Ronnie Stanley is the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens and not too many people seem to be thrilled.
The consensus seems to be that Stanley is not a bad pick per se, but it seems like more of a sideways move than a major improvement to the roster, with the latter being the desired outcome of taking a player with the sixth overall pick.
Not a poor pick, not a great one.
But we move on, and the Ravens still have eight picks to work with. On Friday night, the Ravens will get back to work with the 36th overall pick, or the fifth pick of the evening.
That means the Ravens will have their pick of several first-round talents still available. After pick 36 – assuming no trades occur – the Ravens will select again in round three with the 70th overall pick.
Which prospects could be of interest to Baltimore?
Myles Jack – Besides the fall of Laremy Tunsil, Jack was the story of the first round. Once upon a time, Jack seemed like a lock for the top-10, but in recent days Jack’s knee issues came to the forefront. Even Jack himself did not brush away the real concern over his health.
When healthy, Jack is a top-20 talent (he should never have been in consideration at six anyway), so with the injury, the second round seems ideal for a player of his caliber. The knee concerns seem real, but Jack may be worth a shot in round two.
Noah Spence – Easily the best pass rusher left on the board, Spence surely is still available due to off-field concerns. He seems to be heading in the right direction, however.
Spence is a relentless edge player who could give the Ravens a true pass rusher to finally develop, because the clock is ticking on Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil.
Derrick Henry – Yeah, yeah. The Ravens don’t “need” a running back, but they also are not exactly set at the position, either. Justin Forsett and Buck Allen are the only sure things on the roster. Terrance West, Trent Richardson and Lorenzo Taliaferro are easily expendable if a better option comes into play.
Henry, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is a forceful runner with rare size and athleticism. If the Ravens are not comfortable with Jack or Spence, Henry would still be a quality pick.
Reggie Ragland – The Ravens need an inside linebacker, and if Jack’s medicals force him out of Baltimore’s consideration, then Ragland – who has (lesser)Â health concerns of his own – could fill the need.
Ragland is a physical enforcer between the tackles and plays with instincts, however his marginal coverage ability and speed may lead the Ravens to search for a more athletic player to complement C.J. Mosley.
Michael Thomas – The best wide receiver remaining, Thomas seems like an ideal candidate at 36. As a true outside receiver who is dependable and can do damage after the catch, Thomas would mesh well with the speed of Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman.
Su’a Cravens – The five names above are options at 36; Cravens is a name to keep in mind if the Ravens trade back. As a linebacker/safety hybrid, Cravens is simply a bonafide playmaker, and is talented enough to find a niche somewhere on an NFL defense.
With both linebacker and safety help needed, the Ravens could select Cravens and wait until training camp to decide on which position he will stick with full-time.
Cornerback – It is no secret the Ravens need a cornerback, but it may feel forced if they take one at 36. Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander is not a playmaker, and quite frankly, never really stood out in one aspect in college. Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller could be an option, perhaps more likely if the Ravens trade back.
Some options for round 3 – Kenneth Dixon (RB, La Tech), Sean Davis (CB, Maryland), Braxton Miller (WR, Ohio State), Shilique Calhoun (DE/OLB, Michigan State) and Darian Thompson (S, Boise State).
