OTL: Beckham Jr. Starts Learning Baltimore Dances

Happy Monday, Flock Nation! It’s been a week and I’m still not over Odell Beckham Jr.’s signing in Baltimore, even on a pricey one-year deal.

#NewProfilePic 💜 pic.twitter.com/iKb6BY764D

— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 15, 2023

Apparently, neither is OBJ himself, who is doing his absolute best to get accustomed to his new home, including learning some of Baltimore’s dances.

This dude Odell 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/sBnoaYSYmt

— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) April 16, 2023

I can think of no better way for Beckham to endear himself to his new fanbase by catching his first touchdown at M&T Bank Stadium and hitting whatever dance move this is:

This dude Odell trying to learn Baltimore dances already 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZTEvVIGcLH

— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) April 14, 2023

OBJ may not be the only wideout to score his first touchdown in Baltimore, as the Ravens are still expected to draft a receiver on Day 1 or 2 of the draft.

Beckham’s arrival may have dampened the need for a first-round receiver somewhat, but it still wouldn’t be a bad investment to further strengthen Lamar Jackson’s group of targets.

The Ravens have frequently been linked with Boston College’s Zay Flowers, a small but sudden receiver who separates from defenders with ease before and after the catch. He’s scheduled to visit Baltimore today, per NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti (no relation), further solidifying the idea that Flowers could be an option at 22.

BC WR Zay Flowers is on his way to Baltimore for a pre-draft visit with the #Ravens tomorrow

— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) April 16, 2023

Flowers isn’t my preferred option at 22, but I’ve seen enough from him to know he will be a successful NFL receiver. His lack of size and abundance of speed will earn him the title of Hollywood Brown Replacement if he’s drafted by Baltimore, but Flowers’ role in a Todd Monken offense will look far different than Hollywood’s three years under Greg Roman.

[Related: Who Should the Ravens Pick at 22? Day 1 WRs and CBs]

Fans will also be clamoring for the Ravens to add a receiver with some size given the current lack thereof of the receiver room in Baltimore. TCU’s 6-foot-4 Quentin Johnston might fit the bill here as an elite athletic prospect who can make big plays both as a deep threat and after the catch.

Had to revisit it after his workout was underwhelming but I'm standing by Quentin Johnston as WR1. Only receiver in this class with a chance to be an "Alpha", though the risk is surely there.

Don't think he gets enough credit for how often he wins in route running and release.

— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) April 16, 2023

But he’s also a massive risk, with a pre-draft profile that screams ‘bust,’ especially to Ravens fans. His injury history and drops might be a nonstarter for a team whose receivers have been snake-bitten by both in the Lamar Jackson era. Perhaps my biggest concern centers around his overall playstyle, which is that of a smaller receiver. Johnston’s tape should be littered with examples of him using his size and strength to bully smaller defensive backs (it isn’t), and it’s tough to teach that kind of attitude in the NFL. Coaching can help him improve his technique, but QJ has to embrace his size as a fundamental part of his game instead of an add-on feature.

Instead, looking later in the draft may make more sense, especially on Day 2 when several big-bodied wideouts are expected to be available.

With the way the #Ravens current group is constructed, they are a team that could use one of these bigger bodies to balance the fast/quick guys in the room. Mingo or Tillman might be higher on their board. This is where a trade down would make the most sense. #RavensFlock https://t.co/UxiK8n8Rl0

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) April 16, 2023

Both Tillman and Mingo would fit the Ravens’ need for a possession receiver with large catch radiuses who can line up on the outside and dominate in the red zone. I personally prefer the latter player; Ole Miss has churned out productive receivers with his body type in recent years and it feels like Mingo is the next one. I see both an immediate role for him as a schemed-up red zone weapon and YAC threat, with the potential to be a long-term starting outside WR if he continues to improve his route running.

Let’s take a look at another mock draft, this time from the duo of Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers, co-hosts of the NFL stock exchange podcast.

iiiiiiiiiiit’s…

TIMEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

3-Round Mock Draft is live!https://t.co/hK1ygz70WX

— NFL Stock Exchange (@PFF_NFLSE) April 17, 2023

Sikkema selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with the 22nd overall pick, lamenting the cornerback run before the Ravens’ pick that took Joey Porter Jr. and Deonte Banks off the board. I like Smith plenty, but not as the 22nd overall pick even with this arguably worst-case scenario for the Ravens. Sikkema briefly debated going with Alabama safety Brian Branch, which would be a quintessentially Ravens’ pick – both BPA and Alabama DB – that I could really get behind.

Branch’s safety designation would earn all kinds of criticism for EDC, but he’s really a slot defender who would be another weapon in Mike Macdonald’s versatile defense. He lacks experience at deep safety, but I could see him developing in that role while playing a lot of nickel early on. With Marcus Williams’ ability to play centerfield as a free safety, Branch and Kyle Hamilton could be unleashed to dominate slot matchups and make plays underneath.

For the 86th overall pick, Sikkema went with Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, an excellent value in the third-round for a high-floor corner who would fit like a glove in the Ravens’ press-man scheme. I really can’t quarrel with this pick, even if I had already taken Branch. Stevenson could start as a rookie opposite Marlon Humphrey with Branch and Hamilton combining to fill the nickelback and strong safety roles. Three of the Ravens’ five starting defensive backs would be in their first or second NFL season, but they would all be in Baltimore on the same timeline, allowing them to mesh as a group and become the best secondary in the NFL.

Count me in.