Which diamond in the rough will emerge this year? Ravens undrafted free agents to watch

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The Ravens added a whopping 11 draft picks to their roster, and in the hours after the NFL draft ended, they brought in even more players as undrafted free agents.

These players do not come with the same hype and the high rankings, but don’t count them out. The Ravens pride themselves on finding diamonds in the rough, and three undrafted players made the team last year.

“Back in the day — we don’t do this now — but back in the day we had a prize for the scouts that could sign undrafted free agents that would make the team,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “... They were the wild days back then. But we still, I think there’s definitely — if you sign an undrafted guy that makes the team, it’s definitely like a badge of honor for us.”

Here are some interesting players to watch.

QBs Joe Fagnano and Diego Pavia

The Ravens have their starting quarterback and their backup for next year. But DeCosta said in a radio interview that the third quarterback position will go to whichever rookie free agent wins the battle. Heisman finalist Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt will be pitted against UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano.

Pavia has the more impressive résumé as a Southeastern Conference quarterback who gained national recognition. He completed 177 of 298 passes last season for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing only four interceptions. He also ran for 862 yards. But while his school roster lists him as 6 feet tall, his height at the combine came in at just over 5-10. Only Kyler Murray and Bryce Young in the NFL are as short. He also comes with questions about whether his personality will fit as a backup quarterback, as was discussed on The Banner Ravens Podcast.

Although he was not a finalist, Fagnano was also a Heisman candidate last season. He went 285-for-413 for 3,448 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He threw just one interception. However, Fagnano is less of a dual threat after running for just 131 yards last season, making him more of a Cooper Rush than a Tyler Huntley backup. He also played against smaller schools.

OL Nick Dawkins

First-round pick Vega Ioane’s Penn State teammate, Dawkins will have the advantage of preexisting chemistry with Ioane. He played center, a position of need the Ravens did not address in the draft. They picked up players who could transition to center and have some players on their roster, but if Ioane wins a guard spot, Dawkins will have a leg up on working with him. Dawkins earned a 70.3 PFF grade last season, with stronger marks in pass protection than run blocking. He allowed six pressures, including two sacks and one hit, and had five penalties.

DB Lardarius Webb Jr.

The son of Super Bowl champion Ravens defensive back Lardarius Webb, Webb Jr. attended Oklahoma State and South Alabama before finishing his college career at Wake Forest. He had 36 tackles last season, including two for loss, and seven pass breakups. He allowed only one touchdown on 50 targets. He also has special teams experience. But Webb lacks NFL size at just 5-9 and 168 pounds.

DT Aaron Graves and EDGE Ethan Burke

One has the stats. The other has the traits. At 6-4, 292 pounds, Graves is small for an NFL defensive lineman, but he found a way at Iowa, and it shows in the stats with his 37 tackles and five sacks. Meanwhile, Burke’s 6-6, 269-pound frame is impressive, but he was only a part-time starter at Texas. Burke plays with a lot of effort but poor technique, so he could be seen as a project. He also blocked three field goals in two seasons, so he could find himself as a special teams guy. Graves also plays with good effort, as well as good technique, but he lacks quickness.

LB Dominic DeLuca

Last season, an undrafted linebacker made the team and played a role on special teams. With the loss of special teams ace Jake Hummel, there is a need for special teams linebackers. DeLuca may fit the bill. A team captain and part-time starter at Penn State, DeLuca had 66 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. But perhaps most notably, DeLuca has three career blocked punts, including one last season. DeLuca’s path to a spot might not be easy, but he could carve a role on special teams.

OT Diego Pounds vs. DB Matthew McDoom

Which is the better name? An offensive lineman named Diego Pounds or someone named Matthew McDoom? The Ravens beat reporters disagree on this one.

As players, Pounds is predicted to have more success than McDoom. He was projected as a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick, while McDoom does not have a draft profile on the NFL’s website. McDoom is undersize at 5-9, 180 pounds, although he also brings kick returning experience. He made 50 tackles last season at Cincinnati. Pounds is a 6-6, 325-pound offensive lineman from Mississippi who overcomes technique issues with power. He could battle for a backup tackle role.