In what has become an annual tradition in Baltimore, fans will spend countless hours over the next two months debating which receiver the Ravens should draft. It is evident that this is priority number one, not just to fans but also for the owner. National pundits seem to agree with this line of thinking, we constantly see a WR linked to the Ravens at pick 16. If drafting a receiver (or two!) is priority 1A, then I would argue drafting a tight end is 1B.

The trio of Ben Watson, Nick Boyle, and Maxx Williams combined last year for 104 receptions, 811 yards, and five touchdowns, or just 273 yards and three touchdowns fewer than Rob Gronkowski. To put it in perspective, nine tight ends (including Tyler Kroft!) scored more touchdowns and three tight ends had more receiving yards then the entire Raven trio.

Some fans will point to Joe Flacco as being inconsistent or that good ol’ Marty didn’t know how to use them correctly as to why productivity was down. An argument could be made that both were a factor. But come on, let’s be real: does anyone really think opposing defensive coordinators are staying up at night trying to figure out a way to stop them? Or that any of the other 31 teams right now are thinking, I wonder what Ozzie wants for Maxx Williams?? The answer is NO!

Luckily for the Ravens, that can be fixed this year in the draft. While this class does not offer up much star power and it will not produce three first-round picks like in 2017, it does have depth. There are players in this class who will go on to have solid NFL careers and step in right away and contribute.

Here are a few of the names that you may hear called by the Ravens on Day Two.

The Small School Prospect

Dallas Goedert / 6’5” 260lbs / South Dakota State

Goedert fits the mold of the prototypical tight end. He finished his college career with 198 catches, 2,988 yards and 21 touchdowns. Before you ask, yeah, but who did he play at SDST, put on the tape and you will see why scouts love him.

Goedert can line-up all over the field, in-line, slot, and on the outside. He makes the one-handed grabs and the acrobatic catches seem effortless. With his size, he is not scared to go across the middle or fight for the ball in traffic. He has the speed to get open and make plays at all three levels of the passing game (short, intermediate, and long).

Against FCS powerhouse North Dakota St. this past year he went for 7 catches/116 yards/1 TD, and then 5/43/1 against James Madison (the FCS runners-up). Where Goedert lands will depend on how teams think he will do against tougher competition. He must improve his blocking skills as well to become a three-down player.

Given his high upside, Goedert will almost certainly be the first tight end drafted and could sneak into the late first round.

The Perfect Fit

Mike Gesicki / 6’6” 250lbs / Penn State

Gesicki led his team in receiving touchdowns (9) this year and to me he is the most likely of this group to be a Raven, because he fits their needs perfectly. A superior athlete who shows his background in basketball and volleyball when he is boxing defenders out to make a catch or high-pointing the ball (what’s that?!), scouts believe he is the best route runner of the group and he loves to work the seam.

A sure handed receiver who makes adjustments to haul in passes, he had nine games of four or more catches and finished off his senior year with 129 receptions for 1,481 yards. The biggest knock on Gesicki is it takes time for him to build up speed, which makes him inefficient in the short game. But once he gets going, watch out, he will blow pass the linebackers and safeties. Blocking is an issue at the moment, but his hands are not.

The Best All Around Tight End?

Troy Fumagalli / 6’5” 248lbs / Wisconsin

Of all the tight ends, Fumagalli, is the least sexy, but that does not mean fans should not be excited if he becomes a Raven. He is not flashy, but he may be the most complete of this group. Remembering that he comes from Wisconsin, which has more of a ground and pound offense, Fumagalli finished his career with 1,627 yards and led his team in receiving last year despite missing two games.

With good field vision, he excels at finding the soft spots in zone defenses. That does not mean he is not physical, as he will compete in traffic. Unlike the rest, Fumagalli is a three-down player because he can block, and block well.

The most amazing part? He only has nine fingers, and according to some scouts, that maybe his biggest negative.

The All American

Mark Andrews / 6’5” 254lbs / Oklahoma

Baker Mayfield’s number one target was the Mackey Award winner and first-team All American, but I am not really that high on him as a pro. Yes, he is good at making contested catches and he can make defenders miss, but I am not buying him as a fit for the Ravens.

He is the worst blocker of the bunch and in the NFL that is a liability. Andrews does not possess the downfield speed that you want from your starting tight end.

On the other hand, if you want to look at stats, this is your guy: 22 career touchdowns and 1,765 career yards sounds great.

I could be way off base here, but I will pass on a guy who puts up those kinds of numbers in a pass-happy offense, because he is strictly one-dimensional.

The Former Baseball Prospect

Hayden Hurst / 6’5” 253lbs / South Carolina

The “old man” of the group, Hurst will be 25 when the 2018 season opens. Why? He spent time in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization before heading back to college at South Carolina. A two-year player, Hurst produced 100 catches for 1,281 yards and was credited with just one drop.

Against a quality Georgia defense, Hurst had seven catches for 93 yards and finished the year second on the team in receiving. Some feel because of his age, he is what he is, and doesn’t have much room for growth. There is no doubt he will be drafted, and I feel he is of a late third-rounder. Due to his age and position, I wonder how effective he would be after his rookie contract expires.

The Local Prospect

Ian Thomas / 6’5” 248lbs / Indiana

Thomas, a graduate of Digital Harbor High in Baltimore, is a raw, physical talent who without a doubt will test extremely well at the combine and shoot up draft boards. Unfortunately, that is where it all stops.

After a stint at a junior college, Thomas was at Indiana for just two years and only got on the field this past season, posting 25 catches for 404 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas is more of a project who has limited route running skills and as one scout stated, desperately needs coaching.

I see him as a day-three pick who won’t contribute much at all his rookie season. He does not fit what the Ravens need, but due to his local ties, I am sure he will be linked to them.