logo
Ravens OTAs: 5 under-the-radar players to watch on offense

Ravens OTAs: 5 under-the-radar players to watch on offense

USA Today6 days ago

Ravens OTAs: 5 under-the-radar players to watch on offense We're looking at five under-the-radar players to watch during the Baltimore Ravens' four remaining OTA sessions and the mandatory minicamp
OTAs aren't mandatory, and Baltimore's MVP candidate was absent for Day 1, but made his debut in front of the media for the start of Day 2. Lamar Jackson was back at the Under Armour Performance Center on Wednesday, and the place was buzzing as the MVP candidate looked sharp and in elite shape during his first practice.
The training programs are divided into three phases: one mandatory minicamp for the entire roster and one rookie minicamp for each group.
No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.
Baltimore will hold seven more OTA sessions on June 3, June 5-6, June 9-12, before a Mandatory Minicamp on June 17-19.
With the team off until Tuesday, we're looking at five under-the-radar players on offense to watch.
OT Corey Bullock
Bullock was an honorable mention All-Big Ten after starting 11 games for the Terrapins in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, Bullock was ranked as the second-highest-rated pass-blocking guard in the Big Ten conference, with a 79.6 grade via the Terrapins' official website.
Bullock spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad.
G Darrian Dalcourt
A Maryland native, Dalcourt made five starts along the Alabama offensive line at guard and played in eight games in 2023, playing 332 snaps and logging seven knockdown blocks. Dalcourt has experience against high-caliber SEC competition. He spent the 2024 season on the Ravens' practice squad.
WR Dayton Wade
Wade displayed big-play potential all last summer, including a 56-yard touchdown catch against the Falcons. With Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor as the core three, Wade could not overtake Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty, and Devontez Walker.
Wade caught 27 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns during his last season at Ole Miss.
Devontez Walker
The rookie had one catch on three targets for a 21-yard touchdown over nine regular-season games in 2024. The former UNC star was a healthy scratch until his NFL debut in Week 7 against Tampa Bay. The highlight of his first year was a 21-yard touchdown reception against the Giants for his first NFL catch in Week 15. Most of Walker's work came on special teams, as he logged 153 snaps and 55 on offense. With the addition of Hopkins, Walker will enter 2025 as the No. 4 or No. 5 wideout at best.
OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, Oregon State
Christian-Lichtenhan (6-8, 315) started all 12 games at left tackle for the Beavers, allowing just two sacks and being charged with one penalty on the year.
RB Sone Ntoh, Monmouth
Ntoh (5-11, 220) scored a touchdown in 21 of 23 games and ranked second in program history with 39 rushing touchdowns during his final two seasons at Monmouth. In 12 games during his final season, Ntoh logged 487 yards and 25 touchdowns on 1,109 carries, en route to earning AP FCS All-America Honorable Mention and Phil Steele first-team All-CAA. His 25 rushing touchdowns set a program single-season record and led the FCS.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

5-Star Oregon Football Target Makes Announcement After Visit With Ducks
5-Star Oregon Football Target Makes Announcement After Visit With Ducks

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

5-Star Oregon Football Target Makes Announcement After Visit With Ducks

5-Star Oregon Football Target Makes Announcement After Visit With Ducks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is up for a pivotal weekend, as he and his staff are hosting a handful of five-star and blue-chip prospects on official visits. Advertisement One name involved with the Ducks this week is five-star safety Joey O'Brien, who would be a massive get for Lanning and co. According to 247Sports, Oregon ranks No. 29 in the nation with their 2026 recruiting class at this time -- which is subpar to Lanning's standard in Eugene. Landing O'Brien, a Pennsylvania native, would be phenomenal for Lanning's class, especially if Oregon can receive commitments from others on the trip this week. Battling Penn State, Clemson and Notre Dame, Oregon will soon know where O'Brien will pledge his services, as the highly-touted safety has announced when he will make his announcement. Advertisement O'Brien will choose between the four programs on June 20, which isn't long after his visit with Oregon. "Almost that time!" O'Brien shared on X after his commitment date was revealed. Given that the Ducks are getting a great chance to sell the safety on landing in Eugene this close to his commitment, Lanning might be able to secure O'Brien over their new Big Ten rival, Penn State. Still, Penn State's proximity to O'Brien, as a Pennsylvania native, might give them a leg up when it comes to decision day. According to 247Sports, O'Brien is the No. 30-ranked prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 4-ranked safety. Advertisement The Ducks won't get the last word in the blue-chip recruitment, as he will be visiting Notre Dame next weekend to round out his trips before his commitment. Oregon would love to land O'Brien's services and bolster their 2026 recruiting class with another five-star talent, as they could be up for a pivotal few weeks. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason
Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason

USA Today

time43 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason

Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn recently provided an update on edge defender Will McDonald IV, saying that the former first-rounder has added weight to his frame this offseason. "He's a dynamic athlete for a guy of his stature," Glenn said during the team's OTAs. "I think he's like 6-4, like 240... he actually weighed in more than that because he's gained about 15 pounds." At his new playing weight, McDonald was a bright spot at OTAs, continuously getting after the passer and disrupting the offense. He was called a "beast" by NFL reporter Connor Hughes of SNY after a showing at OTAs where Hughes says McDonald got home for three sacks on the day. The added weight hasn't slowed McDonald down, and it seems to have brought his game to another level. While McDonald finished tied for 12th in the league with 10.5 sacks and 8th in the league with 68 pressures, the hope for him is that the added weight will help him develop into a well-rounded defensive end, specifically one who can be more effective in defending the run. Among 211 edge defenders in 2024, he ranked 205th in run defense grade (39.5), according to Pro Football Focus. "It's very good for him because it allows him to set the edge a lot better," Glenn said on McDonald adding some weight. "He has really long arms... he's a guy that has a skillset as far as rushing the passer that... I haven't been around a lot of guys just in my coaching tenure like what we have with him. I'm going to enjoy seeing exactly what he's gonna be able to do for us... and we're gonna let him loose." Going into year three in the NFL, McDonald is already a very productive pass rusher, but now he has the chance to propel himself into the upper echelon of edge rushers in the league if he can improve his strength and run defense. If McDonald plays like the "beast" from OTAs during this coming regular season, and his run defense takes steps forward with his bigger frame, it could set him up for a big-time pay day in the future. The Jets will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option, and McDonald is making it seem like a no-brainer for Jets brass at this point. McDonald will enter this year with a new jersey number, going from his old number 99 to his new number 9.

Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson
Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson

Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson During an appearance on the BMore Baseball Podcast, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirmed that the team is in the 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP and arguably should have won the award in 2024. Baltimore's 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching, and the Ravens' focus has shifted to reshaping the roster and preparing for a juggernaut of a schedule. The Ravens have made fifth-year option decisions on Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum, while Jackson will have a cap hit of over $70 million for the 2026 season. During March's NFL owners' meetings in Florida, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson is due for a new deal that will once again make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. That hasn't happened yet, but DeCosta, during an appearance on the BMore Baseball Podcast, confirmed that those discussions have started. 'We've had some conversations before the draft, after the draft, in person last week,' DeCosta said, via the team's website. 'I think we're in the introductory sort of stage of looking at what an extension might look like.' Last week, former sports agent and CBS Sports lead analyst Joel Corry masterfully broke down the leverage Jackson again holds over the franchise with his 2026 and 2027 cap hits being unworkable for the organization. The Ravens have more urgency for a new deal than Jackson although he has dropped to the NFL's 10th-highest-paid player after Brock Purdy's recent five-year, $265 million contract extension, averaging $53 million per year, with the San Francisco 49ers. Patience can be Jackson's best friend because his salary cap number jumps from $43.5 million in 2025 to an unmanageable $74.5 million in 2026 and also in 2027. The $74.5 million is 2026's third highest cap number. Fortunately for Jackson, Harbaugh conceded at the league meetings that Jackson was going to be put back at the top of the NFL salary hierarchy with his next contract. "The value is the top," Harbaugh said. "When Lamar gets paid, he's going to be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs till he decides to hang up his cleats, he's going to be that guy." These dynamics give Jackson, who represents himself and has never had an agent, significant leverage in negotiations. He shouldn't think about twice about using the existing circumstances to his advantage. As Corry pointed out, Jackson just finished the second year of a five-year, $260 million contract signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 4, 2023. Of this, $185 million is guaranteed, of which $135 million was fully guaranteed at signing. As of this article, Jackson is the 10th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL after Brock Purdy's new contract. Corry highlighted that based on recent trends with Dak Prescott and Josh Allen, Jackson can justify $65.5 million to $67 million per year" for a contract extension he signs in the coming months. With inflation and an adjustment for the 24.2% increase of the salary cap since he signed in 2023, Jackson could command upwards of $64.5 million per year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store