2019 NFL Draft: Prospects Ravens should watch in CFP

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https://ebonybird.com/2018/12/15/2019-nfl-draft-prospects-ravens-bowl-season/

 

 

 

The 2019 NFL Draft is typically regarded as a weak one by many pundits. With that being said, it is extremely strong on defense, an area the Baltimore Ravens must improve on and get younger with. The teams in this year’s CFP possess a plethora of talent defensively, which should have Baltimore’s eyes glued to the screen.

 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPzLLw3cK20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7SxC0fCszo

 

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019mbrown.php

• Marquise Brown, 5-11/160
  
• Wide Receiver
  
• Oklahoma

 

Marquise Brown Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

• Extremely fast
• Deep-threat receiver
• First-step quickness
• Explosive
• Superb at generating separation
• Second-gear speed
• Sudden
• Adjusts well to the ball
• Tracks the ball extremely well
• Fast in and out of breaks
• Natural route-runner
• Above-average run-after-the-catch skills
• Excellent balance
• Good vision
• Quick feet
• Reliable hands
• Big-play threat
• Threat to score on any touch
• Stretches a defense vertically
• Quick release off of the line
• Experienced and successful against good college programs
• Makes big plays in the clutch
• Ready to contribute immediately

Weaknesses:

• Very skinny
• Lacks height
• Lacks length
• Could struggle to win 50-50 passes against NFL corners
• Could have issues getting off jam from big corners

Summary: The Oklahoma Sooners have been a point-machine offense, fielding one of the most prolific scoring attacks in the nation over the past decade. They have produced a number of quality wide receiver prospects for the NFL with big-play potential. After losing Dede Westbrook to the NFL, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown stepped in and had a breakout 2017. The sophomore averaged 19.2 yards per reception that season for 1,095 yards on 57 catches with seven touchdowns. He concluded his sophomore year with eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown against Georgia in the college football playoff.

Entering the 2018 college football playoff, Brown has 75 receptions for 1,318 yards with 10 touchdowns. The junior's status for the Orange Bowl is up in the air after suffering a foot injury against Texas in the Big XII Conference Championship Game.

What sets Brown apart is game-breaking speed. He is extremely fast and can score from anywhere on the field. Brown is a true flier who can take the top off a defense with his ability to burn coverage over the top. When Brown gets free, he is nearly impossible to track down, because his dynamic speed can take away angles. Brown is the kind of a receiver who can take a short slant the distance. He also has run-after-the-catch skills with some moves in the secondary, but mostly is a straight-line runner, using his speed to run away from tacklers. Brown has quality hands and route-running. He will need to learn more routes for the NFL, but as a speed receiver, he is adept at running his routes well.

The big concern with Brown is his size. According to NFL teams' preseason data provided by team sources, Brown checks in at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. He is also said to run the 40 in 4.35 seconds, which is a very fast time. His height is not that bad, but his weight is scary, and he could have a hard time avoiding injury and holding up in the NFL.

For the NFL, Brown projects to be a DeSean Jackson-type weapon for an offense. Brown could be a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver depending on the system and quarterback he goes to. Brown should be able to play quickly, and his speed should provide plenty of mismatches immediately. In the 2019 NFL Draft, Brown looks like a safe bet to be a second-day pick.

Player Comparison: DeSean Jackson. There are a lot of similarities between Jackson and Brown. Both have electric speed and are threats to score on any touch of the football. Both also are smaller receivers who have some limitations for the pro game. Jackson was a second-day pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and I think Brown could go in the same range.

NFL Matches: New York Jets, Buffalo, Miami, New England, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, Tennessee, Denver, Arizona, Dallas and New Orleans

There could be a lot of teams in the market for an upgrade at wide receiver, so Brown should have plenty of teams hoping to land him in the 2019 NFL Draft.

In the AFC East, Brown could land with any of those four teams. The Patriots could use some youth at wideout, and Brown would be a good replacement for Brandin Cooks. Miami needs more receiving weapons for Adam Gase's offense, while the Jets have a poor receiving corps and need to give Sam Darnold more play-makers. Buffalo needs a wide receiver to stretch the field for Josh Allen. With Allen's right-arm cannon, Brown could be a great fit as a speed receiver to challenge defenses downfield.

The Eagles could use more explosive weapons for Carson Wentz. They traded for Golden Tate, but Brown would give Philadelphia a long-term speed receiver for Wentz.

Baltimore could use more receiving talent for Lamar Jackson, and Brown would bring a big-play, speed element the Ravens are lacking. Cleveland could use more receiving weapons for Baker Mayfield, so it could make sense for the Browns to reunite Brown with Mayfield.

Tennessee needs to find more receiving weapons for Marcus Mariota. Brown would make sense as a speed receiver to go across from Corey Davis.

Denver traded away Demaryius Thomas, and Brown would give the team a speed receiver to go across from Courtland Sutton.

Christian Kirk was a nice addition by the Cardinals, but they could use more receiving weapons for Josh Rosen.

The Cowboys traded for Amari Cooper, but he's inconsistent and they need more than just him to help Dak Prescott. Brown could be a speed receiver to help take advantage of safeties coming up to defend Ezekiel Elliott.

Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall were signed midseason by the Saints because Sean Payton was frustrated with his wide receivers aside from his No. 1, Michael Thomas. Brown could be a good fit for a role like Lance Moore or Devery Henderson had in the New Orleans offense.

Check back in the months to come as this scouting report will be updated with measurements, final stats, info from team sources, and more NFL matches once the draft order is set.

 

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Terrell Lewis*, 3-4OLB, Alabama

Height: 6-5. Weight: 257.

Projected 40 Time: 4.82.

Projected Round (2019): 2-4.

12/15/18: Lewis has not yet played this season.

 

8/29/18: According to NFL teams' preseason data provided by team sources, Lewis checks in at 6-foot-5, 257 pounds with 34.5-inch arms, 9.38-inch hands, and a wingspan of 83.38 inches. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds.

 

Lewis was playing well in the 2017 season opener before sustaining an injury that cost him most of the season. He totaled just 16 tackles with a sack for the year, but scouts who watched 2018 spring football were raving about him. Sources believe Lewis has a ton of potential, but tragedy struck again as Lewis tore an ACL in the summer of 2018. He is trying to come back and play later in the 2018 season, but that seems unlikely.

 

The edge defender, formerly known as Terrell Hall, Lewis developed behind the scenes for Alabama in 2017. Scouts have told me that in practice Lewis was very impressive as he is big and quick, plus possesses surprising change-of-direction skills. They said that Lewis has a great build and is dripping with upside. He has really impressed them watching him in practice during the past few seasons.

 

Read more: http://walterfootball.com/draft2019OLB3-4.php#ixzz5ZnAf7exd

 

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2019OLB3-4.php#SUz9BymOC4i4xreE.99

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Alabama S Deionte Thompson Generating First-Round Buzz

Updated Sept. 20, 2018

By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

 

The Crimson Tide have been a factory for top NFL talent in the Nick Saban era, but perhaps no position group has been as consistent at churning out good pro talent as the secondary. Saban coaches the group himself and has produced a plethora of early-round picks among the Alabama defensive backs. There was some thought that the streak could have a pause this year, because the Crimson Tide lost their entire starting secondary to the 2018 NFL Draft. Yet as is always the case with Alabama under Saban, elite players were ready to take their place. As the replacement for Minkah Fitzpatrick, Deionte Thompson has had an excellent start to the 2018 season, and in speaking with multiple team sources, he is generating first-round buzz for the 2019 NFL Draft.

 

Thompson has an excellent skill set with size, speed and athleticism. Listed at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, he has excellent height and length for matching up against NFL wide receivers and tight ends. Thompson has shown great range to cover a lot of ground in the deep part of the field during the early going of this season. Three games into 2018, the redshirt junior has two interceptions, three passes broken up and 16 tackles. His numbers are also somewhat suppressed as Alabama has blown out opponents, leading to the starters haing been pulled at halftime.

 

Two years ago three games into the season, WalterFootball.com was first to report that Ohio State safety Malik Hooker was generating a buzz in the scouting community as a first-round talent. Some of the same sources are high on Thompson this year and see him being a Thursday night pick.

 

Read more: http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Alabama-S-Deionte-Thompson-Generating-First-Round-Buzz#ixzz5ZnE6PkmX

 

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Alabama-S-Deionte-Thompson-Generating-First-Round-Buzz#jgo8RtAEqZ1jCG3w.99

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TU_4IkHa3M

[oldno82]

Well we definitely need to get younger on defense with pass rushers and safeties a big need. So that's good news. The bad news is it looks like the beat goes on for a rookie deep threat. I'm hoping we can keep Smokie Brown to provide some downfield threat. After Flacco goes, our cap money available will go up. Maybe we can fit Brown in.

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https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/17/mel-kiper-2019-mock-draft-ravens-pick-1st-wr-off-the-board/

 

 

 

No. 22: A.J. Brown | WR | Ole Miss

“Let’s get a playmaker for Lamar Jackson. He’s going to improve in Year 2, but he needs a better (and younger) supporting cast. And yes, the Ravens have a terrible track record in taking receivers, but they have to hit some time, right? Brown is explosive after the catch. Reminder: New general manager Eric DeCosta doesn’t have a second-round pick as a result of the move up for Jackson last year, so this is an important pick.”

Brown is the first wide receiver off the board on Kiper’s mock draft. As we’ve seen in previous drafts, it’s not terribly often the top wide receiver makes it passed the middle of the first round.

Still, Brown makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons. Brown can get open, can make the catch and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. More importantly, Brown’s known for being physical from snap to whistle, something the Ravens need in their run-heavy scheme.

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https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/20/3-standouts-at-the-east-west-shrine-game-ravens-2019-nfl-draft/

 

3 standouts at the East-West Shrine Game the Ravens should notice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry Godwin II | WR | Georgia

Godwin won the offensive MVP award in this game for good reason. Godwin caught all four of his targets for 80 yards and two touchdowns. It shows just what Godwin can do if given more opportunity, something he didn’t really get much under Georgia’s run-heavy scheme.

At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, with good quickness off the line, Godwin fits better in the slot than outside. But that could be precisely where Baltimore targets in the draft considering their lack of depth at wide receiver and their need for a guy who can get open quickly.

While Riley Ridley (brother of the Atlanta Falcons’ Calvin Ridley) will likely be Georgia’s top wide receiver in the 2019 NFL draft, Godwin has earned sleeper status for this performance. Godwin likely falls somewhere in the middle rounds but could see a bump in stock with this performance and a good combine.

Justin Hollins | OLB | Oregon

Hollins gained buzz just in practice.

But Hollins backed up that buzz with a solid stat line in the game as well. Hollins led the West with 10 tackles and two sacks, as well as a fumble recovery. That type of performance will give teams plenty of reason to think Hollins can play at defensive end or outside linebacker, elevating his stock massively.

With linebackers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith set to hit free agency, the Ravens have a need for a pass rushing outside linebacker. With a big showing in the East-West Shrine Game, Hollins could have put himself firmly on Baltimore’s radar as an option.

Ty Johnson | RB | Maryland

Being a hometown prospect, Johnson is likely going to be intriguing for many Ravens fans. But Johnson impressed in the East-West Shrine Game after a disappointing season, giving hope of what type of player he can actually be.

Johnson had the highest rushing average of any player on the East’s roster — gaining 6.3 yards-per-carry on seven attempts. Johnson showed quickness, straight-line speed and vision in this game while still being capable of bruising, downhill running. Johnson is also adept at catching the ball out of the backfield and is an accomplished return specialist as well, adding to his value.

The Ravens have no real answer at running back in spite of utilizing a run-heavy scheme. Johnson might not be the top dog Baltimore is looking for, but could have a third-down role and immediately special teams value

 

 

Goodwin should be had day 2. Hollins might be a luxury they can't afford. Johnson could be under drafted prospect. If they could grab him 6th or later that would be good. I could see Gus, Johnson, and Collins as the backfield.

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https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/five-top-prospects-ravens-will-watch-at-the-2019-senior-bowl

Five Top Prospects Ravens Will Watch at the 2019 Senior Bowl

DE/OLB Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

DE/OLB Jaylen Ferguson, Louisiana Tech

S Nassir Adderley, Delaware

WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

C Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State

 

 

That Sweat highlight is eye popping. Never seen the swim/rip move before. Putting the blocker on his ass while doing it I have never seen before either. WOW!!!

[varaven45]

Sweat looks Sweet ! We could certainly use him to chase Baker and Ben around next season

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https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/edge-defenders-you-should-know-at-2019-senior-bowl

 

Check out the vid of the Senior Bowl practice. Amazballs.

[oldno82]

We need a second round draft pick badly. Any ideas as to how we might go about getting one?

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What player do they have that other teams would covet now? Andrews? Tucker? They made the trade and I think they will have to live with it.

[oldno82]

Yeah, i think you're probably right. Hopefully rounds 3 and 4 will be as productive as they were last year.

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https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-senior-bowl-20190123-story.html

 

Possible replacement: Montez Sweat, an All-American defensive end in 2018, looked the part when he arrived at the Senior Bowl. The Mississippi State star measured in at 6 feet 6 and 252 pounds, with a wingspan of over 7 feet (84 1/2 inches). Then he put his pads on and reminded onlookers why, as NFL Network analyst and former Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah said Tuesday, he has “everyone buzzing.”

After 14 tackles for loss, 11 1/2 sacks and one forced fumble last season, Sweat was projected as a late-first-round pick. With his dominant showing Tuesday, his stock is soaring, possibly into the top 10. It’s a long wait until late April, of course, and the Ravens should be monitoring his rise and fall.

Possible replacement: The last kind of player the Ravens fans want to see drafted is an injury-prone wide receiver. But South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel might be worth the risk, especially if he somehow falls to the third round.

With a shorter but filled-out frame and return skills, the 5-11, 216-pound Samuel has already drawn comparisons to Carolina Panthers rookie standout DJ Moore. Like the former Maryland star, Samuel struggled with inconsistent quarterback play, but still finished among the Southeastern Conference’s leaders with 62 catches for 882 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Unlike Moore, Samuel has a worrisome injury history: nagging hamstring problems in 2015 and 2016 and a broken leg in 2017.

Possible replacements: Wisconsin guard Beau Benzschawel struggled somewhat in his first day at Senior Bowl practices, but his size and strength (6-6, 307) and resume (two All-America seasons) should make him one of the draft’s top prospects at the position. Barring a superlative performance at the Senior Bowl or NFL scouting combine, he’s unlikely to be a first-round pick.

Mississippi State center Elgton Jenkins, however, could be. A center has been picked in the first round in three of the past six drafts, including two in the top 21 selections last year. At 6-4, 314, Jenkins has a wide base and the versatility to play anywhere in a pinch along the line. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only one sack over 762 pass-blocking snaps at center during his junior and senior seasons.

Possible replacement: The Senior Bowl will be a proving ground of sorts for Delaware’s Nasir Adderley, who could be the next Blue Hens star to find his way to Baltimore. A starter as a true freshman at cornerback, Adderley transitioned to safety as a junior and impressed with his understanding of coverages and his ball skills (four interceptions as a senior). He even returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

At 195 pounds and nearly 6 feet, Adderly has the size and track record to suggest he’ll hold up in run support. He’s one of the fastest-rising prospects in the draft, but he’ll need a strong performance in Mobile and at the scouting combine to lock up a first-round grade.

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https://ebonybird.com/2019/01/24/chris-lindstrom-impress-baltimore-ravens-senior-bowl/

 

Chris Lindstrom could impress the Baltimore Ravens at Senior Bowl

Chris Lindstrom is a guard at the Senior Bowl that would make a lot of sense for the Baltimore Ravens to have an eye on. The Ravens need offensive line help and Lindstrom is a fairly impressive prospect. Like many Seniors in this college football all-star game, one thing that really sticks out is Lindstrom’s football IQ.

If you watch his performance against Clemson, he did a fantastic job. Not only did he hold his own with some of the best defensive linemen in the country, but he did a good job against different looks and stunts. Lindstrom knows his assignment and his responsibility. He also is a high effort player.

I watched Lindstrom’s snaps against Clemson, UMASS and Miami. I came away thinking that this was a player that would be a perfect fit for the Ravens offense. Greg Roman loves to run a power concept, so pulling guards are a must have. Roman wants guards who can down block the center and open up a quick lane for a downhill running back like Gus Edwards. Roman wants players who can get into the second level and make a three yard gain a 20 yard scamper. Lindstrom’s tape checks these boxes.

There are some concerns with Lindstrom. He is a little too reliant on his upper body strength. He has a massive 6’4″ 310 pound body and he relies on the strength it provides. If Lindstrom works on his footwork a little bit and doesn’t get caught reaching and getting himself off balance, he would be an upgrade from James Hurst at guard.

Yes, the Ravens paid James Hurst. However the Ravens need to improve their options on the interior of the offensive line. The Chargers made sure that this was obvious in a heartbreaking playoff game. They also have to find Marshal Yanda’s replacement while number 73 is still wearing the purple and black. Just like the Ravens need to find running backs who fit their system, they have to find linemen that do as well. Baltimore wants to build a quick strike rushing attack.