Gareon Conley should be in play for the Ravens at 16

Washington cornerback Sidney Jones was the favorite of many Ravens fans to be the team’s pick at the 16th selection. However, Jones suffered a torn Achilles, and thus has pushed other corners up the board. With a stellar Combine performance that had Daniel Jeremiah quoted as saying he “moved like a top 10 pick”, Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley is one of the biggest benefactors of Jones' injury.

The Brandon Carr signing should not prevent the Ravens from building on what now could be perceived as a strength in the secondary and pass on taking a cornerback when on the clock. Conley would render the secondary injury proof if oft-injured Jimmy Smith were to once again go down, the Ravens would have two talented outside corners that would not force Tavon Young to return outside.

Conley brings tremendous ball skills to the table, even if he is not as technically refined as his teammate Marshon Lattimore. His one handed interception against Wisconsin will attest to that. At 6’0” and 195 lbs, he boasts the combination of length and ball-skills that is rare to find in corners. The more highly regarded Lattimore is more fluid than Conley, which will without doubt push him out of the Ravens range. But Conley will prove to be a good consolation prize. His ability to also play off coverage with a gamblers mentality will remind some of Aqib Talib.

With seemingly all of the non-Myles Garrett pass rushers having on or off field issues, the safe option would be to dip into the talented cornerback well before it runs dry.