The Baltimore Ravens have always prided themselves on boasting a stingy defense ever since they became an NFL franchise in 1996. It’s something the Ravens have become widely known for, and they have rode their tough defensive units to a pair of Super Bowl championships.
So it should come as no surprise that the Ravens may have found a diamond in the rough in undrafted rookie linebacker Jay Higgins, who looked very impressive in the preseason and has given John Harbaugh and Baltimore’s coaching staff something to think about when it comes time to cut the roster down to 53 players later this week.
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However, in spite of how well Higgins played in the Ravens’ exhibition affairs, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic doesn’t think it will result in a roster spot for the University of Iowa product. In his 53-man roster projection for Baltimore, Zrebiec has Higgins on the outside looking in.
“Higgins, an All-American at Iowa, has created two preseason turnovers and shown that he should have been drafted despite size/speed concerns,” Zrebiec wrote. “… It may come down to the Ravens keeping an extra inside linebacker or an extra defensive back, and it’s tough to deny Keyon Martin.”
Martin, a cornerback, is also an undrafted rookie, but Baltimore may choose to prioritize him over Higgins because of the position he plays.
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That could ultimately prove to be a costly mistake for the Ravens, as Higgins has proven that he absolutely can play on the NFL level. He has a terrific nose for the ball, an outstanding motor and a fantastic football IQ that should allow him to earn legitimate playing time somewhere.
Higgins won the Butkus-Fitzgerald award for the Big Ten’s best linebacker last season after racking up 124 tackles, a sack and four interceptions. He also rattled off 171 tackles the year prior.
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