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Five-round mock draft: Buffalo Bills trade up for Baker Mayfield - Chad Reuter
16. Ravens: Marcus Davenport - EDGE, UTSA
Davenport has the potential to become an excellent pass rusher for the Ravens, who will need help when Terrell Suggs retires or moves on to another team.
52. Ravens: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
83. Ravens: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
118. Ravens: Simmie Cobbs, WR, Indiana
154. Ravens: Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan
Reuter predicts Maryland receiver D.J. Moore will be selected thirteenth overall and there seems to be a growing consensus that he will be the first wide receiver taken in the 2018 draft. Davenport was mocked to the Ravens with WR Calvin Ridley and OT Mike McGlinchey still available, Michel with OT Tyrell Crosby and C Billy Price still available, Ragnow with WR Michael Gallup and WR Deon Cain still on the board and Cobbs with WR Marcell Ateman, RB Royce Freeman and RB Kerryon Johnson still available. Conklin was the eighth tight end taken in this mock, Dallas Goedert and Mike Gesicki were both late first round elections.
2018 NFL Draft: Pro comparisons for top wide receiver prospects - Matt Harmon
Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame
NFL comp: Martavis Bryant. If you really dig into St. Brown’s film and overall profile, it’s hard to see why he’s not a consensus top-five receiver in this class. Forget the lack of final-year production -- he has it all. St. Brown separates at all levels of the field, whether by his pure athletic ability or an understated ability as a route-runner. To top it all off, he can go up and win the ball in the air and make plays with the ball in his hands. In a class full of complementary No. 2 types, St. Brown’s theoretical ceiling stands out. He’ll remind observers of the good ol’ days of Martavis Bryant with the way he gets open deep and glides through open space after the catch.
NFL comp: Doug Baldwin. NFL Network’s Steve Smith implied that Anthony Miller’s approach to the game reminded the long-time star receiver of himself, calling Miller one of his “favorite prospects coming into the combine.” It’s against my personal code to compare a prospect to the ultra-rare No. 89, but it’s hard not to trust the source here. I charted his game film, and Miller does give off the vibe of another slight but hyper-competitive wideout in Baldwin. Miller split time between playing the slot and working outside for Memphis. Much like Baldwin, Miller is far more proficient than your typical slot receiver at running deep routes and winning 50-50 balls. He carries the profile of a strong complementary option in an NFL passing game who could stuff the stat sheet with the right quarterback.
Harmon compares D.J. Moore to Jarvis Landry, Michael Gallup to Michael Crabtree, Christian Kirk to Randall Cobb and Calvin Ridley to Greg Jennings. The depth of the 2018 wideout crop is outstanding, it would be terrific if the Ravens can find a way to double dip at the position.
As usual, Ravens’ free-agent strategy appears to be affected by compensatory-pick formula - Jeff Zrebiec
Crabtree, Ebron and Hurns all hit the free-agent market after they were released by their former teams. Snead and Meredith are restricted free agents. Thus all five had something in common: If they were signed, they would not factor into the compensatory-pick formula.
No team in the NFL takes advantage of the compensatory formula more than the Ravens, who have received 49 extra selections since the system was put into place in 1994. That’s seven more than the next-highest team, the Green Bay Packers.
The Ravens compensatory pick strategy is masterful. With the first wave of free agency complete and few difference makers still available, they should attempt to maximize their compensation for departed center Ryan Jensen.
What would it take for the Ravens to acquire Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.? - Kyle J. Andrews
Baltimore would also have to give Beckham Jr. an extension fit for a top-flight NFL receiver. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown currently makes an average of $17 million per season. For Beckham Jr. to receive a similar compensation, the Ravens would have to restructure a few more deals and cut other players.
The cost of Beckham’s contract extension is the main issue. The Ravens could probably swing a trade with the Giants, but it is highly unlikely they would be able to reach a long term agreement with this elite playmaker unless they dismantled a significant portion of their current roster.