When inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV was told he made the 53-man roster, he bent over and caught his breath in front of General Manager Eric DeCosta.

“I was lightheaded, for sure,” Higgins said. “When he told me, I was just really surprised. You hear your dream come true and you’re standing up, I guess my legs were locked out, so I should have had a slight bend in the knee.”

Nobody blamed Higgins, or defensive backs Reuben Lowery III and Keyon Martin for being overwhelmed. For all three undrafted rookies to make the Ravens’ opening 53-man roster speaks to their talent, character, and unshakable belief they could beat the odds.

Neither DeCosta nor Head Coach John Harbaugh expected three undrafted defensive players to make this year’s roster. But watching how hard they worked, and how well they played, the Ravens’ decision-makers were swayed by the undeniable truth.

“They earned it,” DeCosta said. “For three guys to make it speaks to what those young men did. You look at those guys and look at what they did, the production, the big plays and just the consistency. How could they not be on the team?”