker and smarter decisions because the speed of the game is much faster than it was in college. During the pre-draft process, there were a ton of concerns about his accuracy on intermediate passes. It’ll be important for Lamar to alleviate those concerns by being on-target and hitting his open receivers against real competition. Everyone knows Jackson has the ability to scramble and make exciting plays with his feet but people really want to see if he can stand tall in the pocket and throw strikes in the face of pressure.
2. Hayden Hurst, Tight End
Hayden Hurst was selected before Lamar Jackson in the first round so there will be a ton of eyes on him as well. The former minor league baseball player will be turning 25 years old later this month and the Ravens are expecting him to make an immediate impact to their passing game. Hurst has been dealing with some soft tissue injuries throughout camp but Baltimore does not seem to be too worried about it; he’s only missed one or two practices from these minor ailments. Early observations from camp are that Hurst is a natural catcher of the football, which is great news for Flacco who needs a dependable tight end to throw to.
At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, Hurst has the speed to be able to separate from defenders after a posting a 4.67 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. For someone who started their football career late, Hurst is already great at finding holes behind the defense and getting open for his quarterback. His run after the catch ability is also one of his key strengths as he often got away from defenders in college. The biggest question Hurst will have to answer once the preseason begins is whether or not he will be able to create separation against an actual NFL defense. Hurst will also have to prove that he’s willing to do the dirty work by blocking at the point of attack. If he shows that he can be dependable as both a pass catcher and a blocker then he will earn even more time on the field.
3. Orlando Brown Jr., Right Tackle
Orlando Brown Jr. was the feel-good pick for the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft. His father, Orlando “Zeus” Brown Sr., played right tackle for the Ravens for six seasons and 84 total games. So far in training camp, Brown has been following in his father’s footsteps as the Ravens have been lining him up at right tackle on the first and second-team offense. At Oklahoma, Brown protected Baker Mayfield‘s blindside so he’ll have to make a slight adjustment moving to the right. At 6’8″ and 345 pounds, Brown should not have much of a problem making the switch with more practice time to refine his skills.
Brown was a first-round prospect heading into the 2018 NFL Draft but slipped due to horrible Combine numbers. He put up 14 reps on the bench press and ran a 5.58 40-yard dash, which was the slowest at the Combine. He did improve these numbers slightly at his Pro Day where he put up 18 reps on the bench press and ran a 5.63 40-yard dash. It’ll be critical for Brown to show in the preseason that his overall technique and great use of hands will outweigh his lack of athleticism. Lining up on the right side allows Brown to not have to be matched up against the opposing teams premier pass rusher for the entire game, which should help his consistency dramatically.
4. Jordan Lasley, Wide Receiver
The Ravens selected wide receiver Jordan Lasley in the fifth round out of UCLA after he fell due to some character concerns and off-field issues. During his time at UCLA, Lasley was suspended multiple times and was arrested twice in 2016 for alcohol possession and presenting a fake ID. The Ravens are hoping that Lasley has put these issues behind him because he has an enormous amount of talent. Last season at UCLA, Lasley missed three games but still managed to post 69 receptions for 1,264 yards and nine touchdowns with an impressive 18.3 yards per catch. Safety Tony Jefferson said it best on Twitter when the Ravens selected Lasley. Jefferson tweeted, “Trust me – Jordan Lasley is a first round talent… he’s a beast another #steal.”
So far in training camp, Lasley is already proving this statement to be a true as he’s made more than a few remarkable catches. Lasley is great at getting behind the defense and hauling in the long ball. Once the preseason begins, Lasley will have to show the Ravens coaching staff that his hands have become more consistent because he had a tendency to drop catchable balls in college. According to Pro Football Focus, Lasley had 11 drops on 92 targets in 2017. If Lasley comes out and shows that he can be a reliable target then he may earn himself some time on the field once the regular season begins.
