I have to admit that when Paul presented a forward looking piece last July providing some insight as to which collegiate players could be of interest to the Ravens, you could have colored me skeptical.
Yet of the five player bios Paul presented, every one was of interest to the Ravens and two are now wearing purple and black here in Baltimore. See for yourself.
I won’t be a Doubting Thomas this time around and nor should you. Here’s Paul’s outlook for the 2015 NFL Draft along with a few clip and save prospects to keep in mind for your favorite team. ~ Tony Lombardi
An Eye Towards 2015
Now that the draft is over and most Ravens-faithful are anxiously waiting for training camp to kick off, many of us are sitting around and twiddling our thumbs (does anyone even do that anymore?).
However, a lot of collegiate teams wrapped up with their “Spring Ball” sessions and as we head into summer, the following may be some guys to keep an eye on as they may become players of interest for the Ravens during the 2015 Draft Process.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland (6’ 195 lbs)
I have to keep Diggs on this list, though I think he will probably be a top-20 pick and I surely hope the Ravens aren’t picking higher than 32 next year. However, I’d love to see Diggs in a Ravens’ uniform. The kid is as explosive as they come and he is a home run threat every time he has the ball. Injuries are a concern for him, but Diggs paired with Torrey Smith would be one of the fastest receiver duos in the league.
Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina (5’11” 220lbs)
Davis was arguably the only offensive threat that South Carolina had last year and he still cranked out 11 touchdowns and nearly 1,200 yards in a very stingy SEC. Davis is also a solid receiver out of the backfield having caught 34 passes last season. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he has nice lateral movement and he is very difficult to bring down. I’m not entirely sure that he’d be a good fit in the stretch-zone scheme that Gary Kubiak is known for, but Davis has a lot to offer a team in need of a running back.
Jalen Collins, CB, LSU (6’2” 200lbs)
Collins is built similarly to Jimmy Smith. He is tall, lean, and has long arms. When I watch tape, I also see someone who is a lot more fluid and speedy than you’d think considering his size. It is possible that Collins could end up being a round-1 pick, but it is too soon to say with certainty. The Ravens aren’t desperate for a corner right now, but Webb isn’t getting any younger, he’s expensive, and Jimmy Smith might price himself out of Baltimore (though I SINCERELY HOPE that doesn’t happen).
Max Garcia, OG/C, Florida (6’4” 295lbs)
Garcia transferred to Florida from Maryland after Randy Edsall became the new coach. Prior to that, he was a starter for the Terps and even after sitting out for all of 2012, he ended up earning a starting role at guard for the Gators. I like his athleticism and think he’d be a great fit for Kubiak’s zone-scheme. If Marshall Yanda has another year like he did in 2013, the Ravens may want to consider finding a replacement for him. Additionally, there is a strong possibility that Kelechi Osemele may move back to right tackle, which means the left guard position is potentially up for grabs and who knows how the current depth will deal with that.
Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson (6’3” 235lbs)
Beasley is a quick-twitch pass rusher with nice moves and elite closing speed. He was projected by many to be a round-1 pick in the 2014 draft, but he returned for his senior season. I don’t see a defender that is overly strong as a run defender, but I think he’d be a great fit as a situational pass rusher for the Ravens.
