Following the trade of Timmy Jernigan, the Ravens (for the moment) have 4 picks in the top 78 selections and 2 picks in the top 14 of Round 3. The assumption here is that the Ravens will select two players in the first two rounds from these positions (in no particular order):
• Wide Receiver
• Edge Rusher
• Cornerback
Those positions will remain in play during round 3 but the view will widen even more than it did in round 2 and will include the positions of safety and running back. What the Ravens do during these first three rounds should heavily affect their ability to overtake the Steelers as the top dog in the AFC North. You can always check NFL predictions at Skybook to see how the team’s offseason moves so far, sway oddsmakers.
We discussed some possibilities in Round 1 and Round 2 previously. Today, let’s consider a few players who might attract the attention of the Ravens war room during Round 3.
Wide Receiver
Cooper Kupp, 6’2”, 204 pounds, Eastern Washington
Positives
• Strong hands; snatches ball in flight
• Varies acceleration to create separation
• Boxes out to win contested catches
• Feisty competitor who plays smart
• Possesses ability to add YAC
Negatives
• Lacks separation quickness
• Some doubt about his ability to be an outside WR
Compared To:
• Jarvis Landry, Miami
• Michael Crabtree, Oakland
[youtube]https://youtu.be/yyQdzChB0N8[/youtube]
Carlon Henderson, 5’11”, 199 pounds, Louisiana Tech
Positives
• Creates separation by dropping hips into breaks paving way to sudden stops
• Changes direction without drop off in speed
• Possesses a getaway gear
• Plays bigger than his size
• Explosive after catch, particularly on screens
• Has return ability; 2 kick return TDs in 2016
• Fearless over the middle
Negatives
• Did not regularly face quality competition
• Substandard ball tracker
• Limited route tree
• Doesn’t attack the ball
Compared To:
• Tavon Austin, Los Angeles
• Quinton Patton, NY Jets
[youtube]https://youtu.be/WpUiEgtXiqA[/youtube]
Edge Rusher
Joe Mathis, 6’2”, 255 pounds, Washington
Positives
• Possesses an explosive, bull rush move
• Stout v. run; plays with great leverage
• Impressive array of pass rush moves
• Smart player who plays with discipline
• Looks comfortable dropping into coverage
Negatives
• Burst is only adequate
• Can play high when diagnosing plays
• Lacks ideal length
• Limited production due to injury
Compared To:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/P5F55Wk_0z4[/youtube]
Jordan Willis, 6’4”, 255 pounds, Kansas State
Positives
• Good vision and diagnoses quickly
• Changes direction well to regularly stay in plays
• Decent burst off the edge
• High motor and plays to the whistle
• Strong hands
Negatives
• One-trick pony pass rusher
• Doesn’t counter sets from offensive linemen
• Plays too high at times and can be washed out v. run
Compared To:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/dWVJHdZQyek[/youtube]
Cornerback
Cameron Sutton, 5’11”, 188 pounds, Tennessee
Positives
• Mirrors receivers with good feet off line of scrimmage
• Fluid hips matched with a plus backpedal
• Accelerates quickly to the ball; can disrupt screens
• 37 passes defensed and 7 INTs during college career in SEC
• Team player with high character
• Possesses special teams ability; 3 punt returns for TD
Negatives
• Lack of strength places limitations on press coverage ability
• Doesn’t support the run effectively
• Can be sucked in by double moves
Compared To:
• B.W. Webb, Free Agent
[youtube]https://youtu.be/brSdjPk7H1g[/youtube]
Cordrea Tankersley, 6’1”, 199 pounds, Clemson
Positives
• Solid build and strength
• Uses sizes to harass and redirect WRs
• Ball production: 8 INTs in 2 seasons
• Good hands
• Has a burst, second gear, 4.4 40-time
• Efficient tackler
Negatives
• Backpedal lacks bend
• Doesn’t redirect quickly
• Grabs when beaten; 8 PIs in 2 seasons
Compared To:
• Dre Kirkpatrick, Cincinnati
• Byron Maxwell, Miami
[youtube]https://youtu.be/nTSazTemljQ[/youtube]
Offensive Line
Taylor Moton, 6’5”, 319, Western Michigan
Positives
• Anchors very well
• Strong hands, powerful punch
• Versatile; has played guard and tackle
• Tough, intelligent player
Negatives
• Needs better technique when encountering speed rushers
• A waist bender
• Slow to get hands out
Compared To:
• Zach Fulton, Kansas City
Antonio Garcia, 6’6”, 305 pounds, Troy
Positives
• Very athletic with good lateral quickness
• Tough to beat around the edge
• Redirects well to spoil inside challenges
• Fluid in space
Negatives
• Lanky frame for position; often plays below 300 pounds
• Lack of strength
• Susceptible to power moves and can be pushed back into the pocket
Compared To:
• Jared Veldheer, Arizona
[youtube]https://youtu.be/D9KMn9I8lzQ[/youtube]
Inside Linebacker
Kendall Beckwith, 6’2”, 243 pounds, LSU
Positives
• Banger between the tackles
• Smart player with good vision
• Diagnoses plays quickly with a burst to the ball
• Experienced in both 4-3 and 3-4 base defenses
• Strong hands
• Team leader
Negatives
• Stiff hips can lead to missed tackles
• Struggles in coverage v. shifty players
• Tore ACL during bowl prep
• Plays tall which presents challenges when tackling
• Average athlete who will struggle sideline to sideline
Compared To:
• Bernardrick McKinney, Houston
[youtube]https://youtu.be/mlGQs2-ufo4[/youtube]
Alex Anzalone, 6’3”, 241 pounds, Florida
Positives
• Fluid hips and athleticism to play in space
• Solid gap-to-gap lateral quickness
• 3-down player with ability to cover RBs
• Versatile; can play inside or outside
• Strong closing speed that could provide value as a blitzer
Negatives
• Many injuries have limited his playing time; just 577 career snaps
• Did not produce a single turnover at Florida
• Struggles to shed blocks
• Not a very efficient tackler
Compared To:
• Vincent Ray, Cincinnati
[youtube]https://youtu.be/aB1kvG-bMdE[/youtube]
Safety
Justin Evans, 6’0”, 199 pounds, Texas A&M
Positives
• Excellent athlete with feet and hips that translate well to high safety
• Former receiver who can high-point and make catches in traffic
• Accelerates quickly to help close passing windows
• 4 INTs and 7 passes defensed as a Senior
• Hard hitter who wraps up and explodes through targets
Negatives
• Can focus too much on receivers which makes him late to the party in run support
• At times, too overaggressive and therefore susceptible to play action at next level
Compared To:
• Earl Thomas, Seattle
• Karl Joseph, Oakland
[youtube]https://youtu.be/vrTGLWjuWCo[/youtube]
Marcus Williams, 6’1”, 202 pounds, Utah
Positives
• Athletic and instinctive from high safety position
• Reads QBs well
• Plus vertical leap makes him a winner on 50/50 balls
• 10 INTs against 44 targets over past 2 seasons – a ball hawk
Negatives
• Sure tackler, but not a hitter
• Below average strength
• Peeks in backfield in the red zone; leaving him flat-footed and susceptible to play action
Compared To:
• Duron Harmon, New England
[youtube]https://youtu.be/r3ukvPwxbXc[/youtube]
Running Back
Samjae Perine, 5’11”, 233 pounds, Oklahoma
Positives
• Can be a bell cow; handles a heavy workload
• Ability to work through small openings
• Powerful trunk
• Productive runner after contact; finishes with force
• Good hands for size
• Difficult to deny in short yardage, goal line
Negatives
• Stiff hips limit his open field ability to escape
• Average speed; lacks burst to get to the edge
• Lacks a quick twitch for restart after contact
Compared To:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/dhwWI7UU4oI[/youtube]
D’onta Foreman, 6’0”, 233 pounds, Texas
Positives
• Great athleticism for a big runner
• Can change direction and go gap to gap without decelerating
• Fluid hips to avoid defenders at the second level
• A north-south RB who rarely takes a loss
• Good short-yardage conversion rate
Negatives
• Too much of a finesse player given his size
• Lacks gears – basically a one-speed runner
• Weak in pass protection
• Has ball security issues – 7 fumbles, 6 lost in 2016
Compared To:
• Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
• Steven Jackson, Free Agent
[youtube]https://youtu.be/RYc2oE5CVCg[/youtube]
