The Senior Bowl is one last chance for NFL scouts and general managers to get a live look at draft prospects practicing and playing before the 2020 NFL draft. A bunch of the top players in the country all facing off against one another, it’s a great test for some prospects that might have been previously ignored or undervalued.
As happens every year, a handful of prospects really shined above the rest and likely helped their draft stock. With general manager Eric DeCosta now in charge of the Baltimore Ravens, those that drew the spotlight could draw the attention of the team come draft night. Let’s take a look at seven standouts at the 2020 Senior Bowl that the Ravens should be interested in drafting.
EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah
Anae proved how athletic and disruptive he can be after posting three sacks in the Senior Bowl, including two on mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts. Even when Anae wasn’t registering sacks, he was in the quarterbacks’ faces and creating big plays elsewhere like this interception that came from his pressure.
Pass rusher is easily the biggest concern for Baltimore heading into this offseason. With how Anae performed in live game action, he might have cemented himself as a Day 2 prospect Baltimore can grab and immediately use as a situation pass rusher.
WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
Claypool is massive at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds and showed that he knew how to use that size to his advantage in the Senior Bowl. While many are comparing Claypool to former teammate Miles Boykin, but Claypool actually has better hands than the current Ravens wide receiver.
If Baltimore is looking for a prospect in a similar mold, who can be a red-zone threat, Claypool might just be on Baltimore’s radar.
WR K.J. Hill, Arkansas
Hill was considered the starting wide receiver on Draft Wire’s All-Senior Bowl team this year thanks to impeccable route running, hands and speed. Considering the Ravens need a polished route runner that can consistently catch the football, Hill might have made an impression on the Ravens’ front office enough to be worthy of a draft pick.
DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Kinlaw finished his Senior Bowl trip a little early after suffering a little tendinitis in his knee, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. But it only took two days of practice for Kinlaw to really impress and turn some heads at the Senior Bowl.
Per Luke Easterling of Draft Wire, Kinlaw was unblockable on the first day of practice and looks to have cemented his top-15 status in the 2020 NFL draft. Though that’s well before the Ravens’ No. 28 pick, some question marks along the defensive line might make them interested in trading up for Kinlaw if he begins a fall.
DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Gallimore might have been overshadowed by Kinlaw but that doesn’t mean he didn’t impress all the same. After some initial concerns that Gallimore couldn’t be very disruptive, he silenced any critics at the Senior Bowl by regularly getting into the backfield.
Using his athleticism and high motor, Gallimore proved he had enough pass-rush talent to draw some interest from teams needing help upfront. If Kinlaw is truly out of Baltimore’s reach, they’d love to have a guy like Gallimore that can do this to offensive linemen:
WR Van Jefferson, Florida
As I’ve already noted, the Ravens need a polished route runner who can create separation without having to resort to blazing speed on a “go” route. And Baltimore might not need to look much further than Jefferson in that case.
Jefferson was named one of the Senior Bowl’s players of the week after showing great burst and fantastic route running to get open on short-to-intermediate plays. When the ball was thrown his way, he also showed he was able to catch — a concern after Florida’s poor quarterback play this season.
EDGE Zach Baun, Wisconsin
Baun has been on the edge of the first round up until this point but some analysts and scouts might have had concerns about his ability to win consistently and his pass-rushing moves. During practices, Baun showed a nice spin move and regularly got in the backfield.
Showing a little more prowess as a rush linebacker might have pushed Baun more firmly into Day 1 of the 2020 NFL draft. Considering he’s a guy I’ve mocked to Baltimore previously, that might be perfect for their No. 28 pick.
