The Ravens will lock into a wideout or corner in the first round of the NFL Draft.
For a team that historically uses a BPA- Best Player Available- approach, I don’t expect the Ravens to take this route in the first round of the 2023 draft. Typically they go into the draft with all of their roster holes filled… that’s not quite the case here, as they still have a glaring need at cornerback opposite Marlon Humphrey, and you can make a case that they could still use another reliable wide receiver given the health concerns of both Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr.
Likewise, both of the aforementioned positions require future-proofing, which is typically a function of the BPA approach. Looking at the wide receiver room, Rashod Bateman is the only notable player in the room come 2024 (OBJ and Agholor are free agents), and at cornerback you still have just Marlon Humphrey as a starter, barring a surprising showing from the likes of Brandon Stephens or second-year players Jaylon Armour-Davis and Pepe Williams.
The combo of corner and receiver being immediate needs… future needs… and premium positions that typically fly off the board early on, is all we need to know.
If the Ravens trade down from 22, it’s going to be 10+ picks and into the second round.
Typically teams move up in the draft for one of five positions: QB, WR, CB, EDGE, OT
It’s safe to say the Ravens have vacancies at WR, CB, EDGE, while you can make a case for OT (future proofing RT while possibly moving a rookie to the OG void in 23), and hell, if there’s a QB sitting at 22 like Richardson or Hooker? The Ravens won’t hesitate to jump…
Or will they?
What if the Ravens feel confident Lamar is signing the tag? What if EDC calls Lamar and says “LJ… right now… turn me down and I turn in a card for a QB, but give me assurances of signing the tag and/or a deal, and I’ll trade the pick and draft you another wideout” as I foresee it in my wild fantasy world?
I know the latter is lunacy, but that’s the only scenario I can see the Ravens trading down, and the reality is that if a QB is sitting there at 22, Baltimore is going to be fielding calls from teams in the late 20’s into the 30’s, and I’d imagine the offer from the teams coming up from Round 2 will be most alluring to a Ravens front office that covets draft capital, but currently, only has five total picks.
The Ravens will not draft a quarterback.
The reality is that the Ravens have just five picks in the draft, but notable needs at wideout, corner, interior offensive line, edge defenders, safety depth, inside linebacker depth… you get the point. Does it make sense to draft a quarterback at all?
I don’t see it happening. The team has two QBs under contract currently- Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown– and from all appearances over the past few months, no team is making a play for Lamar Jackson, meaning he’s likely to play on the tag.
So if the Ravens have a trio of passers under contract, why draft another- likely on Day 3- only to see him compete with Anthony Brown for QB3 versus Practice Squad (or both on the PS)?
There’s an argument to be made about Lamar’s availability for 17 games, but the reality is that a Day 3 passer isn’t the answer. If the Ravens truly want to protect themselves from that scenario they’d go out and sign a veteran QB, not take another flier on an inexperienced QB.
There will be one ‘wtf’ pick.
Cornerback and wide receiver feel like safe calls. Offensive line and defensive line/edge feel equally safe.
So what are thinking will be the unexpected pick?
As we rolled out in our ‘wildcard’ predictions on RSR, the consensus seems to be either a running back, safety or inside linebacker.
For my money, I don’t see it being a running back when 1) JKD is already disgruntled, 2) you won’t roster 4 RBs, and 3) the room is set for 2023.
With that said, I fully expect a Round 4/5 Inside Linebacker. The devalued position will see very talented players drop that can contribute and eventually replace Patrick Queen (if he’s not traded mid-draft?) who I don’t expect to get the 5th year option.
The Ravens will only make one trade, and it’ll be a drop not a jump.
We already discussed the possibility of the Ravens trading down from 22 being unlikely, but if not there then where else could they trade down?
In my eyes, it’ll be Rounds 3 to 5. I can see the Ravens dropping back from 86 closer to the end of Round 3, and accumulate more Round 4/5 picks. Overall, the draft class feels weaker and more boom/bust potential, so why not take more swings on some high athletic talents that need more molding and development at the NFL level?
Footnote
Given my history of bold takes, here’s what you should expect…
-Ravens trade down in R1 but stay inside the round
-BPA with their first pick
-QB on Day 3
-No devalued position picks
-Half dozen trades in every which direction
Enjoy the excitement, anxiety, elation and frustration of the NFL Draft, Ravens Flock!
2 Responses
I disagree. We may make multiple trades to drop out of the 1st to get additional picks. I feel there are many decent players in the first 2 rounds and players for depth in the 3rd and early 4th rounds. I also see possibly trading a player or two for additional picks. I feel this draft will be different than the past in that it will be a need based draft instead of BPA draft early. I think we address CB and WR early because of the need. I also think we will fill out the roster later on when teams start cutting/releasing players this summer.
Hope we draft a QB in rd 1, with a camera on Lamar Jackson’s face when the card is read out loud. I think it’s important to capture big moments for the franchise. And right now the biggest moment would be his facial expressions upon learning we drafted a QB in rd 1. If this happens a block party will be thrown.