OTL: Post-Draft Free Agent Targets for Baltimore

The NFL Draft has come and gone, and as of Monday night, the “second wave” of free agency began – signings will no longer count against the 2027 compensatory pick formula.

The Ravens have filled plenty of holes so far, both in the early stages of free agency and in the draft. The edge room finally has a superstar, both guard spots are now seemingly filled, and the front office took two swings at a big-bodied receiver in the mid rounds.

With that being said, there are still some gaps on the depth chart. Center still needs to be addressed, the inside linebacker room could use some help, and the defensive line is still a tad shallow, especially with some questions still lingering around Nnamdi Madubuike.

The Work is Not Done!

So, who exactly could the Ravens target over the next few weeks with the comp formula no longer in the picture?

C Ethan Pocic

Ethan Pocic is by far the best center remaining on what is now a pretty shallow market at the position.

The former 2nd round pick back in 2017 spent the last four seasons in Cleveland, and has experience in the trench warfare within the AFC North.

Pocic finished right in the middle of the pack last season with a 63.8 PFF grade (20/40) and graded out as a slightly better run blocker than pass blocker.

Outside of Pocic, the options are very limited. Graham Glasgow is the only other available center who started at the position for the majority of last season.

Maybe the Ravens feel confident enough in the rest of the line at this point to hold an open competition between in-house options during camp, but the thought of poor center play brings me back to how the 2021 season ended in Buffalo.

DT DJ Reader

D.J. Reader will be going into his 11th year as a pro, but he’s still got it on the interior defensive line. He’s recorded just 12.5 sacks over his career, but Reader’s MO is in his run defense. He was ranked 30th by PFF out of 134 qualified defensive lineman last season, and at 6’3’’ 330 lbs he clogs up running lanes like few others.

The Ravens aren’t necessarily desperate along their defensive front, but Madubuike may miss time to start the season, and Broderick Washington could be a cut candidate.

An interior defensive lineman signing could crowd the room a tad in regards to the youngsters, but behind John Jenkins and Travis Jones, Aeneas Peebles played very sparingly last season and CJ Okoye is certainly a downgrade from the experienced vet Reader.

ILB Chris Board

Chris Board landed with Baltimore in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, and spent four seasons as a Raven before spending ‘22 in Detroit, ‘23 in New England, ‘24 back in Baltimore, and ‘25 as a Giant, though he only played in two games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve.

He’s always been a big special teams guy, and considering our poor special teams coverage last season on kickoffs, I’d love a reunion.

The contract wouldn’t be expensive, and though it likely wouldn’t have had an impact on next year’s comp pick formula before the deadline, Board is still out there for the taking.

Jake Hummel served as the Ravens’ special teams ace last season, though he rarely appeared on defense, but if Chris Board is healthy once again I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in that role in the purple and black.

One thing to note: He played here with special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr., which could certainly factor into the equation.

DB Rasul Douglas

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being a dedicated football fan for a decade plus, it’s that you can never have enough quality cornerbacks.

The Ravens were smart to re-sign Chidobe Awuzie earlier in the offseason, and I think they’d be smart to bolster the room a tad bit more.

Douglas was a pleasant surprise for what was a struggling Dolphins secondary a season ago, and though he’ll be 32 to start the 2026 season, some of his best statistical years have come during the latter half of his career.

The post OTL: Post-Draft Free Agent Targets for Baltimore appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/04/28/out-to-lunch/otl-post-draft-free-agent-targets-for-baltimore/