As the Baltimore Ravens’ needs continue to change with every move in the offseason, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on the 2020 NFL Draft. A free-agent signing or a roster cut will alter what the Ravens do come April and the draft. With the latest round of moves that included cutting safety Tony Jefferson, I took another stab at a comprehensive mock draft for Baltimore.
I used the Draft Network’s mock draft simulator with their predictive big board. In this mock draft, I simply followed my own draft board and picked the best player still available, as long as it makes any real sense. That ultimately meant picking prospects that didn’t necessarily fill an immediate need but also not reaching for a prospect that would have either. It’s the mentality we often see the Ravens utilize come draft day, so it’s hopefully a little more accurate than solely going after needs with each pick.
We kick things off with a surprise in the first round.
1st round (No. 28) – S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
I got the best safety in this draft class. While not an immediate need thanks to Baltimore having both Earl Thomas and Chuck Clark under contract, it’s the type of move we’ve seen the Ravens make before when drafting players like cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
McKinney is a great all-around safety. He’s an absolute thumper when coming down to make the tackle but with textbook technique so guys don’t typically get out of his grasp. McKinney also has a decent amount of range and can play a more typical centerfield, free-safety type role.
Most other mock drafts have McKinney going in the top-20 picks pretty easily with some having him as a top-10 option. I think McKinney would start on a good number of teams in the NFL from Week 1 of his rookie season but letting him sit and learn behind Clark and Thomas would be a huge win for both him and the Ravens. It’s a move that could really pay off in 2021, allowing Baltimore to part ways with Thomas and gain $6 million on the salary cap, according to Over The Cap.
It might not be the dominant pass rusher Ravens fans were hoping for here but without either trading up or reaching for a player with a second-round grade, the board just didn’t fall that way.
No. 28 / No. 60 / No. 92 / No. 119 / No. 124
2nd round (No. 60) – WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
Wide receiver is just so deep in this draft class. Aiyuk could be a borderline first-round pick in many other drafts but this year, he’s pretty firmly in the second round. Still, he’d be a great fit for Baltimore’s scheme as another speed option deep or a shifty slot receiver inside.
Aiyuk has been knocked for inconsistencies in both route running and in catching the football but his upside is undeniable. He’s a freak athlete that should test well at the NFL Scouting Combine and bring about thoughts of game-changing big plays whenever the ball goes his way.
As a rookie, Aiyuk will likely be reserved to specific offensive packages and a good fit as a return specialist. But with a little time and development, Aiyuk has all the tools to become a serious weapon that can play both inside and outside.
No. 28 / No. 60 / No. 92 / No. 119 / No. 124
3rd round (No. 92) – EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah
This is where the pass-rushing talent finally started to line up for me in this mock draft. Anae might not be a special talent with freak athleticism but he’s the exact type of guy Baltimore loves to draft and develop.
Anae is a hard-working, high-motor prospect who has a good bit of aggression at the line of scrimmage. While NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein noted Anae struggles a bit to defend the run, he has the mentality and physical tools to be a real asset there but will need to develop the skill set as a pro.
If the Ravens don’t find a bunch of free-agent help at outside linebacker, Anae is likely firmly in the mix to start as a rookie. Even if Baltimore is better set at the position by Week 1, Anae is going to be a rotational player in his first season with the upside to become a consistent starter there.
No. 28 / No. 60 / No. 92 / No. 119 / No. 124
4th round (No. 119) – EDGE Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Like I noted with the Anae pick, this is where the pass rushers opened up for me. And with the position being such a huge need for Baltimore as well as the draft board sitting nicely, it made perfect sense to double-dip here.
In a way, Jennings is the balance to the Anae pick from the third round. Jennings is a much better run defender, having the size and strength to fight with offensive linemen to set the edge and finish tackles. However, he’ll need more development to improve as a pass rusher.
Much like Anae, Jennings could fairly easily land a starting spot as a rookie thanks to the lack of depth the Ravens have. But even if he doesn’t start, he’ll get plenty of snaps in 2020 as a rotational player to keep guys fresh while he develops. Getting that out of a fourth-round pick would be considered a win in any draft.
No. 28 / No. 60 / No. 92 / No. 119 / No. 124
4th round (No. 124) – EDGE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
Clearly the Ravens have a need at outside linebacker and I’m not afraid to triple dip at the position in the 2020 NFL Draft. It helped that Willekes was still on the board for me a few picks after grabbing Jennings.
At this point in the draft, prospects are either physically gifted but haven’t put it all together yet or are limited athletes who exceed expectations — potential vs consistency. For Willekes, it’s the latter as he’s just an average athlete who has probably hit his ceiling already. However, with 23.5 sacks, 49 tackles for loss and 228 total tackles over three years, Willekes has been a highly productive player at Michigan State.
Willekes is at his best when you send him to get into the backfield to either defend the run or go after the quarterback. His limited athleticism means he isn’t a great option to drop back into coverage or ask to scrape down to make plays. That naturally lowers his ceiling as a prospect and likely makes him a consistent and highly productive rotational player in the NFL in certain packages.
