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Baltimore Ravens: Jerraud Powers is the Classic Ozzie Newsome Signing

By Joe Serpico

Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome has brought in another free agent that will not cost the team a compensatory pick with the addition of cornerback Jerraud Powers.

The Ravens left the 2016 NFL Draft without a cornerback they felt they could throw into the competition. Tavon Young was drafted in the fourth round, but he is expected to be a nickel corner and not a player on the outside. That left the battle to be between Will Davis and Shareece Wright to play on the outside.

Not anymore.

The team added free agent Jerraud Powers on Friday and he comes to Baltimore as the presumptive favorite to win the starting role opposite Jimmy Smith. Powers has started in 82 of his 87 career games while in the NFL, playing the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the first four years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, who selected him in the third round of the 2009 draft.

Powers is one of several moves the Ravens have made this offseason to sure up the secondary. They added Eric Weddle in the first wave of free agency. Lardarius Webb is making the shift to safety. Will Hill is gone after receiving a 10-game suspension. Young and Maurice Canady were added in the draft. Now they bring in a veteran in Powers that has experience playing both the outside and the slot.

This is the classic Ozzie move as Powers will not count against the compensation picks that the Ravens covet. They should receive a high draft choice for the loss of Kelechi Osemele in free agency. Baltimore has had success with compensatory picks as of late with Kyle Juszczyk, Ricky Wagner and Crockett Gillmore all becoming starters. This year, they added Wille Henry, Kenneth Dixon and Canady with comp picks.

Coming off a year in which the Ravens finished last in interceptions, they need all the competition they can get at the position. Davis looked good in his limited playing time with the team and Wright played better down the stretch. Bringing Powers into the mix on a one-year deal is a low risk move that could be an underrated signing by season’s end. The hope is that someone takes the opportunity and runs with it.

There is one thing most of us hope comes true. Regardless of where he lines up, Powers has to be an upgrade over last year’s signing at this time: Kyle Arrington.

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