Post Combine Outlook
Now that the combine is over, we have enough information on draft eligible players to form a Ravens 7-Round Mock Draft.
Pro days and free agency will alter a team’s draft plans to an extent, but barring anything unforeseen, the following is a fair projection of what the Ravens may do from April 28-30.
RSR’s own Brian McFarland wrote on January 28 that the Ravens expect to receive four compensatory picks as a result of Torrey Smith, Pernell McPhee, Owen Daniels, and Tyrod Taylor signing elsewhere. McFarland also tweeted that compensatory picks will be made official during owner’s meetings from March 20-23.
That being considered, Baltimore is set up to make some excellent picks that will infuse game-changing talent and depth into its roster.
Round 1
Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 204 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Other notable measurable: 39″ vertical leap
NFL comparison: Joe Haden
Why Ravens should draft him: Baltimore’s biggest need is a shutdown cornerback, and there is no better cornerback in this draft than Vernon Hargreaves III. Jalen Ramsey is an athletic specimen, but his on-field performance just isn’t as good as that of Hargreaves.
VH3 (as he’s called) possesses elite footwork, coverage skills, and ball skills. He’s fluid in his hips and quick out of his breaks. He’s not hard to find in run defense, and he figures to excel in base or nickel defense.
Lastly, he loves football and has no character or injury concerns to speak of. He’s as “clean” a prospect as there is.
If the Ravens take him, Hargreaves will be the best defensive back they’ve ever drafted not named Ed Reed.
Round 2
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 202 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Other notable measurable: 41″ vertical leap
NFL comparison: Terrance Williams
Why Ravens should draft him: Josh Doctson reminds me of Dez Bryant. He tries to make a big play on every play. His competitive fire will be very attractive to coaches and general managers. He’s got swagger; not the kind that draws penalties, but the kind that lets the opponent know they’re in for a long day when covering him. He does an excellent job of “high-pointing” the ball and has exceptional athleticism around the sideline and in the end zone.
Doctson is compared to another Cowboys wide receiver: Terrance Williams, which is ironic, because Doctson grew up 13 miles from Arlington, TX, where the Cowboys play.
In 2015 alone, Doctson caught 79 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. His measurable talent, across the board, is as good as any wide receiver in this draft. He plays with passion on every snap, and will catch just about anything thrown his way.
Needless to say, Baltimore needs another dependable receiver besides Steve Smith, Sr. Doctson would fill that role in an instant.
Round 3
Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 259 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.80 seconds
Other notable measurable: 11 1/4″ hands
NFL comparison: Nick Perry
Why Ravens should draft him: According to NFL.com, when speaking about Jordan Jenkins, an AFC Director of Scouting said, “He reminds me of the type of guy Ozzie (Newsome) looks for with his toughness.”
With Terrell Suggs turning 34 by Week 6, Courtney Upshaw being an unrestricted free agent, and the Ravens’ current cap situation taken into account, it makes a lot of sense for Baltimore to look at drafting an outside linebacker early in this draft.
Jenkins does many things really well. He can play in a 2- or 3-point stance on either side of the line. He’s quick to cross the face of the tackle and disrupt inside runs. He’s also strong enough to hold the point of attack against players that are 50 pounds heavier (or more) than he is. He’s smart too, which is proven when he frequently diagnoses plays right at the snap.
Against Alabama, Jenkins took it to left tackle Cam Robinson on multiple occasions. Robinson is likely to be a Top 5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but against Georgia last year, he had his hands full with Jenkins.
Round 4
Christian Westerman, G, Arizona State
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 298 lbs.
40-yard dash: 5.17 seconds
Other notable measurable: Combine-best 34 reps of 225 lbs. (bench press)
NFL comparison: Alex Mack
Why Ravens should draft him: Kelechi Osemele is either going to be Baltimore’s new left tackle or he’s going to sign with another team in free agency. Technically, there’s a possibility he re-signs with the Ravens as a guard and they keep Eugene Monroe, but that’s a slim one.
Therefore, it’s likely Baltimore will be looking for a new left guard. Once their immediate needs are met with their first few picks, the Ravens should look at drafting Christian Westerman. He has exceptional strength, always keeps his feet churning, and is a smart player. His NFL.com profile notes, “…zone scheme teams will covet his fluidity and blocking ability on the move.”
Westerman compares to 3-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack of the Browns. Given time to work with Osemele and Marshal Yanda, it’s not a stretch to say Westerman could be known as a Pro Bowler himself one day.
Round 4 (from Denver)
Sean Davis, DB, Maryland
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 201 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds
Other notable measurable: 10’6″ broad jump
NFL comparison: Duke Ihenacho
Why Ravens should draft him: Baltimore needs secondary help, and lots of it. Lardarius Webb is moving to free safety in 2016, but I’m not sure how that will work out. Even if it does work out, it would behoove the Ravens to start establishing depth in the event Webb gets hurt or released in the near future.
Davis is an elite athlete that has shown a lot of resiliency throughout his career, as well as an appetite for contact. His best position is probably (strong) safety, but he has experience as a cornerback. He’s good at creating turnovers, and he’s a high-level form tackler that doesn’t assume the ball carrier is going down. He’s anxious to get to the football.
Davis could be a strong addition to and eventual starter for this defense.
Round 4 (compensatory pick)
Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 197 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
Other notable measurable: 33″ vertical leap
NFL comparison: Steven Nelson
Why Ravens should draft him: Cyrus Jones was the best cornerback on the best team in the country while at Alabama. His head coach, Nick Saban, specializes in coaching defensive backs. Therefore, you know Jones is as mentally-strong as they come.
From Day 1, he’d offer the most value as a (punt) returner and gunner on special teams, but after a little while, he could be a star as a slot corner.
In 2015, he set an all-time Alabama single-season record when he returned four punts for touchdowns.
Jones fears no one and has fantastic intangibles. He also played wide receiver for the Crimson Tide, so he has an even more advanced knowledge of those concepts than most cornerbacks. He could thrive under John Harbaugh.
Round 4 (compensatory pick)
Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 198 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds
Other notable measurable: 21 reps of 225 lbs. (bench press)
NFL comparison: Ronnie Hillman
Why Ravens should draft him: Baltimore doesn’t need a running back, per se. They have Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, and Lorenzo Taliaferro under contract. That trio alone is pretty good. Forsett is the main back. Allen is the 3rd-down back. Taliaferro is the short-yardage back.
The Ravens may also re-sign exclusive rights free agents Terrance West and Terrence Magee. Furthermore, Baltimore is still looking at signing Trent Richardson.
So while running back isn’t a pressing need by any stretch, it’s safe to assume not all of those six players will end up on Baltimore’s Week 1 roster. Adding Ferguson would inject exceptional speed and quickness into Baltimore’s offense. His running style makes him a perfect fit for the Ravens running scheme.
His ball security is an issue, though, as he fumbled seven times in 2014. However, since 2013 (when he started receiving substantial touches), Ferguson averaged 5.3 yards per carry, 8.9 yards per reception, and scored 26 total touchdowns.
Round 5/6 (compensatory pick)
Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 218 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.78 seconds
Other notable measurable: 32.5″ vertical leap
NFL comparison^: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Why Ravens should draft him: Last season should be evidence enough that the Ravens need to start taking their backup quarterback situation more seriously. With Joe Flacco being injured and his successors being okay at best, this is the draft to address No. 5’s replacement.
Kevin Hogan would be a solid choice. He’s a smart, athletic, strong-armed quarterback that shows good pocket presence and makes quick, calm decisions.
Scouts knock his accuracy and ability to throw catchable balls, and while watching his Notre Dame tape, I noticed he made his receivers work to catch the ball more than they should have. That said, during his Stanford career Hogan completed an average of 67 percent of his passes and had an outstanding TD/INT ratio of 2.6:1 (75:29).
^(my comparison, not according to NFL.com)
Round 6
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 250 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.73 seconds
Other notable measurable: Among all tight ends at the combine, he ranked 5th in the 40-yard dash, 3rd in the bench press, 2nd in vertical leap, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle. He was also the top tight end in the 60-yard shuttle.
NFL comparison: Ryan Hewitt
Why Ravens should draft him: The Ravens tight end core wasn’t reliable last season. Not for a lack of effort or character, but injuries took a big toll on that unit. Between Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams, and Nick Boyle, Baltimore’s tight ends made appearances in 35 out of 64 possible games in 2015.
When you factor in the real possibility that Pitta and Boyle won’t play for Baltimore at all in 2016, and the fact that Flacco has had a lot of success throwing to tight ends, it makes sense for the Ravens to draft one this year.
Ben Braunecker not only fits a need and offers value in a late-round pick, but stylistically, he fits what the Ravens do. He’s tough as nails, highly-athletic, and seeks to dominate. He’s versatile too, as he can play in-line, as an H-back, or even in the slot on certain occasions.
From the limited tape I could find on him, he’s a decent blocker. As a receiver he has similar agility and ball skills to Pitta and toughness after the catch comparable to Gillmore.
Round 6/7 (compensatory pick)
Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 230 lbs.
40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Other notable measurable: 40″ vertical leap
NFL comparison: Ray Ray Armstrong
Why Ravens should draft him: Mostly a special teams player, Travis Feeney finished his collegiate career strong in 2015, as he racked up 17.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
Feeney is a converted safety, which explains why he looks slender for a linebacker. Many teams will pass on him because of his frame, but he’s not a bad football player by any stretch. A team just needs to find the right way to utilize him.
What he is, though, is a top-shelf teammate, competitor, and athlete. He weighed in 230 pounds at the combine, and while that’s light for a NFL linebacker, he dominated the physical tests.
Feeney plays like a Raven. He’d be a natural fit in Baltimore.
