The Ravens announced Friday they have signed four of their eight 2019 draft picks – running back Justice Hill, defensive tackle Daylon Mack, cornerback Iman Marshall and guard Ben Powers. Per NFL terms, the contracts are all four-year deals.
Hill is a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma State who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine (4.4 seconds) for running backs. The Ravens like the unique element he adds to the offense, a running back with the speed to take the ball to the end zone from long distance.
Powers, a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, will be expected to compete for the starting left guard spot with James Hurst and Alex Lewis. Powers is close friends with another former Oklahoma player, Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who won the starting job midway through his rookie season last year. The Ravens view Powers as having a similar personality as Brown – tough and competitive. Powers delivered a memorable quote at Big 12 media day last year, when he said, "I love taking a grown man's dreams and crushing them."
Marshall is a powerfully-built 6-foot-1, 207-pound cornerback who was a solid tackler and press defender at USC. Earning playing time as a rookie will be difficult for Marshall, joining a deep Ravens cornerback rotation that features Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, and Tavon Young. However, Marshall said he looked forward to learning from a group that has so much talent.
"I look at it as an opportunity to see those guys, see what they do and just learn, and when I get my opportunity do what I need to do," Marshall said. "All I'm here for is to contribute to help this team be successful and learn from those older guys. They've been in this system, they've been in this program, they know how to do everything right."
Nicknamed "Mack Truck", Mack was an elite run stopper throughout his college career at Texas A&M, but he blossomed as a pass rusher as a senior with 5 ½ sacks. He will have an opportunity to learn from two established defensive tackles on the Ravens roster – 2018 Pro Bowler Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce.
