The Baltimore Ravens chose the lesser of two one-year cap-hit evils when they placed the nonexclusive tag on MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
While they don’t need to clear up as much cap space as they would’ve had they decided to use the exclusive tender, tough decisions and restructures will still need to be made ahead of the start of the new league year on March 15.
One of the difficult choices could very well be saying goodbye to three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after being traded twice before receiving his first contract extension from the Ravens during the 2019 season.
Given that he is 30 years old and coming off a down year relative to his usual high standard of play albeit in his first season back from a major injury, the team might look towards the draft to address the vital position and use their first-round pick to find a replacement for Peters.
There were several cornerback prospects that helped elevate and even catapult their respective draft stocks with standout performances in either the athletic testing, field drills, or both in some cases.
Here are five candidates that the Raven will likely have their eye on with the 2023 draft less than two months away:
Deonte Banks, Maryland
The former Terppin is one of the fastest risers coming out of the Combine where he dazzled coaches, scouts, executives, and pundits alike with his fantastic outing. He ran a blazing 4.36 in the 40-yard Dash which was tied for the third fastest of any cornerback and fourth-fastest of any prospect regardless of position.
Official numbers for Maryland CB Deonte Banks
40-yard: 4.35 (92nd percentile)
Vert: 42” (97th percentile)
Broad: 11’4” (98th percentile)
That athleticism absolutely shows up on tape as one of the best coverage players in that class. First round player
— Trevor Sikkema ()
Banks also produced a 42-inch vertical jump which was the highest of any corner and third highest overall and leaped 11 feet and 4 inches in the broad jump which was the second farthest among corners and prospects overall. His field workouts were impressive as well with how smooth he looked transitioning in his backpedal.
He didn’t make nearly as many plays on the ball in college as Peters did at the University of Washington with just two …read more
Source:: Heavy.com