It’s a mantra I’ve heard over and over as spoken by Ravens radio color commentator and former Colts linebacker Stan White— “you can never have enough cornerbacks who can play at this level…”
Obviously Ozzie was listening as he went out and signed veteran corner Jerraud Powers to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old defender has started 82 of 87 career games in the NFL throughout his eight-year career, and he will likely end up competing with Shareece Wright and Will Davis for the starting job opposite Jimmy Smith.
Powers is 5-10, 187 and was a 3rd-round pick out of Auburn in 2009.
Powers started 13 games last season for the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the year with 52 tackles, one interception, nine passes defensed and a sack. He also had a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. Powers missed three games last year because of a calf injury, but he returned by the end of the season and started both of Arizona’s playoff games.
He spent the last three years in Arizona after playing for the Colts his first four years in the league.
Powers has 11 career interceptions. He is equally proficient in the slot as on the outside coverages.
To many Ravens fans this is a shrewd insurance move for depth in the defensive backfield. Powers is most likely coming in on a relatively cheap contract, estimated at $1.4 million with only $200,000 of that guaranteed.
But veteran Ravens.com poster “Run Control” has a great take on it:
“The Ravens have had good luck with guys like this. Josh Wilson was an average corner in Seattle that was traded to Baltimore, became a quality starter and earned a big contract in Washington. Cary Williams was signed off of the Titans practice squad, was a starter for two years and left to get paid a lot of money to play in Philadelphia. Corey Graham was only considered a special teams player in Chicago, but when Webb got injured Graham took over and he played an important part in the Ravens’ beating Denver in the playoffs. Then he left to play for Buffalo.”
“Let’s hope Powers is another average corner that can become a star in Baltimore. On a side note, I can’t believe there is no mention of the Ravens’ releasing Marlon Brown, defensive end Nordly Capi, safety Nick Perry, and defensive back Jermaine Whitehead, to make room for Powers and draft picks Stanley, Kafusi and Reynolds. I know a lot of people like Brown, but I think it’s time for the team to move on without him. I am actually more surprised the team let go of Perry before the preseason started.”
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