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With the 31st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Ravens selected edge rusher Jayson Oweh. Oweh did not have any sacks in 2020 at Penn State, but he boasts freakish athleticism and high upside. With the loss of Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency, Baltimore needed to address the position early in the draft.
The @Ravens got an absolute stud in Jayson Oweh. Don’t be fooled by the no sacks story line. He is just an awesome disruptive football player. One of my favorite defensive guys in the draft. Ravens continue to purge the biggest baddest dudes on the planet.
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 30, 2021
if there's a team that can figure out oweh it's definitely baltimore. they're one of the few staffs that can be trusted with this pick
— charles (moderna man) mcdonald (@FourVerts) April 30, 2021
My fav picks of round 1:
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) April 30, 2021
Justin Fields to CHI
Christian Darrisaw to MIN
Greg Newsome to CLE
Rashod Bateman to BAL
Jayson Oweh to BAL
Oweh prototypical boom or bust guy. Ravens draft of pass rushers fairly brutal recently. We'll see if they can coach him up. Freakish athleticism
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2021
The #Ravens 31st pick is Jayson Oweh EDGE, Penn State
— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) April 30, 2021
- #25 ranked on PFF Big Board
- 4.36 40 time at Pro Day
- 89.7 run defense grade in 2020 (3rd among edge defenders) #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/HdXsgClnRx
#Ravens let Yannick and Judon go, replace them with Bowser and Oweh
— Eric Eager (@PFF_Eric) April 30, 2021
rinse and repeat
Ravens’ Jayson Oweh ran a 4.36 at his Pro Day
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 30, 2021
He’s 6’5” 257 lbs
pic.twitter.com/tULri1QIaY
Ravens having a great draft for 97th consecutive season.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) April 30, 2021
RD 1 | PICK 31 - Ravens: Jayson Oweh EDGE, Penn State
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 30, 2021
Oweh is one of two edge defenders in this year's class to earn a max 99 athleticism score, recording the fastest 40 (4.37 seconds), longest broad jump (11-feet, 2-inches) and fastest 3-cone (6.90 seconds) of any 2021 EDGE. pic.twitter.com/Vy2UGHwSP8
With the 27th pick, the Ravens picked wide receiver Rashod Bateman from Minnesota. General manager Eric DeCosta gives Lamar Jackson one of the best wide receivers in the draft in Bateman. Bateman is a good route-runner with good hands and will pair with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Sammy Watkins, and tight end Mark Andrews in Baltimore’s passing attack.
DeCosta may have said that he was insulted by the public perception of the Ravens’ current receivers, but his actions have said otherwise after attempting but failing to land a top receiver in free agency and now spending a first-round pick on one of the top options at the position in the draft.
The @Ravens just stole! Great pickup
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) April 30, 2021
Ravens sent out a lot of smoke - that I bought - about waiting on a WR very likely til later in draft. Bateman makes a ton of sense for them. Bigger target for Lamar Jackson. Badly needed after striking out repeatedly at this position in free agency
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2021
Rashod Bateman is an advanced route-runner with strong hands in open and contested situations.
— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) April 30, 2021
He can create separation at and away from the LOS, very smart and everything you want in a first-rounder.pic.twitter.com/lInR8uwWhp
Rashod Bateman posted a 73.8% success rate vs. man coverage and 73.3% success rate vs. press coverage in his #ReceptionPerception sample. Upside to be a true No. 1 X-receiver. This guy is a stone-cold baller.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) April 30, 2021
Profile:https://t.co/2ad3LsvPDC pic.twitter.com/CUt5kZCf3r
— Hollywood Brown (@Primetime_jet) April 30, 2021
.@Ravens @R_bateman2 has a unique set of skills. Big Fast Very good route runner. Gotta get better in passing game; this talent is an advanced student in the route running game #goldengophers #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XYpmOz6Eai
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 30, 2021
Reactions to the rest of the first round:
Inside linebacker Patrick Queen offered his reaction to the Bengals selecting LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase instead of offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
Can’t do this dance if you can’t get the ball off nah but the competition rising https://t.co/u1RvjSYEmD
— (@Patrickqueen_) April 30, 2021
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey chimed in on Alabama running back Najee Harris ending up with the Steelers.
Why has nobody picked Najee now the Steelers get him smh
— Marlon Humphrey (@marlon_humphrey) April 30, 2021