The Baltimore Ravens will most likely look to add a cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft. With the big event arriving soon, let’s take a look at which cornerbacks are linked to the team’s first-round selection currently.
Ravens Draft Watch: Potential Cornerbacks in Round 1 of the Draft
Following Odell Beckham Jr.’s arrival, wide receiver is no longer a premium need. It means that the Ravens can focus on other needs, such as cornerback, this draft. Other positions of need include edge, interior offensive line and interior defensive line. That is, of course, on the assumption that the team retains Lamar Jackson.
Of those position groups, cornerback and edge are the two that are likeliest to be the Ravens’ first-round selection. Last offseason, Baltimore got younger and better in the secondary. The team signed Marcus Williams to a huge contract, and also drafted Kyle Hamilton, Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis in the 2022 NFL Draft. With Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters both returning from injury, the Ravens secondary was a force to be reckoned with.
While the secondary is strong, the unit needs some depth. The team have managed to retain Geno Stone, which is an underrated move, but were forced into trading away Chuck Clark as a cap casualty. Baltimore have also yet to re-sign Marcus Peters, who is expected to sign somewhere after the draft (to avoid impacting the compensatory picks formula). Without Peters on the roster currently, the team needs a cornerback to pencil in as the starter opposite Humphrey. Further, Peters is already 30 and so, even if the team re-sign him, they will need to find his heir soon.
With this said, the Ravens are likely to target cornerbacks in the first round of the draft. But who do they have in mind?
Joey Porter Jr.
Joey Porter Jr. is one of the most-frequently mocked players for the Ravens. Despite his father being formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Porter has no gripes with Baltimore. For the Ravens, Porter would be a plug-and-play cornerback opposite Humphrey. The Ravens have had a private visit with Porter too. Last Word on Sport’s early prospect watch for the Ravens sums up Porter’s fit well:
“Porter is an impact defender who has prototypical length and excellent ball skills. In 2022, Porter showed a lot of improvement in coverage, particularly demonstrating his prowess as a press-man cornerback. Many have drawn comparisons between him and Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens’ All-Pro shutdown cornerback.”
As a prospect, Porter is firmly the third-best cornerback in the class. He sits behind Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez but ahead of the following batch (some of whom are discussed below).
Porter could be available at 22. However, if the two aforementioned cornerbacks go within the top 12 picks, there is a chance that someone will draft Porter before the Ravens. In Mike Kashuba’s first mock draft, Porter is drafted at pick 20. But, in Kashuba’s post-free agency mock draft, he is left undrafted after the first round. And, in Kashuba’s most recent mock draft, Porter goes to the Steelers at 17. Thus, where Porter lands is quite unpredictable. His range is feasibly anywhere between picks 14 and 35. If the Ravens need to draft a sure-fire starting cornerback, Porter seems likeliest.
"Seeing Joey Porter Sr. a Ravens fan, that'd be great for all of us." 😂😂
"Would he be though?" pic.twitter.com/QbxihbYdva
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 5, 2023
Tyrique Stevenson
Another name to watch is Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson has gained a lot of attention recently, and it is believed that a lot of NFL teams are infatuated by him. Like Porter, the Ravens have held a private visit with Stevenson. Lance Zierlein provides a good prospect overview:
“Big cornerback with the size and play strength to help match up with bigger receivers in the league. Stevenson is patient but physical in press-man and has good recovery speed when he falls behind. He struggles as a pattern matcher in off-man and had issues with busts in zone, so he might be scheme-dependent. Stevenson is talented when attacking the catch point and has the ball skills to make plays on 50/50 throws. He needs to become more consistent in run support but has the physical attributes to become a starter in a press-man scheme.”
The Ravens often draft good cornerbacks. Stevenson could be the next in line for them. The former Miami corner has great physical tools and excels in press-man coverage (like Humphrey and Peters). At the NFL level, he will need to refine his technique and awareness in zone coverage and run defense.
Stevenson is a fringe first-round prospect currently. In both of Kashuba’s mock drafts, he is not drafted in the first round. Thus, he would likely be available at pick 22 for the Ravens.
Great recovery from @CanesFootball CB Tyrique Stevenson at the Senior Bowl! pic.twitter.com/jjnelzlRYV
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) February 1, 2023
Emmanuel Forbes
Emmanuel Forbes is one of the most intriguing cornerback prospects in recent history. The Mississippi State prospect has seen some first-round buzz recently and has had eight private visits, one of which was with Baltimore. Will Koshover provides an effective summary of Forbes’ game in his draft profile:
“For being so slight of build, Forbes is durable and never missed a game in college due to injury. If professional evaluators can get past some of these size concerns, the team that takes him will find a smart, rugged, and ballhawk of a player that can lock down the best offensive playmakers the league has to offer.”
This shortlist has suggested that the Ravens draft targets at the cornerback position are physical, press coverage experts. Forbes does not fit that mould. As a lanky, undersized cornerback, Forbes would struggle in press-heavy systems. Thus, it is not obvious that Forbes would be a good scheme fit for the Ravens defense, but perhaps Mike McDonald has a plan in mind.
Like Stevenson, Forbes is a fringe first-round selection. He will likely be available for the Ravens. However, there is a lot of discrepancy about his value. Teams that are keen on his unique build and athleticism probably have him ranked very high. Others would view his skinniness as a red flag, reducing him to a mid-to-late-round prospect. Given that Baltimore are without a second-round pick (after trading for Roquan Smith), the Ravens could trade down to grab a cornerback in the draft’s late-first or early-second range. If they are smart about it, both Stevenson and Forbes could both still be available.
The Ravens had a private visit with Mississippi St. CB Emmanuel Forbes 👀 pic.twitter.com/CNFfhqOvrk
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) April 6, 2023
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
