Mocking the Draft: Ravens take Taylor Lewan with the 17th overall pick

SB Nation's Mocking the Draft has been high on the Ravens taking an offensive tackle with their first-round pick.

The last couple of mock drafts had the Ravens taking Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio. That's since changed. Though I've been a believer that the Ravens would want an interior lineman before a tackle, Mocking the Draft believes differently.

Which is probably why it has the Ravens taking Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan with the 17th overall pick int he first round. Here's Kadar's reasoning:

"Lewan was another superstar at the combine and several top analysts think he'll actually be a top 10 pick," Kadar writes. "By now, we know general manager Ozzie Newsome's credo: Best player available. That's Lewan here."

Kadar has a point. Regardless of positions of need, the Ravens will take the best overall player on their board. Sure, that formula probably involves positions of need. But the Ravens could use a tackle, just like they could use a guard or center.

Mocking the Draft doesn't believe the Ravens will be able to get Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans (10th, Lions), North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron (12th, Giants), Louisville safety Calvin Pryor (13th, Rams), Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (14th, Bears) or Minnesota defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman (16th, Cowboys).

Other players of interest available in the first round of this particular mock draft are USC receiver Marqiuse Lee (18th, Jets), Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio (19th, Dolphins), Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward (23rd, Chiefs) and UCLA offensive guard Xavier Su'a-Filo (25th, Chargers).