The Baltimore Ravens lost several key players in free agency, which means they could select just about anyone in a mock draft. While they retained star defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, they lost Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney, Geno Stone, Kevin Zeitler, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson. As if that wasn’t enough, wide receiver Odell Beckham has already said his goodbyes to the franchise.
The Ravens had the best roster in football last year, but they’ll need to make the most of their mock draft selections if they want to offset all those losses. With too many needs to possibly fill in one draft, Baltimore needs to prioritize and go after the most valuable players on the board. According to Rashad Tatum’s mock draft, he believes the team will do that by selecting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas with the 30th-overall pick.
Ravens Select Brian Thomas In Latest Mock Draft
Brian Thomas The Player
The first thing that jumps off the page with Brian Thomas is his elite speed. Paired with Malik Nabers and catching passes from Jayden Daniels, the LSU product provided a dangerous vertical element to one of the best passing games in college football. Breaking out in a big way, the 6′-3″, 209-pound wideout finished his third season with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and a staggering 17 touchdowns.
Brian Thomas is more than just a one-trick pony, as this mock draft gives the Ravens a player who is an above-average route runner. While he’s not in the same tier as Nabers or Marvin Harrison, Thomas knows how to create separation at the top of routes. Cornerbacks are constantly worried about his ability to win over the top, and the wideout’s ability to stop on a dime creates quick pockets of separation that an NFL quarterback should be able to take advantage of.
As with any team picking in the back of the first round, the Ravens will have to live with the fact that they did not land a perfect prospect in this mock draft. Despite his prototypical build, the wideout struggles in contested situations and doesn’t play through contact as well as you’d like. This lack of physicality also shows up in his testing numbers, as he recorded just 11 reps on the bench press. If he wants to become an all-around weapon, he’ll need to add some muscle.
Does This Ravens Mock Draft Make Sense?
As mentioned above, the Ravens have plenty of roster needs, so just about any position would make sense in this mock draft. With that in mind, Brian Thomas would be a phenomenal fit for this team.
While Nelson Agholor is a fine role player, Baltimore has yet to find a true replacement for Marquise Brown. Brian Thomas has the deep speed to threaten a defense, which only makes the Ravens elite offense that much harder to stop. Additionally, the wideout perfectly complements 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers and star tight end Mark Andrews. This mock draft gives the Ravens three separate playmakers with varied skillsets, and a good offensive mind like Todd Monken should be able to get the most out of this group.
Additionally, Thomas’ weaknesses won’t be that big of a deal in Baltimore. The LSU product struggles to beat press coverage, but nobody is going to play press man when Lamar Jackson is the quarterback. The biggest question is whether Thomas will still be on the board when Baltimore is on the clock. The 2024 consensus big board has him ranked as the 17th-best prospect in the class, so there is a decent chance the Ravens won’t be able to draft him. However, if this mock draft is correct, then the Ravens will have a dangerous playmaker for years to come.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
