It’s officially the week of the NFL Draft, and I won’t waste time messing around today, as the rumors continue to swirl and the talk is never-ending:
If the Ravens don’t find a trade partner, and must pick at No. 22, give me your three most likely players that they’d be choosing from. I’ll start:
• WR Zay Flowers
• CB Deonte Banks
• CB Emmanuel Forbes— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) April 25, 2023
For me, all three players Ellison lists are viable options at Pick 22 on Thursday night. Both CB and WR are positions of need, but Baltimore does have a history of going Best Player Available. In the case of Zay Flowers and/or Deonte Banks, that could still be the case.
At the same time, the Ravens have also loved drafting these positions later than Round 1 of late. RSR put together a great analysis of some of the Day 3 guys that could fit:
Day 3 WRs & CBs
It's a crapshoot by this point, but @nmehtaUR2022, @AdamBMore, @footballman58, @zach_siegel32, @pinder_jared, & @KMackSports think these guys are worth taking fliers on. #RavensFlock #NFLDrafthttps://t.co/CRQB6UH1Li
— Russell St. Report (@RussellStReport) April 25, 2023
If I had to give my two names for those positions, I’d lean Jonathan Mingo and Jakorian Bennett, but I also acknowledge that it’s likely neither are available on Day 3.
Who is that ONE non-first-rounder you'd like to see with the Ravens after the draft is over?
I like Chandler Zavala a ton.— Darin J. McCann (@DarinMccann) April 25, 2023
Outside WR and CB, Darin McCann asks what player Ravens Twitter would like after Round 1, naming NC State Guard Chandler Zavala as his choice. I like Zavala, as well as another G in TCU’s Steve Avila. However, if the Ravens don’t take a CB in Round 1, Tyrique Stevenson out of Miami would be my ideal pick.
Stevenson was a top 50 overall recruit nationally out of Miami Southridge Senior High School. He signed with Georgia, where he earned the Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year award in 2019 (13 tackles, one sack, five pass breakups) and started four of 10 games played (34 tackles, five pass breakups) in 2020. He then transferred to Miami and was an honorable mention All-ACC selection his first year with the Hurricanes, starting 10 of 11 games played (43 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one interception, four pass breakups). Stevenson topped Miami with seven pass breakups in 2022 (25 tackles, 1.5 for loss) and intercepted two passes in 11 starts, earning third-team all-conference recognition.
There’s a lot more roster building that needs to happen alongside the Draft, however, and that starts with trades and signings. There have been so many rumors about DeAndre Hopkins being available for trade, but another name I saw for the first time Wednesday was Jaire Alexander:
Dear Packers,
We, the Baltimore Ravens see. Like the rest of the league sees. That you guys may be headed to, mmm, a rebuild. So about that 26 year old DB👀. Yes, Jaire Alexander. We wouldn’t mind sending a 1st round pick to you guys for him. #22 for #23. What do you say? 🤝🏾
— chuck👨🏾💻 (@PurpleReignEra) April 25, 2023
Talk about filling a hole right away; Alexander would be incredible opposite Marlon Humphrey.
Any sort of move like this could completely shift what the Ravens do on Thursday night, but that does bring me to that my last prediction.
In my most recent Mock Draft, the Ravens didn’t have too many options at Pick 22. Top-flight WR prospects like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison were all gone, and while CBs like Emmanuel Forbes and Cam Smith were available, I felt Eric DeCosta would rather make a move than potentially reach.
As it turns out, a move was already in the works, and Baltimore ends up trading Pick 22 and Pick 124 to Arizona for – that’s right – DeAndre Hopkins. The trade also nets the Ravens Pick 34 near the top of Round 2, but the Hopkins rumors end up being true.
Don’t think it’s possible? We continue to hear reports that the sides have mutual interest:
"My source(s) are saying there's a skrong possibility that DHop gets traded this week"@REALPACMAN24 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/u8Z9LetBy0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 25, 2023
There seems to be real belief from Ravens fans that it could happen, too.
Joey Porter Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins would be a dream draft night for the Ravens
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 25, 2023
Just imagine DeAndre Hopkins in a Ravens uniform catching touchdowns like these from Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/3AqqroOekd
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 25, 2023
In my opinion, that’s a more than worthy use of a first-round pick on Thursday. Especially given it would likely signal an extension for QB Lamar Jackson. At the end of the night, we’ll have a case that the Ravens won Round 1.
Who knows what this means, but I’ll leave you all with another cryptic Tweet from Lamar Jackson:
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 26, 2023
Happy Hump Day!
3 Responses
No on DHOP, let the Monken see if what we already have in WR or TE works. Who cares what LJ tweets , he is just trying to stay in the public eye.
If we get DHop and a 2nd rd pick this year for DHop then we can take Hooker. That would force LJ to sign his tender if he wants to be traded. Because we would not need him, except for those 2 first rd picks he nets. We could also just release him since he didn’t sign his tender too. Hopefully there’s a camera on him when it all goes down.
DHop SMH. That’s like playing blackjack and having 16. It’s a near impossible win situation.
You pick up an older WR with a history who won’t be cheap. To much risk all for the sake of hoping to appease Lamar. If this deal happens, the front office better be sure to get a long term deal out of Lamar and a team friendly deal with DHop. If not, wait until the S*** hits the fan in the near future.
I have to admit the excitement is building up for this year’s draft. There has to be a few surprises.