Ravens to sign CBs Dominique Franks and Aaron Ross

[display name]

#1 Jimmy

#2 Webb

#3 Asa

#4 Brown

#5 Ross

 

Not really worried about the corner position anymore if the guys behind Jimmy/Webb play as expected. Asa can probably step in and start if he has to, if one of the two get hurt. Ross is also proven and adds a lot of experience and depth.

As much as I would like to see it, Asa hasn't really shown me anything for me to consider him worthy of the #3 spot.

[Bullrush]

Well, he was suspended, he didn't really get a chance to prove himself. From what I remember though he looked great in the preseason. And he's making plays right now in camp as well, getting some snaps with the 1st string defense. Let's see how he does in the preseason but I have high hopes for him, I think if he keeps it up he could be the next Corey Graham / Cary Williams and be a starter in about 2 years.

[display name]

Well, he was suspended, he didn't really get a chance to prove himself. From what I remember though he looked great in the preseason. And he's making plays right now in camp as well, getting some snaps with the 1st string defense. Let's see how he does in the preseason but I have high hopes for him, I think if he keeps it up he could be the next Corey Graham / Cary Williams and be a starter in about 2 years.

He was suspended for 8 games last season, and didn't do anything when he got back. However I do remember him playing very well in the preseason (he had at least 1 interception in it last year) so hopefully he can compete seriously for a high amount of playing time.

[Juviebest]

He was suspended for 8 games last season, and didn't do anything when he got back. However I do remember him playing very well in the preseason (he had at least 1 interception in it last year) so hopefully he can compete seriously for a high amount of playing time.

To be fair, by the time he returned from suspension our top 3 CBs were entrenched and Chykie was playing really good on ST. Kind of hard to come in mid season and take a spot unless you are a vet or a star player.

[ravefan52]

Drafting one wouldn't fix the unproven problem at all, and rookies are arguably more unproven than what the Ravens have since both Asa and Brown have at least played in preseason games and what not to get experience. The only rookie worth drafting to immediately contribute and play well would have been Kyle Fuller, in my opinion, but any other is going to have their struggles like the rest

You don't know that. Rookies make big impacts all the time and it doesn't have to be one selected early either. Desmond Trufant (22 overall) was a top 10 CB in football last year. Micah Hyde, a 5th round pick, turned out to be a steal as a very solid nickel guy for the pack. Nickell Robey went undrafted and now he's one of the best slot guys in the league. There's about 4 or 5 others who were more than serviceable as number 3 corners and that's just last year's class. I would have wanted a CB over some of the other guys we selected in this draft, as I hadn't seen much of the couple we had (outside of Jimmy and Webb), but that's just me.

[rmw10]

You don't know that. Rookies make big impacts all the time and it doesn't have to be one selected early either. Desmond Trufant (22 overall) was a top 10 CB in football last year. Micah Hyde, a 5th round pick, turned out to be a steal as a very solid nickel guy for the pack. Nickell Robey went undrafted and now he's one of the best slot guys in the league. There's about 4 or 5 others who were more than serviceable as number 3 corners and that's just last year's class. I would have wanted a CB over some of the other guys we selected in this draft, as I hadn't seen much of the couple we had (outside of Jimmy and Webb), but that's just me.

 

…I'm still mad about us passing on Pierre Desir.

[pitchblack_20]

Hopefully one of them will take over the #3 spot and do decent because I really don't trust Brown/Asa. I think it was stupid not to draft a CB. Now we're relying on some unproven young guys that haven't shown much and a couple of vets that no one else wanted to essentially be a starter on our defense. God forbid one of our top two CB's get injured.

You don't trust our unproven 3rd year guys but you would trust an unproven rookie ?

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

Wouldn't it be funny if the corner back with the combined names of two of the worst free agent cbs we've had in the history of our franchise came here as a free agent,turned around what has been an average career and went on to become the best cb we've had in the history of our franchise?

[ravefan52]

…I'm still mad about us passing on Pierre Desir.

Same. I wanted him or Devonta Freeman. Either would have been great and I'd be willing to take my chances on Gillmore being there in the 4th. And if he wasn't, I wouldn't have been that disappointed. I thought there were good CB's available throughout though.

[ravensnick]

Decent little signings...Franks will likely be a special teamer/depth based on how he has played in the past, while Ross will give Asa Jackson and Chykie  Brown a push for the nickel spot.

I be surprised if Ross didn't win that competition. Ross has been a starting CB before and I see no reason why he can't by a #3 now. Frank will be a ST with potential and he is only 26.

[ravensnick]

Same. I wanted him or Devonta Freeman. Either would have been great and I'd be willing to take my chances on Gillmore being there in the 4th. And if he wasn't, I wouldn't have been that disappointed. I thought there were good CB's available throughout though.

désir was taken about 3-5 picks before our one in the 4th. I think it would have ended up being a substantial reach. I think we should have take jaylen watkins at 99, then Gilmore/Lynch at the next pick.

[ravefan52]

You don't trust our unproven 3rd year guys but you would trust an unproven rookie ?

No, but I hadn't thought those 3rd and 4th year guys have done that great. Maybe a rookie would do better maybe he won't, but it's another guy who can come in and compete for a spot.

[ravefan52]

désir was taken about 3-5 picks before our one in the 4th. I think it would have ended up being a substantial reach. I think we should have take jaylen watkins at 99, then Gilmore/Lynch at the next pick.

I'm talking about our 3rd comp. I don't think it would have been a substantial reach at 99, but that's just my opinion. FWIW I was a big fan of Watkins too and thought that'd be a great pick. Would have been fine with Gillmore/Lynch at the next pick too.

[BmoreBird22]

You don't know that. Rookies make big impacts all the time and it doesn't have to be one selected early either. Desmond Trufant (22 overall) was a top 10 CB in football last year. Micah Hyde, a 5th round pick, turned out to be a steal as a very solid nickel guy for the pack. Nickell Robey went undrafted and now he's one of the best slot guys in the league. There's about 4 or 5 others who were more than serviceable as number 3 corners and that's just last year's class. I would have wanted a CB over some of the other guys we selected in this draft, as I hadn't seen much of the couple we had (outside of Jimmy and Webb), but that's just me.

I wouldn't say all the time. For every Trufant you have a Dee Milliner. Sure, some rookies can play well, but you also get some that are like Jimmy and Revis and need to get their feet wet first. More often than not, cornerback is the least likely position to get any rookie production from. I'll try to find the article if I can, but cornerback are literally the least most contributing rookies

[ravefan52]

I wouldn't say all the time. For every Trufant you have a Dee Milliner. Sure, some rookies can play well, but you also get some that are like Jimmy and Revis and need to get their feet wet first. More often than not, cornerback is the least likely position to get any rookie production from. I'll try to find the article if I can, but cornerback are literally the least most contributing rookies

I know there's a lot that don't contribute and most CB's take like 3 years. I just would have liked to try our chances at one. Even if they don't produce in the first year, we could use another long term one IMO.

[BmoreBird22]

I know there's a lot that don't contribute and most CB's take like 3 years. I just would have liked to try our chances at one. Even if they don't produce in the first year, we could use another long term one IMO.

I wanted us to draft a cornerback very badly and was heartbroken when Kyle Fuller got picked, but I'm saying the Ravens probably wouldn't be getting much more for the first year or so than what Brown or Asa would get

[bMore Heathen]

…I'm still mad about us passing on Pierre Desir.

Same. We probably could have waited a round for Gillmore and taken Desir at the end of the 3rd. But... We didn't.

[jazz1988]

Same. We probably could have waited a round for Gillmore and taken Desir at the end of the 3rd. But... We didn't.

 

I honestly think Gillmore would had been gone by the time we picked in the fourth round. Alot of people seem to think he was a prospect that was going to be there in fifth or sixth round but that's not the case at all. Even if we had drafted Desir we probably would had end up signing  two veteran cornerbacks any way to add more competition and depth before training camp started .

 

Most rookie cornerbacks aren't ready to start or contribute right away on defense .I think getting a capable blocking tight end that is very important for Gary Kubiak offense by the way  is alot more important than getting a rookie cornerback whom may be just a special teamer in his first year.

[52520Andrew]

Drafting one wouldn't fix the unproven problem at all, and rookies are arguably more unproven than what the Ravens have since both Asa and Brown have at least played in preseason games and what not to get experience. The only rookie worth drafting to immediately contribute and play well would have been Kyle Fuller, in my opinion, but any other is going to have their struggles like the rest

 

Shocker... lol

 

With that said, I think Verrett and Fuller are you early guys as rookies to watch. There are quite a few guys later although guys like Gilbert and Dennard I don't see having an immediate impact as rookies. It all depends on situation however so we will just have to see.

[BmoreBird22]

Shocker... lol

 

With that said, I think Verrett and Fuller are you early guys as rookies to watch. There are quite a few guys later although guys like Gilbert and Dennard I don't see having an immediate impact as rookies. It all depends on situation however so we will just have to see.

The reason I left Verett off is because he'll be out until August with an injury

[52520Andrew]

The reason I left Verett off is because he'll be out until August with an injury

Ah gotcha

[BmoreBird22]

Ah gotcha

That's really gonna hurt him a lot as far as making an impact goes. Apparently Justin Gilbert is going to be almost handed the starting job, so we'll see how he does since Haden will get targeted far less. Gilbert will either sink or swim hard

[52520Andrew]

That's really gonna hurt him a lot as far as making an impact goes. Apparently Justin Gilbert is going to be almost handed the starting job, so we'll see how he does since Haden will get targeted far less. Gilbert will either sink or swim hard

 

He is a talented guy but he has to get better with technique before he really does well. If he succeeds, it is off his talent although I wouldn't be surprised if he has an underwhelming rookie year and turns it on in year 2 or 3. 

[BmoreBird22]

He is a talented guy but he has to get better with technique before he really does well. If he succeeds, it is off his talent although I wouldn't be surprised if he has an underwhelming rookie year and turns it on in year 2 or 3.

I wonder if he'll be another Morris Claiborne

[52520Andrew]

I wonder if he'll be another Morris Claiborne

 

Depends on the coaching and whether he is willing to put in the work. I would love to see him be another Morris Claiborne though, nothing against him personally, just don't want to have the Browns with 2 good CBs lol

[BmoreBird22]

Depends on the coaching and whether he is willing to put in the work. I would love to see him be another Morris Claiborne though, nothing against him personally, just don't want to have the Browns with 2 good CBs lol

I don't think it's coaching so much as confidence in the wake of getting picked on so much

[52520Andrew]

I don't think it's coaching so much as confidence in the wake of getting picked on so much

 

That is certainly a factor as well, one good thing we have now is some vets at CB who should be able to teach our younger guys a bit as mentors. We needed that in the secondary.

[BmoreBird22]

That is certainly a factor as well, one good thing we have now is some vets at CB who should be able to teach our younger guys a bit as mentors. We needed that in the secondary.

Having Webb as the oldest guy with only, what, five years of experience prior? That's huge to have someone like Ross who's got 8 and two rings

[52520Andrew]

Having Webb as the oldest guy with only, what, five years of experience prior? That's huge to have someone like Ross who's got 8 and two rings

 

Yeah even if he doesn't play a single snap, he still benefits us by having him around since he helps the younger guys out.

[BmoreBird22]

Yeah even if he doesn't play a single snap, he still benefits us by having him around since he helps the younger guys out.

I actually don't know much about him as a player, but hopefully he's like Steve Smith and is just very willing to help