The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms with 22 undrafted free agents after the 2024 NFL Draft. Former Maryland safety Beau Brade is the standout prospect among the group. Brade should have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the Ravens' initial 53-man roster.
Brade was expected to be drafted until he tested poorly at Maryland's pro day. The Terrapins standout ran the 40-yard dash in a slow 4.65 seconds. Brade also had an underwhelming 32.5-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump. Brade's lone impressive athletic result was a 6.89 three-cone. He did not test at the NFL Combine.
Brade possesses average-at-best size at 6-foot, 203 pounds. Play strength is a question after he recorded 15 bench-press reps. Brade has just 27th-percentile arm length at 31 inches, although his 77-inch wingspan was a 64th-percentile measurement according to MockDraftable. Those are the reasons Brade went undrafted.
The tape paints a significantly more encouraging picture. Brade broke out of his shell as a first-year starter in 2022 by recording a career-high 85 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. Brade followed that up appropriately with another solid output in 2023, totaling 75 tackles, another seven passes defensed, and one interception.
Maryland moved Brade around their defensive formation as needed, utilizing him as a hybrid defender. Brade played his best football inside the box as a movable chess piece, proven by his high tackle numbers. Brade's lack of high-end athleticism also makes him a better fit to continue playing forward at the line of scrimmage at the next level as opposed to being a center-fielder.
Instincts and closing speed are at the forefront of Brade's skill set. He's an outstanding run defender with physicality and versatility. The lack of high-end speed doesn't make Brade a great fit to play single-high coverage, although he was tasked with doing so at Maryland on occasion.
The Ravens have two outstanding starters at safety in Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton, but I like Brade's chances of capturing a depth spot. It was actually Geno Stone who led all Ravens safeties in snaps in 2023 with 951. Williams missed significant time with a torn pectoral muscle injury and Hamilton also missed two games with injury.
Stone parlayed his career-best showing into a lucrative contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta did not sign a replacement. The Ravens also didn't draft a safety until the 250th overall pick (Sanoussi Kane).
There's a feel-good local element to Brade's journey, too. The Clarksville native played high school football locally at River Hill High School before staying in Maryland for his college football career. Brade will take pride in representing his hometown Ravens.
Brade should receive an equal opportunity alongside Kane and Ar'Darius Washington to compete for No. 3 safety duties. It's worth noting Washington missed the majority of the 2023 campaign with a chest injury.
Poor testing and average size led to Brade going undrafted despite him stringing together a solid career at Maryland. The tape indicates he’s an advanced defensive back with instincts and versatility. Brade is a great bet to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster out of training camp.
