ExtremeRavens Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes the most important priority this offseason will be addressing questions surrounding what will likely be a rebuilt offensive line. But that is hardly the only critical area of concern. From cornerback to edge rusher to running back, there are holes in the roster that need to be addressed. Never mind that Harbaugh will be operating with a slew of new coaches on his staff after defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald left to become the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver split for defensive coordinator jobs with the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins, respectively. Harbaugh said he spoke with recently retired coach and friend Nick Saban two weeks ago about all the assistant coaching changes Saban endured after winning six national championships in 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide. “Coaches would come there, be there year or two then go get a head coaching job,” Harbaugh said earlier this week. “So he had to train those guys every single year. That does become a big challenge of success. Nobody had it at a higher level than him.” Whether Baltimore can match the success it had last season — an NFL-best 13-4 record and appearance in the AFC championship game — is another question. To have a chance, they’ll have to get decisions right on several players and positions. Free agency begins in earnest March 11, which is when teams can begin talking to players before the free agency window officially opens two days later, but the draft will be a significant part of the process with eight picks in April. At this week’s NFL scouting combine, Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and a host of other members of Baltimore’s staff are getting an up-close look at potential draft targets who could potentially fill the team’s myriad needs. Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium, defensive linemen and linebackers began working out on the field for teams, while defensive backs and tight ends will go through drills Friday; quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs Saturday; and offensive linemen Sunday. With Baltimore not picking until 30th in the first round, projections have been all over the place, from offensive line to defensive line to cornerback to receiver. But with what has been dubbed a deep draft class for offensive linemen, it’s possible the Ravens could opt, as DeCosta often says, for the best player available. In this case, that will likely also fill a major need. With outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy set to become free agents and questions over the production of Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, the Ravens might opt for a pass rusher with the No. 30 overall pick. Among a few possibilities mentioned by draftniks to keep an eye on this week: Penn State’s Demeioun “Chop” Robinson, Missouri’s Darius Robinson and Alabama’s Chris Braswell. Chop Robinson, a Gaithersburg native who starred at Quince Orchard, began his college career at Maryland before transferring to Penn State. But the 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher didn’t put up eye-popping stats, with just 9 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons, including four in 2023. While he might be off the board by the time the Ravens pick, he said Wednesday that it would be “awesome” to play close to home and alongside Oweh, another Penn State product. The other Robinson, meanwhile, is one of several players who met with the Ravens this week and is coming off a season in which he had nine sacks, six quarterback hits and 27 pressures. At 6-5 and 285 pounds, his long, sinewy frame fits the mold of Ravens pass rushers, and he loves Baltimore’s style. “They run and they hit,” he said. “That’s just my mindset.” Outside linebacker Chris Braswell is a Baltimore native and the Ravens have a history when it comes to taking Alabama players. (Michael Hickey/Getty) Braswell, meanwhile, is a Baltimore native and the Ravens have a history when it comes to taking Alabama players. The 6-3, 250-pound edge rusher had eight sacks and shows “good burst,” though he could project to the second round. As for cornerback, it’s a position that DeCosta is fond of saying the team can never have too many of. With a handful of their defensive backs set to become free agents, there’s even more of an emphasis for the Ravens to fill those openings. That could mean re-signing players such as Ronald Darby or Arthur Maulet, but even with that Baltimore would do well to draft an outside cornerback with Marlon Humphrey turning 28 this summer and carrying big cap numbers each of the next three seasons. A few potential targets could include Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter, Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Maryland’s Beau Brade. Lassiter, a 6-foot, 180-pound corner, didn’t surrender a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage and allowed just nine catches for 91 yards last season for the Bulldogs. He has just one career interception, however. Rakestraw, meanwhile, didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl because of a core muscle surgery and that could knock him down the draft board, though he is in Indianapolis. The 6-foot, 180-pound corner was impressive when healthy, though, with 35 tackles in nine games last season and 12 passes defended in 2022. “He’s feisty and physical at the line of scrimmage, great in press coverage,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said. “Here’s my favorite stat: LSU threw at him one time last year — he didn’t let them complete a pass, they never went his way again. That prolific LSU offense stayed away from Rakestraw, so we know he is a talented player.” As for Brade, he’s a hybrid defender and is looking to become the second safety and fourth defensive back out of Maryland to be drafted over the past three years. A former River Hill High standout, the 5-11, 201-pound safety from Clarksville projects as someone who could play in the box as well as in a more traditional safety role. The Ravens like versatile defensive backs, though he’s projected to be more of a Day 3 pick. Michigan Maryland FootballNick Wass/APSt. Frances graduate and Michigan running back Blake Corum could be a target for the Ravens in the NFL draft. (Nick Wass/AP) But one of the more intriguing decisions the Ravens will have to make is at running back. Gus Edwards, who was the second-leading rusher on the team behind Lamar Jackson and led the team in touchdowns, is a free agent, as are J.K. Dobbins, who is coming off a torn Achilles, and Dalvin Cook. That leaves just Keaton Mitchell, who suffered a torn ACL in mid-December, and Justice Hill as the lone backs on the roster. With a deep free agent class that is expected to include Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler, among others, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens do something in the open market. Still, it seems plausible they could also look for another back in the middle rounds of this year’s draft. Michigan’s Blake Corum, who was born in Virginia and starred at St. Frances in Baltimore, could be an option. There’s also familiarity, with Corum having played for John Harbaugh’s brother Jim in Ann Arbor, where he rushed for 2,708 yards and 45 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 197 yards and two more scores over the past two seasons. “It’s probably not as deep as some other positions that we’ll see in this year’s draft class,” DeCosta said about this year’s running back class. “There’s some talented [free agent] players that we will look at as well. But I think it’s probably safe to say that we’ll have more than two running backs on our roster at some point.” View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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