Latest news with #Ojabo
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each defensive position following OTAs
One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each defensive position following OTAs With Ravens' OTAs over and all three phases of the off-season workout program complete, we're looking at one player on the roster bubble at each defensive position. Baltimore is loaded on the offensive side of the football, and GM Eric DeCosta knowingly chose to restock the defense with the organization's first two NFL draft picks. The Ravens are cruising through the off-season workout program and have a looming two-day mandatory mini-camp scheduled before the team takes a five-week break before returning for the mid-July training camp. Baltimore's two top sack artists return on defense, but the edge rusher position will host the toughest position battles, just ahead of third cornerback and safety. There are a couple of positions with competitions scheduled, and we're taking an early look at one player on the roster bubble at each defensive position. DT-C.J. Okoye Okoye, a Nigerian native, first joined the Chargers as part of the International Player Pathway Program. He had a sack in his first organized football game in the preseason. He'll compete in a position group that includes Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, John Jenkins, and Jayson Jones. DE-Adedayo Odeleye The 6'5″, 265-pound Nigerian-born prospect was part of the 2022 NFL International Player Pathway program with the Texans before spending this season on the Baltimore practice squad. Nicknamed "Dayo," he began playing American football at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. Edge Rusher -- David Ojabo Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are the unquestioned starters, but the Ravens are hoping second-round pick Mike Green can assume a role from Day 1. Ojabo will battle Adisa Isaac, Tavius Robinson, and rookie Mike Green for snaps. Things can only go up for Ojabo after he played in 13 games last season. He has four sacks in his first three seasons, and it's now or never for the former Michigan pass rusher. A 2024 third-round pick, Adisa Isaac saw action in four games and played 32 defensive snaps, as his NFL debut was delayed by a hamstring issue, which sidelined him for the Ravens' first two games. Tavius Robinson has improved dramatically, and the former Ole Miss pass rusher had 3.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in a reserve role last season. LB-William Kwenkeu Kwenkeu is the only player signed to a reserve/futures deal who saw regular-season game action in 2024, as he was elevated twice and played 33 special-teams snaps (vs. Eagles and Giants). Roquan Smith is the unquestioned leader of the Ravens' defense, but he'll need a running back at the linebacker spot. With Malik Harrison and Chris Board departing in free agency, John Harbaugh confirmed that Trenton Simpson would be first up in the battle at linebacker. Simpson was productive over Baltimore's first 11 games, logging 65 tackles (34 solo), but he was a liability in the passing game. Simpson was entirely out of the Ravens' inside-linebacker rotation following the Week 14 bye, and he was limited to special teams during Baltimore's two-game postseason run. Simpson finished the 2024 regular season with 73 tackles (40 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four pass defenses, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. He'll battle special-teams standout Jacob Hummel and fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan. CB-Jalyn Armour-Davisa Armour-Davis is entering a crucial time in his career. With the Ravens' cornerback position stacked with young talent, the former Alabama defensive back is getting reps at safety. Before the NFL draft and free agency, Baltimore had four cornerbacks on the roster. Since then, the Ravens have added Chidobe Awuzie, Bilal Kone (rookie), and Robert Longerbeam (rookie). T.J. Tampa is in a similar boat after missing most of his rookie season to various injuries. Armour-Davis will enter year four needing a strong training camp. S-Keondre Jackson/Desmond Igbinosun Baltimore likes to employ a third safety in their base defense, allowing Kyle Hamilton to be a Swiss army knife in Zach Orr's versatile scheme. Ar'Darius Washington fit that role until he suffered a torn Achilles during a recent workout. Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane will battle for that role. Kane is a thumper who also stood out on defense in the preseason. According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a single reception on 30 coverage snaps, produced a coverage grade of 73.4, and recorded a forced incompletion and a tackle for loss. Last summer, Brade made the Ravens' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent after starring at River Hill High School and the University of Maryland. In the games he appeared in, Brade was mainly relegated to special teams roles and only saw the field on defense late in the fourth quarter of games where victory was well in hand. Braden recorded just three total tackles, including just one solo, and played 207 snaps on special teams compared to just 11 on defense. He was inactive for both playoff games.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Outsmart NFL Using International Pathway Program
The International Pathway Program is something the NFL made in order to encourage players from other countries to see what they can do in the NFL. One notable player that used this is Philadelphia Eagles star lineman Jordan Mailata, who grew up playing rugby in Australia, and then came over to the United States when he was 21. Advertisement The Baltimore Ravens have now made use of this program, but they have found a way to cheat the system just a bit. Nigerian edge rusher appeared in 13 games this past season for the Ravens, which would make one think that he would not be eligible for the IPP. But you would be wrong. The only qualifications needed are citizenship and residency outside the United States and Canada, with a maximum of two years of US high school experience. And Ojabo fits those requirements. That means the NFL had to grant a roster exemption to the Ravens. They then used that open roster spot to sign a rookie who went undrafted, North Carolina linebacker Kaimon Rucker. Advertisement The 23-year-old finished his final season with the Tar Heels with six sacks, eight tackles for loss, and even an interception. That versatility was enough for the reigning AFC North champions to take a chance on him. It might have been a bit of an unorthodox way to get to an NFL team, but Rucker will be looking to prove that Baltimore did not make a mistake jumping through all of the hoops they did in order to sign him. Related: Ravens May Have Found a Diamond in the Rough Related: Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen Headlines Fantasy Debates
