Ravens News 4/13: Prospect Musings and more

Ranking the Ravens’ top five draft priorities: Edge rusher, offensive lineman or wide receiver? - Childs Walker

Defensive line

Again, this would be a luxury for a team that just added Justin Madubuike to a crew of quality veterans. We know the Ravens love drafting defensive linemen, and they’re perhaps a year or two away from needing a younger core to step in for Brandon Williams, Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe. Given these truths, we can’t rule out a Day One or Day Two pick at the position.

The player who’d really make the Ravens think is Christian Barmore, who dominated in his one season as a starter at Alabama and could develop into a rare interior pass rusher. Would Barmore’s upside be enough to steer DeCosta away from prospects who’d probably play more snaps in 2021? He’d at least be worth the discussion on draft night.

Ranking the Ravens Potential Draft Picks with the 27th Overall Selection - Todd Karpovich

2. LSU wide Receiver Terrace Marshall

Analysis: Baltimore has prioritized upgrading the passing game. Marshall is a big, physical wide receiver that would be a good fit for the AFC North. He is an exceptional route runner, averaging 15 yards per receptions, and can make plays after the catch. His 731 yards receiving ranked third in the SEC. Marshall also has a nose for the end zone and scored 23 touchdowns over his past 19 games.

3. Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman

Analysis: Baltimore pulls the trigger on a trade to land one of the most dynamic players in this year’s draft. Bateman has solid size — 6 -foot-2, 210 pounds — with exceptional hands. He is also a solid route-runner and was ranked eighth in the country with 20.3 yards per catch in 2019.

2021 NFL Draft: Five undervalued offensive linemen who teams should target on Day 3 - Chris Trapasso

South Carolina OG Sardarius Hutcherson

Best traits: Brute strength, short-area quickness

Of all of these prospects, I’m most surprised Hutcherson hasn’t generating significantly more draft buzz. He started 39 games at South Carolina, and even started at left tackle for most of 2019, a sound indication coaches trusted him athletically. And at guard, Hutcherson is dynamic off the snap. Plus, he’s a brawler with the mass and total body strength to control defensive linemen at the point of attack for the run game or in pass protection.

Once in a while, Hutcherson will get driven backward. In general, he grows roots and anchors against power players. Like others on this list, his film isn’t flawless, but he possesses the ability to recover thanks to his length and inherent twitch. Hutcherson is over 6-3 and 320 pounds with nearly 33-inch arms, fantastic size for a guard prospect. He’s springy and effective getting to the second level and doesn’t play out of control there, so he’ll bring run-game value too. Hutcherson is the mid-round guard who’ll be starting — and thriving — early in his NFL career.

2021 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team - Chad Reuter

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1: No. 27 overall — Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Round 2: No. 58 overall — Hunter Long, TE, Boston College

In 2015, Baltimore selected a receiver in the first round (Breshad Perriman) and a tight end in the second (Maxx Williams) — don’t be surprised if it happens again this year. Toney can play in the slot or outside because of his short-area foot quickness and pure speed after the catch. With Mark Andrews due to become a free agent after the season and Nick Boyle coming back from injury, picking up a red-zone and deep-seam threat like Long in the second round would be a great find.

Ravens seven-round mock draft (Version 2.0): Grabbing an edge rusher and gambling on a center - Jonas Shaffer

First round (No. 27 overall): Penn State EDGE Jayson Oweh

Second round (No. 58): Alabama C Landon Dickerson

Third round (No. 104): Indiana S Jamar Johnson

Fourth round (No. 131): Notre Dame TE Tommy Tremble

Fifth round (No. 171): Tennessee WR Josh Palmer

Fifth round (No. 184): East Carolina OT D’Ante Smith

The 6-5, 305-pound Smith is that kind of project prospect. He has the wingspan of a 7-footer, and also the lean frame that could keep him from ever having the power needed to survive in the NFL. With his mobility, Smith can glide into space and take on second-level defenders, but his lack of balance and play strength was evident in college.

Sixth round (No. 210): Arkansas DL Jonathan Marshall

Marshall, who didn’t start until his redshirt senior season, might never develop into anything more than a rotational lineman. At 6-3, 310 pounds, he’s more explosive than he is strong. His effectiveness tended to wane in the second half of games. But his 29 pressures led all SEC interior defensive linemen, according to PFF, and he could be well served by moving from nose tackle to a three-technique spot, aligned over the outside shoulder of opposing guards.

2021 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots trade up for QB Mac Jones, Cincinnati Bengals take WR Ja’Marr Chase - Sam Monson

27. BALTIMORE RAVENS: C LANDON DICKERSON, ALABAMA

This isn’t a tremendously exciting pick, but the Baltimore franchise understands the power of solidity on the offensive line, particularly after last season in which the group took a step backward, causing the offense to take a step back.

Dickerson tore his ACL in the SEC Championship game, but that isn’t the fearsome injury it once was for players, and he should be ready to roll as a rookie. His PFF grade until that injury this season was an excellent 91.3, and he could go a long way toward propelling Baltimore’s offensive line and offense as a whole back to where it was.