Now that the Super Bowl is officially in to books, we can finally lay the 2018 NFL season to rest. Though this year gave us some particularly memorable football, fanbases everywhere are already looking ahead — specifically at the draft and all the hope and excitement that comes with it.
With that in mind, Luke Easterling of Draft Wire took an updated look at the draft this week, releasing a four-round mock draft on Tuesday. This particular mock has the Baltimore Ravens and new general manager Eric DeCosta splurging on offense and springing for a first-round receiver.
First-round: No. 22 | N’Keal Harry | WR | Arizona State
“The Lamar Jackson era has officially begun in Baltimore, and the Ravens need to build a better supporting cast around their new franchise quarterback,” wrote Easterling. “First on the list? Finding him a true No. 1 receiver, with the big frame and complete skill set Harry brings to the table.”
With Lamar Jackson now the franchise quarterback in Baltimore, it only makes sense to build around him and give him choice weapons — something the team failed to do with outgoing quarterback Joe Flacco. Given the state of the Ravens’ receivers room and the poor free agent marker at wide receiver this offseason, opting to take a wide receiver at No. 22 makes perfect sense for Baltimore.
In analyzing the Arizona state product, our own Matthew Stevens called Harry a “fast, physical [receiver with] good hands” who “ticks a lot of the boxes you’d want for a wide receiver.” Be that as it may, it’s still up to the Ravens to properly develop those intangibles and make him a productive receiver at the next level — something that past Baltimore draft blunders have shown is easier said than done.
Third-round – No. 85 | Garrett Bradbury | OL | North Carolina State
Though he came to college as a tight end by trade, the center profiles as one of the more polished offensive linemen in this year’s draft class. A consensus All-American in 2018 and reigning winner of the Rimington Trophy — award given to college football’s best center — Bradbury’s credentials are second to none. In their assessment of collegiate linemen, Bradbury graded out as Pro Football Focus’s second-best center for 2018.
With the Ravens struggling to find a suitable replacement for Ryan Jensen — who left the team after the 2017 season in free agency — Bradbury profiles as an intriguing plug-and-play prospect who could potentially start from the get-go, much like Baltimore offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. did this past season.
Fourth-round – No. 116 | Terry Beckner, Jr. | DL | Missouri
Though he offers great potential, Beckner would be somewhat of a project pick, as his collegiate career has been characterized by great highs and terrible lows.
After starting out his time in Missouri with a bang, earning freshman All-American and All-SEC honors in 2015, his rookie season was cut short by an ACL season. Another ACL injury — this time in his other leg — derailed his sophomore season too. An arrest and subsequent suspension for marijuana possession that same year only further complicated matters for Beckner.
On the other hand, Beckner at his peak was one of college football’s top linemen. In 2017, Beckner posted career-highs in tackles (38), tackles for loss (11.0), sacks (7.0) and quarterback pressures (5). For this exceptional junior campaign — where he tied for the SEC lead in sacks among interior linemen — Beckner drew some comparisons to former Missouri defender Sheldon Richardson.
What version of Beckner the Ravens would get is anyone’s guess. However, betting on Beckner could be a smart, calculated risk in the fourth round. With Baltimore already fielding a respectable defensive front, Beckner could be a great developmental prospect to stick in the back end of the rotation while he tries to make the leap to the next level.
