The calendar has formally flipped to April, which could solely suggest one issue: It’s time to organize for the NFL draft.
The primary spherical begins April 27 in Kansas Metropolis, nevertheless until then, the Ravens have rather a lot 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 could look reasonably rather a lot completely completely 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 enhance the scale of that haul, nevertheless the Ravens are assured at least one additional first-rounder this yr if Jackson indicators a proposal with one different workforce sooner than the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.
As we get nearer to the draft, The Baltimore Solar will take a look at which players at each place of need (quarterback, broad receiver, cornerback, line of protection, edge rusher and offensive line) may presumably be accessible inside the early, middle and late rounds when the Ravens are on the clock.
With veteran chief Calais Campbell now in Atlanta and reliable contributors Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul nonetheless free brokers, the road of protection is ready for a youth movement.
Early: Clemson’s Bryan Bresee
Terps cornerback Deonte Banks isn’t the one Maryland native who could tempt the Ravens inside the first spherical.
Bresee (pronounced bruh-ZEE) turned the No. 1 complete recruit inside the nation at Damascus Excessive sooner than committing to powerhouse Clemson, the place he burst onto the scene as a freshman. He started 10 video video games in 2020, recording 23 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 sacks to earn first-team All-Atlantic Coast Convention and freshman All-American honors, nevertheless he carried out solely 4 video video games the subsequent season sooner than struggling a torn ACL.
In the course of the middle of ultimate season, Bresee left the Tigers to be alongside together with his family after the lack of lifetime of his youthful sister, Ella, who handed away from thoughts most cancers on the age of 15. He moreover battled a kidney an an infection and a shoulder hurt that later required surgical process nevertheless nonetheless earned second-team All-ACC honors, recording 15 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss and three 1/2 sacks in 10 video video games.
Whereas the 21-year-old Bresee is no longer thought-about a top-10 prospect given his hurt historic previous and restricted college manufacturing, he nonetheless affords tremendous potential. At 6 toes 5 and 298 kilos, Bresee ran the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds, recorded a 29-inch vertical leap and delivered 22 reps on the bench press to rank sixth amongst defensive tackles on the NFL scouting combine in athleticism score.
When he was on the sector, Bresee put these bodily devices to good use. Whereas analysts say his methodology lacks refinement, he’s been praised for his instincts and expertise to every anchor in opposition to double teams whereas defending the run and push the pocket as a go rusher. He’s moreover versatile, lining up at various spots alongside the Tigers’ loaded line of protection. His potential to emphasize the quarterback might be most intriguing, having delivered a career-best 82.0 pass-rushing grade this earlier fall, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus.
Given his pedigree and flashes of elite play, Bresee could present to be a worthy funding for a Ravens workforce that ought to get youthful on the road of protection.
Center: Texas’ Moro Ojomo
Whereas the tweener label can usually be a detriment inside the draft evaluation course of, it might present to be a power for Ojomo.
At 6-3 and 292 kilos, Ojomo could also be larger suited lining up on the sting considerably than the within, nevertheless his power defending the run speaks for itself. In his redshirt senior yr at Texas, Ojomo earned an elite 91.4 run safety grade, in accordance with PFF. Mixed with a dominant 17.8% go rush win cost — how usually he beat a block inside 2.5 seconds whereas pressuring the quarterback — he earned a 90.6 complete grade, eighth amongst all Division I inside defenders. In 376 snaps, he set occupation highs in defensive stops (19) and entire pressures (26).
With 34 1/2-inch arms, a keen understanding of leverage and the tenacity to play until the whistle, Ojomo is a tricky venture for offensive linemen. Nonetheless, analysts say his stiff lower half and lack of explosiveness are a precedence, with Ojomo perhaps relying an extreme quantity of on his upper-body power to beat blockers on the road of scrimmage.
After starting three seasons in college, Ojomo, who was born in Nigeria and moved to the US when he was 7 years earlier, is barely 21. That combination of youth and experience may presumably be notably fascinating for the Ravens as regards to restocking their roster spherical what may presumably be a worthwhile extension for Jackson.
Late: Oklahoma’s Jalen Redmond
If the Ravens want to take a large swing on the end of the draft, a former edge rusher-turned-interior defensive lineman may presumably be a worthy alternative.
With a standout effectivity on the scouting combine, the 6-2, 291-pound Redmond ranked third amongst defensive tackles in athleticism score. He accomplished with the perfect outcomes at his place inside the vertical leap, broad leap, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle; solely Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey, a projected first-round select, beat him inside the 40-yard dash, working the quickest time by a defensive kind out since 2003. That’s spectacular for a participant who switched positions and added virtually 60 kilos in college.
Nonetheless, analysts say that athleticism doesn’t current up enough on tape. Though Redmond produced robust numbers all through his college occupation, recording 71 tackles, 31 1/2 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over three seasons, he wasn’t dominant. Regardless of recording the second-fastest 10-yard reduce up and the fourth-most bench press reps amongst defensive tackles on the combo, Redmond performs with heavy toes and inconsistent leverage, analysts say. For all his bodily devices, there’s a question whether or not or not he can beat blocks continuously on the next diploma.
Nonetheless, these devices are fascinating, notably late inside the draft. Even when Redmond solely turns right into a rotational participant for the Ravens, that’s a welcome finish consequence for a Day 3 select.
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