Ravens to pick 26th in 2015 NFL draft

It's generally a good thing to pick near the back of the draft order. It means you've had a successful a season and made a playoff run.

After a one-year hiatus from the postseason, Baltimore made it back to the AFC Divisional Round before coming up just short to the Patriots, 35-31. As a result, the Ravens, following a 10-6 regular season, will pick 26th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.

The Ravens' top need is in the secondary; outside linebacker, receiver and running back depth somewhere after that, in no particular order. The Ravens have a solid foundation across the board where this draft class can really focus on depth and going after the best player available.

Hopefully for the Ravens, at pick 26, the best player available is a cornerback or safety. Jimmy Smith has one year remaining on his rookie deal, thanks to the Ravens taking the fifth-year option, and he will look to cash in when it's time. Lardarius Webb is 29 years old and will be a restructure candidate this year. But he's been injury-prone over the last three years. After that, you're dealing with Asa Jackson and Rashaan Melvin as legitimate options at corner.

The Ravens could also pull the trigger on another safety, unless they're confident Matt Elam can finally get himself where he needs to be in the next two seasons. Terrence Brooks is a promising safety, but Darian Stewart and Jeromy Miles should be sub-package guys primarily.

In SB Nation's Dan Kadar most recent mock draft, published early Monday morning, he doesn't have the Ravens going after a defensive back. He has them selecting Kentucky defensive end/outside linebacker Alvin Dupree. If that name's familiar it's likely because Baltimore Beatdown's Michael Sedjro previously wrote about how he'd be someone to potentially target if Pernell McPhee leaves via free agency.

Dupree does seem like a solid option as a first-rounder. But as a rookie, he wouldn't see much time on the field with outside linebackers Terrell Suggs (under contract through 2019), Elvis Dumervil (under contract through 2018) and Courtney Upshaw (under contract through 2016) in the fold. At the same time, the Ravens could make playing time for him, as they did with McPhee.

The Ravens will go best player available regardless of position of need. If Dupree's there at No. 26, there's a (rather early) case to be made that he could be the guy to go with.