The Baltimore Ravens have made plenty of solid additions to their roster over the course of the 2022 offseason. They’ve made sure to fill out most of their positions with quality depth, something that should help them combat any injuries that they may go through this year.
On Friday, the team announced that they signed linebacker Steven Means, a move that provides them with another depth piece on defense. The veteran was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, and spent parts of the 2014 and 2015 seasons with Baltimore. He’s also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and most recently the Atlanta Falcons.
Over the course of seven seasons playing in the NFL, Means has accumulated 107 total tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles in 64 games played. His production might not pop off of the box score, but he’ll try to earn a roster spot with the team for the 2022 season.
Means tried out for Baltimore at their mandatory minicamp, and impressed the organization enough to bring him in full-time. He’s a player that has been a leader during his NFL career, giving pre-game speeches and working hard to achieve his goals.
He also had positional versatility, as he can line up both as a stand-up rusher as well as move inside to play on the defensive line. The Ravens value players that can move around and play at multiple positions, and Means has plenty of experience at doing so.
Overall, Means isn’t someone that moves the needle in any sort of direction. He’s a low-risk, high-reward player that could potentially pay off in a big way if everything goes right. The signing of Means shouldn’t discourage Baltimore from signing another pass rusher with a more proven track record such as Justin Houston or Jason Pierre-Paul, but for now he’s a fine rotational piece that could turn into something more.
Grade: B
