Happy Maryland Day, Ravens fans!
https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/1507342864413507591?s=20&t=rVe3t4Kggh_KsbDQZtWLEA
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with some pancakes, like Project Pat Ricard did yesterday after signing his new three-year deal with the Ravens.
https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/1507014102995988487?s=20&t=rVe3t4Kggh_KsbDQZtWLEA
But the Ravens should still be looking for another high-impact defender, and I can’t think of a better fit than Bobby Wagner. Sure, inside linebacker isn’t a major need, but Wagner is the best available free agent. While the Ravens usually take a best player available strategy in the draft, they should adopt that approach in free agency to make the biggest improvement they can.
Still some good players left in FA…
Jadeveon Clowney
Tyrann Mathieu
Bobby Wagner
Odell Beckham
Jarvis Landry
JC TretterIf you were the #Ravens, who you going after here?
— 𝙕𝙖𝙘𝙝🦦® (@NewEraZach) March 24, 2022
Wagner or Tyrann Mathieu, as I argued on the latest episode of Russell Street Replay, are force multipliers that make the rest of their defense better. Especially with Chris Board leaving for the Detroit Lions, the Ravens need more middle-of-field pass coverage ability on their defense. Wagner would bring that and more, mentoring Patrick Queen and being the defensive leader Baltimore has been missing since the departure of Terrell Suggs.
From there, the Ravens can still take a best-player-available strategy in the draft, which might look something like this:
Taking an alien with Davis’ size and athleticism with the 14th overall isn’t a bad default option if no one like Jermaine Johnson or Derek Stingley fall that far. Follow that up with a pure BPA pick in Nakobe Dean, another athletic specimen who had a very fruitful partnership with Davis at Georgia, and Baltimore suddenly has a revamped front seven.
Darrian Kinnard might be best as a guard in the NFL, but his SEC experience at left tackle and powerful run blocking make him a solid fit in Baltimore, both as an insurance policy for Ronnie Stanley and potential starting right tackle. Jeremy Ruckert could be a Nick Boyle clone as an excellent blocker and underrated receiving threat, potentially making it easier to get rid of Boyle’s hefty cap hit next offseason, and Myjai Sanders is back on my draft board as a high-upside designated pass rusher who will need to improve against the run to stay on the field in the NFL.
From there, I took the physical skills of Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce and Alabama CB Josh Jobe, though both will need to refine their technique in the pros, and added Bryan Cook as a rotational safety and special teams contributor. Max Mitchell is one of my personal Day 3 picks in this draft class, as his pass protection technique erases most concerns about his relative lack of size and makes him an excellent developmental swing OT. Finally, let’s just grab Punt God Matt Araiza because special teams are important, and Sam Koch is going to need a successor soon.
