The Baltimore Ravens selected Florida strong safety Matt Elam with the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, but they may not be finished with their attempts to draft first-round talent.
Several first round-caliber players are still available as the second round is set to begin on Friday night. With 11 picks remaining in the draft, there’s certainly a chance that the Ravens could try to put together a trade package to move up and grab one of the elite talents remaining.
Depending on how far the Ravens want to move up in the second round, they’d likely have to part with their third-round pick, a mid-round pick and a late-round pick. Future picks could also be used as trade bait.
Here are a few potential trade-up targets for Baltimore:
Tank Carradine, OLB, Florida State
Perhaps the fact that Tank Carradine is recovering from a torn ACL is the reason why he wasn’t drafted in the first round. Regardless, he’s one of the most talented players remaining who would be fully capable of transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker. A team can never have too many pass rushers, which makes Carradine an intriguing target.
Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State
Perhaps the best player remaining in the draft is Arthur Brown, who is a first-round talent but somehow slipped to the second round. His range and instincts are the best of any of this year’s inside linebacker prospects, and could be a target to improve the team’s group of linebackers. Brown is a day one starter, but the price to move up for him may be too steep.
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
The Ravens still have a glaring need at left tackle, and one of the best tackles remaining is Menelik Watson. While he may be better served at right tackle in the NFL, the Ravens may think otherwise, which could prompt them to move up and grab their franchise left tackle. Watson will struggle early on at left tackle but could turn out to be a talented, reliable blind side protector in the NFL.
Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame
If the Ravens can’t put a deal together to move up and select Brown, then they could shift their focus toward Manti Te’o. The talented inside linebacker would excel in the Ravens’ 3-4 defense, as it allows for more help near him in the passing game. If he makes past the first 10-12 picks in the second round, expect the Ravens to attempt to trade up for him.
Wide Receivers
With so many talented wide receivers remaining, just one can’t be named as a trade-up target. With the incredible depth at the wide receiver position in the second and third rounds, the Ravens could be content with the fact that they can wait until later in the draft to select a talented pass catcher. However, if the Ravens wish to trade up, California’s Keenan Allen, Tennessee’s Justin Hunter and even USC’s Robert Woods are potential targets.
