When University of Maryland safety Beau Brade made the regular-season roster for his hometown team last September, it marked the 20th time in 21 years that the Baltimore Ravens kept at least one undrafted rookie to start a season.
The undrafted free agent process is something the organization takes extremely seriously and puts much time and effort into. The Ravens’ long list of undrafted free agent finds includes fullback Patrick Ricard, former inside linebacker and current defensive coordinator Zach Orr, recently retired nose tackle Michael Pierce and kicker Justin Tucker.
Advertisement
Their latest class, which was announced Sunday, is heavy on offensive and defensive linemen and defensive backs. It includes an offensive tackle nicknamed “The Tank,” along with a wide receiver who went to high school just down the road from the Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium.
This year’s class has a lot to live up to, given the team’s sterling history in this area, and its share of challenges. The Ravens have one of the deepest rosters in the league. They’ll start training camp in late July with only a handful of positions up for grabs.
Below are a few names who will be vying for them and trying to become the latest Ravens undrafted free agents to find a longtime NFL home.
Best chance to stick
Jay Higgins, ILB, Iowa: The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler had Higgins as the 22nd-best inside linebacker in the draft class and projected him to be a sixth- or seventh-round pick. A two-year starter and a defensive signal caller, Higgins played the Mike linebacker spot and was a tackling machine, leading the FBS with 295 combined tackles over the past two seasons. At 6 feet, 224 pounds, he doesn’t have ideal length or speed, but he has excellent instincts and plays with smarts and energy. He’s an experienced special teams player, too.
Jayson Jones, DT, Auburn: Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta vowed to add more big bodies inside, and Jones, who is 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, is your prototypical space-eating nose tackle who could find a spot in the defensive line rotation. He played one season at Oregon and three at Auburn, accumulating 84 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks.
Chandler Martin, ILB, Memphis: After transferring to Memphis from East Tennessee State, Martin led the Tigers in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks over the past two seasons. He totaled 10 sacks and 33 tackles for loss in the last two years, and he was the defensive MVP of Memphis’ 2024 bowl game victory. Martin can be undisciplined in his playing style, but his 4.54 speed makes up for some mistakes.
Advertisement
Other Power 4 prospects
Jahmal Banks, WR, Nebraska: Banks returns to the area after starring in high school at football powerhouse St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound receiver had a productive run at Wake Forest and then transferred to Nebraska. In his lone season there, he led the Cornhuskers with 587 receiving yards to go with his 44 catches and three touchdowns. Banks’ sister, Kyerra Martin, was a volleyball player at Bowie State in Maryland.
Xavier Guillory, WR, Arizona State: Guillory started his career at Idaho State and ended it at Arizona State, catching 22 passes for 339 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound receiver plays for the memory of his father, Raphael, who died of colon cancer when Guillory was 19. Guillory is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, a tribal nation in Idaho.
Desmond Igbinosun, S, Rutgers: An experienced player who saw action in 41 college games and started 29, Igbinosun posted 186 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and two sacks. He set the Rutgers individual game Big Ten record with four tackles for loss in a 2023 win against Michigan State. The New Jersey native is 6-foot-2, 223 pounds.
Marcus Major, RB, Minnesota: After spending five seasons at Oklahoma, Major logged a graduate year at Minnesota and rushed for 352 yards and three touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 144 yards and a score. He’s 6 feet, 213 pounds and has 4.61 speed.
Marquise Robinson, CB, Arkansas: The Mississippi native played one season at Arkansas after starting his college career at South Alabama. He had one interception and seven pass breakups for the Razorbacks in 2024. He had three interceptions during his previous season at South Alabama. He’s 6-foot-2, 192 pounds and has 4.45 speed.
Small(er) program hopefuls
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, OT, Oregon State: Nicknamed “The Tank” because of his size (6-foot-8, 315 pounds) and wingspan (85 3/8 inches), Christian-Lichtenhan started 12 games at left tackle for Oregon State last year. He played the previous three seasons at Colorado, protecting Shedeur Sanders’ blindside in 2023. He was ranked as the draft’s 29th-best tackle by Brugler. Christian-Lichtenhan is limited athletically, but he improved throughout his college career.
Advertisement
Diwun Black, OLB, Temple: He helped Mississippi Gulf Coast to the 2019 NJCAA national championship and started his college career at Florida. Black played his final two seasons at Temple, where he had 6 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles and 52 tackles. He’s 6-foot-4, 246 pounds.
Reid Holskey, G/T, Miami (Ohio): He played a ton of football at Miami (Ohio), starting 53 of 54 games at right tackle and another at left tackle. The 6-foot-6, 302-pound lineman was a first-team All-MAC player last year and Miami’s Offensive Power Player of the Year. He was a second-team All-MAC performer in 2023, when Miami won a MAC championship. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is a Miami (Ohio) alum.
Ozzie Hutchinson, OT, Albany: The Poughkeepsie, N.Y., native was an All-CAA honoree last season despite playing in just six games. A plantar fascia issue in his foot and a high ankle sprain marred his final college season and prevented him from gaining a lot of traction with NFL scouts. The 6-foot-4, 307-pound former Great Dane can play both guard and tackle.
Keondre Jackson, S, Illinois State: A no-star recruit out of Illinois, Jackson initially enrolled at Nebraska-Kearney but returned home to play for the Redbirds. He was a highly productive three-year starter who had 225 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions. He performed well on the college all-star circuit. One of 14 children, Jackson projects to be a box safety/special-teamer at the next level.
Reuben Lowery, CB, Chattanooga: A five-year starter at Chattanooga and a two-time All-Southern Conference selection, Lowery compiled 166 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions in 46 career games. The Georgia native’s last college season was his best, as he finished with 62 tackles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. He’s 5-foot-9, 204 pounds and has 4.45 speed.
Sone Ntoh, RB, Monmouth: A year after former Monmouth undrafted running back Owen Wright made a strong bid to make the Ravens’ roster before breaking his foot in the preseason finale, Ntoh will attempt to do the same. At 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, he was a short-yardage back, piling up a school-record 25 rushing touchdowns last year and leading the FCS with 26 total scores. Ntoh played three seasons at Harvard and graduated from the school in 2023.
Jared Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: The younger brother of Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, Jared was an All-Missouri Valley Conference performer at Northern Iowa. He showed off his versatility, playing guard early in his career and then moving out to the tackle spots. At 6-foot-5, 319 pounds, Penning is known as a physical run blocker.
Advertisement
Sam Pitz, TE, Minnesota Duluth: The big tight end (6-foot-6, 248 pounds) had a nice run with the Bulldogs, scoring 17 touchdowns in 44 career college games. He was named a Division III All-American last year, just the ninth player in program history to achieve that honor. He was also a four-time all-conference selection.
(Photo of Jay Higgins: Julia Hansen / Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA Today)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Like the Jets before them, the Steelers are making win-now moves to secure Aaron Rodgers
On the doorstep of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were crystal clear about their quarterback situation. One way or another, additions — plural — were going to be made.“We go to camp with four quarterbacks,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, prior to the first day of the draft. “Right now we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two. I assure you we’ll have four when we get to [training camp in] Latrobe.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe draft has come and gone, with the sixth-round selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard adding to that room. This was an Aaron Rodgers move in a Steelers draft that was stacked with Aaron Rodgers moves. We’ll get to that in a second. First, the bottom line: Roughly five weeks out from the team’s mandatory attendance […]
Kinclův velký risk před bitvou v Edenu. Je to hloupost, tvrdí Muradov o jeho výpravě
Thajské prostředí je pro různé infekce jako stvořené. Kincl se na začátku roku zařadil mezi ty, kteří bojovali se stafylokokem (bakterie, která se vyskytuje na kůži). „Myslel jsem si, že to bude otázka pár dnů a jednoho balení antibiotik, ale situace se ukázala být složitější. Dlouho se nic nezlepšovalo, ruka byla celá oteklá. Chvílemi jsem měl strach. Největší obavy jsem měl z toho, že by se infekce dostala do krevního oběhu a rozšířila se po těle. Následky by mohly být hodně vážné. Naštěstí k tomu nedošlo,“ vyprávěl Kincl v lednu a dodal, že si odvezl také pět stehů a pořádnou díru v ruce.Vstříc přípravě na klíčovou bitvu proti Muradovovi, s nímž si to na fotbalovém stadionu v pražském Edenu rozdá o prozatímní pás šampiona střední váhy, znovu, navíc poměrně překvapivě, vyrazil do horkého prostředí Asie, kde teploty každý den přesahují třicet stupňů. „Neustále ze mě teče, pokaždé mám pod sebou louži,“ […]
Manchester United might have secured Champions League football but major challenges lie ahead
For Manchester United, the last five minutes of added time felt like an age. For Manchester City, time was ticking too quickly.At 2-2 and down to 10 players, United just needed to hang on to claim one point to secure Champions League qualification. City sought one more goal at Old Trafford to snatch the European prize from their rivals.AdvertisementIt was not pretty, but United got the job done, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in their seven-year existence.City fell short. Interim head coach Nick Cushing, coy about his future, had failed to achieve his top-three task.United’s desperation to get just one point showed. In the first half there was an intention to be forward-thinking, but they hardly played in the “full throttle” manner with which head coach Marc Skinner wanted them to attack this game. They lacked […]
Van Nistelrooy wants to stay as Leicester City manager. Is the feeling mutual?
Not many managers can survive a run of 17 defeats in 19 games, nine consecutive defeats at home without scoring a single goal or picking up just eight points from a possible 63.Add to that a single clean sheet, 49 goals conceded and 11 scored. Usually, such a run of statistics places the manager’s position in the untenable category. Typically, such poor performances will have the supporters of that club demanding a change.AdvertisementThat hasn’t been the case for Leicester City and Ruud van Nistelrooy.When relegation was looming, Leicester could have been tempted to make a second change of what has been a dire campaign, having sacked Steve Cooper after 12 games when he had 10 points on the board and the club was outside the relegation zone.The feeling may have been, ‘What’s the point?’ Relegation seemed a certainty anyway. They […]
Mentality, identity tweak and finding killer touch: How Nottingham Forest can get back to their best
Nottingham Forest head to Crystal Palace on Monday desperately needing a win to breathe fresh life into their Champions League aspirations.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost three of their last four Premier League outings, with home defeats to Everton and Brentford only made worse by flat, uninspired performances.AdvertisementNuno was able to name something close to his full-strength side against Brentford, but what followed was an uncharacteristically fragile defensive display in a 2-0 defeat.While Monday’s defeat prompted a panicked reaction on social media, it is still a remarkable season — and Forest can still achieve their Champions League dreams.They sit only three points off Chelsea (fifth) and Newcastle (fourth) ahead of their game in hand against Palace tonight. With just four matches games remaining, Nuno admitted his challenge is to get them back to what made them thrive over the last […]
2025 NBA playoffs schedule: Games today, times, complete bracket with full second-round schedule set
Getty Images The second round is set in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and action continues Monday with a pair of Game 1s: Celtics vs. Knicks in the East and Thunder vs. Nuggets in the West. Eight teams remain in the playoff bracket as the first round wrapped up Sunday night with the Warriors eliminating the Rockets with a Game 7 road win. The full schedule is set for the second round, which began on Sunday with the Pacers upsetting the Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series. The second round could run through Tuesday, May 20.The Warriors advanced to face the Timberwolves in the second round, setting up a rare No. 6 vs. No. 7 matchup. The East, meanwhile, saw its top four seeds all advance into the second round.The Thunder and reigning champion Celtics are both favored to reach the […]
Related
Like the Jets before them, the Steelers are making win-now moves to secure Aaron Rodgers
On the doorstep of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were crystal clear about their quarterback situation. One way or another, additions — plural — were going to be made.“We go to camp with four quarterbacks,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, prior to the first day of the draft. “Right now we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two. I assure you we’ll have four when we get to [training camp in] Latrobe.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe draft has come and gone, with the sixth-round selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard adding to that room. This was an Aaron Rodgers move in a Steelers draft that was stacked with Aaron Rodgers moves. We’ll get to that in a second. First, the bottom line: Roughly five weeks out from the team’s mandatory attendance […]
Kinclův velký risk před bitvou v Edenu. Je to hloupost, tvrdí Muradov o jeho výpravě
Thajské prostředí je pro různé infekce jako stvořené. Kincl se na začátku roku zařadil mezi ty, kteří bojovali se stafylokokem (bakterie, která se vyskytuje na kůži). „Myslel jsem si, že to bude otázka pár dnů a jednoho balení antibiotik, ale situace se ukázala být složitější. Dlouho se nic nezlepšovalo, ruka byla celá oteklá. Chvílemi jsem měl strach. Největší obavy jsem měl z toho, že by se infekce dostala do krevního oběhu a rozšířila se po těle. Následky by mohly být hodně vážné. Naštěstí k tomu nedošlo,“ vyprávěl Kincl v lednu a dodal, že si odvezl také pět stehů a pořádnou díru v ruce.Vstříc přípravě na klíčovou bitvu proti Muradovovi, s nímž si to na fotbalovém stadionu v pražském Edenu rozdá o prozatímní pás šampiona střední váhy, znovu, navíc poměrně překvapivě, vyrazil do horkého prostředí Asie, kde teploty každý den přesahují třicet stupňů. „Neustále ze mě teče, pokaždé mám pod sebou louži,“ […]
Manchester United might have secured Champions League football but major challenges lie ahead
For Manchester United, the last five minutes of added time felt like an age. For Manchester City, time was ticking too quickly.At 2-2 and down to 10 players, United just needed to hang on to claim one point to secure Champions League qualification. City sought one more goal at Old Trafford to snatch the European prize from their rivals.AdvertisementIt was not pretty, but United got the job done, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in their seven-year existence.City fell short. Interim head coach Nick Cushing, coy about his future, had failed to achieve his top-three task.United’s desperation to get just one point showed. In the first half there was an intention to be forward-thinking, but they hardly played in the “full throttle” manner with which head coach Marc Skinner wanted them to attack this game. They lacked […]
Van Nistelrooy wants to stay as Leicester City manager. Is the feeling mutual?
Not many managers can survive a run of 17 defeats in 19 games, nine consecutive defeats at home without scoring a single goal or picking up just eight points from a possible 63.Add to that a single clean sheet, 49 goals conceded and 11 scored. Usually, such a run of statistics places the manager’s position in the untenable category. Typically, such poor performances will have the supporters of that club demanding a change.AdvertisementThat hasn’t been the case for Leicester City and Ruud van Nistelrooy.When relegation was looming, Leicester could have been tempted to make a second change of what has been a dire campaign, having sacked Steve Cooper after 12 games when he had 10 points on the board and the club was outside the relegation zone.The feeling may have been, ‘What’s the point?’ Relegation seemed a certainty anyway. They […]
Mentality, identity tweak and finding killer touch: How Nottingham Forest can get back to their best
Nottingham Forest head to Crystal Palace on Monday desperately needing a win to breathe fresh life into their Champions League aspirations.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost three of their last four Premier League outings, with home defeats to Everton and Brentford only made worse by flat, uninspired performances.AdvertisementNuno was able to name something close to his full-strength side against Brentford, but what followed was an uncharacteristically fragile defensive display in a 2-0 defeat.While Monday’s defeat prompted a panicked reaction on social media, it is still a remarkable season — and Forest can still achieve their Champions League dreams.They sit only three points off Chelsea (fifth) and Newcastle (fourth) ahead of their game in hand against Palace tonight. With just four matches games remaining, Nuno admitted his challenge is to get them back to what made them thrive over the last […]
2025 NBA playoffs schedule: Games today, times, complete bracket with full second-round schedule set
Getty Images The second round is set in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and action continues Monday with a pair of Game 1s: Celtics vs. Knicks in the East and Thunder vs. Nuggets in the West. Eight teams remain in the playoff bracket as the first round wrapped up Sunday night with the Warriors eliminating the Rockets with a Game 7 road win. The full schedule is set for the second round, which began on Sunday with the Pacers upsetting the Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series. The second round could run through Tuesday, May 20.The Warriors advanced to face the Timberwolves in the second round, setting up a rare No. 6 vs. No. 7 matchup. The East, meanwhile, saw its top four seeds all advance into the second round.The Thunder and reigning champion Celtics are both favored to reach the […]
Be the first to leave a comment