Undrafted rookie Jacob Breeland can be the perfect No.3 tight end for the Ravens offense
The Baltimore Ravens had an embarrassment of riches at the tight end position last season with breakout star and starter Mark Andrews, renown blocking specialist Nick Boyle, and former first-round pick Hayden Hurst. They had the most talented collection of players at the position in the league with three difference-makers which is extremely rare considering most teams struggle to find one playmaker at the position and rarely have two.
Their surplus at the position prompted General Manager Eric DeCosta to trade Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason in exchange for the second-round pick that he used to select Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who could potentially be a star in the Ravens’ backfield. While they got a first-round talent at a position of strength in Dobbins, it left a hole on the depth chart at the third tight end spot.
Tight end was widely viewed as the weakest position group in this year’s draft class and Baltimore opted not to use any of their 10 picks on one. However, following the draft, they signed a pair of players from prominent college programs as undrafted free agents in Jacob Breeland of Oregon and Eli Wolf of Georgia.
The Ravens are firm believers in giving their players equal opportunity to make the roster no matter their draft status or lack thereof or experience and Head Coach John Harbaugh religiously states that the best players will play and stacking good practices will lead to a spot on the roster and playing time in games. Both undrafted rookies have a chance to make the team but Breeland seems tailormade to fill in Hurst’s role in the Ravens offense as the primary backup pass-catching tight end behind Andrews.
Breeland was the more accomplished pass catcher at the collegiate level of the two while Wolf’s playing style more closing resembled Boyle’s as a dominant run blocker with upside and athleticism that could be utilized in the passing game. The former Duck was enjoying a sensational senior season with 26 catches, 405 yards, six touchdowns through the first six games of the year before a knee injury knocked him out of commission for the remainder of the year.
“We thought he was one of the best tight ends in the draft this year,” DeCosta said during a conference call with PSL Owners. “We’re very excited to get him. We think he’s got a real good chance.”
He was invited to the combine but did not participate in any of the on-field workouts which compounded with the season-ending injury he suffered, likely led to him not getting drafted. However, at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds he would’ve likely tested well and boosted his draft stock based on the incredible athleticism he displayed on the field.
Breeland is like a big-bodied slot receiver with the way he gets great separation off the line and out of his breaks. On film, he is often seen slipping right past defenders to get behind them for big gains and or scores. He possesses strong hands and hauls in contested catches like he’s going up for a rebound. His long speed and acceleration are some of his underrated qualities that Hurst displayed as well in the Ravens offense in flashes and the team would be happy to plug in another player that could bring those same explosive elements to the table.
Ravens’ offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s system utilizes tight end more than any other team with the way they are heavily featured in both the running and passing game. They are often the first read on passing plays and the biggest benefactors from the success of their dominant ground game because the second level defenders anticipate a running play more often than not and vacate the middle of the field where tight ends do most of their damage. They are also an integral part of the running game with the way that they are relied on to make key blocks to spring ball carriers for chunk plays.
Last season Hurst played the exact same amount of snaps as Andrews (457), appeared in one more game, and recorded 30 receptions for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Boyle logged the best receiving season of his career in 2019 with 31 catches, 321 yards, and a pair of scores as well but did his most damage helping pave the way for Ravens’ record-breaking rushing attack. Hurst picked up some of the slack for Andrews while he was dealing with different injuries at times during the season and flashed some of the play-making potential that the Ravens saw when they selected him with the 25th overall selection in the 2018 draft out of South Carolina.
While having another devastating blocker in the run game to go along with Boyle and Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard who lined up on the end of the line like a tight end at times last season would be useful for a run-heavy team, replacing the pass-catching threat of Hurst with a seam-stretcher like Breeland would be an even greater asset. He lined up in several different spots in Oregon’s pro-style offense and after conversations with Tight Ends Coach Bobby Engram and Assistant Tight Ends Coach Andy Bischoff, he felt like signing with the Ravens gave him his best chance to not just make a team but also make an impact.
“Coach Bobby and Andy, they’re super-good guys,” Breeland told Glenn Clark Radio. “They were really telling me that they wanted to coach me and that I was a great player. That meant a lot to me. With the Ravens’ system, with how they use their tight ends. [With] Lamar Jackson, the incredible quarterback he is and how he can scramble and just make some plays and the tight ends pop open. It was overall just a good fit. Me and my agent were talking about it a lot and it was definitely the best place for me to go. Of course, I definitely believe I can make the roster and I can get in some playing time this year.”
The Ravens have had at least one undrafted free agent make their Week 1 roster for 16 straight years and Breeland has a chance of not just extending that impressive streak but he could also carve out a nice role in Baltimore’s tight end friendly offense as a rookie.
“We’ve got two guys with a realistic, possible, chance to make our team,” DeCosta said. “As you all know, tight end is a very important position in our offense.”
