The Ravens’ fifth-round rookie Adam Randall may end up being the camp name that catches people off guard.
He was the last pick in a busy fifth-round haul, but the more people around the league talk about him, the more he sounds like a player who could matter sooner than expected. Among the rookies on the roster, only Vega Iaone, taken 14th overall, is being talked about in a bigger way. Randall, though, has a different kind of buzz: the quiet kind that builds when scouts keep bringing him up and coaches keep circling back to him.
Sean Payton was one of the loudest believers in Randall, and he made that clear recently on “The Daily Flock Show.” Payton said he already had a plan for Randall in a Joker role, the same kind of position he helped popularize and that Ravens rookie coordinator Declan Doyle has spent much of his career around.
“If you just watched his greatest hits as a receiver,” Payton told me on “The Daily Flock Show” recently, “those were impressive. And then the move to halfback was really based on what they needed, and he obviously did a great job with that.
“But I’m glad you brought him up, because he was a little pet cat for us during the draft, particularly for me … So we had a vision for him as well. I wasn’t surprised at all to see that selection. I was kind of happy for Declan and Baltimore.”
That kind of endorsement matters, but Randall’s appeal goes beyond who likes him. He brings a mix of size, athleticism and positional flexibility that stands out.
He spent a year at Clemson at halfback out of necessity after playing quarterback in high school, and Payton noted that his receiving tape already looked like that of an NFL wideout. His frame also gives him a chance to handle work inside or outside, which only adds to the appeal.
That versatility could matter quickly in Baltimore. The receivers and tight ends the Ravens drafted are expected to draw plenty of attention, and they’ll probably be the ones piling up the practice highlights. Randall, though, may be the player who earns trust from the coaching staff by doing a little of everything in a hybrid role that fits neatly into the Payton coaching tree.
He also has a path to value that some of the other young skill players don’t. There isn’t a big-money veteran sitting in front of him at the same spot, and he could help in the return game too. If roster decisions get tight, that kind of flexibility can become a major advantage.
The Ravens also need answers beyond Derrick Henry, and that only adds to Randall’s case. Henry has never carried the ball 300 times three years in a row without breaking down, and at 32, pushing him past 225 carries would be a lot to ask. Justice Hill is approaching 30 and has dealt with medical issues, while Baltimore did not add much from outside at wide receiver, running back, fullback or tight end - the same areas Randall can touch.
Payton even sent his tight ends coach back east for another workout with Randall, with blocking work getting extra attention. The full staff watched and came away impressed.
The more I’ve asked around about Randall’s focus, character and demeanor, the more I’ve come around on him. He’ll still have plenty to learn on the fly, but the sense here is that the Ravens believe he can handle it.
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