The first big wave of free agency is over in the NFL. Teams have picked over the top options available to them and a bunch of trades have taken place to fill immediate needs. While there will be plenty of more signings to happen between now and the 2020 NFL Draft, it isn’t likely to really affect how most teams are going to pick.
That’s certainly the case for the Baltimore Ravens, who have used free agency and trades to revamp their defensive line but haven’t addressed any of their other needs thus far. That gives us a really good idea of what Baltimore will be targeting once they’re on the clock in the first three rounds.
With that in mind, I went to NFL Mock Draft Database and used their mock draft simulator to see what options might be available for the Ravens come draft day. In this mock draft, I went with the best option remaining on their big board at outside linebacker, inside linebacker and wide receiver regardless of who else was available or where I might have them rated personally. It led to a bunch of really great picks that fit well but also some head-scratching picks too.
Let’s take a look at which prospects I was handed and do some quick analysis on them.
1st round (No. 28): LB Patrick Queen, LSU
One of Baltimore’s biggest remaining needs is at inside linebacker. Though the Ravens are back in talks with Patrick Onwuasor to potentially return, they’ll need to find a long-term option in the middle of their defense. With how little Baltimore uses their base package, finding a rangy inside linebacker who can cover and still stuff the run is pretty important unless the Ravens want to rotate guys in and out to fill the role.
Queen is that guy and getting him at the end of the first round is one of Baltimore’s best scenarios. Queen is a smart player with good instincts and can lead, which is something Onwuasor struggled with last season, leading to his demotion from the starting role. While not the biggest linebacker in the world, the Ravens boosting the beef in the trenches should allow him to use his speed and agility to scrape around and make plays all over the field.
Queen is an immediate starter in Baltimore and could very well be one of the final pieces of a historically good defense.
2nd round (No. 55): EDGE Josh Uche, Michigan
Uche was the best player available at No. 55 and just like Queen, he’s a perfect fit for the Ravens thanks to his well-rounded skill set.
Uche is a versatile defender that can crash in to set the edge, play the flats and get after the quarterback. He can be moved all over the field, which will come in handy given defensive coordinator Don Martindale’s aggressive scheme that likes to attack from unique places. It’s that type of versatility Baltimore loves out of their edge defenders for exactly that reason.
It’s easy to see Uche start immediately for the Ravens but even if he’s used as a rotational option early, he’ll find plenty of snaps as a rookie.
2nd round (No. 60): EDGE Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Weaver is another solid edge defender that makes sense for Baltimore. Even though Uche was taken just a few picks earlier, the Ravens have a desperate need for more help at outside linebacker. Matthew Judon might be tagged but he isn’t locked up to a long-term deal yet and could still be traded, and behind him is very little in the way of functional depth.
Much like Uche, Weaver can be used in a bunch of different spots on the field. He can be tasked with setting the edge, providing outside pressure or even getting after the quarterback from inside. Unlike Uche, however, he’s not quite as athletic which limits a little of what he can do beyond that and might have him spend a lot of time at defensive end.
Still, Weaver is a weapon that will find meaningful snaps as a rookie with a good upside to develop into even more.
3rd round (No. 92): LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
The board has lined up beautifully so far for the Ravens but this is a pick that I’m just not that big of a fan of. While Gay is certainly a plus athlete that has plenty of speed and agility with a non-stop motor, he can also be slow processing on the field. That leads to Gay being more chaotic as a player, which can backfire for a defense just as often as provide amazing highlights.
While I think Gay is an intriguing prospect that makes some sense in Baltimore’s aggressive defensive scheme, I don’t think he’s a top-100 player either and believe he can be had somewhere in the fourth or even fifth round. But I can also see how a solid showing at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine might have pushed him up many boards and could see a team reach for him in the third round. Still, he was the top-rated option on the board for me here so I grabbed him.
I do think Gay has a high upside and if he can slow things down mentally, he can find a great enforcer role in the middle of a defense and be used as an attacker on blitzes. But initially, Gay is likely to be relegated to special teams while he hopefully develops into more with more playing time.
3rd round (No. 106): WR Devin Duvernay, Texas
If the Ravens want to go the way of the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ll be looking for even more speed at wide receiver to compliment Marquise Brown. In Duvernay, that’s exactly what they’re getting, with his 4.39-second 40-yard dash providing another tantalizing deep threat for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Duvernay adds great hands and solid after-the-catch ability to his straight-line speed, which makes him even more intriguing as an option in the slot. However, it’s route running where Duvernay really struggles, which will make it harder for him to see the field as often.
To get the most out of Duvernay as a rookie, offensive coordinator Greg Roman will have to get him open in space. That means using more picks and quick routes like slants to take advantage of his athleticism and speed. But Duvernay projects more as a developmental option for Baltimore in my mind. He’ll learn loads sitting behind Willie Snead on the depth chart initially and could potentially be his heir in 2021 when Snead becomes a free agent.
