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After picking twice in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Ravens had to sit out the entirety of the second round after trading the No. 58 pick to the Chiefs as part of the Orlando Brown Jr. trade.
With the No. 104 pick, the Ravens selected cornerback Brandon Stephens from SMU. Baltimore continues to add to the cornerback position.
we got a GREAT ball player even better dude.
— pro. (@jamesproche3) May 1, 2021
Brandon Stephens is a big potential guy who’s all around the football as a cornerback, and could move to safety. However, at No. 104, it seems like a bit of a reach
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) May 1, 2021
With the No. 104 overall pick (third round), the Ravens select SMU cornerback Brandon Stephens.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) May 1, 2021
The former running back was a two-year starter and has the size that the Ravens like at the position (6-1, 213). Stephens has only one career interception.
Brandon Stephens is a very good athlete. Think he's a lot like LJarius Sneed last year in that he played out of position some but his athleticism will be more at home in the NFL. #Ravens are good at this draft thing.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 1, 2021
Haven’t watched any Stephens! Another 9+ RAS tester. pic.twitter.com/1ubTzdRXPY
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) May 1, 2021
With the No. 94 pick, the Ravens selected guard Ben Cleveland from Georgia.
Cleveland is a gigantic human being at 6’6” and over 330 pounds. Cleveland has a chance to compete for the starting left guard position if the Ravens do in fact move Bradley Bozeman to center. With the Bulldogs, Cleveland only allowed 13 pressures on over 600 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. Baltimore continues to add to the trenches on both sides of the ball.
The pick was announced by former Raven Jacoby Jones, who had fun with the Browns fans in attendance.
“Ya’ll can booo me all ya’ll want, but ya gotta accept it - I got a ring.”
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) May 1, 2021
Never change, Jacoby Jones. pic.twitter.com/AYBNN8Ig03
Jacoby Jones is great.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 1, 2021
Ravens’ newest guard Ben Cleveland across four seasons at Georgia:
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) May 1, 2021
Pass-blocking snaps: 741
QBs hits allowed: 3
QB sacks: 1 pic.twitter.com/ts7SNJ82Gj
The great @BrandonThornNFL spotlighted these five plays to show what Ben Cleveland could do in the NFL.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) May 1, 2021
Before the draft, he called the Ravens one of the best fits for Big Country’s skill sets. pic.twitter.com/o3Duaw2dVK
Ben Cleveland (No. 74) is a mauler in the run game and fits into what the Ravens do on offense pic.twitter.com/6TSoGPHEKG
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) May 1, 2021
Ben Cleveland likely competes for starting LG job from Day One. That again would lead to Bradley Bozeman moving over to center. Ravens OL starting to come into focus. However, still have to figure out the RT question. A veteran signing there seems likely.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 1, 2021
Another "Big Country" in Baltimore❗️❗️
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 1, 2021
Welcome to the #RavensFlock, @BenCleveland74 pic.twitter.com/f70KaF4GMF
Teams tell you what they think of their roster on draft weekend.
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) May 1, 2021
They were not happy with the OG play last year and theyr'e making moves to fix it.
One way to look at it: We're giving up on guys
Another way to look at it: We're looking to have the best posible roster NOW
Ben Cleveland: "I definitely felt that I was pretty high on their radar from our meetings and stuff like that. Emotions were definitely running high."
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 1, 2021
Ben Cleveland on heading to Baltimore: "There's no place I'd rather be."
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) May 1, 2021
He says he "fell in love" with the Ravens' coaching staff through the process. But he didn't know they were coming for him in the third round.
Ben Cleveland didn't have a lot of places where he fit based on my report on him, but Baltimore was absolutely one of them. Plus run-blocker right away in a gap system who provides an alert, physical presence in pass-protection. #Ravens
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) May 1, 2021
Summary & report: https://t.co/6MERdV0fB6 pic.twitter.com/Ws0CsmAt7x