Here. We. Go.
It's EDC week ⌛ pic.twitter.com/qWBIJvfXYj
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 22, 2024
If you’re like me, you’ve had Thursday circled on your calendar for months. The Draft is truly a sacred time for me, as the culmination of months of film study gives way to three days of football coverage in the doldrums of the offseason. It’s the springtime of our NFL year; it provides renewed hope and optimism to long-suffering franchises and the possibility of that last missing piece for teams right on the cusp of a championship.
The Ravens are, of course, in the latter category, with nine total selections of monumental importance. So, for those in the know, what do they see Baltimore doing by the time festivities close?
In the 159 mock drafts @JoshReed907 has combed through in our weekly roundups, the Ravens have taken an OT in 40.3% of them. They've been mocked to take a O-lineman on more than 50%, too. pic.twitter.com/i8j0qkkXe1
— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) April 22, 2024
At PFF we drafted a seven-round mock together last week with a different person responsible for each team.
I drafted for the Ravens, with round 1 falling like an absolute dream:https://t.co/0tXgLD56wm
— Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) April 22, 2024
Ravens 7-round NFL mock draft: First-round corner, second-round trade, three new O-linemen https://t.co/iuxIZfc4eU
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 22, 2024
If you look at the overall landscape, offensive tackle in the first round seems to be what the tea leaves read. Sure, there are cases of “right player, right price” …
"Adonai Mitchell's a real weapon in the red zone."
Why Adonai Mitchell is being projected at No. 30: https://t.co/gHmHkweQI9
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 22, 2024
…but in an offseason featuring the acquisition of one of the game’s best running backs, Baltimore doesn’t appear to be gravitating away from their run-first mindset anytime soon. Regardless of how they prioritize the balance of run/pass blocking with an early OT selection, the front office and coaching staff knows that they can’t get an offensive rhythm going without a clean pocket, so expect to see investment in OL early and often.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think you see them wait long to pick up another receiver, though. Here’s one of my more recent mocks, which featured some maneuvering up and down to make sure we came away with guys that I liked.
Got a little funky with some trades. Would’ve loved to come away with a Guard somewhere, but really like this haul. pic.twitter.com/yYyFopYhLO
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) April 21, 2024
This class is exceedingly deep at receiver, so even with a few expected runs at the position, it’s likely that Baltimore can land one with a high ceiling without having to spend premier draft capital. Given what they’ve lacked over the past few seasons, my best guess is that the short list contains names like Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk, UCF’s Javon Baker, and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette.
Xavier Legette catching passes from Lamar Jackson in a Ravens uniform would be very nice pic.twitter.com/UIwcQfk7un
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 20, 2024
It was reported back on 4/12 that both Baker and Polk visited Baltimore’s facility, so clearly, at least tentative interest is there. Of course, this time of year is about knowing what other teams are planning to do as well, and the Legette agenda might be over before it ever started. It’s been heavily reported, even by Legette himself, that the Carolina Panthers may take him with Pick 33 if he’s still available.
“I’ve met with the Panthers 4 or 5 times… They keep telling me that if I’m sitting at (pick) 33 they’re going to take me.”
South Carolina WR Xavier Legette was not shy about disclosing his relationship with the receiver-needy, local Carolina Panthers.
The interest is real. pic.twitter.com/xB1gZ9PpNE
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) April 22, 2024
Regardless of the landscape, the obstacles, and the competition, EDC and Company are going to do what they do, and by the end of the weekend, they’ll probably be putting all our mocks to shame, then getting some well-earned rest. For a lot of us, the rest begins just as their work culminates, on Thursday night in front of a spread of gameday foods and locked into our TVs.
Enjoy it, Flock. You’ve earned it. See y’all on the other side.
