Mel Kiper Jr. posts dueling ‘Grade A’ three round mock draft

Yesterday, Todd McShay posted his ‘Grade A, three round mock draft’ which featured a reach in the first, a misnomer in the second and what some classify a fair pick in the third. Baltimore Beatdown readers and I agreed for the most part, that it wasn’t ideal for the Ravens. Yes, they get a tight end and wide receiver, but certainly not the players the Baltimore Ravens would want at their pick, or at all due to off-the-field concerns.

But now, Mel Kiper Jr. submit his ‘Grade A, three round mock draft’, and I believe this is a bit better than the McShay’s.

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1 (16): Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Round 2 (52): Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
Round 3 (83): Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

Ridley underwhelmed at the combine, but his college tape shows a player who’s nearly uncoverable. I’m going to trust the tape in this case and still make him my top-ranked wideout (Maryland’s D.J. Moore is not far behind). Baltimore could also target an offensive tackle at pick No. 16.

Andrews essentially played as a 6-5 slot receiver for the Sooners, so he’s going to have to learn how to block before he sees meaningful snaps. But he’s a great weapon to add for Joe Flacco. The Ravens lost Ryan Jensen in free agency, and Ragnow could be the starting center in Week 1.

All in all, Flacco is probably the person most happy with these picks.

Breaking this down:

On the board with Calvin Ridley:

DT Vita Vea
LB Rashaan Evans
OT Mike McGlinchey
QB Lamar Jackson
TE Dallas Goedert
WR D.J. Moore
CB Josh Jackson

I’m fine with this pick. I’m happy the Ravens select the top wide receiver in the draft. Calvin’s a great pairing with Michael Crabtree and John Brown. I also agree with Mel, Mike McGlinchey is another good pick here. Also, Baltimore Beatdown editor Logan Levy has swayed my opinion on Rashaan Evans, who I’m okay with at 16 now. He’s also an Alabama linebacker, which means Ozzie’s best and brightest have studied him more than I’ve studied for final exams. Let’s also not act like Lamar Jackson isn’t a dark-horse option. The hype may be large, but I’m starting to believe in it.

On the board with Mark Andrews:

WR Anthony Miller
G/C Billy Price
OT Orlando Brown

I don’t think the Ravens double-dip at wide receiver if they acquire Ridley in the first, but it’s hard not to want Anthony Miller in the second. His past two seasons at Memphis were outstanding, featuring back-to-back 95 receptions, with 1,400 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. Now, I knocked the Antonio Callaway pick in McShay’s draft for being a Michael Campanaro replacement, but this is a similar move. The difference is obvious though, as Callaway has highly questionable off-the-field issues.

The reasoning for Anthony Miller in the second is a large reason for passing on Ridley in the first. There are some great receivers further down in the draft: Equanimeous St. Brown, Michael Gallup, D.J. Chark to name a few. With such an abundance of second and third round receiver talent, why pass on an obvious first round talent like McGlinchey or Evans?

Billy Price would be a great pick here in the second; he’s a borderline first round lineman. A multi-tooled lineman is something the Ravens enjoy. You will notice in recent years the Ravens played John Urschel, Matt Skura and James Hurst at two positions. I think Price is the better pick here, at least over Mark Andrews. Yes, Flacco needs weapons, but not over protection. I think this move is a better ‘Grade A’ than Andrews.

On the board with Frank Ragnow:

WR Michael Gallup
OLB Shaquem Griffin

In this draft, I like Ragnow in the third. I mentioned that in the Todd McShay piece, too. He’s a good pickup in the third. I’d certainly prefer Gallup or Shaquem Griffin, though. These have been my draft crushes all offseason, and I’ve said it on social media many times. Gallup is a great talent, and if Baltimore could acquire him in the third, that’s a knockout. Shaquem Griffin is the real deal. In this draft, though, Ragnow’s the right pick. That’s a Grade A.