Ravens rookie film review: TE Josh Cuevas flashes versatility
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Baltimore’s second preseason game didn’t produce much offense on the scoreboard, but it gave us a better look at several young players who had smaller roles during the opener. Against Minnesota, Josh Cuevas showed why his athleticism and versatility make him an intriguing developmental tight end, offensive tackle Diego Pounds continued to strengthen his case for a roster spot with an impressive performance in the run game, and seventh-round guard Evan Beernsten finally received his first extended opportunity of the preseason.
TE Josh Cuevas (Round 5, No. 173 overall)
36 snaps | 21 receiving | 13 run blocking | 2 pass blocking
Cuevas’ 36 snaps against Minnesota gave Baltimore an opportunity to use him in several different roles. That allowed the fifth-round pick to show the athleticism and versatility that made him an intriguing addition to the tight end room.
The most noticeable part of his performance was what he offered as a receiver. Cuevas flashed his straight-line speed on an underneath drag route, turning a short completion into a 23-yard gain once he got into space. That ability to create yards after the catch is an important part of his evaluation. Baltimore can manufacture opportunities for him underneath and allow his athleticism to take over once the ball is in his hands.
Cuevas also showed good awareness against zone coverage, understanding when to settle into open space rather than continuing to run himself into coverage. He also showed the ability to elevate and attack the football vertically, while making a difficult contested catch in traffic.
His effort as a blocker was another encouraging part of the performance. Cuevas isn’t going to consistently overwhelm defenders with raw power, but the willingness is there. He competed through contact and continued working to stay attached to defenders.
That matters for a player whose athleticism naturally makes him more appealing as a receiving tight end. The more functional he becomes as a blocker, the less predictable Baltimore becomes when he is on the field.
Postgame takeaway: Cuevas’ Week 2 performance provided a good look at his receiving profile. He found openings against zone coverage, picked up yards after the catch, and competed at the catch point. The effort he showed as a blocker was equally important. Cuevas doesn’t need to become a dominant in-line blocker, but becoming reliable enough in that area would give Baltimore considerably more freedom in how it deploys him.
OT Diego Pounds (undrafted free agent)
20 snaps | 10 pass blocking | 0 pressures allowed | 92.9 PFF run-blocking grade | 95.7 zone-blocking grade
Pounds’ pass protection stood out during Baltimore’s preseason opener, but against Minnesota, it was his work in the run game that became the most impressive part of his performance.
Pounds looked particularly natural working within Baltimore’s zone concepts. He showed the ability to run the train tracks, stay square while moving laterally and reach his landmarks without sacrificing control. His movement skills allowed him to get into position before contact, and once engaged, he showed enough power to displace defenders and create movement out of his gap.
The effort after initial contact continued to stand out as well. On one rep, Pounds stayed attached to his defender and drove him roughly 15 yards downfield. Plays like that don’t necessarily tell us much about his technical development, but they do show the temperament Baltimore wants from its offensive linemen. Pounds consistently looks to finish rather than simply completing his assignment and moving on.
The grading reflected how effective he was. Pounds received a 92.9 PFF run-blocking grade, including a 95.7 grade on zone runs. More importantly, the film supported why those numbers were so high. His movement skills and comfort blocking in space make him a natural fit for what Baltimore is asking its offensive line to do.
Postgame takeaway: Pounds continues to strengthen his case for a spot on Baltimore’s 53-man roster. Allowing zero pressures was another positive step in pass protection, but his comfort operating in space in the run game was the story of Week 2. Given the Ravens’ lack of established offensive tackle depth, Pounds is putting together the type of preseason that could make him difficult to leave off the roster.
G Evan Beernsten (Round 7, No. 253 overall)
8 snaps | 77.6 offensive grade, third-highest on team
After not getting much of an opportunity during the preseason opener, Baltimore finally gave Beernsten his first real look against Minnesota. Eight snaps obviously isn’t enough to make any definitive conclusions, but there were still a few traits that immediately translated from his college tape.
The first was his hand quickness. Beernsten fired his hands immediately after the snap and consistently looked to initiate contact rather than waiting for defenders to attack him. His punch timing was solid, and he showed an understanding of how to establish his hands early in the rep.
That initial contact is important for Beernsten because he isn’t going to win consistently through overwhelming length or raw physical tools. His game has to be built around technique, timing and positioning.
We saw some of that against Minnesota. Beernsten was quick out of his stance, established contact early and generally looked comfortable during his limited workload. He ultimately finished with Baltimore’s third-highest offensive PFF grade, an encouraging result considering these were his first meaningful preseason snaps.
The difficult part of his evaluation is opportunity. Baltimore has already given several other young offensive linemen significantly larger workloads this preseason, leaving Beernsten with very little time to separate himself before roster decisions are made. Eight snaps can give the coaching staff something to build on, but it isn’t enough on its own to dramatically change the roster picture.
Postgame takeaway: Beernsten made the most of a very limited opportunity. His quick hands, punch timing and urgency off the snap were all encouraging, and finishing with Baltimore’s third-highest offensive PFF grade gave him a positive starting point. His biggest problem isn’t necessarily his performance—it’s the lack of remaining opportunities. Unless Beernsten produces an exceptional final preseason game, his path to the 53-man roster remains difficult. At this point, he may be playing more to establish himself as a developmental player Baltimore wants to keep around than to outright win a roster spot.
Final Thoughts
Baltimore’s offense didn’t generate many points against Minnesota, but Week 2 still provided useful information about several rookies fighting to establish roles.
Cuevas’ performance was encouraging because we saw more of the athleticism that gives him developmental upside as a receiving tight end. His 23-yard catch showed what he can provide after the catch, while his work against zone coverage and effort as a blocker demonstrated that his game isn’t entirely dependent on athletic traits.
Pounds continues to be one of the more interesting offensive developments of the preseason. After his pass protection stood out in Week 1, he showed how naturally his movement skills translate to Baltimore’s zone-running concepts against Minnesota. The 92.9 run-blocking grade and 95.7 zone grade were impressive, but the more important takeaway was how comfortable he looked reaching landmarks, creating displacement and finishing blocks downfield.
Beernsten finally got his opportunity, even if it was only eight snaps. His quick hands and timing showed up immediately, and he performed well enough to earn one of Baltimore’s highest offensive grades. The challenge now is turning a promising eight-snap sample into something significant enough to alter a difficult roster outlook.
Grades and other advanced stats via Pro Football Focus.
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