The Baltimore Ravens have one of the better rosters in the league, but they could certainly use some more help at wide receiver. Marquise Brown is a solid player, and Mark Andrews is one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, but there really isn’t much beyond those two. In the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, the Ravens should look into taking somebody like Ole Miss receiver Elijah Moore.
Why the Baltimore Ravens Should Draft Elijah Moore
Lamar Jackson is at his best as a passer when he has a reliable weapon in the middle of the field. The quarterback has improved his accuracy by leaps and bounds since coming into the league, but it’s still not a strength. In order for this offense to reach its full potential, the Ravens need to add a reliable slot option that is able to create massive throwing windows for Jackson.
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Enter Elijah Moore. The 5’-10”, 178-pound receiver is one of the best slot options in the class and a natural fit for this offense. The Mississippi product is a fantastic route runner and isn’t afraid to go over the middle and take a massive hit. He has the speed to beat defenses deep with his 92nd percentile 40-yard dash and the agility to make sharp cuts and leave defenders in his dust.
The tape speaks for itself, and the numbers also suggest that Moore can succeed at the next level. According to Player Profiler, Moore finished his collegiate career with a 91st percentile dominator rating, 96th percentile target share, and an 82nd percentile breakout age. For those unfamiliar with these advanced metrics, this is basically a fancy way of saying that he was a great college receiver and has been playing great football for a long time.
There is no such thing as a can’t-miss prospect, but Moore has a lot going for him. While he is smaller than the traditional wide receiver, every other metric surrounding him suggests that he will be a solid NFL receiver. The film backs this up, as his strengths match perfectly with Baltimore’s offense. The only question is, where can the Ravens draft him?
Where to Get Elijah Moore?
According to Grinding the Mocks, Elijah Moore is currently going off the board with the 54th overall pick. For those unfamiliar with the website, Grinding the Mocks analyses mock drafts throughout the internet and finds an aggregate draft position for every prospect. It’s not a perfect prospect, but it gives a good general idea of where guys are going to go in the draft.
As of this posting, the Ravens currently have the 27th and 58th picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. This puts them in something of a pickle when it comes to getting Elijah Moore. Drafting him at 27 would be a major reach, while waiting until 58 means that the Ravens could lose him.
If Elijah Moore really is their guy, the best solution is to trade down from the 27th overall pick. The picks at the end of the first round are actually surprisingly valuable, as first-round picks come with a team-controlled fifth-year option. Baltimore should be able to leverage this into an early second- and third-round pick, which they can then use on Elijah Moore. Of course, trading down also means more shots at drafting good players, even if said picks come later in the draft.
Obviously, Baltimore will need to monitor the draft board to see what actually happens when teams are on the clock. However, for now, it looks like trading back would be in Baltimore’s best interest if they want to grab a great receiver and get a few extra picks for their trouble.
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