The NFL is going to be inundated with Krugers next season.
Joe and Dave Kruger, the younger brothers of Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger, are both entering the NFL and expected to be taken in April's draft.
Like Paul, Joe and Dave are both coming out of Utah. Dave, 22, was a four-year starter at defensive tackle and Joe decided to forgo his senior season after a breakout junior campaign in which he finished with 30 tackles and a team-high six sacks.
Dave is projected a mid-round prospect. Joe, 20, will likely be an early-round pick, and he's already talked with Paul about the possibility of joining his big brother in the NFL ranks.
"Of course, if me and Paul could be on the same team, that would be amazing," Paul said. "But the chances of that are pretty low. I'd love it."
Joe had a formal sit-down meeting with the Ravens at the combine to discuss the possibility of making him the latest Kruger to come to Baltimore.
"I met with them last night and the meeting went good," Kruger said Saturday. "We just kind of laughed and talked about Paul a little bit, because I've already met all those guys, so it was nice."
The Ravens drafted Paul in the second round of the 2009 draft, and the outside linebacker is now set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent after a breakout year where he logged 13.5 sacks in the regular season and playoffs.
Paul may command a contract too expensive for the Ravens to afford, and Joe didn't give any indication about whether he expects his big brother to be back in Baltimore next year.
"He's just going to do whatever is best for him," Joe said. "His agent is going to find him the best deal and he's going to go from there."
Joe and Dave have been training with each other leading up to the combine and the draft, and they have leaned on their older brother for support during the process.
"Paul led the way for our family," Joe said. "He's doing really well and he's obviously playing really well, so I've just been proud of him and I'm glad he's in the spot where he's at. He's worked towards it and this is what he's wanted to do his whole life."
