The Baltimore Ravens end up keeping five safeties on the roster, as the Maryland undrafted rookie Beau Brade makes the team and the 53-man active roster. This was the biggest thing to watch out for during cut-day decisions, specifically for a team with bonafide starters at the position.
They make the savvy move and secure young depth, as both starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams were banged up last year. Now competing with veteran Eddie Jackson and seventh-round rookie Sanoussi Kane, Brade could be a great long-term investment to develop.
The UDFA Rookie Streak is Alive
Like undrafted rookie running back sensation Keaton Mitchell last year, Beau Brade could be worth keeping on the roster. Despite not having a true path to play impactful snaps, it would only take an injury or two for him to get on the field. The Ravens know experience about injuries with their secondary, so keeping as many young and talented bodies on the team early in the year is a smart move.
Baltimore normally rotates their versatile safeties around like Hamilton, so keeping Brade, who’s shown out this preseason, is worth the roster spot. With new defensive coordinator Zach Orr replacing Mike Macdonald, it’s expected they keep their defensive scheme relatively the same from last year.
Beau Brade Gives Baltimore Ravens Safety Depth
Beau Brade is projected to be their third strong safety on the depth chart, behind Hamilton and Kane. However, he could also back up in the free safety spot behind Williams and Jackson. Ar’Darius Washington can play free safety or be the slot cornerback for the team as a versatile and young option.
It was heavily debated whether they would keep him or undrafted rookie receiver Dayton Wade after an impressive preseason. However, both sort of end up on the team for now, while Wade is on the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens. The 22-year-old Brade ended the preseason with 14 solo tackles in three games.
Final Thoughts on Maryland Native
Beau Brade went undrafted this past NFL Draft, as he was a four-year player with the Maryland Terrapins. He can do a little bit of everything in the back end of the defense with solid tackling and coverage ability. The new Baltimore Ravens safety finished college with three career interceptions, 11 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and a sack.
The hometown safety had eight tackles and a tackle for loss in preseason Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers. This was his second consecutive game with at least eight tackles, as Brade has shown enough flashes to be worth the investment long-term for the roster.
While it was a tough battle and competition for that safety spot, both Brade and Kane make the team, with head coach John Harbaugh stating this about them before cut-day:
“I think [Brade and Kane have] shown flashes of physicality, both on defense and special teams,” Harbaugh said. “They’ve shown up here and there, pretty well today, even. [It’s a] big-picture evaluation. Again, you have to see all of the plays to have a feel for that, but they did flash a few times.”
