Many players on the Baltimore Ravens’ 90-man roster are already established as productive NFL contributors, while others — like the rookies — will enter training camp with time and space to grow. And then there’s a group, as there is every year, caught somewhere between those realities.
Several recent draftees still hold realistic hope of developing into productive, starting-caliber pieces of a contending team but don’t have the luxury of time. These four Ravens are young, talented and facing pressure this summer to prove their value in order to make the roster
Averett’s provided a handful of encouraging signs over his first two NFL seasons. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Alabama filled in admirably for the injured Marlon Humphrey during a trip to play the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs his rookie year. And last season, Averett made three starts, contributed occasionally on special teams and turned in solid play in an expanded role during the regular-season finale.
Yet he’s struggled to take a lasting leap up the Ravens’ depth chart.
Part of that’s not Averett’s fault. Baltimore has prioritized loading up on quality veteran depth at corner, leaving young players at the position with a steep uphill climb to see the field. Humphrey, fellow All-Pro Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith and Tavon Young round out the top four cornerbacks on the roster for 2020.
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