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RB Alex Collins Dies At 28

August 14th, 2023 at 7:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens and Seahawks have announced Alex Collins‘ death Monday. The running back, who played five NFL seasons, was 28.

A report from Ian Margol of WPGL indicates Collins was killed in a motorcycle accident in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. A collision with a Chevrolet Suburban caused the accident, and Margol reports Collins was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman driving the Suburban turned onto Northwest 33rd Ave., leading to the wreck, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins last played in the NFL during the 2021 season, which he spent with the Seahawks. Collins went through two stints with the Seahawks and was with the Ravens in between those stays.

Collins came into the NFL after three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Arkansas; his 3,703 rushing yards rank second in Razorbacks history. Collins’ most prominent pro work came in Baltimore. The Fort Lauderdale native and fifth-round Seahawks draft choice in 2016 failed to make Seattle’s 53-man roster in 2017. The Ravens picked up the SEC product but stashed him on their practice squad to start the ’17 season. But the Ravens promoted Collins early in the year and saw him lead the team in rushing, approaching a 1,000-yard season.

Collins finished the 2017 slate with 973 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He earned another opportunity with the 2018 Ravens edition; he finished that season with 411 yards on the ground, making contributions in a season that saw Baltimore return to the playoffs. But Collins’ career ended up sidetracked after a 2018 foot injury. The Ravens waived Collins in March 2019, following an arrest, and he spent the season out of football due to another injury — a broken leg sustained in July 2019 — and a suspension.

The Seahawks, however, gave him a second chance in 2020, bringing him in midway through that season. Collins spent the final two years of his career back in Seattle. Injuries to Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny led to Collins receiving extensive work in 2021; he finished his last NFL campaign with 411 rushing yards.

Ravens Activate RB J.K. Dobbins

August 14th, 2023 at 1:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

J.K. Dobbins is eligible to take part in his first team activities of the offseason. The Ravens’ lead back has been activated from the PUP list today, per a team announcement.

Dobbins missed OTAs and minicamp while dealing with an undefined injury and apparent tension over his contract status. He was also absent from the first 14 practices of training camp and the team’s record-extending 24th consecutive preseason win on Saturday, giving him plenty of ground to make up with respect to acclimating to new OC Todd Monken‘s scheme. With Dobbins activated, Baltimore does not have any remaining players on the PUP list.

A major knee injury cost Dobbins the entire 2021 season and the beginning of the following campaign. He returned for a four-game stretch in 2022, but then underwent a cleanup procedure to recover in full. After seeing the field following the second surgery, the 24-year-old showed the efficiency which was present before the injury, something which has helped put him on the extension radar.

Head coach John Harbaugh has remained optimistic that Dobbins would return to Ravens camp shortly, something which could help contract talks yield progress. An extension has been discussed recently, but nothing is considered imminent. The signficant missed time in the Ohio State alum’s career serves as an obvious factor working against him with respect to securing a multi-year commitment from the Ravens.

More generally, the running back market has skewed heavily in favor of teams over players recently, as the actions by a number of the league’s top producers at the position have alluded to throughout the offseason. Baltimore has a number of other options in the running game aside from Dobbins, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Quarterback Lamar Jackson can be expected to remain a frequent runner despite the offensive coordinator change, while Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon are all on the books as well for 2023.

Limited usage relative to other lead backs could thus remain an element of Dobbins’ upcoming season. That, in turn, would also likely hurt his production and subsequent free agent value, though operating as part of a committee could have long-term benefits for the former second-rounder. In the immediate future, Dobbins will make a welcomed return to the fold with the regular season not far away.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/23

August 13th, 2023 at 6:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor transactions as we close the first week of the preseason:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Claimed off waivers (from Lions): CB Tae Hayes

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Reyes retires from the sport of football after only two years in the league. A former basketball player with dreams of playing in the NBA, Reyes applied for and was admitted into the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program out of Chile. Despite spending time with three teams, Reyes only suited up for regular season action in Washington, where he played 11 games, starting one. As a tight end, Reyes mostly made an impact on special teams during his career. He retires at the age of 27.

Ravens To Extend DL Broderick Washington

August 12th, 2023 at 7:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 12: Further details on the Washington extension are in, courtesy of Wilson (Twitter link). The guarantee total includes a $3MM signing bonus, and the 26-year-old’s base salaries (1.01MM in 2023, $5.99MM in 2024) are guaranteed in full. The deal also features a $3.3MM option bonus and $250K Pro Bowl incentives each year, giving Washington the ability to boost his earnings if his full-time starting role results in a step up in production.

AUGUST 9: Broderick Washington will not play out a contract year with the Ravens. The fourth-year defensive lineman agreed to terms on a three-year extension with the team Wednesday morning, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports (on Twitter).

The former fifth-round pick will stay in Baltimore beyond 2023 on a deal that Wilson adds will max out at $17.5MM and contains $10MM in total guarantees. In terms of base value, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes the pact checks in at $15.75MM. Washington emerged as a part-time starter last season, with more being expected of him this year. The Ravens will illustrate their commitment via this through-2026 deal.

This represents a nice payday for a player who had two starts on his resume through two seasons. A Texas Tech alum, Washington stepped in as a nine-game starter in 2022. The Ravens released Calais Campbell this offseason, leading him to the Falcons. In the D-line stalwart’s place, Washington is expected to step in on a full-time basis alongside Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce.

Baltimore frequently lets role players leave in free agency in exchange for compensatory picks, but Washington will become an exception — even as the Ravens begin building around Lamar Jackson‘s $52MM-per-year contract. With Pierce going into his age-31 season and coming off an injury-shortened 2022, Baltimore has identified one of its future D-line pillars. This could certainly become a team-friendly extension, with the AAV outside 40 among interior defensive linemen.

Madubuike, who has started 30 games in his three-year career, remains unsigned beyond this season. As our Ely Allen pointed out earlier this summer, Madubuike (5.5 sacks last year) may be slightly pricier to extend.

Washington and Madubuike (Round 3, 2020) have seen their roles grow during a period in which the Ravens had seen some veterans go down with injuries or leave in free agency. Pierce missed 14 games last season, while Derek Wolfe‘s Ravens career came to an abrupt halt after re-signing in 2021. The team did not give longtime D-tackle bastion Brandon Williams a third contract after his second expired last year.

As the Ravens’ defense has gotten younger up front, Washington, 26, has steadily grown as a contributor. After playing 283 defensive snaps in 2021, he was on the field for 483 last season. The 304-pound D-lineman totaled 49 tackles and deflected six passes. Pro Football Focus placed Washington’s 2022 season 31st among interior D-linemen.

Entering training camp, the Ravens had cogs at every other defensive position signed long term. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams and Roquan Smith are tied to big-ticket veteran extensions, while Kyle Hamilton, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo are signed beyond 2023 on rookie deals. Baltimore’s defensive line, conversely, had been fairly unsettled. Pierce joins Madubuike in being unsigned beyond this season. This Washington deal will provide the AFC North franchise some clarity along its front.

Ravens Had Zay Flowers As Top-Rated WR Prospect

August 12th, 2023 at 4:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top storylines entering the 2023 season for the Ravens is their new-look receiving corps. First-round rookie Zay Flowers will be counted on as a key member of the team’s passing game, and further details recently emerged regarding how the organization viewed him leading up to the draft.

Baltimore used the No. 22 pick on Flowers, making him one of four straight wideouts selected on Day 1. The Boston College product was the subject of trade talks with teams looking to move past the Ravens to secure Flowers, but general manager Eric DeCosta elected to remain in place. Part of the reason for doing so was his evaluation of the 5-10, 172-pounder in the winter.

After seeing Flowers in the East-West Shrine Bowl, the Ravens confirmed their thinking that Flowers was the top receiver in the draft, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley writes. That makes their decision to avoid trading down (despite not owning a 2023 second-round pick) clearer, and could add further to the expectations surrounding Flowers as a rookie. The 22-year-old has drawn rave reviews from local and national media alike, so he will be a player to watch closely once the regular season kicks off.

[SOURCE LINK]

Ravens Host CB William Jackson III

August 11th, 2023 at 3:55pm CST by Ben Levine

John Harbaugh hinted yesterday that the Ravens could be seeking some reinforcement at cornerback, and the team will take a look at a veteran defensive back to potentially fill that void. According to Josina Anderson (on Twitter), William Jackson III is visiting with the Ravens today.

[RELATED: Ravens Eyeing Cornerback Help]

It wasn’t long ago that Jackson inked a three-year, $40.5MM deal with Washington. The cornerback was limited to only 12 games during his first season with the organization thanks to a calf injury, and his 2022 campaign saw him disappoint in four games before getting benched. Jackson asked for a trade and eventually got his wish, with Washington sending the cornerback to Pittsburgh. However, he spent much of his time with the Steelers on injured reserve, and he didn’t get into a game before earning his walking papers.

We heard earlier this offseason that the cornerback was back to full health and was mulling opportunities from multiple teams. Of course, Jackson will now have to settle for a prove-it deal at this point of his career, but there’s still plenty of intrigue. Sure, the 30-year-old would have graded as one of the worst cornerbacks in the league had he played enough snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus. However, the site was much more bullish on his production during his time with the Bengals, including a rookie season where he ranked fourth at the position.

The Ravens’ current issues at cornerback could be temporary considering the team’s injuries. Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Arthur Maulet are currently sidelined, and Pepe Williams has also been limited during training camp. Despite the injuries, Harbaugh seemed to hint that the organization was eyeing more than a healthy body, meaning a potential cornerback acquisition would have a legitimate shot at making the roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/23

August 10th, 2023 at 6:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Waived/injured: WR Makai Polk

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Following the addition of Shelby Harris, the Browns decided to let go of another defensive lineman. Michael Dwumfour got into nine games with the Texans and 49ers last season, compiling eight tackles. He joined the Browns earlier this offseason.

Logan Stenberg was a fourth-round pick by the Lions back in 2020. He saw a larger role in each of his three seasons with the organization, culminating in a 2022 season where he got into 16 games with four starts. The lineman also had a role on special teams in three seasons in Detroit, so there’s a chance he finds another gig elsewhere.

Players waived or released from IR often agree to an injury settlement with their team. Their previous placement on IR would have prevented them from seeing the field during the 2023 campaign; now that they’ve been released, they can sign elsewhere and play this season.

Latest On Ravens’ Interest In Jadeveon Clowney

August 10th, 2023 at 3:55pm CST by Ben Levine

When Jadeveon Clowney visited the Ravens earlier this week, he ended up leaving Baltimore without signing a deal. However, John Harbaugh is still optimistic that the two sides can eventually agree to a contract. Speaking to reporters today, the Ravens coach said Clowney is still a realistic option, but Harbaugh also cautioned that the organization is talking to other free agent edge defenders.

[RELATED: Ravens Meet With Jadeveon Clowney]

“I haven’t heard otherwise,” Harbaugh said of a potential Clowney signing (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley on Twitter). “It’s ‘So you’re saying we still got a chance.’”

Clowney was in Baltimore for a visit on Tuesday, and we later learned that the front office made an offer to the veteran. Clowney will continue to consider his options, but it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before the pass rusher makes a decision.

The former first-overall pick was cut by the Browns earlier this offseason following a disappointing two-sack campaign. Clowney will be hard pressed to hit the $8MM deal he signed with Cleveland last offseason, but he could point to Justin Houston, Leonard Floyd, and Frank Clark all signing deals between $5MM and $7MM in 2023. The Ravens are currently armed with $9.5MM in cap space.

Elsewhere on defense, Harbaugh acknowledged that the team’s current cornerback depth is “an issue, no doubt” (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic on Twitter). The head coach also noted that the cornerback position is an issue the Ravens will probably have to address, a hint that the team could be making an addition to their secondary.

Part of the team’s issues at cornerback are related to injuries. Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Arthur Maulet are currently sidelined with injuries, while Pepe Williams has been limited during training camp. The team’s depth will only improve with time, but Harbaugh seemed to indicate that the front office would consider additions at the position regardless of health.

Latest On Ravens’ Patrick Ricard, LG Competition

August 10th, 2023 at 1:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The return of Patrick Ricard to Ravens training camp earlier this week brought about a notable development. The four-time Pro Bowl fullback was used in a different capacity, one which could signal another position change for him.

Ricard worked as an offensive lineman after being activated from the PUP list, as noted by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. That represents an interesting development given Ricard’s successful background as a fullback, where he has received a Pro Bowl invitation every year since 2019. That campaign saw the former college defensive tackle serve in a hybrid role, as he logged 342 snaps on offense and 140 on defense.

Since that point, Ricard has been used exclusively as a fullback, a position which held more value under previous offensive coordinator Greg Roman than it is expected to with Todd Monken now at the helm. A shift toward a more pass-oriented scheme led to some questions about Ricard’s roster security, but they have been put to rest. Trying the 29-year-old along the O-line is currently just in the experimental stage, though.

“We’re looking at that,” head coach John Harbaugh said via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic when speaking about the potential position switch (subscription required). “It’s just a multitude role kind of thing. Pat’s quite an athlete. He can do a lot of different things, and maybe we expand his role just a little bit for a little bit of time here and see how he does.”

Ricard could serve in a depth role along the offensive line if needed, but that unit is also the location of an ongoing positional battle. The left guard spot has been up for grabs since Ben Powers signed with the Broncos, and the Ravens have auditioned a number of replacement candidates. 2021 third-rounder Ben Cleveland appeared to be the top fill-in option at one point, but that is no longer the case.

Sixth-round rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (who has experience as a guard and tackle dating back to his time at Oregon) is currently the frontrunner to win the job, per Hensley. Zrebiec adds that former Raider John Simpson is the other contender for the starting role, and that he recently rotated into the first-team during practice. It will be interesting to see how that competition shakes out over the coming weeks, along with how Ricard is deployed in practice and preseason games.

Ravens Meet With Jadeveon Clowney

August 9th, 2023 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 9: The Ravens have submitted an offer to Clowney, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The former No. 1 pick will mull his options, but the Ravens certainly have an opening amongst veteran edge defenders. Baltimore currently sits at $9.5MM in cap space, which should allow them to field a competitive offer (especially on a one-year pact, which Clowney is likely in line for this late in the offseason) relative to other suitors. It will be worth watching how team and player proceed in the coming days with the pass-rush market having thinned out recently.

AUGUST 8: After both Justin Houston and Yannick Ngakoue reached agreements to further move the edge rusher market along, Jadeveon Clowney looms as the biggest name available. The former No. 1 overall pick is making visits.

Clowney trekked to Baltimore for a Ravens meeting Tuesday, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec tweets. In not re-signing Houston, the Ravens have a potential need on the edge. After multiple agreements with the Browns that occurred earlier in the offseason, Clowney is back in need of a team late in the summer.

Now 30, Clowney has never been able to secure a multiyear contract since his Texans rookie deal expired. The Texans franchise-tagged the former top draftee, leading to a trade with the Seahawks. That preceded one-year pacts with the Titans (2020) and two with the Browns (2021, ’22).

Clowney’s Cleveland tenure started well (nine sacks in 2021) but ended sourly. Clashes with the Browns’ coaching staff led the team to look elsewhere for Myles Garrett complementary options this year. The Browns have since signed Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and traded for Za’Darius Smith.

Letting Houston walk (to the Panthers), the Ravens will be counting on 2021 first-round pick Odafe Oweh, who has yet to justify the team’s investment. Oweh totaled three sacks in 17 games last season. (Houston led the team with 9.5.) The Ravens will have 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo back after an injury-marred rookie year. Tyus Bowser, who also missed time to start last season because of injury, remains with the team. An injury has once again impacted Bowser, however. The seventh-year veteran resides on Baltimore’s active/NFI list. A flareup in Bowser’s knee led to the designation.

A former Texans Pro Bowler, Clowney has offered teams versatility as a pass rusher. He has offered inside-rushing capabilities along with edge work. Despite Clowney’s issues with the Browns’ defensive staff and limited sack production (two), Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-30 defensive end last season. Against the run, PFF slotted Clowney as a top-20 option among edge defenders.

Clowney has undoubtedly heard from multiple teams this offseason, and the deals given to the likes of Houston ($6MM guaranteed), Ngakoue ($10MM locked in), Leonard Floyd ($7MM) and Frank Clark ($5MM) will impact teams’ pursuits of a player who has been patient in past free agency tours. Clowney signed a one-year, $8MM deal with the Browns in 2021 and collected $10MM from the team last year.

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