Finding themselves with the unusual luxury of the 6th overall pick, the Ravens will be in a position to add an elite player to their roster. Much can and will happen between now and the 2016 NFL Draft in late April and players will sort themselves via pro days and the NFL Combine. But barring injury or legal trouble, we can more or less forecast the handful of prospects Baltimore will consider with that pick.
Let’s take a first look at some of the talented young players at the top of the board, all of whom are at positions of need for the Ravens. (Based on extremely early buzz around the league, I’ve also ventured guesses as to the chances – as it looks right now – of each player being available to the Ravens at the 6th pick.)
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss, 6’5” 305 lbs.
Tunsil will top many teams’ boards on draft day. A franchise left tackle in the making, Tunsil possesses the best blend of size, quickness, flexibility, and power of any tackle in the draft. He fractured his fibula in December 2014 and missed time this season due to NCAA sanctions, but those factors will not deter teams from salivating over the talented big man.
He could immediately solve Baltimore’s dilemma at left tackle.
Percentage Chance Still Available at Pick 6: 10%
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State, 6’5” 275 lbs.
Many evaluators continue to rank the former Buckeye as the best player in this draft class. Bosa simply cannot be blocked one-on-one and will therefore draw double teams early in his career in the NFL. He has great size and power and is extremely productive, posting 21 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks his sophomore season. He possesses a rare blend of elite explosiveness off the ball and football intelligence to deftly diagnose what the offense is trying to do.
Many scouts believe he has the versatility to thrive as a 5-technique DE or even an OLB in a 3-4 defense.
Percentage Chance Still Available at Pick 6: 20%
Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State, 6’1” 202 lbs.
An All-American track and fielder, Ramsey is more than just a freakish athlete—he is a heck of a football player too. Ramsey has a spectacular frame with long, thick arms that NFL teams covet. He played safety at FSU and switched to cornerback this season just because he could. He uses his great instincts and fluid change of direction to generate turnovers and create big plays, and can also blitz effectively.
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Ramsey’s positional versatility would be a huge boon for the Ravens as the team has a glaring dearth of talent at both cornerback and safety.
Percentage Chance Still Available at Pick 6: 35%
Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida, 5’11” 199 lbs.
The best pure cover man in the draft, Hargreaves started as a true freshman at Florida and was productive from day one. The knock on him is his lack of prototypical size at just 5’11” which may scare some teams who want better length in their cover men. But Hargreaves’ shadow ability is scary good. He tackles well, possesses elite speed, foot quickness, and his phenomenal instincts will allow him to thrive on the outside in the NFL.
The former Gator would be a plug-and-play starter alongside Jimmy Smith in the Baltimore secondary.
Percentage Chance Still Available at Pick 6: 65%
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame, 6’6” 315 lbs.
If Tunsil is gone at pick #6, Baltimore will take a long look at Stanley, who has staked his claim as the consensus second-best tackle in the draft. He is still a bit raw and his upper body could use a bit more thickness, but he is excellent in pass protection, using his quick feet to mirror rushers. Not a total freak in the run game, Stanley still takes great angles, gives fantastic effort, and could thrive in Baltimore’s zone blocking scheme.
Percentage Chance Still Available at Pick 6: 80%
Let us know what you think of these top prospects.
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