The Ravens may have big plans for this late pick
Not very many players picked No. 250 overall in the NFL Draft get a strong vote of confidence from their new organization, but it seems like Purdue safety Sanoussi Kane was held in such high regard by Eric DeCosta and the rest of the Baltimore Ravens front office.
Kane was picked despite not being invited to the NFL Combine and failing to record a single interception during his four seasons (two of which he started) for the Boilermakers. The Ravens are rolling the dice on his overall athletic talent and versatility.
The Ravens may not be expecting Kane to contribute during his rookie season, as anyone picked this late needs to work his tail off just to fend off competition from undrafted free agents. Coach John Harbaugh seems very excited about getting to work with him, even comparing him to one of their best developmental gems in the last few years.
Harbaugh compared Kane to Geno Stone, who went from a seventh-round pick to a Ravens developmental gem who led the AFC in interceptions last season. Hopefully, Kane follows in Stone’s footsteps without the eventual defection to the rival Bengals in free agency.
John Harbaugh compares Baltimore Ravens pick Sanoussi Kane to Geno Stone
Kane is a solid athlete, as he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at 207 pounds. His 1.50 10-yard split could give the Ravens hope that he eventually becomes a solid coverage back, as his short-area quickness and overall athletic ability were never in question during his tenure at Purdue.
Kane’s best role as a pro will likely be that of a box safety, as he is at his best when he gets to roam around and find targets to smack. However, his coverage skills are a work in progress, as he was limited to a hybrid linebacker role after some genuine struggles in that area during the 2022 season.
Stone had great coverage skills, but he needed to get a bit more physical to stick in the pros. While Stone eventually managed to sand off the rough edges of his game, Kane will need to show that he is a translateable pro athlete and not just a height-weight-speed workout warrior.
If nothing else, Kane could become a solid role player on special teams who hits hard and makes big tackles. If he alleviates concerns about his man coverage skills, Kane could defy the odds and become a part of Baltimore’s long-term secondary.