5 things we learned about the Ravens at the NFL scouting combine

INDIANAPOLIS From how the Ravens are handling the sexual misconduct allegations against kicker Justin Tucker to general manager Eric DeCostas roster-building philosophy and thoughts for the 2025 season, there was no shortage of questions at last weeks NFL scouting combine, which wrapped up Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.Here are the five things we learned from last week:Tuckers status remains a questionThe Ravens were noncommittal about Tuckers future, saying they will base whatever decision they make on the NFLs investigation.The last part of that sentence is the key and the determining factor in what Baltimore ultimately does.Tucker was adamant about his innocence in his latest statement last week.

But DeCosta also called the voluminous amount of allegations serious and concerning.A lot goes into that [decision], he said.

Well wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can.

Well make our decisions based on that.The ongoing NFL investigation is expected to take several weeks, or possibly months, even with investigators having been in Baltimore recently to interview at least some of the massage therapists who have accused the 35-year-old kicker of inappropriate sexual behavior between 2012 and 2016, according to reporting by The Baltimore Banner.Should the league find enough evidence, Tucker could be looking at a suspension under the leagues personal conduct policy.

With that cloud of uncertainty lingering, its no surprise that the Ravens were looking at kickers at the combine.One of them was Miamis Andy Borregales, who was one of four kickers and two punters invited to the combine, along with an additional nine kickers (four via the leagues International Pathway Program) and six punters (one through the IPP).Baltimore had previously met with Borregales at the Shrine Bowl, with the game coincidentally taking place the same day the accusations against Tucker became public, and kicking coach Randy Brown looked on closely last week.

Over four years with the Hurricanes, he converted 74 of 86 field goals, including 18 of 19 last season, and 183 of 184 extra points.Borregales, whose older brother Jose also kicked at Miami before a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, also said Tucker was his favorite kicker growing up and called the chance to meet with Baltimore surreal.Related ArticlesBaltimore Ravens | Should the NFL ban the tush push? Ravens John Harbaugh and others weigh in.Baltimore Ravens | Ravens to help pay for upgrades at M&T Bank StadiumBaltimore Ravens | Ravens Justin Tucker expresses empathy for accusers in new statement denying allegationsBaltimore Ravens | Ravens GM Eric DeCosta optimistic about extension for LT Ronnie StanleyBaltimore Ravens | NFLPA team report cards: Ravens get high grades but concerns linger about HarbaughThe best kicker, though, perhaps was Lenny Krieg, a 22-year-old German and former soccer player who taught himself how to kick footballs via YouTube and Instagram and eventually found his way to the Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football.

In Indianapolis, he was the only kicker who didnt miss on Wednesday, converting all 14 of his attempts between 35 and 55 yards.The Ravens are the only team to never draft a kicker, and though it seems unlikely that would change this year, even with 11 selections, it perhaps would not be a big surprise if they signed an undrafted free agent after what was also Tuckers worst season on the field.Like every position, were gonna evaluate and rank the board.

Weve been doing that the last 29 years, DeCosta said.

Well meet with Randy throughout the process over the coming weeks.

Hell travel all over the country looking at these guys and build the best board we can.Baltimore will probably draft the best player availableWith the 27th overall pick in next months draft, Baltimore could go any number of directions offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback and safety are among their needs.

The draft class is deep with defensive linemen and nothing that happened last week changed anyones mind on that.As NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah put it, Its a starters draft.The Ravens philosophy also hasnt changed.I think it really just comes down to the best player at the time, DeCosta said.

I think if were picking at 27, and theres an edge rusher and hes the best guy, were probably going to pick him.I think its an important position.

I think we were maybe second in the league in sacks last year, but having a continuous influx of young pass rush talent, guys that can set the edge and play the run, guys that play like Ravens, physical players who can get to the quarterback, I think thats a priority for us, for sure.Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart has been linked to the Ravens.

(Butch Dill/AP)One such player, Texas A&Ms Shemar Stewart, has been projected by some to be chosen by Baltimore.Except he might not be there when they pick.

Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 267-pound stalwart who had just 4 1/2 career sacks for the Aggies, had an outstanding combine.Notably, he finished with a 9.99 out of 10 relative athletic score, which included a 40-yard dah time of 4.59 seconds and a 40-inch vertical jump.

His RAS score was also the third-best out of 1,802 defensive ends measured since 1987.Also notable was that over his final two years, he had a pass rush win rate of 13.2%.I wasnt a sack-chasing warrior, said Stewart, who added that he has tried to model his game after former Carolina Panthers great Julius Peppers.

I just wanted to become the best player for my team.

And sometimes the stats dont show that.They do matter, though, so it will be interesting to see where Stewart goes, but his profile is on the rise.South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori would be a good fitThe numbers are eyebrow-raising: 6-3, 220 pounds, 4.38 40-yard dash time, 43-inch vertical, 11-6 broad jump.Emmanwori also had four interceptions (including two he returned for touchdowns), three pass breakups, 88 tackles and zero touchdowns allowed last season for the Gamecocks.

If thats not enough, he also scored a perfect 10 RAS at the combine, which ranked first out of all safeties dating to 1987.The Ravens, of course, also need a safety, with Marcus Williams expected to be released and only unproven Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane, both rookies last season, behind starters Kyle Hamilton and restricted free agent ArDarius Washington.

ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr.

has Baltimore taking Emmanwori with the 27th pick.South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori said he models his game after Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton.

(Charlie Riedel/AP)Emmanwori had plenty to say about the Ravens, too.I model my game after Kyle Hamilton, [Cleveland Browns safety] Grant Delpit and [Los Angeles Chargers safety] Derwin James, he said.So what would it like to be paired with Hamilton?Thatd be scary for the league, honestly, he said.

He and I playing together, thats like a dream come true.

He locks down one side, I lock down the other.I dont think youve ever seen a safety like me.

Well, there are a lot of dudes that came through this league, but a safety like me hasnt come through this league for a long time.

My size, my speed, my ability.Free agency looms largeThe next big date on the Ravens calendar is free agency, with next Monday marking the beginning of the legal tampering period and the official start of free agency two days later.

The biggest question facing Baltimore, of course, is what it will do with Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley.DeCosta said last week that he is optimistic the two sides would be able to get a deal done.

He met with Stanleys agent in Indianapolis as well.Ravens GM Eric DeCosta optimistic about extension for LT Ronnie StanleyThen, on Friday, the Los Angeles Rams and their free-agent-to-be left tackle, Alaric Jackson, agreed to a reported three-year, $57 million deal.

So what does that mean for Stanley?On the surface, it would seem Stanley might have both feet out the door as unaffordable.

The big question, however, is whether he would jump at, say, $19 million from a lousy team like the New England Patriots, who have well over $100 million in cap room and need protection for quarterback Drake Maye, or would he be content with, say, $16 million or $17 million a year from a perennial contender in the Ravens, the only NFL team hes ever known? Baltimore is projected to have just over $12 million in salary cap space.The talks between the two sides were productive, according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, and there is hope on both sides a deal can be reached, so stay tuned this week or early next.Right player, right price, DeCosta said.

We dont have a lot of cap room.

We have [vice president of football administration] Nick Matteo working tirelessly to find some space for us.

We call it couch cushion coins; just were trying to find 50 grand here, 75 grand there in the couch cushion.

But were not a team thats gonna make a lot of big splashes generally speaking.Being able to keep Stanley would qualify as a pretty good one, though.Ravens could draft Lamar Jacksons backup and WR depthWith Lamar Jackson currently signed through the 2027 season, Baltimore does not need to draft a starting-caliber quarterback.

Still, the Ravens selected Devin Leary as a project in the sixth round last year, and veteran backup Josh Johnson, who will turn 39 in May, is due to be an unrestricted free agent.Is it possible DeCosta could look to add to the quarterback room in the middle or late rounds again?Every smart team is always looking for quarterbacks, he said.

Whether youre looking for a backup, practice squad quarterback, a starting quarterback, its hard to win without one.

...

Living in a world without a quarterback is a tough world to live in.

We understand that.

These guys drive the league.While the 2025 class might lack top-end talent Colorados Shedeur Sanders and Miamis Cam Ward are two of just a handful of blue chip talents, according to scouts there are potential future starters who will be found deeper in the draft.One potential name to keep an eye on is Syracuses Kyle McCord.He threw the deep ball well at the scouting combine, performed solidly on out routes and has plenty of run-pass option experience.

The 6-3, 218-pound New Jersey native who started his career at Ohio State is, like Leary, a bit of a project but could go on to have a solid career as a backup or potential starter with some improvements, according to analysts.Terps wide receiver Tai Felton could be a target for the Ravens in next months NFL draft.

(Kim Hairston/Staff)As for the Ravens wide receivers, they are thin beyond Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, who is coming off his best season with 756 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, both career highs.After that, veteran Nelson Agholor is a free agent, as are Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty, Steven Sims and Diontae Johnson.

That leaves just 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker as the only other wideout on the active roster.Marylands Tai Felton and Kaden Prather could be targets for Baltimore.Itd be a blessing, Felton, a 6-1, 183-pound long-striding receiver, said when asked what it would be like to play with Baltimore.

He grew up in Ashburn, Virginia, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finished last season with 96 catches for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns.

I would be very comfortable.

I feel like Ill be playing with a lot of juice being able to be able to be around my friends and family and theyll be able to come to all the games.Felton also scored a 9.60 RAS during the scouting combine, which ranked 138th out of 3,408 receivers since 1987.Prather, who started his college career at West Virginia before transferring to Maryland, is bigger at 6-3 1/2 and 204 pounds, but more likely an undrafted free agent target for teams.Words cant even explain, he said when asked what it would be like to catch passes from Jackson.Both players met with the Ravens and both are expected to attend their local pro day.I think its a pretty good class draft-wise, free agency-wise as well, DeCosta said of the wide receiver group.

Im very happy to see the development that our young receivers made the last couple of years.

...

We feel like there is a good opportunity for us to find some talent, either through free agency or the draft in every round, and at every price point.Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1..

This article has been shared from the original article on baltimoresun, here is the link to the original article.