The Baltimore Ravens might have gotten a heck of a steal late in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. With the No. 85 selection, the Ravens picked Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson.
Baltimore came into the 2019 NFL draft needing to grab at least one pass rusher. Following the loss of linebackers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in free agency, the Ravens are left with just three outside linebackers on the roster before Ferguson’s selection.
But what type of player did Baltimore just pick? According to Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Ferguson’s NFL comparison is Washington Redskins outside linebacker Preston Smith.
“Ferguson, the FBS all-time leader in sacks with 45, doesn’t win with incredible speed around the edge. He’s a powerful technician with several different moves allowing him to beat blockers and get to the quarterback. Smith, who starred for the Redskins over the last four seasons before signing a four-year, $52 million deal with the Packers this off-season, has the same kind of profile.”
Farrar had Ferguson as his 42nd best player in this draft. Considering the Ravens selected him 43 picks after that, it’s hard to argue with Ferguson being considered a steal.
When looking at Smith’s career in Washington, his 24.5 sacks over four years isn’t astounding. However, Smith is more of a three-down linebacker for the Redskins, playing 80.74% of the defense’s snaps in 2018. If Ferguson can produce eight sacks as a rookie like Smith did in his first year in the NFL, Baltimore will be tickled.
