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 and wound up with their presumed quarterback of the future and a valuable piece of a tight end-heavy offensive attack. Tight end Hayden Hurst, the Ravens 25th overall pick last year, has a lot more to prove than quarterback Lamar Jackson next season but the two are cornerstones in their own respects going into 2019 and beyond.
There is also a high probability that general manager Eric DeCosta trades the Ravens 22nd overall pick in order to accumulate more assets. He learned under Ozzie Newsome and likely, understands the importance of building through the draft. However, as of now, Baltimore is still in the first round. The Ravens moved back twice from the no.16 position in last years draft and still ended up with two picks on day one of the draft.
Replacing the leadership and skill that left Baltimore via free agency will be tough but the Ravens have jumped the same hurdle multiple times before. This list could even just be edge defenders and receivers. These are five players the Ravens should be targetting in the first round of upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.
Five 2019 First Round Baltimore Ravens Draft Targets
Honorable Mention: Jachai Polite (Florida) – Edge
The first of three edge defenders on this list, Polite would be an excellent fit with the Ravens. After losing Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs through free agency, DeCosta and the Ravens have huge shoes to fill off the edge. Smith and Suggs combined for 15.5 of the Ravens 43 sacks and were frequently all on the field at multiple times with the Ravens best current outside linebacker, Matt Judon. After only four sacks prior to 2018, Polite balled out last year with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He isn’t fast but he finds ways to get around the edge in a variety of ways. if Polite turns into a slightly better overall athlete, he could be a really good NFL pro.
The biggest reason Polite isn’t higher on this list is that he may be on the board into the second round. After a terrible combine performance, Polite has appeared to slip out of the first round in most scouts eyes in a class flushed with edge defenders. The Ravens have made a lot of key selections picking up players that faltered at the combine going back as early as last seasons rookie-right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Suggs also had a poor showing at the combine and wound up a future Hall of Famer. Coincidently, he and Polite ran the same 40 time of 4.84s. That doesn’t mean he is Suggs but his role is easy to envision in Baltimore.
5. A.J. Brown (Ole Miss) – Wide Receiver
Despite the athleticism flashed by D.K. Metcalf since the draft period began, I still believe Brown is a better fit for the Ravens. So much so that if both were available at 22, I would take Brown. Brown is more of an all-around receiver and was more productive in each of the three seasons the two played at Ole Miss. He is also a great athlete for a player of his size. At 6’1″ 225 lbs, Brown has the ability to get separation and get downfield, while also having solid hands. His route running is perhaps his best trait and Jackson needs a receiver that can find space in other ways besides just using their speed.
If Brown were to be picked by the Ravens, he would automatically come in and become Baltimore’s #2 receiver. Willie Snead and Mark Andrews will likely be his favourite targets over the middle, but Brown will be the primary target on the perimeter. This is an area the Ravens currently have no proven players in and one that they need to fill. Jackson found little chemistry with all of his outside receivers in 2018 and needs to be able to spread the field more in the upcoming season. Brown can get open and keep Jackson from having to only throw into tight windows.
4. Garrett Bradbury (N.C. State) – Center
The more I think about this match, the more I think Bradbury will be the actual pick of the Ravens. Baltimore almost never goes for the flashy first-round pick and creating an impenetrable offensive line for a mobile quarterback is a must. No teams until the Kansas City Chiefs pick at 29 need a center, making this a likely selection if the Ravens trade back six or fewer spots. Bradbury showed out at the combine proving he is one of the most agile offensive linemen in the entire 2019 draft class. In an offensive where the line is going to be asked to move around a lot, Bradbury would fit in well.
It hasn’t been long since the Ravens had to bridge Gino Gradkowski‘s role with Matt Birk‘s retirement and DeCosta understands that offensive lineman hold a ton of value to Baltimore. Perhaps just as much as receivers. If Greg Roman wants his offence to have success, he needs quality blockers as well as talented running backs. Matt Skura wasn’t awful in his first year after moving back to center but there is definitely room for improvement. Picking a third center in four years seems odd but it also may be the safest pick for Baltimore at 22.
3. N’Keal Harry (Arizona State) – Wide Receiver
If nothing else, Harry at least hinted that he wouldn’t mind becoming a Raven. The fit makes sense and Harry might be the best receiver in the draft. He’s a relatively agile receiver who has some of the best hands in the class and the ability to pick up yards after the catch. Harry has made some spectacular catches from ridiculous positions in the past and is never scared to go up for a 50/50 ball. His strength isn’t boxing out corners, rather he is able to come down with almost any ball thrown within his catch radius. Harry quietly put up as many reps on the bench press as Metcalf did at the combine as well.
Though he might not be a full-fledged #1 receiver in the NFL, Harry can still translate into a great possession receiver for the Ravens. He’s electric when he has the ball in his hands and could factor heavily into a potential screen heavy game. Finding space downfield is an issue for Harry but Jackson seldom used John Brown last season after a flaming-hot start with Joe Flacco. The Ravens need someone who can go up and get the ball and gain yards after the catch. Jackson prioritizes the intermediate and Harry could become a great weapon on the outside as well as a solid red zone target.
2. Brian Burns (Central Florida) – Edge
The Ravens need pass rushers and that’s no joke. Burns is probably the most athletic of the edge rushers that could potentially be on the board when the Ravens pick and could translate into more of an outside linebacker in the NFL as opposed to a pure pass rusher. However, if the Ravens want a player with bend, then look no further. Burns was an instant impact starter at Florida State, registering 8.5 sacks during his freshman year. His numbers then tailed off in his second year but he still finished strong with 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in his final college season. He may not have optimal weight at 249 lbs but he makes up for it using his speed and flexibility.
Burns would look great opposite Judon off the edge but it is going to be hard for Burns to fall all the way to 22. His combine numbers and build have wowed scouts during the draft process meaning he may be off the board as early as the 13th pick. But this doesn’t fully rule out him becoming a Raven. With all the depth at the edge in the upcoming draft, there’s a good chance one of the top-six at Burns’ position could fall to 22. It’s more a matter of if it’s Burns himself. Burns would then join Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser in filling Baltimore’s starting pure pass rusher role. The Ravens haven’t had a speedy, lengthy, athletic guy like Burns off the edge maybe ever.
-
Clelin Ferrell (Clemson) – Edge
Last year I said the only way the Ravens didn’t trade back from 16 was if Calvin Ridley was on the board. Ferrell is that same prospect in 2019.
Ferrell is the ideal mix of skill and positional need the Ravens need for the upcoming season. He was a bull in college, winning a national championship as part of the best defensive line in football and piling up 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in final year at Clemson. Ferrell is one of this year’s best all-around edge prospects and has a hulking build at 6’5″ 260 lbs. What makes him most unique at his size is his motor and determination. Despite not being particularly refined at one specific area, he uses a mix of his hands, smarts, power and tenacity to continually end up in the backfield.
Ferrell may not be Terrell Suggs but he could be an incredible building block for the Ravens going into the future if they land him at 22. After his redshirt sophomore year, Ferrell returned to Clemson alongside other prominent prospects such as Christain Wilkins and Austin Bryant to win his second national championship in three years. He also won ACC-Defensive Player of the Year. That championship mentality and want to win is integral to the Ravens building up their leadership group after the changing of the guard this off-season. If a player of Ferrell’s stature and caliber is available at 22, Baltimore has to bypass trading down and take a player that could potentially become the face of your franchise in just a few years.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
