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Ravens Insider: Ravens draft targets on Day 2: Best available players at positions of need


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The party is just getting started.

The first round of the NFL draft is over, and with it came a record-setting focus on one side of the ball. A record 23 offensive players were taken in the top 32 picks, breaking the previous mark of 19.

That’s both good and bad news for the Ravens. The good news is Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins fell into their laps at No. 30 overall, and there are plenty of talented defensive players remaining heading into Day 2. The bad news is they still need an offensive lineman (or two, or three) after nine were picked in the opening round.

Here’s a look at some of the Day 2 prospects at positions of need who could be available for the Ravens when they pick at No. 62 overall in the second round and No. 93 in the third.

Offensive line

Kiran Amegadjie, Yale: The self-proclaimed “most interesting prospect in the draft,” Amegadjie (KUH-ron Ah-meh-gah-G) is the son of African immigrants and a lightly recruited two-star prospect out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois who blossomed into an NFL prospect. He’s considered raw, but he made 24 starts at both left tackle and right guard at Yale and has the physical tools (6 feet 5, 325 pounds, 36 1/8 inch arms) to develop into a starter.

Christian Haynes, UConn: The former Bowie High School star started 49 games over five college seasons, all at right guard, and earned second-team All-America honors in 2022. A Senior Bowl standout, the 6-3, 317-pound Haynes ranked seventh among guards in athleticism score at the NFL scouting combine.

Cooper Beebe, Kansas State: Compared with “SpongeBob SquarePants” by The Athletic’s Nate Tice for his thick build, the 6-3, 322-pound Beebe put together a special senior season, becoming a finalist for the Outland Trophy (given to the nation’s top interior lineman) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (the “Academic Heisman”) while earning first-team All-America honors. He projects as a guard but also has experience at left and right tackle.

Brandon Coleman, TCU: After spending most of his childhood in Germany, Coleman picked up football as a junior in high school and started his college career at community college before gradually earning more playing time at TCU. The 6-4, 313-pound played both tackle and guard for the Horned Frogs and posted strong testing numbers at the combine, including a 40-yard dash of 4.99 seconds and a 34-inch vertical jump.

Blake Fisher, Notre Dame: In 2021, Fisher became the first freshman offensive lineman at Notre Dame to start a season opener in 15 years before suffering a knee injury and missing most of the season. He started 26 straight games at right tackle to finish his college career and has the size (6-6, 310 pounds), length (34 3/8 arms) and athleticism to compete for a starting spot.

Dominick Puni, Kansas: The former no-star recruit began his college career at Division II Central Missouri before blossoming with the Jayhawks, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors at left tackle in his fifth season. He cross-trained at tackle, guard and center during practice and tested well at 6-5 and 313 pounds, putting him in the mix to be taken in the middle rounds.

Christian Mahogany, Boston College: Recruited in the same 2019 class as Ravens wide receiver and former Eagles star Zay Flowers, Mahogany rebuffed offers to transfer and made 34 starts over three seasons at left and right guard. The 6-3, 314-pound prospect is a powerful run blocker with a strong build who tested better than expected at the combine.

Isaiah Adams, Illinois: A native of Ontario, Canada, Adams played at Wilfrid Laurier University and Garden City (Kansas) Community College before landing at Illinois, where he made 25 starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle and became a team captain. The 6-4, 315-pound Adams projects as a guard with the size, strength and mobility to push his way onto the field.

Wide receiver

Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington: As part of a standout receiving trio alongside Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, the 6-1, 203-pound Polk posted career highs in catches (69), yards (1,159) and touchdowns (9) this past season as the Huskies reached the national championship game. Pro Football Focus wrote that Polk is “one of the best ‘go up and get it’ contested catch receivers in this class,” and he’s earned praise for his instincts and toughness.

Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky: Drawing comparisons with Deebo Samuel because of his ability to break tackles and pick up yards after the catch, the 5-11, 215-pound Corley dominated Conference USA with 79 receptions for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. Most of his production came out of the slot and on quick catches near the line of scrimmage, so his development as a route runner and ability to make contested catches are concerns.

Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half in the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Roman Wilson led national champion Michigan in receiving with 48 catches for 789 yards. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Roman Wilson, Michigan: Wilson led the national champion Wolverines in receiving with 48 catches for 789 yards and showed a knack for finding the end zone, scoring 12 touchdowns. The 5-11, 185-pound slot receiver can be overpowered at the catch point and as a blocker because of his size, but his speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) makes him a tough cover.

Javon Baker, Central Florida: The former four-star recruit began his college career at Alabama but struggled to earn playing time in a loaded receiver room, leading to a transfer. He blossomed at UCF, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons. The 6-1, 202-pound Baker is a big-play threat, with his 21 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023 ranking fourth-best in the class.

Johnny Wilson, Florida State: There’s a lot to like about Wilson, starting with his imposing size at 6-6 and 231 pounds. He’s inconsistent, which is why he’s considered a late Day 2 or even Day 3 pick, but his large catch radius and acceleration are tantalizing for a team in need of a big-bodied receiver.

Jalen McMillan, Washington: The 6-1, 197-pound McMillan was far from a third option in the Huskies’ prolific passing offense. He still got enough looks to finish with more than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons, relying on nuanced route running and ability to find holes in coverage to get open.

Malik Washington, Virginia: If small, feisty receivers are your type, Washington is the man for you. He’s only 5-8, but he’s a burly 194 pounds and uses his strong hands to make contested catches. After leading Northwestern with 694 yards in 2022, he transferred to Virginia and exploded for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns on 110 receptions with only three drops.

Wide receiver Brenden Rice #2 of the USC Trojans runs for a touchdown past linebacker Matthew Tago #9 of the San Jose State Spartans in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, South California’s Brenden Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns last season. (Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Brenden Rice, Southern California: The son of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice has started to make a name for himself after a standout finish to his college career. Playing with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, the Colorado transfer caught 45 passes for 791 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pac 12 honors. The former track sprinter is a pretty impressive blocker, too.

Edge rusher

Austin Booker, Kansas: The Ravens were one of several teams to bring Booker in for a visit, perhaps to get a closer look at his unique 6-4, 240-pound frame. Booker didn’t get the chance to show much on tape, playing only 505 snaps in his college career, but his length, speed-to-power rushes and relentless pursuit make him an intriguing Day 2 prospect.

Adisa Isaac, Penn State: Isaac is 66th overall on the consensus big board but is ranked 38th by PFF, who writes that the team captain “has the handwork and pass-rush profile of an NFL starter.” The 6-4, 247-pound Isaac needs to get stronger, but he was much more productive than teammate and first-round pick Chop Robinson after recording nine sacks in 2023.

Chris Braswell #LB04 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media during the 2024 NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
A Baltimore native and former St. Frances standout, Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell had 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hurries last season. (Michael Hickey/Getty)

Chris Braswell, Alabama: The Baltimore native and former St. Frances standout earned some first-round buzz earlier this year after a breakout season for the Crimson Tide that included 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hurries. The 6-3, 251-pound Braswell could use some refinement, but his combination of power, speed and length is alluring.

Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian: It’s hard to find a more Ravens-type player in this draft than Hunt, who began his college career as a 6-2, 195-pound safety at Cornell before turning into a 6-4, 252-pound pass-rushing menace. With his explosiveness and length, he racked up 13 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons and was named 2023 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year. You can bet his versatility will be appealing to the Ravens’ brain trust.

Jonah Elliss, Utah: The 6-2, 248-pound Elliss doesn’t have the prototypical size or strength of a standout pass rusher, but his hand usage, agility and high motor made him a productive player. He earned second-team All-America honors in 2023 after leading the team with 16 tackles for loss and ranking sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 12 sacks.

Bralen Trice, Washington: The 6-3, 245-pound Trice is another prospect who got first-round love near the end of the season for his relentless and physical play style. His short arm length (32 1/2 inches) hurt both his pass-rushing plan and his ability to wrap up ball carriers, but the team captain was productive (28 1/2 sacks in four seasons) and played with a sense of urgency.


NFL draft

Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m.

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, noon

TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network

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