Ravens Insider: Ravens draft tracker: Day 3 begins with California LB Teddye Buchanan

[ExtremeRavens]

The Ravens came into this year’s NFL draft with 11 picks and needs at safety, edge rusher, offensive line and elsewhere. With eight of those selections coming between rounds 4 and 8, they will be busy Saturday.

After opening the draft with Georgia safety Malaki Starks, Marshall edge rusher Mike Green and LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr., there is still room to fill out a large rookie class.

Baltimore entered the final day of the draft Saturday loaded with eight picks — Nos. 129 (fourth round), 136 (fourth), 176 (fifth), 183 (sixth), 203 (sixth), 210 (sixth), 212 (sixth) and 243 (seventh). Here’s a closer look at who they took.

No. 129 (fourth round): California LB Teddye Buchanan

Buchanan led UC Davis in tackles for two straight seasons before transferring to Cal for a fifth year. There, he led the Bears in both tackles and tackles for loss in addition to five sacks. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound linebacker from San Francisco projects as linebacker depth and a special teams contributor.

Buchanan played quarterback until his junior year of high school. According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, a broken thumb sidelined Buchanan, but he didn’t want to miss any football so he wrapped it up and moved to linebacker — a position he blossomed at from a two-star recruit to Day 3 draft pick.

This pick shows how heavily the Ravens are investing on the defensive side of the ball. There was a need for safety depth beside an All-Pro so they drafted a player who can provide versatility to shore up the back end. And Baltimore strengthened its defensive line Friday night. At linebacker, the Ravens have an All-Pro in Roquan Smith with some uncertainty in who could be his No. 2. Chris Board, Malik Harrison and Kristian Welch, the trio who handled duties by committee after Trenton Simpson was benched last season, all left in free agency.

This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

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