The day after: Taking a look at the 2014 Baltimore Ravens draft class

The Ravens put in a lot of work, time and effort over the last few months to decide which players would provide the best fit for the franchise.

After all of that work, the Ravens were able to add nine picks over three days. It's a class the Ravens' feel great about at this time, though that's not what matters in the slightest. More importantly, what these players show over the next three seasons will be indicators of whether the picks pay off or not.

Let's start with the first-round pick and move on from there, taking a look at each pick the Ravens made over the three-day draft.

First round, 17th overall: Alabama ILB C.J. Mosley

Mosley didn't present the immediate need a lot of fans were hoping the franchise would address. But in all honesty, that shouldn't matter. Mosley is a great long-term fit for the day that Daryl Smith's days are done, as it should be expected the 32-year-old linebacker won't finish out his contract through the 2017 season. A lot of folks took this as an indictment on Arthur Brown. I take it as a sign that Mosley and Brown will be the long-term linebackers of the future, with Brown getting a little more time to develop.

Second round, 48th overall: Florida State DT Timmy Jernigan

Those hoping for a wide receiver, tight end or offensive lineman were sorely disappointed when Jernigan's name was called. Call me a glass-half-full optimist, but hasn't Ozzie Newsome and the front office earned some benefit of the doubt here, especially with defensive prospects? If Jernigan was the No. 2-rated player on their board after it was re-stacked following the first-round, then why not take him with this pick? He's not as big as the prototypical NFL 3-4 nose tackles are, but he does have an ideal body type for the three-technique, at least in the short-term. And that is a spot that could be addressed with Arthur Jones leaving for the Colts in free agency.

Third round, 79th overall: Florida State FS Terrence Brooks

This pick seemed to receive a great deal of approval from Ravens fans around the message boards and twitter. Brooks is a great cover safety, as one of the fastest at his position in this year's group. The only thing that could keep him out of the starting lineup as a rookie would be the simple adjustments all first-year players go through in the NFL. Regardless of what the Ravens publicly say, there has to be a level of concern with putting a rookie free safety on the field with a second-year strong safety in Matt Elam. I expect Brooks to go through the rigors of competition with Darian Stewart and Jeromy Miles, with a starting role not for certain — at least early in the season.

Third round, 99th overall: Colorado State TE Crockett Gillmore

This pick was the one that caused many Baltimore fans to simultaneously scratch their heads and wonder what the front office is thinking. Consider me in the minority as someone that thinks this pick fit a specific need with the timing being just fine. Once you're past the second round, it's near impossible to assume what grades other NFL teams have on certain players. So you trust your board and go with the work you've put in over time. Gillmore was impressive at the Senior Bowl and saw his stock rise due to the balance he offers at the position. I get it, though: He's not a trendy tight end in the mold of Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski or even Eric Ebron. But he's got great hands, size and the ability to block in the running game. He's an ideal fit for Gary Kubiak's offense, and since when did people not trust Kubiak and Brian Pariani's ability to work with tight ends?

Fourth round, 134th overall: Virginia DT Brent Urban

The initial reaction here is to think defensive tackle again? It looks pretty ridiculous on the outside. But he's not the same kind of lineman Jernigan is. Urban projects very nicely as a five-technique guy in a 3-4, much like Chris Canty. (Just seems like a coincidence that both of them are Virginia guys, huh?) John Harbaugh went on the NFL Network and gave his opinion that he thought Urban was a second-rounder, but that could very well just be some spin from the team headquarters. Either way, Urban seems like a guy with some potential at a great value spot.

Fourth round, 138th overall: Coastal Carolina RB Lorenzo Taliaferro

Leave it to the Ravens to find a guy from a no-name school in the first five rounds. Just seems like something they do year in and year out. But there's actually some reason to be excited about this pick when you look into what he's accomplished. This past season he ran for 1,729 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, and finished 11th in the Walter Payton Award. He's a big back that seems suited for this one-cut-and-go zone blocking scheme. He can also be utilized early on in short-yardage situations.

Fifth round, 175th overall: Penn State offensive guard John Urschel

Urschel's smart enough to where he could probably craft a mathematical formula to solve the world's problems. OK, hyperbole, whatever. Still, this is exactly the kind of mind to have on an offensive line, whether he projects to guard or center at the next level. His intellect is off the charts, having taught undergrads math classes while working on his master's degree — all while playing college football. Hey, Harvard alum Matt Birk was a sixth-round pick and went on to have a great career. Who says Urschel can't?

Sixth round, 194th overall: Ball State QB Keith Wenning

Wenning popped up on the Ravens' radar a couple of weeks before the draft, so it was no surprise to hear his name called when the organization was up for its pick in the sixth round. Wenning is still developing, having gotten a start at quarterback late during his high school days. He wound up being a prolific passer at Ball State, setting school records with 1,402 career yards, 92 touchdown passes, 1,035 completions and 1,642 attempts. He'll certainly give Tyrod Taylor some competition at the backup spot, with the chance the team keeps three quarterbacks.

Seventh round, 218th overall: Wake Forest WR Michael Campanaro

The Ravens traded away a 2015 sixth-round selection to get back in the draft to take Campanaro. To me, this signals Campanaro all but has a spot on the 2014 roster. He's a slot receiver that is known for exploiting zone coverages underneath, a skill set not too many NFL receivers have. In the new offense, being able to have a receiver inside will only benefit this team, even if he's working behind Steve Smith for a couple of seasons. It's practically a steal to get him this late. And if you're also a Maryland fan, you know the kind of damage Campanaro can do. If not, see what he did against the Terps last season below.