With the 2020 NFL Draft going all-digital thanks to social distancing from the coronavirus, things could get a little interesting this year. While picking exactly what any single team will do in the draft is a fool’s errand, the turbulence of this year’s draft make it even harder to predict. To try and narrow down what the Baltimore Ravens might do, we’ve created a dueling mock draft.
Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator to pick for the 31 other teams, Kevin and I looked at what prospects were still available when Baltimore was on the clock through the first four rounds. These were the picks we each made for the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.
1st round (No. 28)
Matt: LB Patrick Queen, LSU
Inside linebacker might be Baltimore’s most pressing need right now. While the position has gotten less valuable over time with defenses playing more dime, the Ravens are probably one of the few teams that could still use a true three-down linebacker. Queen would be one of the best answers to that hole.
Queen is a smart, fast and rangy linebacker that can drop back into coverage as well as come down in run support and lay the hammer. He’s an immediate starter with legitimate Pro Bowl capability, which is impressive to find this late in the first round. That’s too much to pass up, regardless of what other needs might exist.
Kevin: EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Epenesa would be a great selection at 28 for the Ravens. Due to a poor performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, it seems he’s fallen a bit from the top-20 pick he was supposed to be, but he still presents great value. Epenesa can play both defensive end and EDGE, where Baltimore can experiment with him in multiple different positions on the defense. He can also be insurance incase one of the Ravens new defensive linemen gets injured. He’s long, powerful, instinctive, and dominates at the point of attack. He truly screams “Raven”.
2nd round (No. 55)
Matt: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
While Peoples-Jones didn’t put up the level of production one would expect, don’t fall into the trap of assuming that shows his talent level. Poor quarterback play at Michigan did him no favors and he looks to be the right piece of the puzzle for Baltimore’s offense.
Peoples-Jones is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds with decent hands and the physicality to pick up yards after the catch. But his 4.48-second 40-yard dash also points to a decent bit of speed as well, which could have him play both inside and outside depending on which matchups offensive coordinator Greg Roman wants to create. He might not be a No. 1 receiver but he’s a well-rounded option that could find plenty of targets given Baltimore’s physical style of offensive play.
He also brings a bonus as a punt returner, which the Ravens still need to find even after bringing back Chris Moore and De’Anthony Thomas this offseason.
Kevin: WR K.J. Hamler, Penn State
If the Ravens are trying to win with speed, Hamler is one of the best options out there. He fits the same mold as Marquise Brown, as a smaller receiver (5-foot-9) with elite quickness. Hamler is a nightmare to deal with in open space and can get over the top of a defense easily. Having Hamler and Brown in the same offense would open up all kinds of possibilities for Roman and the Baltimore offense.
2nd round (No. 60)
Matt: DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Even though the Ravens have completely revamped their defensive line, it’s largely a short-term answer. Half of Baltimore’s defensive line is signed only through the 2020 season with nearly all of the other half through the 2021 season. Finding a player like Davis, who can rotate in immediately, is fantastic but this pick is really about the future.
Davis is massive at 6-foot-6 and 311 pounds. That means he’s able to eat up space and allow the linebackers space to make the play in run defense. But he’s shown tons of promise as a rusher as well, with quick hands, good strength and athleticism to get his way into the backfield.
On plenty of defenses, Davis could be a Week 1 starter. But for the Ravens, they’ll be able to rotate him in and out while he develops. He has the skillset to potentially replace Derek Wolfe next year, though there are some concerns about his maturity, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Kevin: LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State
The Ravens have a need at inside linebacker and Harrison could contribute right in the middle of Baltimore’s defense from Week 1. He’s a physical tackler, can get off of blocks exceptionally well, and has a strong football IQ. He also can develop into a good cover linebacker under the right coaching.
3rd round (No. 92)
Matt: TE/WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
Claypool definitely impressed at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, potentially putting together the best overall performance in Indianapolis of all the draft prospects. He’s built like a tight end at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds with the strength and run blocking skills to go along with it. His speed and catch-in-traffic ability make him an even more intriguing option as a big slot receiver or as a hybrid receiver and tight end.
Claypool has everything the Ravens would want out of a receiver in the middle of the field. He’ll catch the football, lower his shoulder and deliver as much pain as he gets and offer enough speed to occasionally be run on deep routes. After letting Seth Roberts go in free agency, Claypool would immediately fill his role for Baltimore with a ton more upside.
Kevin: TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
After trading Hayden Hurst, the Ravens will most likely be looking to draft a tight end to compete with Charles Scarff for the third tight end job. Hopkins is a great route runner and also fights hard as a blocker. He makes contested catches and would be a surefire threat in Baltimore’s offense alongside Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle.
3rd round (No. 106)
Matt: EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah
Not the most physically outstanding pass rusher in this draft, Anae gets the job done thanks to a high motor and technique. Like most edge defenders, Anae needs to become a better edge setter in the run game, but he’s got the physical tools necessary to play that role with some development there.
Anae has a limited upside but is the type of hard-working player the Ravens love to have on defense. He should be an immediate contributor for Baltimore and with more time and strength, he could become a three-down outside linebacker.
Kevin: EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah
Anae has been a bit underrated throughout this whole draft process, but he shouldn’t be. He is a tough competitor who is extremely fluid and has the burst out of his stance to stun some offensive linemen. He was the heart and soul of the Utah defense, and should bring that leadership to Baltimore should the Ravens take a chance on him.
4th round (No. 129)
Matt: OL Solomon Kindley, Georgia
I’m actually shocked Kindley lasted this long. Though this isn’t the deepest or best draft class for interior offensive linemen, Kindley is considered one of the best run blockers in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, with his massive size (6-foot-3 and 337 pounds), Kindley isn’t very agile. Luckily for Baltimore, they now run more of a power run scheme and just ask their linemen to take their man to the opposite goal post on those plays, which Kindley can do often.
Where there are bigger concerns is in pass protection. With inconsistent agility, Kindley could struggle when pass blocking. However, being sandwiched between a solid starter at center and a Pro Bowl tackle, some of those concerns could be less severe than they’d be on other teams. Kindley could still use to develop better technique on pass protection to help overcome his agility issues but as a draft pick, he’ll have the time to do that.
Considering the Ravens are looking for a replacement for Marshal Yanda, Kindley would be tossed into the competition for the job and given a legitimate chance to start Week 1.
Kevin: OL Solomon Kindley, Georgia
Yanda’s retirement left a big hole in the Ravens’ offensive line and Baltimore will need to find an heir, either on the roster or through the draft. In this case, picking up another guard to bolster the Ravens’ depth is never a bad thing and Kindley could compete for a starting job immediately.
Kindley is a massive offensive lineman who is extremely strong. He anchors well while having good pop in his hands, making him good for the system that Baltimore runs.
4th round (No. 134)
Matt: TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
After trading Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, the Ravens have a need for another tight end. As I profiled immediately after the trade, Baltimore could look to find a great blocker and allow Nick Boyle to do more in the receiving game or they could find a great receiver to push Boyle back to blocking primarily. In Okwuegbunam, the Ravens would get a great receiving threat to pair with Mark Andrews and Boyle.
It’s funny that Okwuegbunam actually compares favorably to Andrews, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. He’s big at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds with solid speed (4.49-second 40-yard dash). Just like Andrews, Okwuegbunam has enough athleticism and route running to separate on short routes as well as the straight-line speed to be a deep threat with great ball-tracking and hands to make the most of those targets. He’s a mismatch waiting to happen that defenses will have to carefully account for.
However, just like Andrews, blocking is a concern and he probably won’t be asked to do much of that in the NFL initially. He also has a number of injuries over his time at Missouri that could scare teams from grabbing him too early.
Kevin: DT McTelvin Agim, Arkansas
Although the Ravens have already addressed their interior defensive line this offseason, they’ll probably be looking to add some more youth. Agim is a player who specializes in getting to the quarterback from the interior. He’s a phenomenal athlete that can penetrate gaps extremely quickly and is just what Baltimore is looking for.
