After the Ravens signed free-agent safety Marcus Williams and then picked Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton in the first round of the NFL draft, there was uncertainty about how the team would utilize veteran Chuck Clark.
But during rookie minicamp Saturday, coach John Harbaugh said Clark is a big part of the team and expressed hope that the 2017 sixth-round draft pick remains in Baltimore.
“I don’t worry about the other stuff,” Harbaugh said. “I love Chuck Clark, and I love the way he plays. I’m very happy that he’s a Raven.”
Harbaugh’s comments come a day after Clark posted a cryptic message on Twitter, saying “This can go one or two ways. It can go Up, it can go Down. Either way I’m Prepared !!”
Clark, who’s entering his sixth season with the Ravens, has 283 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles and 28 pass deflections in 79 games (46 starts). In 2021, he recorded 80 tackles, 12 pass deflections and a pair of picks.
Clark has been very durable throughout his career, as he hasn’t missed a defensive snap over the past two seasons. Under contract through 2023, Clark has been a leader in the locker room and a valuable on-field communicator, wearing the green dot as the defense’s signal-caller.
Harbaugh called Clark “one of the best safeties in football” and believes the team is deep at that position group.
“We were deep at safety before, then you add a guy like Kyle and the depth just explodes in your face,” he said. “Marcus, obviously, was a high-priced free agent that we were pleased to get. After that, Tony Jefferson can play football. Geno Stone is a really good young safety. Brandon Stephens, who started last year at safety for us, also got corner flexibility. With all those safeties, [Stephens is] probably going to be moving to the corner a little bit. I’m really happy about that group.”
Former Navy LB Diego Fagot participates in practice
Former Navy inside linebacker Daniel Fagot, veteran defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allen participated in practice Saturday.
Fagot went undrafted after totaling 282 tackles, 35 1/2 tackles for loss, 9 1/2 sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles in four years at Navy.
Dareus, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Buffalo Bills, has not played in the NFL since 2019. The 32-year-old has appeared in 121 games across 10 seasons, making 107 starts. His best season came in 2014, when he recorded 10 sacks and was named first-team All-Pro.
In addition to Allen trying out, the Ravens signed six receivers as undrafted free agents. Five stand at least 6 feet 2, which Harbaugh said “wasn’t by chance.”
“We were looking for the bigger guys, and guys wanted to come here,” Harbaugh said. “I think we have a great crop of free-agent wide receivers because they saw the opportunity.”
Extra points
>> Ravens rookie offensive tackle Daniel Faalele said 375 pounds is his target weight range. The former Minnesota standout, who is currently 6-8, 380 pounds, said slimming down would allow him “to play at my best for longer.”
>> Faalele joked that he’s getting used to not hating first-round pick and former Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, as he called the two of them rivals since they competed against each other in the Big Ten Conference. “I hated him for four years, but now that we are on the same team, he’s a pretty cool guy,” Faalele said.
>> Hamilton said Ravens outside linebacker and former Notre Dame teammate Daelin Hayes congratulated him after he was drafted, saying “let’s go win a Super Bowl.” Hamilton didn’t name the other players who have reached out to him, but mentioned a player who messaged him on Instagram saying “dinner is on you.”
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