Another year, another draft the Baltimore Ravens need to nail if they want to be competitive during the upcoming NFL season. Last year, Baltimore had a pair of first-round picks but cashed in big with their later round selections. Both left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and tight end Mark Andrews were two of the biggest cogs in the Ravens offence in 2018 and the Ravens will look to do the same again this year. Eric DeCosta has two third, fourth, and six round selections to use in his first draft as Ravens general manager. Ozzie Newsome made a living finding value in the later rounds and the depth in this year’s draft class should allow DeCosta to do the same.
Replacing the leadership and skill that left Baltimore via free agency will be tough. The Ravens have jumped the same hurdle multiple times before. These are five players the Ravens should be targetting in the middle rounds of upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.
Five 2019 Mid-Round Baltimore Ravens Draft Targets
Honorable Mention: Beau Benzschawel (Wisconsin) – Guard
It’s no secret that the Ravens need guards. Whether it is fully replacing Alex Lewis on the left side or shoring up for Marshal Yanda‘s inevitable retirement, bodies need to be added along the Ravens interior O-line. Beau Benzschawel was part of perhaps the best offensive line in the country in 2018, blocking for the nations leading rusher Jonathan Taylor and he could be a nice fit in Baltimore as a depth player or potential starter. He’s not particularly athletic, which could hurt his value to the Ravens, but will likely be the best guard available in the late mid-rounds. Benzschawel is one of the bigger guards in his class at 6’6″, 309 pounds.
DeCosta is not finding Yanda’s successor in this draft and it may be best to solidify or stabilize the line for 2019 instead of trying to find the perfect long-term match early.
5. Chase Winovich (Michigan) – Edge
Playing the position the Ravens are perhaps most desperate at, Chase Winovich comes from a school that head coach John Harbaugh knows well. The Ravens typically find diamonds in the rough by drafting out of smaller schools but the connection between John and his brother Jim Harbaugh is strong. Baltimore has two former Michigan standouts on the roster and Winovich could be the next. Winovich led the Wolverines in tackles for loss two years in a row and plays with one of the highest motors in this year’s draft class. He’s speedy and agile off the edge and has great pursuit when closing down runners.
Though Winovich is closer to the lower end of 2019’s great class of pass rushers, he’s still very good. If the Ravens trade back in the first round and grab a second round pick with a deal, Winovich could be a great player to come in and compete for the pure edge role against Tim Williams.
4. Parris Campbell (Ohio State) – Wide Receiver
Going into the Combine, Parris Campbell looked like the perfect receiver for the Ravens to target with one of their two third-round picks. Then he balled out in Indianapolis, running the fastest 40-yard dash time of any player in attendance. Campbell is more than just speed though. He was a big part of Ohio State’s offensive success in 2018 and had his best game of the season against the Buckeyes biggest rival, Michigan. Campbell went off for 192 yards on six grabs, doing most of his damage off of screens and yards after the catch. This skillset would be huge to assist Lamar Jackson in both the passing and rushing game. A receiver who can get downfield using their speed, catch screens and pick up yards after catch, and occasionally run a sweep, would be perfect in Baltimore.
Campbell basically looks like a younger Chris Moore with a higher ceiling. His stock has astronomically risen since the Combine and will likely be reached by for a team desperate at receiver. However, he would be a perfect fit for Baltimore in the late second or third round.
3. Ben Burr-Kirven (Washington) – Middle Linebacker
The middle of the Ravens defense took a huge hit in free agency when C.J. Mosley signed a gigantic deal with the New York Jets. This creates many questions about the inside linebacker position going into 2019. Patrick Onwuasor is on a one-year deal after a good end to 2018 and Kenny Young showed potential in his rookie year after being selected in the fourth round of last season. Ben Burr-Kirven might not be able to replace the void left by Mosley but he could be a great depth add and showed potential to be an NFL starter in college despite being undersized at his position. In 2018, Burr-Kirven was a first-team All-American, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and led the entire FBS in tackles.
The stock of Burr-Kurven varies heavily on who you talk to. He’s projected to go from the middle-third to early-fifth rounds, putting him right around where Baltimore has their highest concentration of picks. Burr-Kirven, like Mosley, just makes tackles. The Ravens are going to need that to keep their defense strong.
2. Justice Hill (Oklahoma State) – Running Back
Like Campbell, Justice Hill was another player that boosted his stock from clocking an incredible 40 time. He is defined by his speed and elusiveness, something the Ravens are heavily missing in their backfield and though he didn’t catch much in college, could translate to a pass-catching back in the NFL. Hill has explosive potential and Harbaugh has already stated he likes the idea of “adding a…home-run type hitter guy.” Splitting the backfield with Mark Ingram and Jackson could open up huge holes for Hill in Baltimore. He registered a rushing touchdown in nine of the 10 games he played in last season.
The running back depth in this year’s class is spotty because almost all backs come with sizable question marks, but Hill looks like the kind of back that could contribute to the Ravens offense in a big way. Hill is a risk but could overshine his value if available in the fourth round.
1. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford) – Wide Receiver
In a receiving class so rich with receiving talent, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside could be one of the best receivers despite being projected to fall into the third round. At 6’3″ and 225 lbs, Arcega-Whiteside may not have the elite athleticism of D.K Metcalf for a receiver of his size, but his on-field tape from 2018 is better. It’s not unreasonable to compare his skill set to that of Anquan Boldin either. Arcega-Whiteside is a great 50/50 ball catcher and absolutely mossed corners during his senior year. Perhaps his flashiest catch of the year came against Notre Dame’s Julien Love. Though Arcega-Whiteside is primarily a box-out and red zone guy, he still contributes downfield as well. Because he has such a wide catch-radius, he doesn’t need much separation downfield to come up with catches 20-30 yards away from the line of scrimmage.
Only two other Power five conference receivers had as many or more receiving touchdowns as Arcega-Whiteside in 2018. The Ravens are missing a red zone threat and Jackson could use a big frame to help him with his inaccuracies. Arcega-Whiteside is a player that DeCosta needs to hope his waiting for the Ravens when they are on the clock with the 85th overall pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens can grab a second-round pick via trade back, look at Arcega-Whiteside. As a bonus, he’s friends with Steve Smith.
