Ravens News 4/17: Playmaker Score, OL rankings, draft narrative busters and more

Playmaker Score 2018 - Nathan Forster

D.J. Moore, Maryland

Playmaker Projection: 634 Yards

Playmaker Rating: 92.5%

Of the four wide receivers whom NFL Draft Scout believes could go in the first round, Playmaker likes D.J. Moore the best. Moore may appear to have only average receiving numbers for a top prospect (80 catches, 1,033 yards, eight touchdowns), but those statistics are quite impressive when they are put in the context of how rarely the Maryland Terrapins threw the ball; Maryland only attempted 318 passes during Moore’s junior year. Moore was also used (and used effectively) in the running game, gaining 61 yards on five carries. That said, Moore is not quite an elite prospect like Odell Beckham or Amari Cooper. Playmaker gives Moore the edge over top-rated prospect Calvin Ridley despite a significant adjustment for Ridley’s projected draft position.

Football Outsiders developed a statistical analysis to quantify a Playmaker Score, and D.J. Moore received a gaudy 93% rating. For comparison to other potential first round selections, Calvin Ridley earned a 69% playmaker rating, Christian Kirk a 77% playmaker rating and Courtland Sutton an 84% playmaker rating.

Offensive Line Rankings: Few Surprises - Tony Pauline

There is really only one offensive tackle teams unanimously grade as a first-round pick, and that’s Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame. But even he is all over boards, as some people believe he’s worthy of a top-12 selection while others feel he’s a late first-rounder.

Most teams don’t have a first-round grade on Kolton Miller but expect the UCLA junior to land in the top 32 due to position priority and the lack of depth at the tackle spot.

Quenton Nelson aside, it seems there is a gap widening between Isaiah Wynn and Will Hernandez to be the second guard selected in the draft, with the Georgia product moving ahead.

Pauline goes on to state his belief that Texas tackle Connor Williams will be chosen near the top of the second round and Arkansas center Frank Ragnow will be selected in the middle of the second round.

2018 NFL Draft narrative busters - Steve Palazzolo

Saquon Barkley is a generational running back: False

When the hype train gets moving, it’s difficult to temper expectations for players we really like. While Barkley is our top running back in the draft class, he’s not a perfect prospect across the board, and his work as a pure rusher is not as clean as other backs from previous classes or even in this class. Barkley’s receiving skills separate him from the pack as he’s a potential mismatch weapon, both out of the backfield and when lined up wide, but as a runner, he does not maximize the yardage given by his run-blocking.

Bradley Chubb is the clear top pass-rusher in the draft and he should be a lock top-five pick: False

Chubb is an excellent football player. He has excellent size and burst off the line of scrimmage, and he’s polished both against the run and as a pass-rusher in his technique. However, Chubb is being mocked as the first non-quarterback off the board and a potential top-five pick, but his pass-rushing prowess does not stack up to previous elite top-five pass-rushers.

Some reasonable critiques for the pair of consensus top-five players in the draft class. We may be in store for some surprises in the first round next Thursday night.

Report: Ravens Interested in Dez Bryant - Tim Hackett

Bryant made three Pro Bowls since the Cowboys selected him the first round of the 2010 draft, and he departs Dallas as the team’s all-time leader with 73 touchdown receptions. However, Bryant’s production has dipped sharply in recent seasons—he hasn’t topped 900 receiving yards in three years, and he’s combined for just 17 TD grabs in that span. He also led the league with 12 drops in 2017.

Spotrac estimates Bryant’s market value at around $9.4 million, but suggests it’s “very possible” Bryant’s deal ends up looking like the one Crabtree signed last month.

As always, ‘right player, right price’ applies. Bryant is no longer one of the top receivers in the game, but the situation in Dallas did him no favors the last couple seasons. If he is willing to sign for #2 receiver money, the Ravens should absolutely pursue the veteran pass catcher.

Dates for Ravens offseason workouts, organized team activities are set - Jeff Zrebiec

... the Ravens are among the teams that will start their voluntary conditioning program April 16. Players who take part in the workout program will be mostly confined for the first two weeks to weight-room and classroom work.

The offseason workout program morphs into on-field organized team activities in May.

Per their twitter accounts, new receivers Michael Crabtree and John Brown are both excited to attend. The players who do voluntarily participate in the conditioning program will be working out under the guidance of the team’s head strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders.