A Shocker For The Ravens First Pick?

R1 (22): TRADE – BAL trades Pick 22 to HOU for Pick 33 and Pick 65

Current mock draft trends seem to suggest that many of the most commonly-mocked players to the Ravens at 22 (Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Deonte Banks, Joey Porter Jr., Nolan Smith) could end up off the board by the time Baltimore is on the clock. Consequently, a growing opinion suggests that the Ravens will indeed trade down to add more draft capital to what is currently a five-pick draft arsenal.

Projecting which teams could trade up into the early 20’s is a near-impossible task, so for this exercise…why not the Texans?

What’s better than two first-round picks?

How about three first-round picks? 

R2 (33 – via Houston): Darnell Washington, TE (Georgia)

There’s one tight end in this class that can justify being the Ravens’ first pick in the draft, and it’s Darnell Washington.

The tight end room is hardly starved for talent, but Washington uniquely checks several boxes that make him a no-brainer selection.

Not only is Washington a Ravens fan whose favorite player is Mark Andrews, but he’s a player who offensive coordinator Todd Monken is intimately familiar with. And in a multi-year stretch during which Baltimore has seen multiple high-round picks express vocal discontent or outright request a trade, Washington seemingly profiles as a “company guy” who wouldn’t join that mix.

And in a year where the team has a new offensive coordinator, new offensive system, new top receiver, and is facing either a starting quarterback holdout or a new starting quarterback altogether, adding another player who has experience with Monken’s offense can only help add stability.

While signing Odell Beckham went a long way toward improving the receiving room, the team is still missing anything resembling a big-bodied receiver, something that is also glaringly absent from the top end of this draft class. Washington himself offers a creative fix to that need, and also gives the tight end room quality depth that will free up Andrews and Isaiah Likely to be flexed out in the slot, or even outside on occasion.

You remember that kid in 7th grade who was just laughably bigger than everyone else, making him the first pick at recess regardless of sport?

I get that same feeling when watching Darnell Washington pic.twitter.com/zebU07E3JA

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 16, 2023

Washington should also fit into the team’s plans well regardless of the outcome of the Lamar Jackson saga. Should Jackson return, we saw the former Heisman winner at his best in an MVP-winning 2019 season where 3 tight ends caught at least 30 passes. While Todd Monken was brought in to offer a new voice to this offense, Jackson’s track record and Monken’s own success with a loaded tight end room at Georgia (including Washington) suggest that glimpses of the best parts of 2019 could be part of a Jackson-led offense once again in 2023.

If Jackson leaves, it’s almost certain that any replacement quarterback will be pacified with a heavier dependence on the run game this coming season. If that’s the case, adding a player who’s been dubbed a “sixth offensive lineman” can only stand to benefit J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and provide another towering safety blanket for the new (and likely young) quarterback.

With the Ravens having just six picks, even following the trade-down, a versatile pick like Washington helps offset to some degree, the challenges of limited draft capital.

R3 (65 – via Houston): Tyrique Stevenson (CB, Miami)

It seems that DJ Turner is on track to be selected too high to be reunited with his former Michigan defensive coordinator, meaning leaving Tyrique Stevenson as the best candidate to bolster the cornerback room with the early third-round pick acquired in the trade-down.

Biggest knock on @CanesFootball CB Tyrique Stevenson coming into @seniorbowl was inconsistent eye discipline.

He was locked-in all week.

Excellent focus & route recognition here vs. Combine’s fastest WR.

Sliding across that in-cut to force a no-throw in 1-on-1’s. 🥶

🧵1/2 pic.twitter.com/1zoiBgkrbK

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 16, 2023

The need for an outside corner opposite Marlon Humphrey has been well-established, and even if a Rock Ya-Sin signing is currently teed up for after the draft (TBD), no team knows how critical cornerback depth is like the Ravens. Baltimore will appreciate Stevenson’s physicality, nasty streak, and press coverage ability.

R3 (86): AT Perry (WR, Wake Forest)

Darnell Washington can help the passing game, but he doesn’t directly fill the need for more talent in the wide receiver room.

Enter A.T. Perry, who at 6’3 1/2”, gives  the Ravens the big, physical wideout they’ve lacked for essentially the entire Lamar Jackson era.

Perry’s not a perfect prospect — his athletic ability doesn’t yet translate to generating consistent separation in the short- and mid-range passing game — but his athletic profile and production at Wake Forest make him a worthwhile addition toward the end of Day 2 as a WR 3-4. He is one of the only appealing X-type receivers in the class.

Wake Forest’s AT Perry profiles as a true X-receiver at 6-3 and 198 lbs. Both of his parents served in the U.S. Navy and Dane Brugler calls him “an agile-footed route runner who could reach a master class on pacing.” Perry finished 2022 with 81 catches for 1,096 yards and 11 TDs. pic.twitter.com/FvA1f93CXx

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) April 23, 2023

Perry is already a high-end receiver in contested catch situations and on deep routes, and has a remarkable ability to track the football and adjust his body in just about any way to make a catch. He has the floor of a reliable supplementary wideout and as high a ceiling as just about any receiver in the class.

It feels like Perry’s stock has taken a bit of a beating in the last few weeks, but for my money, he stands out as a player in this class that we’ll look back on and realize we overthought it. The guy can play.

R4 (124): Israel Abanikanda (RB, Pittsburgh)

Dobbins and Edwards both showed more than enough last year to prove they’re dangerous when healthy. But the inconsistent health of the collective running back group and lack of a true change-of-pace back makes Israel Abanikanda an exciting mid-round target for the Ravens.

CAREER DAY FOR ISRAEL ABANIKANDA 🔥

36 CAR
320 RUSH YDS
6 TDs

He tied the ACC record for TDs in a game 😳 (via @ACCFootball)pic.twitter.com/WgzBV09TPk

— Overtime (@overtime) October 8, 2022

Abanikanda is an athletic freak with the production to match it, and with Justice Hill the only running back currently signed beyond 2023, also helps stabilize the room for future seasons.

R5 (157): Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB, UCLA)

With just a few days until the draft, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is no longer a well-kept secret, and his fit with the Ravens is no longer some profound unique insight. But his upside is too tempting to pass on.

It’s surprising that DTR’s name hasn’t received more buzz in a quarterback class with so many warts. While his surface-level appeal is not at quite the same levels as the names floated as first-round possibilities, his 91 S2 Cognition Score was higher than that of Anthony Richardson (79), Hendon Hooker (46), and CJ Stroud (18), speaking to his decision-making ability and general football intelligence. At 7.69, his RAS score also outpaces that of all the projected first-rounders except Richardson (10.00), and in an era of quick-trigger transferring, DTR’s decision to stick out the rebuild at UCLA and lead the team to consecutive 8+ win seasons in 2021-22 speaks to his character and leadership abilities.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson shredding the Huskies redzone D on two separate occasions 😮‍💨😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/7963y8BnRX

— Trey (@TreyonFFB) April 22, 2023

The return of Tyler Huntley makes backup quarterback less of a need than it was even a few days ago. But with Huntley on a one-year deal and (as of the time I’m writing this) Lamar Jackson’s status still unresolved, DTR profiles nicely as a late-round developmental quarterback with upside to become much more.

R6 (199): Rakim Jarrett (WR, Maryland)

Jarrett is too raw to be the only receiver the Ravens take, as has been done in some mocks. But his traits make him as worthy of a late-round selection as just about any player still available at this stage of the draft. Jarrett has the short-burst and long-stride speed to be a threat on sweeps, screens, and deep routes early on, and would be joining a receiver room deep enough to let him develop into a more well-rounded player over time.

Rakim Jarrett, a thread. pic.twitter.com/5np9i3PhS4

— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) March 31, 2023

With so many Terps/Maryland natives slipping through the Ravens’ fingers in recent years, this is as much a plea to not let it happen again as anything else.

Guest Post provided by Michael Natelli

[Related Article: Which Mock do You Prefer?]