Todd McShay released his “Best-case three-round NFL mock draft: How all 32 teams get an A,” and I am not a fan.
What have we cried out for all offseason? What has the media talked about all offseason? The Ravens drafting a wide receiver. McShay’s mock draft features zero wide receivers in the first three rounds for Charm City.
Round 1 (22): Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Round 3 (85): Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M
Round 3 (102): Terrill Hanks, ILB, New Mexico StateWith the highly productive Ferrell still available, we address the edge to start. Ferrell had 11.5 sacks at Clemson last season, and the Ravens lost a good chunk of their front seven to free agency. Williams comes in as a versatile piece of a running back committee, and Hanks locates and tracks the ball well at the second level of the defense. Baltimore badly needs to revamp the linebacker corps.
Sometimes the board doesn’t break your way but when you want to talk ‘best-case scenario,’ you’d figure the team with the biggest wide receiver need gets a top prospect to establish some form of passing attack that doesn’t revolve around tight ends.
Now, I’m completely on board with the Ferrell pick. He’s pro-ready, he’s capable of getting to the quarterback and he’s highly versatile. I don’t see Ferrell staying until 22 in the draft and when the Beatdown Slack talked about this draft nobody believes this happens either. This pick immediately brings about a replacement to Za’Darius Smith, who was utilized as a hybrid pass rusher in multiple positions. So, to McShay’s credit, this is a best-case scenario in the first.
McShay does not follow up the best-case scenario with their second selection in the draft (Round 3). McShay reaches for a running back. Most don’t see Williams going until the fourth, but here McShay thinks the Ravens picking him up a round early is the ‘best-case.’ For those curious, instead of taking Trayveon at 85, the Ravens still have a choice on wide receiver in this mock draft between Hakeem Butler, Andy Isabella and Kelvin Harmon. You really think the Ravens need another tailback with Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon on the roster already?
Finally, McShay sees the Ravens go for an inside linebacker at the end of the third. I’m still in the camp of supporting Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young and Anthony Levine Sr. These three are far better than most believe. Both Peanut and Young were battling for starting reps to begin the season. Need I remind everybody just how often the Ravens turn inside linebackers into a starters?
I like the first-round selection, but the next two are big head-scratchers to me. I’m not a fan. Pick up Hakeem Butler instead of Trayveon Williams and maybe I’m okay with this. Until then, I don’t give this the ‘A-grade’ McShay does.