Kiper Jr. mocks Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott to the Ravens

In the eyes of pundits, the Ravens' sixth pick seems to be a wild card. We've seen Baltimore taking anyone from the likes of left tackle Ronnie Stanley to edge rusher Joey Bosa, and now DeForest Buckner seems to be the latest Ravens' mockee.

Now draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has stirred the pot even more by adding a running back to the mix. Kiper believes that the Ravens will take Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the sixth pick in the draft. His prognostication widely skews the consensus, as most believe that the Ravens will opt to select a defensive prospect instead of an offensive weapon.

While it sounds crazy at first glance, on paper, it's not exactly out of the question. The Ravens have talented backs like Justin Forsett and Buck Allen on their roster, but one is aging, and the other is still not a sure thing. While only three running backs have been selected as top five picks since 2005, Elliott is a special exception. At Ohio State, Elliott proved that he could both run and receive in any situation. The Heisman candidate also showcased his off-the-charts athleticism and stamina, as he logged 562 carries in just two seasons for the Buckeyes. No one is doubting his ability to exceed at the next year, and the Cowboys are rumored to have him on their radar with the fourth pick. Simply put, it's very likely that Elliott will be one of the best backs in the league in just a few year's time. At the very least, he has all of the tools to succeed as a professional player.

Kiper's hypothetical pick is still a very remote possibility in my mind, as the Ravens would likely only consider drafting him if they believe he has the caliber of a perennial All-Pro. It's certainly not the pick that fulfills a great area of need, but it would bring one of the league's best young playmakers to Baltimore.