OTL: Flock Split on Peters vs. Rock Ya-Sin

Happy Tuesday, Flock! We’re all still coming down from our Lamar signs/NFL Draft hangover this weekend, but the NFL news cycle stops for noone! Derek here filling in for Kevin this week, let’s get to it.

As of yesterday, free agent signings no longer count against a team’s compensatory pick formula, so expect EDC to get right back to work addressing the team’s remaining needs, most notably at cornerback.

In addition, yesterday was the deadline to pick up 2020 first-round draft picks’ fifth-year options. When Out to Lunch published yesterday morning, we were hearing rumors that the Ravens would decline Patrick Queen‘s. By early afternoon, those reports had been confirmed.

Our own Brian McFarland clarified a thing or two…

And, FWIW, declining the 5th Yr Option does not affect Queen’s UFA status and the Ravens would be in line to receive a Comp pick (subject to any UFA signings) if Queen were to sign elsewhere in 2024. https://t.co/WFPF45pfQ1

— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) May 1, 2023

While Garnet West had an interesting nugget about the draft class:

Every first round linebacker in the 2020 draft did not get their option picked up… wow….. #NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/KRv3YqL9ZY

— GARNET WEST (@Garnet478) May 2, 2023

Many of the Flock see Queen being moved in a trade over the coming weeks. However, that may not be the play at all. Queen vastly improved when paired with Roquan Smith last year, and having a young hungry player in a contract year is never a bad idea. RSR’s Darin McCann argues that well here.

Queen Reigns…For Now!

As for the aforementioned cornerback position, Ravens fans seem pretty split on whether they’d prefer to see the return of Marcus Peters or new blood, namely Rock Ya-Sin.

FWIW Rock Ya-Sin was rated PFF’s 43rd best FA and 6th best FA CB.

His grade last year was the same as Peters, similar miss tackle rate as Peters, and a better yards per target.

Over the past two seasons, Ya-Sin’s 74.4 coverage grade when lined up out wide ranks 27th.

— T’Challa (@Agent_00bondjr) March 17, 2023

Really good scheme fit, younger, performed very well in Indy.

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) April 27, 2023

I’m afraid we’ve overhyped Ya-Sin severely

— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) May 2, 2023

We’ll see which of those (both? another completely?) EDC chooses to go.

In addition to having plenty of corners, the other part of pass defense is, of course, the pass rush. Ravens fans have been disappointed by 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh‘s lack of production in that department. We got to see him paired with his high school teammate David Ojabo for one game at the end of last season though, and that duo could be something special, with the right coaching and opportunities.

RSR’s Dev Panchwagh thinks the first part of that equation is in place with new OLB Coach Chuck Smith, aka “Dr. Rush.”

The Legion of Dr. Doom

Seriously, go read that. If you don’t come away hype for the 2023 Baltimore Ravens pass rush, check your pulse.

And with that, I bid you a fond adieu, adieu.

The post OTL: Flock Split on Peters vs. Rock Ya-Sin appeared first on Russell Street Report.