Ravens May Have Found a Diamond in the Rough

The Baltimore Ravens are a perennial Super Bowl contender because of quarterback Lamar Jackson and the superstar talent he’s surrounded with. From running back Derrick Henry to safety Kyle Hamilton, corner Marlon Humphrey to Roquan Smith, there is talent littered across the roster.

While not a significant weakness, there is far less star power along the edge, where the Ravens will hope to maintain the sack rates they posted in 2024. Only the Denver Broncos (63) had more than their 54 sacks.

That process began in the second round with the selection of Marshall edge rusher Mike Green. It continued on Tuesday when Baltimore signed North Carolina edge rusher Kaimon Rucker.

In doing so, the Ravens may find a diamond in the rough, largely thanks to a key part of Rucker’s profile. He’s not an undrafted-level talent. Rather, he was a projected Day 3 pick who fell due to a laundry list of injuries.

Of course, that makes his profile riskier than many of his peers. As an undrafted free agent, though, Baltimore is only incurring the opportunity cost of his 90-man roster spot.

Further, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler gave him a sixth-round grade and compared him to Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

“Rucker, who received the nickname ‘The Butcher’ after former defensive line coach Tim Cross described him as a ‘rolling ball of butcher knives,’ is an explosive linear athlete and attacks the hips of blockers to win with natural leverage,” Brugler wrote. “He can be covered up at times in the run game, but his discipline and fast, physical hands help him punch off blocks.”

Rucker won’t be handed a starting job anytime soon, but his chances to make the 53-man roster shouldn’t be discarded. He’s incredibly athletic, plays with a hot motor, and his initial hand usage is encouraging.

There is work to be done with his counters, and his measurables (6-1, 254) limit his upside. As a rotational pass rusher, there is still a path to playing time if he can do enough in training camp this summer.

No undrafted free agent is an overwhelming bet to make the Week 1 roster or make a big impact as a rookie. All one can ask for is a path and enough talent to stay afloat. In Baltimore, Rucker has both.