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Sheldon Price may have found his niche in the NFL. After three seasons on the periphery of the league, Price has a prime opportunity to take advantage of the Ravens current lack of depth as outside cornerback. With a strong training camp, the 25 year old cornerback has a chance to earn a permanent role on the team.
Jake Lourim and Don Markus of the Baltimore Sun reported that Price took the majority of first team repetitions at cornerback opposite Shareece Wright on the first day of minicamp. While the Ravens have a fierce competition for the slot cornerback role forming between Jerraud Powers, Tavon Young and Kyle Arrington, options are limited at the outside corner spots. Both Jimmy Smith and Will Davis are not practicing during minicamp as they recover from their foot and knee injuries, respectively.
The opening at outside cornerback has given Price the means to prove his merit. His primary competition for a backup outside corner spot is rookie Maurice Canady. According to Garrett Downing, Canady had an up-and-down first day of minicamp. He was badly beaten by rookie Chris Moore, giving up a pass interference penalty in the process. But later in practice, Canady returned an interception for a touchdown.
Price signed with Indianapolis as an undrafted rookie in 2013, after earning accolades at UCLA. He was selected to the Sporting News Pac-10 Freshman All-American team and Rivals.com All-American Team after his first season in Los Angeles. Over the course of his collegiate career, Price accumulated 157 tackles, 26 pass deflections, five interceptions and two forced fumbles.
After sparse playing time, the Colts waived Price after he was injured in September of 2015. The Ravens signed him to their practice squad in October of last season, and eventually promoted him to their active roster. At 6-2, 198, Price has ideal length and bulk to excel as an outside cornerback on the Ravens defense.
As Ozzie Newsome preaches, "You can never have too many corners."