ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has by no means hidden his affection for his hometown Ravens, and generally he can go overboard in displaying favor.
But deep down inside, there may be all the time that nugget of reality that sums up his analysis of the staff heading into the NFL draft, which begins April 27 in Kansas City.
“They should have beaten, could have beaten, Cincinnati easily with a beat-up, banged-up Tyler Huntley and no Lamar Jackson,” Kiper mentioned of the Ravens’ quarterback state of affairs in a 24-17 loss within the AFC wild-card spherical. “Physically, I thought they had them beaten had they not had the freakish play [Huntley’s goal-line fumble returned 98 yards for a touchdown] which resulted in the 14-point swing.”
When it involves the draft, the positions the Ravens want to focus on are apparent to the Calvert Hall graduate, who has been masking the annual occasion for ESPN since 1984.
“The bottom line is they need one or two corners, they need one or two receivers and I think a defensive lineman,” Kiper mentioned.
Even although the Ravens have solely 5 picks — Nos. 22 (first spherical), 86 (third spherical), 124 (fourth spherical), 157 (fifth spherical) and 199 (sixth spherical) — Kiper believes they’ll nonetheless fill their wants. He mentioned this extensive receiver class is weaker than some latest years, however the two strongest positions are cornerback and tight finish.
He additionally charges the quarterback place close to the highest, however then there’s a drop-off. So whereas the Ravens and Jackson sit and wait to see who blinks first throughout contract negotiations, Baltimore wants to come back away with a quarterback within the draft.
It in all probability received’t be both Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, who is anticipated to go No. 1 general to the Carolina Panthers, or Alabama’s Bryce Young, projected because the No. 2 choose to the Houston Texans.
But the Indianapolis Colts could be keen to ship their No. 4 choose to the Ravens in a deal for Jackson, placing Baltimore in place to draft Florida’s Anthony Richardson or Kentucky’s Will Levis.
“The most NFL-ready, right now, would be Stroud and Young,” Kiper mentioned. “Levis performed in two NFL techniques with faculty coordinators. If you needed to go to [new Ravens offensive coordinator] Todd Monken, you’d need to ask, what sort of quarterback you need?
“If you say we’re going to get away from the runner, you go with Will Levis. If you want more of the Lamar Jackson-type quarterback coming out, then you’d go with Anthony Richardson.”
The Ravens shouldn’t need to make as many tough selections at cornerback, based on Kiper. He has graded 28 cornerbacks who might be picked throughout the first 4 rounds and 49 complete worthy of being drafted.
Kiper charges Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon on the high, adopted by Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. is the highest shutdown cornerback of the group, and the Ravens want one with veteran Marcus Peters nonetheless unsigned and three-time Pro Bowl choice Marlon Humphrey anticipated to play extra typically inside.
Maryland’s Deonte Banks, Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes, Michigan’s D.J. Turner, South Carolina’s Cam Smith and Georgia’s Kelee Ringo spherical out an outstanding group.
“Now, if Jalyn Armour-Davis can start to stay healthy and develop, maybe they got something there,” Kiper of final yr’s fourth-round select of Alabama. “We’ll see. The Ravens need corners, so this is a really good year for them to find some.”
The Ravens’ legacy at drafting extensive receivers within the first spherical isn’t superb. Do I would like to say a few of them once more? Oh heck, why not? Travis Taylor, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Breshad Perriman, Rashod Bateman.
Bateman was lately essential of Eric DeCosta for the final supervisor’s sincere evaluation of the group, however the Ravens shouldn’t again off making an attempt to pick out one within the draft.
Kiper agrees.
“The wide receiver position is intriguing,” he mentioned. “I don’t find out about No. 1 [receivers]. I believe there are quite a lot of twos. I don’t assume there’s a respectable one proper now. A variety of instances, it’s simply being in the appropriate place on the proper time, the appropriate yr the place you are taking one and it really works out. It’s simply hit and miss. As you go, and also you take a look at most groups, you may undergo a historical past and say, ‘Boy, they struggle with this spot or struggle with that.’
“That’s just the way it is. You can’t be perfect.”
Boston College’s Zay Flowers, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Southern California’s Jordan Addison and TCU’s Quentin Johnston are Kiper’s high ranked extensive receivers and can probably be taken within the first spherical. Michigan State’s Jayden Reed, Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman and Wake Forest’s A.T. Perry are amongst his high 10 and will nonetheless be out there when the Ravens choose once more within the third spherical at No. 86 general.
If the Ravens hit on all three positions, Kiper expects enchancment. The Ravens are in want of a cross rusher, however they may have already got a very good one on the roster.
“I love what [David] Ojabo can do,” Kiper mentioned of final yr’s second-round select of Michigan, who missed most of his rookie season whereas recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. “He is going to be an extra draft pick this year coming back healthy after being injured and redshirted this past year. They need to develop [third-year outside linebacker] Odafe Oweh. If he comes on, that gives the Ravens a good one-two punch to the outside.”
Easier mentioned than completed, after all. But there’s hope.
“The Ravens are close to where they need to be,” Kiper mentioned.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com