One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each defensive position following OTAs

USA Today

21 hours ago

One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each defensive position following OTAs With Ravens' OTAs over and all three phases of the off-season workout program complete, we're looking at one player on the roster bubble at each defensive position.
Baltimore is loaded on the offensive side of the football, and GM Eric DeCosta knowingly chose to restock the defense with the organization's first two NFL draft picks. The Ravens are cruising through the off-season workout program and have a looming two-day mandatory mini-camp scheduled before the team takes a five-week break before returning for the mid-July training camp.
Baltimore's two top sack artists return on defense, but the edge rusher position will host the toughest position battles, just ahead of third cornerback and safety.
There are a couple of positions with competitions scheduled, and we're taking an early look at one player on the roster bubble at each defensive position.
DT-C.J. Okoye
Okoye, a Nigerian native, first joined the Chargers as part of the International Player Pathway Program. He had a sack in his first organized football game in the preseason. He'll compete in a position group that includes Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, John Jenkins, and Jayson Jones.
DE-Adedayo Odeleye
The 6'5″, 265-pound Nigerian-born prospect was part of the 2022 NFL International Player Pathway program with the Texans before spending this season on the Baltimore practice squad. Nicknamed "Dayo," he began playing American football at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.
Edge Rusher -- David Ojabo
Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are the unquestioned starters, but the Ravens are hoping second-round pick Mike Green can assume a role from Day 1. Ojabo will battle Adisa Isaac, Tavius Robinson, and rookie Mike Green for snaps. Things can only go up for Ojabo after he played in 13 games last season. He has four sacks in his first three seasons, and it's now or never for the former Michigan pass rusher. A 2024 third-round pick, Adisa Isaac saw action in four games and played 32 defensive snaps, as his NFL debut was delayed by a hamstring issue, which sidelined him for the Ravens' first two games. Tavius Robinson has improved dramatically, and the former Ole Miss pass rusher had 3.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in a reserve role last season.
LB-William Kwenkeu
Kwenkeu is the only player signed to a reserve/futures deal who saw regular-season game action in 2024, as he was elevated twice and played 33 special-teams snaps (vs. Eagles and Giants). Roquan Smith is the unquestioned leader of the Ravens' defense, but he'll need a running back at the linebacker spot. With Malik Harrison and Chris Board departing in free agency, John Harbaugh confirmed that Trenton Simpson would be first up in the battle at linebacker. Simpson was productive over Baltimore's first 11 games, logging 65 tackles (34 solo), but he was a liability in the passing game. Simpson was entirely out of the Ravens' inside-linebacker rotation following the Week 14 bye, and he was limited to special teams during Baltimore's two-game postseason run. Simpson finished the 2024 regular season with 73 tackles (40 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four pass defenses, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. He'll battle special-teams standout Jacob Hummel and fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan.
CB-Jalyn Armour-Davisa
Armour-Davis is entering a crucial time in his career. With the Ravens' cornerback position stacked with young talent, the former Alabama defensive back is getting reps at safety. Before the NFL draft and free agency, Baltimore had four cornerbacks on the roster. Since then, the Ravens have added Chidobe Awuzie, Bilal Kone (rookie), and Robert Longerbeam (rookie). T.J. Tampa is in a similar boat after missing most of his rookie season to various injuries. Armour-Davis will enter year four needing a strong training camp.
S-Keondre Jackson/Desmond Igbinosun
Baltimore likes to employ a third safety in their base defense, allowing Kyle Hamilton to be a Swiss army knife in Zach Orr's versatile scheme. Ar'Darius Washington fit that role until he suffered a torn Achilles during a recent workout. Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane will battle for that role. Kane is a thumper who also stood out on defense in the preseason. According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a single reception on 30 coverage snaps, produced a coverage grade of 73.4, and recorded a forced incompletion and a tackle for loss. Last summer, Brade made the Ravens' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent after starring at River Hill High School and the University of Maryland. In the games he appeared in, Brade was mainly relegated to special teams roles and only saw the field on defense late in the fourth quarter of games where victory was well in hand. Braden recorded just three total tackles, including just one solo, and played 207 snaps on special teams compared to just 11 on defense. He was inactive for both playoff games.