After a 24-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night time within the AFC wild-card spherical, the Ravens enter some of the vital offseasons in franchise historical past.
While questions on quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract, pending free brokers and the group’s wage cap are anticipated to linger for months, one piece of enterprise has been finalized: the place the Ravens will decide within the 2023 NFL draft.
Baltimore owns the No. 22 total choice within the first spherical, which begins April 27 in Kansas City. For the primary time since 2010, the Ravens will not be anticipated to obtain a compensatory draft decide. That means, pending any further strikes, they’ve simply 5 choices: No. 22 (first spherical) and No. 86 (third spherical), plus to-be-determined choices in fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. They traded their second-round choice and one among their fifth-round picks to the Chicago Bears for linebacker Roquan Smith, who final week agreed to a five-year contract extension price a reported $100 million. Their seventh-round decide can be heading to the New York Giants as a part of the deal for guard Ben Bredeson in August 2021. The Ravens’ fifth-round choice got here from the New England Patriots, who acquired cornerback Shaun Wade in a 2021 commerce.
With a possible extension or franchise tag coming for Jackson, the Ravens might want to depend on the draft greater than ever to fill out their roster. That places much more scrutiny on their first-round choice, particularly after security Kyle Hamilton (No. 14 total decide) and middle Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25) contributed instantly this season.
Here are 5 gamers at positions of want who could possibly be targets at No. 22.
Ohio State large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
It wouldn’t be a correct Ravens offseason with out discussing large receivers. Even with Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay returning subsequent season, the Ravens want one other weapon to spice up one of many league’s worst passing assaults. Early 2023 mock drafts had the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba comfortably within the prime 10 after his record-breaking Rose Bowl efficiency, however a disappointing 2022 season would possibly push him towards the underside of the primary spherical. A hamstring harm restricted the junior to only 5 catches for 43 yards in three video games a yr after he led the Buckeyes’ receiving corps — together with future first-round draft picks Garett Wilson and Chris Olave — with 1,606 yards.
Boston College large receiver Zay Flowers
After buying and selling away Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, the Ravens may use one other deep menace to enrich Bateman. The 5-10, 172-pound Flowers flashed game-breaking pace for the Eagles, catching 78 passes for 1,077 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns to develop into a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s prime receiver. Although he’s undersized and has struggled with drops all through his faculty profession, he’d give the Ravens’ offense the run-after-the-catch menace it desperately wants.
Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon
With veteran cornerback Marcus Peters hitting free company, the Ravens may have a obvious gap reverse three-time Pro Bowl choice Marlon Humphrey. The 6-foot, 180-pound Witherspoon turned a star in his junior season, incomes first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and ending because the No. 2 graded cornerback within the nation based on Pro Football Focus. While lining up towards the opposing group’s prime receiver, he allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11 of 12 video games this season.
Iowa defensive finish Lukas Van Ness
With Calais Campbell probably retiring and Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul coming into free company, the Ravens must bolster their line of defense. The 6-5, 275-pound Van Ness, one of many draft’s most intriguing prospects, could possibly be the suitable match. The redshirt sophomore stood out on one of many nation’s finest defenses regardless of by no means making a begin, totaling 18 1/2 tackles for loss and 12 sacks over two seasons. A transformed defensive deal with, Van Ness can be a robust run defender, making him a pretty Ravens goal.
Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence
The Ravens have two dependable tackles in Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses and a budding star at middle in rookie Tyler Linderbaum, however the inside of the offensive line has a number of query marks. Right guard Kevin Zeitler is coming into the ultimate yr of his deal, whereas left guard Ben Powers is coming into unrestricted free company. There’s nonetheless hope for 2021 third-round decide Ben Cleveland to seize a beginning function, however he’s been inconsistent in his first two seasons. The Ravens may use a greater move blocker on the inside, and the 6-5, 347-pound Torrence matches the invoice. The Louisiana switch dominated towards SEC competitors, not permitting a sack or successful all season. According to ESPN, he’s allowed simply two sacks over practically 3,000 profession snaps.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com