Ravens News 5/3: Salary cap update, praise for Newsome and more

2018 Rookie Salary Projection - Brian McFarland

Due to all of their wheeling and dealing, the Ravens ended up drafting 12 players over the weekend. With the rookie wage scale in place, the compensation for those 12 draft picks is basically slotted. According to OverTheCap.com, the Ravens will have an estimated Rookie Cap number of $9,627,696 for those 12 draft picks.

Those Cap numbers breakdown as follows:

1st Rd, Hayden Hurst: $2,013,339

1st Rd, Lamar Jackson: $1,727,644

3rd Rd, Orlando Brown: $697,392

3rd Rd, Mark Andrews: $690,095

4th Rd, Anthony Averett: $645,983

4th Rd, Kenny Young: $640,687

4th Rd, Jaleel Scott: $625,740

5th Rd, Jordan Lasley: $547,468

6th Rd, DeShon Elliott: $519,625

6th Rd, Greg Senat: $509,732

6th Rd, Bradley Bozeman: $509,732

7th Rd, Zach Sieler: $500,259

McFarland goes on to estimate the Ravens will have approximately $5.5 million in available cap space once the rookie class signs. That likely leaves just enough room to add one more low cost veteran later in the offseason, and retain an appropriate in-season contingency fund.

2018 NFL Draft class power rankings: Teams 1-8 - Lance Zierlein

5. Ravens

Draft picks: South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst (No. 25 overall), Louisville QB Lamar Jackson (No. 32 overall), Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown (No. 83 overall), Oklahoma TE Mark Andrews (No. 86 overall), Alabama CB Anthony Averett (No. 118 overall), UCLA LB Kenny Young (No. 122 overall), New Mexico State WR Jaleel Scott (No. 132 overall), UCLA WR Jordan Lasley (No. 162 overall), Texas S DeShon Elliott (No. 190 overall), Wagner OT Greg Senat (No. 212 overall), Alabama C Bradley Bozeman (No. 215 overall), Ferris State DE Zach Sieler (No. 238 overall).

Analysis: In his final draft as GM, Ozzie Newsome was very shrewd in moving back and still picking up his target in Hurst. In addition, he had ammunition to move back up into the first round to add Jackson to get the fifth-year option that’s only available for first-round picks. Brown and Andrews are productive options he didn’t have to reach for. Sieler is going to surprise people.

National media is almost unanimous that Newsome knocked the Ravens first five picks out of the park. Sieler, Ozzie’s final pick, is a dark horse candidate to supplant Brent Urban at five-technique.

PFF’s 10 UDFAs we expect to make an impact in 2018 - Austin Gayle

LB Alvin Jones, Baltimore Ravens | PFF Big Board Rank: No. 238

Former UTEP linebacker Alvin Jones, though against lower-level competition, put together three years of solid grades at the collegiate level, earning 80.7-plus overall grades in each of his past three seasons. He, however, is a bit one dimensional in that he takes on a more traditional approach to the linebacker position as strong run defender and run-of-the-mill coverage ‘backer. He ranked among the top-15 draft-eligible linebackers in run-stop percentage (12.1) in 2017.

Behind veterans C.J. Mosley and Patrick Onwuasor, the Baltimore Ravens’ linebacking corps lacks key depth pieces, which could very well be Jones’ foot in the door. Jones should go toe-to-toe with former UCLA linebacker and Ravens fourth-rounder Kenny Young for reps all throughout training camp and the preseason.

The Ravens have a long history of successfully developing undrafted inside linebackers into valuable contributors. Jones, a potential gem, could be the next in line.

One Question, 32 Answers: What Do You Think About Every Team’s Offseason? - Peter King

Baltimore. The story of the offseason: The leash on a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Joe Flacco, has tightened considerably with the drafting of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round. Smart move by the Ravens, because Flacco is in Eli Manning’s league in recent years—one of the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the game over the last half-decade. Maybe it’s not all Flacco’s fault, but something has to be done about it. Jackson is that something. For better or worse, Hayden Hurst and Orlando Brown should be offensive starters by Halloween, at the latest.

Hurst will likely be an immediate starter, at least in two tight end sets. Brown also appears to be in line for early playing time, especially if he can add strength and quickness this summer.