Could This Ravens Rookie Be the League’s Next Ballhawk?

The Baltimore Ravens have a knack for unearthing defensive gems in the later rounds of the NFL draft. Their latest find, seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane out of Purdue, is already drawing intriguing comparisons to a former Ravens ballhawk. Could Kane follow in the footsteps of Geno Stone and become the Ravens’ next late-round steal in the secondary?

Parallels to Geno Stone

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh sees distinct similarities between Kane and former Ravens defensive back Geno Stone. Like Kane, Stone was a seventh-round selection, taken 250th overall by Baltimore in the 2020 draft out of Iowa.

While draft pedigree isn’t everything, the fact that the Ravens are already likening Kane to Stone speaks volumes about how highly they think of the Purdue product. Stone developed into a key contributor for Baltimore before departing in free agency this offseason.

Stone’s Rise in Baltimore

Stone’s path to NFL success wasn’t a straight line. As a rookie in 2020, he bounced between the practice squad and active roster. The Houston Texans claimed him off waivers late that season, but he ultimately found his way back to Baltimore in 2021.

That’s when Stone’s career took flight. He earned a regular role in the Ravens’ defensive back rotation and eventually became a starter in 2023. This past season, Stone led the AFC with seven interceptions, parlaying his breakout campaign into a lucrative deal with the rival Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.

While it’s premature to expect Kane to lead the league in picks as a rookie, the fact that the Ravens are already comparing him to Stone underscores how much they value his skill set and potential. If Kane can follow a similar trajectory, Baltimore may have found their next diamond in the rough.

Carving Out a Role

Of course, Kane faces an uphill battle to crack the Ravens’ talented secondary rotation as a seventh-round rookie. Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton are entrenched as the starting safeties, while Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens headline a deep cornerback group.

However, the Ravens have shown a willingness to give late-round picks and undrafted free agents opportunities to earn roles on defense and special teams. If Kane can impress in training camp and preseason, he could find his way onto the field in sub packages or as a core special teamer as a rookie.

From there, Kane would have the chance to ascend the depth chart over time, much like Stone did. With the right combination of hard work, talent, and opportunity, there’s a path for Kane to develop into an impact player on the Ravens’ back end.

Betting on the Ravens

Kane’s potential emergence could certainly boost the Ravens’ already stout defense and secondary. If Kane proves as adept at generating turnovers as Stone did, it would make Baltimore an even more appealing Ravens Money Line bet in 2024 and beyond. A ball-hawking secondary is a quarterback’s worst nightmare.

Conclusion

While it’s far too early to anoint Sanoussi Kane as the next Geno Stone, the early comparisons from Ravens coaches are certainly encouraging. Baltimore has an impressive track record of developing late-round defensive backs into key contributors and even stars.

If Kane puts in the work and takes advantage of his opportunities, he has the potential to be the Ravens’ next success story. Only time will tell if the seventh-rounder can transform from an intriguing draft pick into a turnover-generating weapon on the Ravens’ back end. But if Kane is even half as productive as Stone proved to be in Baltimore, the Ravens will have hit on another late-round gem.

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