Advertisement

Ravens load up on cornerbacks after the draft

Middle Tennessee cornerback Sammy Seamster (8) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the only time the organization seriously considered picking a cornerback in the NFL draft was during the first round.

They opted not to do so because inside linebacker C.J. Mosley was rated higher on their draft board. So, the Ravens exited the draft with no cornerbacks.

Advertisement

"Yes, that's how the board was," Newsome said. "When we got to all the other picks, a corner was not in the conversation. We would have liked to have had a corner in the conversation, but that was not rated highly enough."

Cornerback is a position where the Ravens had hoped to add reinforcements since veteran nickel back Corey Graham signed with the Buffalo Bills in March. Returning cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Asa Jackson are slated to compete for a larger role in the secondary this season.

Advertisement

There's clearly a need for depth, though.

"I think all of the young men that we'll be recruiting will look at that and say, 'Hey, they didn't draft a corner,'" Newsome said. "So, they see an opportunity. Hopefully we'll be able to get the top of the list of guys that are out there available, because they can look here and see an opportunity to come in and hopefully make our squad."

Following the draft, the Ravens signed four cornerbacks, including Sammy Seamster (Middle Tennessee State), a 6-foot, 200-pounder with 4.44 speed who visited the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins prior to the draft. The Ravens also signed Tramain Jacobs (Texas A&M), Deji Olatoye (North Carolina A&T) and Avery Patterson (Oregon).

awilson@baltsun.com

twitter.com/RavensInsider


Advertisement