The Ravens haven’t wasted any time signing their draft picks, getting six of them under contract less than a week after the draft concluded.
They’ve also announced the signing of 14 undrafted rookie free agents who will vie for spots on the roster. Two of the most interesting names on the list are tight ends.
Matt Furstenburg stood out at the combine, posting the fastest 40 time and shuttle run of all tight ends, which led some to believe that he’d hear his name called before the end of the draft. That didn’t happen, perhaps because he didn’t get much help from tapes of him playing with some poor quarterbacks at Maryland. The Ravens also signed Murphy Holloway, who played basketball and not football at Ole Miss. That paid off with a trip to the Sweet 16 this year and a chance to follow the trail blazed by Antonio Gates many years ago. With Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta both set for unrestricted free agency after the season, there could be a spot for a young tight end on the Ravens roster next season.
The rest of the new Ravens are: West Virginia guard Jeff Braun, Florida International cornerback Jose Cheeseborough, Penn outside linebacker Brandon Copeland, Memphis tackle Jordan Devey, Tennessee State tackle Rogers Gaines, Florida wide receiver Omarius Hines, Louisiana Tech running back Ray Holley, Colorado defensive end Will Pericak, Towson wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard, Southeast Louisiana quarterback Nathan Stanley, Troy safety Bryden Trawick and Midwestern State tackle Joe Unga.
The Ravens also waived running back Lonyae Miller.