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The Baltimore Ravens added depth to their defensive backfield by claiming fourth-year cornerback Trayvon Mullen off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN’s Field Yates on January 23.
He was originally drafted out of Clemson in 2019 by the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round (40th overall). He’s had an up-and-down career in the pros, appearing in 46 games (31 career starts), recording 150 total tackles (including 2 for a loss), 4 interceptions, 29 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 2 quarterback hits. His best season was his second year (2020), starting all 16 games and recording caree highs in total tackles (64), solo tackles (56), interceptions (2) and pass deflections (14).
On August 30, he was traded from the Raiders to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a conditional 2023 late-round pick. On December 13, he was waived after appearances in eight games and then was claimed the following day by the Cowboys, with whom he appeared in one game before being waived for the second time on January 21.
Family Ties to the Face of the Franchise
Mullens just so happens to be the cousin of the Ravens’ franchise quarterback, Lamar Jackson, with whom they are currently in negotiations on a long-term deal.
The cousins faced each other twice at the collegiate level, with Mullen’s Tigers besting Jackson’s Louisville Cardinals in 2016 and 2017. They’ve played each other only once in the NFL, the 2021 season opener when the Raiders beat the Ravens 33-27 in an overtime thriller.
Ravens Defense Receives High Praise After Bengals Blowout Bills
The divisional playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills didn’t live up to the hype as Cincinnati’s offense picked up where it left off in Week 17 and Buffalo’s defense still had no answers in a 27-10 drubbing.
Unlike in their dramatic 24-17 wild-card win over the Ravens a week earlier, all of the Bengals’ points came as a result of a highly efficient offensive unit that moved the ball at will against a vaunted Bills defense. Buffalo’s defensive front seven was expected to be able to take advantage of the deficiencies on Cincinnati’s banged-up offensive line, which was missing three starters. Instead, the patchwork unit was able to move the ball with little resistance, gaining 412 yards of total offense that included 240 through the air and a staggering 172 on the ground.
Some in the media praised the Ravens’ defense after watching the Bills give up 27 points to the Bengals in the AFC divisional playoff game.
“The bengals walking up and down the field on Buffalo just puts into perspective how good Mike MacDonald was last week. The ravens have a star,” tweeted The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz.
“Last night made it clear how bad the Vikings defense was; this game sheds light on how well the Ravens were playing,” tweeted ESPN’s Mina Kimes.
“The Bills line up and run their defense. Last week, the Ravens disguised everything and tried to mess with Burrow’s timing, pre-snap reads, etc. It’s the most effective way to disrupt the Bengals offense… The Bills need to start showing some creativity here,” Fox Sports Radio’s Rich Ohrnberger tweeted.
In all three meetings between the Ravens and Bengals, Baltimore held quarterback Joe Burrow to under 220 yards and just one touchdown passing, limited wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to under 100 receiving yards after he touched them over 120 twice as a rookie, bottled up running back Joe Mixon and kept their offense to under 300 total yards, allowing fewer each time.
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