The calendar has formally flipped to April, which could solely indicate one issue: It’s time to arrange for the NFL draft.
The primary spherical begins April 27 in Kansas Metropolis, nonetheless until then, the Ravens have heaps to find out. Most notably, their contract stalemate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has requested a commerce whereas beneath the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. If he’ll get his need, the Ravens’ draft may look a lot utterly totally different.
Baltimore owns 5 picks: Nos. 22 (first spherical), 86 (third spherical), 124 (fourth spherical), 157 (fifth spherical) and 199 (sixth spherical). A blockbuster deal for Jackson would significantly improve the size of that haul, nonetheless the Ravens are assured as a minimum one further first-rounder this yr if Jackson indicators a suggestion with one different group sooner than the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.
As we get nearer to the draft, The Baltimore Solar will examine which avid gamers at each place of need (quarterback, massive receiver, cornerback, edge rusher, offensive line and line of protection) may presumably be accessible throughout the early, middle and late rounds when the Ravens are on the clock. As we speak, it’s massive receiver, a spot coach John Harbaugh has already promised the group will deal with throughout the draft.
Early: TCU’s Quentin Johnston
On this massive receiver class, Johnston is an outlier. At 6 toes 3 and 208 kilos, he affords the best combination of peak, weight and tempo of the potential first-round picks, recording the second-best athleticism ranking of any massive receiver on the NFL scouting combine. The solely draw back? He doesn’t often use these abilities to his profit.
With a 40.5-inch vertical bounce and explosive tempo, the 21-year-old Johnston has the entire bodily devices to be an elite open air receiver. He caught 60 passes for 1,067 yards and 6 touchdowns in a breakout 2022 season, nonetheless he did most of his damage by creating yards after the catch. His frequent depth of objective of 12.9 yards ranked 172nd throughout the nation, primarily based on Professional Soccer Focus, and he solely made eight contested catches.
Analysts have knocked Johnston for his incapacity to utilize his dimension to create separation and outmuscle defenders on the catch degree. Too often, he didn’t lengthen his arms or accurately time his leap to meet the ball at its highest degree on deep throws. His inconsistent fingers and lackluster route working are moreover a precedence, as he posted a poor 11.8% drop worth in 2022.
Even given his limitations, Johnston affords the elite athleticism and massive catch radius the Ravens have lacked for years at massive receiver. Whereas he may give followers flashbacks to Breshad Perriman, the disappointing 2015 first-round resolve, he’s exactly the type of participant regular supervisor Eric DeCosta should preserve taking swings at.
Center: Mississippi’s Jonathan Mingo
For a quarterback who likes to throw over the middle of the sphere as rather a lot as Jackson, Mingo is an intriguing match.
At 6-2 and 220 kilos, the 21-year-old is an imposing objective who can work out of the slot and make highly effective catches in website guests. Whereas he doesn’t present the tempo to be a dynamic deep threat, analysts say he’s an adept route runner who tracks the ball properly and picks up yards after the catch.
The biggest question for Mingo is an absence of producing, significantly in Ole Miss’ pass-happy offense beneath the route of coach Lane Kiffin. He acquired his most collaborating in time in 2022, catching 51 passes for 867 yards and 5 touchdowns to only about surpass his totals from the sooner two seasons blended.
Nonetheless, his standout athletic testing scores suggest he may want untapped potential. With a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical bounce, 10-foot-9-inch broad bounce and 22 bench press reps, Mingo ranked eighth amongst massive receivers in athleticism ranking on the scouting combine. He moreover impressed on the Senior Bowl, with senior director Jim Nagy saying that giant receiver coaches have Mingo graded elevated than quite a lot of projected first-round prospects.
If that isn’t enough, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Mingo to former Ravens star Anquan Boldin.
Late: BYU’s Puka Nacua
For a Ravens group that merely desires further playmakers on offense, the 6-2, 201-pound Nacua may very well be a worthy addition.
In his analysis, Bleacher Report’s Derrik Klassen wrote that Nacua’s “measurement, [yards-after-catch] abilities and blocking prowess may make him a difference-maker sooner quite than later” whereas evaluating the Cougars star to a “Low cost Deebo Samuel.” That form of participant may presumably be significantly priceless to new coordinator Todd Monken in an offense Harbaugh has promised will doubtless be further up-tempo and transfer further usually. The 22-year-old Nacua moreover has amount of experience carrying the ball, each on jet sweeps or lined up as a working once more.
In his second season at BYU after transferring from Washington, the Utah native was a number of the setting pleasant receivers throughout the nation, averaging 3.53 yards per route run whereas incomes the sixth-highest grade amongst wideouts, primarily based on Professional Soccer Focus. In 9 video video games, he caught 48 passes for 625 yards and 5 touchdowns — increased than what Ravens important massive receiver Damarcus Robinson accomplished in 17 contests in 2022 — and rushed 25 events for 209 yards and 5 scores.
Though he’s raw regarding the finer elements of collaborating in massive receiver after being requested to run a restricted route tree at BYU, Nacua’s athleticism and contested-catch skills present tantalizing potential.
NFL draft
Thursday, April 27, to Saturday, April 29
TV: ESPN, NFL Community
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