With Ravens picking at 16, options abound

It is the upside of a dissapointing season. The opportunity to bring in highly ranked talent is significantly better than it typically is for the Ravens, though lately, it could be argued that they have come back down to the pack.

Baltimore has direct needs at the wide receiver, cornerback, edge rusher and center with secondary needs at safety. With the team picking in the mid-rounds, they are virtually guaranteed to find a top rated prospect at one of these five positions.

At wide receiver, Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross figure to be in the team's plans. None of these prospects are among the class of A.J Green and Julio Jones, wide receivers who were looked at as top five prospects. Even if wideout needy teams ahead of the Ravens decide to invest in the position, the chance of (at least) John Ross being on the board are solid.

The cornerback and edge rusher classes are the deepest of the entire draft. There is no scenario where cornerbacks like Tre'Davious White or Adoree Jackson - who are highly rated but not quite top tier - will be off the board before the Ravens pick. At OLB, Tim Williams' off field issues and Carl Lawson's injury issues could send both down in the draft order, perhaps even past Baltimore. However, the option to draft them is likely to be considered.

A disappointing season gives Ozzie Newsome the chance to show the fanbase why he is paid. A high draft pick position in 2016 yielded contributors at the top and at the bottom of the draft. Newsome now has to operate the in the middle.