:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63310870/usa_today_12383283.0.jpg)
Pass interference replay review: A stunning, needed sea change - Judy Battista
Tuesday’s decision by the league’s owners to allow pass interference to be reviewable -- and, in an even more unexpected development, to allow non-calls to be reviewed -- was a stunner. When owners arrived here just three days ago, there seemed to be little appetite for the giant leap they were about to take.
“I told the owners we need to get to a place, and I felt strongly we should have OPI and DPI and that we should be able to throw flags [that were not thrown on the field],” Goodell said Tuesday night.
That the vote tally ended up at 31-1 was jaw-dropping, considering the long-held view that there exists a layer of teams that still view all replay with suspicion.
Coaches are now allowed to challenge pass interference calls and non-calls, but will not be given additional total challenges per game.
All 32 NFL team’s 2019 NFL Draft needs - Cam Mellor
Top needs: WR, Edge, LB
The Ravens roster was overhauled during free agency, but not necessarily in the right way, losing their top three players in terms of tackling grade and their downfield threat as they still are lacking at wide receiver. They lost John Brown to the Bills and currently hold Willie Snead as the most experienced receiver on the roster. Their running back room is crowded just as their tight end corps is as well but the lack of options outside for Lamar Jackson to count on is thin, to say the least. The loss of Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs at edge defender presents an obvious need along the edge as does the departure of C.J. Moseley who finished with the team’s highest grade at linebacker a season ago.
PFF graded Patrick Onwuasor as the #40 linebacker and Kenny Young as the #67 linebacker last season.
2019 NFL Draft: Why Montez Sweat is like Danielle Hunter, Josh Allen is like Robert Quinn and other EDGE comparisons - Chris Trapasso
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
NFL comparison: Chandler Jones
Ferrell is a power defensive end who wins with a long reach, strength, and above-average athleticism. He can be a stellar run defender from the first moment he steps onto an NFL field. Sounds a lot like Jones to me. Ferrell isn’t a super-flashy, low-dip-around-the-corner speed rusher. He’s a prospect who can instantly overwhelm pro tackles with his length and strength combination, and his pass-rushing arsenal got better as the season progressed in 2018.
Brian Burns, Florida State
NFL comparison: Aldon Smith
Smith had more weight on his frame when he came into the league out of Missouri than Burns does now. Stylistically, they’re nearly identical. Smith could dip low underneath tackles as flew tightly around the edge. While he was aware he needed to use his hands, he wasn’t particularly polished utilizing them. His speed rush was his most dangerous move. All that is true for Burns, a long, Gumby-like rusher who will threaten most pro tackles with his explosive first step, long arms, and ability to dip around the corner. If he develops go-to pass-rushing maneuvers with his hands to counter his outside rush, Burns can be an All-Pro type.
Jachai Polite, Florida
NFL comparison: Derrick Morgan
Morgan was a pass-rushing ace at Georgia Tech. A stand-up linebacker by trade with a complete edge-rusher tool box, Morgan was highly productive in college and has been one of the most underrated outside linebackers in football over the past decade. Like Morgan as a prospect, Polite is much better defeating blocks while in fifth gear as a pass rusher than he on the edge against the run. More power would help him in that regard too, and it’s an area of Morgan’s game he improved at the NFL level.
Polite is a bit of a one-year wonder with only four total sacks on his resume before the 2018 season.
2019 NFL mock draft: Updated 4-round projections with trades - Luke Easterling
22. Baltimore Ravens | Hakeem Butler | WR | Iowa State
Lamar Jackson already has a solid stable of tight ends and a new running back in Mark Ingram, but he desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver. With his rare combination of size, speed and athleticism, Butler is exactly what Jackson needs to take his game to the next level.
85. Baltimore Ravens | Lamont Gaillard | OL | Georgia
102. Baltimore Ravens | D’Andre Walker | EDGE | Georgia
113. Baltimore Ravens (from DEN) | Tre Lamar | LB | Clemson
123. Baltimore Ravens | Mecole Hardman | WR | Georgia
Easterling certainly fills the Ravens positional needs with this mock, yet some picks might be considered reaches. Landing a prospect with the pedigree and upside of Hardman in the middle of the fourth round would probably be the best ‘value’ selection.