Baltimore Ravens: 3 UDFAs Who Could Make An Immediate Impact
Gerald Willis III – DL- Miami
The defensive tackle spot has always been relatively deep for the Baltimore Ravens, and they have done well to keep it that way. That’s why the signing of defensive lineman Gerald Willis III is not too surprising to me. I say defensive lineman because Willis would play more like a 3-4 defensive end in the Ravens scheme, than a defensive tackle.
During the offseason, starting defensive end Brent Urban left for the Titans, leaving a hole in the Ravens D-Line. As mentioned before, the Ravens drafted Daylon Mack in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft to join their defensive tackle rotation, potentially replacing Urban.
However, with Willis on board now, I don’t see that happening. Unless the Ravens plan on using Mack similar to how the Green Bay Packers use their stout-framed defensive lineman. Mack will either replace Michael Pierce if the Ravens can’t re-sign him or Brandon Williams if he is cut in the future. No, I see Miami’s Gerald Willis fighting for a starting job.
Willis is a steal for the Ravens, its as simple as that. He carried a firm 4th round grade for me and the Ravens get exceptional value for signing him. And given who his main competition will be, guys like Chris Wormley, Willie Henry and Zach Sieler. It would be hard for the Ravens to cut him.
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On film, he showed a decent get-off with enough pass rush and run stuffing ability to warrant being drafted. Standing at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Willis has a great frame for Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme, adding a contrasting dynamic to Pierce and Williams.
If the Baltimore Ravens are fine with Gerald Willis’s past off the field issues, I see no reason other than positional depth, that he shouldn’t make an impact right away.