Stanley

Jean-Baptiste

Jean-Baptiste went untendered as a restricted free agent, but the Ravens will bring him back on a one-year deal almost certainly for less than the lowest tender. Jean-Baptiste will compete for a role in the Ravens’ stacked corner group.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jean-Baptiste was expected to make the 53-man roster. That’s now not a certainty after the injury. The 2014 second-rounder of the Saints has yet to get his NFL career off the ground.

An absolute mega-bust as the No. 58 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Jean-Baptiste hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since his rookie year in New Orleans. He’ll likely be amongst the first cuts in Jags camp.

Jean-Baptiste had playbook and technique struggles as a rookie, playing just eight snaps. The Saints don’t have a clear frontrunner at nickel corner, and are letting him compete with Kyle Wilson, Delvin Breaux, and third-rounder P.J. Williams. At 6'3/218, Jean-Baptiste should be limited to covering the outside in sub packages.

Jean-Baptiste doesn’t project to get much playing time as a rookie, but has the skill-set to start at outside corner in Rob Ryan’s defense. He should open 2014 in a sub-package role behind Keenan Lewis, Champ Bailey, and Corey White.

Per ESPN’s Mike Triplett, competition for jobs behind No. 1 corner Keenan Lewis are “wide open.” Jean-Baptiste is raw for a second-round pick, but could push for early-career snaps at outside corner in nickel packages. Champ Bailey, Corey White, and Patrick Robinson are also getting reps with the first-stringers at OTAs.

Neither do we. Jean-Baptiste is raw and needs to learn to use his 6-foot-2, 218-pound frame more to his advantage as a press-man corner. Keenan Lewis and Champ Bailey should be the starters on the outside for DC Rob Ryan. Corey White and Patrick Robinson are also going to be in the mix for snaps.

Jean-Baptiste (6-foot-2 3/8, 218) made 19 starts for the Huskers, finishing his career with seven interceptions and 22 pass breakups. He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick as a senior. Though Jean-Baptiste has limited speed (4.61), he’s plenty athletic with a 41 1/2-inch vertical and freakish 10-foot-8 broad jump. Jean-Baptiste needs to play with more physicality, but could develop into a Brandon Browner-like press corner. One concern for Jean-Baptiste’s long-term upside is his age, as he’s already 24. On the field, he’s drawn Nnamdi Asomugha comparisons from NFL scouts. Jean-Baptiste probably won’t play a ton as a rookie, but he’ll get to learn from one of the all-time greats in LCB Champ Bailey.

The transition began last season with the signing of CB Keenan Lewis and first-round selection of S Kenny Vaccaro. The Saints continued the transformation this offseason with FS Jarius Byrd and future HOFer Champ Bailey. 6-foot-2 Jean-Baptiste is another piece of that puzzle. “A year and a half ago, starting before last year’s draft, we made an effort to really put a high value on size,” said coach Sean Payton, “and we’ve been able to do that defensively.” Jean-Baptiste won’t get a ton of playing time as a rookie, but he has a chance to learn from one of the all-time greats in Bailey.

“Redshirted” as a rookie, the No. 58 overall pick of last year’s draft played all of eight snaps. Coach Sean Payton has insisted the team knew Jean-Baptiste was a developmental prospect, but he’ll be on the spot in camp. At best, Jean-Baptiste will be the team’s No. 3 or 4 corner, manning the outside in sub-packages. Jean-Baptiste has a massive 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame.