ExtremeRavens Posted April 8 Posted April 8 As is the case pretty much every year with the Ravens, they were relatively quiet during the opening stages of free agency. While Baltimore most notably lost cornerback Brandon Stephens, guard Patrick Mekari and linebackers Malik Harrison and Chris Board, they re-signed left tackle Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard, signed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, linebacker Jake Hummel and backup quarterback Cooper Rush and even retained some key reserves in wideout Tylan Wallace and offensive lineman Ben Cleveland. That leaves only a few obvious needs entering the NFL draft, which begins April 24 in Green Bay. Baltimore could still use a pass rusher, help on the defensive line and another cornerback, but general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh have the flexibility to go in several directions with their 11 picks, including three in the top 100. Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator, here’s a look at how it could all play out: Round 1, No. 27 overall: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon The Ravens always seem to have a top prospect fall to them in the first round. This year could be no different, with a wide range of opinions on the top players behind the three blue-chip talents predicted to come off the board first: Miami (Fla.) quarterback Cam Ward, Colorado cornerback-wide receiver Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. That makes this selection truly fascinating. What if a wide receiver like Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden or Luther Burden III is still on the board? Would the Ravens be tempted by an athletic marvel such as South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori or Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart? Is there a player they think is worth trading up for, or does it make more sense to trade down and pick up even more picks in a class that’s deep at pass rusher and defensive line? At this point in the draft, Harmon’s athleticism, versatility and motor stand out. At 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, he was one of only two defensive tackles weighing more than 305 pounds to run under 5.00 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine (4.95). His production last season at Oregon after three years at Michigan State was outstanding, too, including 45 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. “He plays like a Raven or a Steeler,” an anonymous NFC executive told NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein. “Off the tape, he reminds me of a young Cam Heyward but bigger.” While the Ravens already have two standout interior defenders in Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones, they need depth and an infusion of youth up front. Plus, the last Oregon defensive lineman they picked in the first round (Haloti Ngata) seemed to work out pretty well. Also considered: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr., North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel, Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison has nine career interceptions in three seasons. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina) Round 2, No. 59: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame The Ravens have a budding star at cornerback in Nate Wiggins and a reliable veteran in Marlon Humphrey, but even with the addition of Awuzie, there are a lot of question marks behind the two starters. That makes this selection pretty straightforward. The 6-foot, 193-pound Morrison has tremendous ball skills, as evidenced by his nine career interceptions and 20.5% forced incompletion rate over the past two seasons. For fans who grew tired of watching Stephens fail to locate the ball in coverage, Morrison would be a breath of fresh air. A true junior and only 21 years old, Morrison has room to grow, which is important considering his drawbacks. His arm length is well below average, he isn’t a strong run defender and, as noted by Zierlein, he “lacks ideal footwork to mirror and match not only the release but the initial route breaks.” The biggest red flag is two hip surgeries, the latter of which kept him out for the final 10 games of Notre Dame’s run to the College Football Playoff championship game this past season. But if the Ravens are comfortable with Morrison’s medicals, he has the makeup to grow into a long-term starter at a position of need. Also considered: Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery, Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr. North Carolina State offensive lineman Anthony Belton could be the Ravens’ left tackle of the future. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Round 3, No. 91: Anthony Belton, OT/G, NC State With Stanley re-signed through 2027 and right tackle Roger Rosengarten coming off a standout rookie season, offensive tackle is far from a major hole on the roster. But it’s never too early to start planning for the future. As encouraging as Stanley’s bounce-back 2024 season was, he still missed more than half of the team’s games the previous four years because of injuries. To expect him to become even more durable at age 31 is unrealistic. Plus, after losing swingman Josh Jones to Seattle, the Ravens no longer have a backup option at tackle. That opens the door for the 6-6, 336-pound Belton, an enormous lineman with enticing length and power who can be molded into the left tackle of the future. PFF notes that Belton is “still raw in a number of areas, including his punch timing, pad level and footwork,” which is especially concerning for a sixth-year prospect. But his length (82nd percentile wingspan of 83 1/8 inches, according to MockDraftable) and above-average athletic testing numbers suggest that he has the tools to improve at the next level with proper coaching. George Warhop, you’re up. At this point in the draft, picking a backup tackle who could potentially take over for Stanley in the event of injury or declining play is a worthwhile investment. In the meantime, Belton could compete to start at left or right guard with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele. Also considered: Ohio State S Lathan Ransom, UCLA EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, Texas WR Isaiah Bond LSU defensive end Sai’vion Jones is coming off a standout senior season with the Tigers. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Round 4, No. 129: Sai’vion Jones, EDGE, LSU OK, we can’t wait any longer without drafting a pass rusher. The Ravens have two promising outside linebackers in Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson and ageless wonder Kyle Van Noy, who set a career high in sacks at age 33. Maybe previous high draft picks David Ojabo and Adisa Isaac can still live up to their potential, but at this point, that might be asking too much. The Ravens won’t get over the hump in the postseason without a pass-rushing group that can get them off the field on third down. How about a 6-5, 280-pound prospect who can line up anywhere on the defensive front? Jones is described as “tough, physical and relentless,” and he’s coming off a standout senior season in which he ranked eighth among all edge defenders in the SEC with 43 quarterback pressures. PFF notes that he needs to work on his hand usage, but Ravens pass rush “guru” Chuck Smith should be able to help with that. While the Ravens pass on better edge rushers before picking Jones in this scenario, taking advantage of the depth at the position to land an ascending talent should set them up well. Speaking of pass rushers, let’s throw out this hypothetical: If the New York Giants take Carter at No. 3, should the Ravens consider trading for Kayvon Thibodeaux? The No. 5 overall pick in 2022 could become expendable in that scenario as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. The former Oregon star hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in New York, but he’s shown flashes — including an 11 1/2-sack season in 2023 — that would make him an intriguing bet for a Ravens team that could afford to take a swing. Also considered: Clemson LB Barrett Carter, Colorado State WR Tory Horton, Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman has elite speed for the position. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) Round 4, No. 136: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma While the Ravens still have Roquan Smith patrolling the middle of the field, his play took a noticeable dip last season. On top of that, Trenton Simpson was benched midseason after struggling in his sophomore campaign. Losing Board and Harrison removes some valuable depth at the position, too. Fortunately for the Ravens, this class has some intriguing linebackers available. The 6-3, 233-pound Stutsman is lightning fast, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash that ranks in the 89th percentile for the position, per MockDraftable. He uses that speed and his instincts to get downhill quickly; over the past few seasons, he leads all Power Four conference linebackers in stops and tackles for loss/no-gain, according to PFF. While his coverage ability is a concern, it’s extremely rare to find a linebacker who is a plus in that area, especially this late in the draft. Getting a potential starter to pair with Smith or a high-end backup in this range would be a home run. Also considered: Virginia Tech EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans, UConn OT Chase Lundt Pat Bryant led Illinois with 984 receiving yards and a school-record-tying 10 touchdown catches in 2024. (Bonnie Ryan/AP) Round 5, No. 176: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois Assuming Mark Andrews isn’t going anywhere, the Ravens’ pass-catching group is set for next season. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Hopkins will be the go-to wide receivers, while Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar will pair with Andrews at tight end. Wallace and 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker are next in line to get more snaps. So why take a wide receiver now? Hopkins is 32 and playing on a one-year deal, Bateman is a free agent after the 2026 season and Flowers is set to receive a top-of-the-market contract extension soon. Wide receiver might become a bigger need quickly. The Ravens have long sought a traditional outside receiver and finally got one in Hopkins, but again, he’s past his prime. The 6-2, 204-pound Bryant could be the heir apparent. While he’s not going to impress anyone with his speed (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds), Bryant posted well-above-average marks of 37 1/2 inches in the vertical jump and 10 feet, 4 inches in the broad jump, so he’s still a pretty good athlete. PFF notes that “he possesses a strong build, good hands and reliable blocking to make him a rotational X wideout.” That’s exactly what the Ravens need both right now (if Hopkins gets hurt) and in the future. Bryant, who led Illinois with 984 receiving yards and a school-record-tying 10 touchdown catches in 2024, could become a valuable role player sooner than later. Also considered: Nebraska TE Thomas Fidone II, Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai, Georgia DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins Clemson safety R.J. Mickens would give the Ravens depth at a key position in their defense. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Round 6, No. 183: R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington formed one of the best safety duos in the league when Washington took over for struggling veteran Marcus Williams last season, but it’s not a guarantee that Washington returns. The Ravens placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on the former undrafted free agent, so Baltimore could decline to match an offer from another team if it’s too expensive. While letting an important player leave for nothing seems unlikely, the Ravens have to consider their options. Even if Washington returns, Baltimore likes to have three safeties on the field, and that would mean Beau Brade, Sanoussi Kane or perhaps T.J. Tampa stepping in. There’s a good chance the Ravens still like those players, but none of them are guaranteed to make the 53-man roster. The 6-foot, 199-pound Mickens would be an intriguing fit. The son of a former NFL cornerback answered questions about his speed at the combine with a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, and Zierlein notes that “he plays like a pro with good pre-snap anticipation and post-snap instincts.” Also considered: Rutgers CB Robert Longerbeam, Tulane CB/S Caleb Ransaw, Alabama DT Tim Smith Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II has star potential, though he’s coming off a disappointing year. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Round 6, No. 203: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State Derrick Henry and Justice Hill will get the bulk of the carries next season, and speedy Keaton Mitchell should get more touches another year removed from a brutal knee injury. And with Henry due for an extension, the Ravens probably don’t need a lead back anytime soon. But Henry is 31, and while he looks more than capable of holding off Father Time, the Ravens don’t need to push him too hard. Hill and Mitchell are excellent change-of-pace options, but perhaps another big back could give Henry a break every now and then. The 6-1, 226-pound Gordon certainly qualifies. This time last year, he looked like a potential early-round pick coming off an incredibly productive 2023 season in which he rushed for 1,732 yards, caught 39 passes for 330 yards and scored 22 touchdowns to earn the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. Those numbers dipped dramatically in 2024 (880 rushing yards, 14 TDs), but an anonymous scout told NFL.com that “he had bad quarterback play, a subpar line and every defense was keyed on stopping him.” This late in the draft, it’s worth chasing the star potential at a position in which the Ravens can afford to take some swings. Also considered: Florida DT Cam’Ron Jackson, Texas C Jake Majors, California LB Teddye Buchanan Miami kicker Andres Borregales made 86% of his field goal attempts during his four-year college career. (Keira Arimenta/Sun-Sentinel) Round 6, No. 210: Andres Borregales, K, Miami (Fla.) It’s too early to know whether Justin Tucker will face any discipline as the NFL continues its investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the Ravens kicker. Whether the team plans to move on from the 35-year-old after the worst season of his career remains a mystery, too. But Harbaugh left the door open for the team to draft a potential replacement. “You always have to do your due diligence, so we will be prepared to do that on draft day if we feel like we need to and if the right guy is there,” he said at the NFL owners meetings. The 5-11, 199-pound Borregales has been extremely reliable during his four-year college career, making 86% of his field goal attempts (74-for-86), including 75% from 50-plus yards over the past two seasons. He’s missed just one of his 184 extra-point tries. He’s been clutch, too. In a win over Virginia in 2023, he became the first Hurricane to hit three field goals from 45 yards or longer in the same game, including a game-tying 48-yarder to force overtime. Kicking also runs in the family. His brother, Jose, won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker with Miami in 2020. Also considered: Florida WR Chimere Dike, Missouri QB Brady Cook, Alabama TE CJ Dippre UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams has the toughness and physicality to compete at the next level. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) Round 6, No. 212: Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF Given the team’s depth at the position and Humphrey’s contract situation (he has a cap hit of $26 million in 2026, the final year of his deal), it would not be surprising to see the Ravens double-dip at cornerback in the draft. The 5-10, 191-pound McWilliams comes with plenty of question marks, most notably a failure to locate deep throws as well as average speed and length, but his toughness, physicality in run support and ability to change directions quickly are intriguing enough to take a chance on this late in the draft. Also considered: Oregon State G Joshua Gray UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao offers plenty of upside as a pass catcher. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Round 7, No. 243: Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA Harbaugh said that he expects Andrews to be on the team in 2025 because “he’s too good of a player,” but what about 2026 and beyond? Andrews, Kolar and Likely are all pending free agents after next season, and while it’s likely that at least one of them stays long term, the Ravens need to start planning ahead. The 6-6, 260-pound Matavao has the requisite size and short-area quickness to stick around at the next level, but he might not be fast enough to separate from defenders downfield and will have to improve as a run blocker. However, his production in his final college season (41 catches for 506 yards) is encouraging for his future as a pass catcher. Also considered: Indiana LB Jailin Walker Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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