The Baltimore Ravens’ offseason began a little earlier than many would have liked. But it allows us a little extra time to look at the future and what could potentially happen.
Take the NFL draft for instance. It’s the spot Baltimore has chiefly found talent to stock their roster and is the reason why they made it as far as they did last season. With the 2020 NFL draft quickly approaching, there’s no better time than now to take our first real dip into a mock draft of our own. And with the No. 28 pick, I should be able to find some really good help.
I used FanSpeak’s mock draft simulator. Though it doesn’t include any potential compensatory picks and there still being teams in the postseason means the order isn’t set, this is an initial taste of what Baltimore could be looking at in the first three rounds.
First round – No. 28
EDGE Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Baltimore’s top offseason priority is adding more pass rush talent, without question. While defensive coordinator Don Martindale used blitzes to create pressure, the Ravens were woefully lacking in sacks last season. With outside linebacker Matthew Judon one of the team’s 21 pending free agents this offseason, it makes it an even bigger potential need for Baltimore and one I wanted to address right off the bat.
Luckily, the draft board worked itself out and the best player still remaining was the talented Lewis.
Lewis can stand as an outside linebacker or put his hand in the dirt as a rush end, which will fit the Ravens’ diverse scheme well. He’s got prototypical size and speed to be a talented pass rusher. While he’s still a little raw, the flashes are there for him to be an early contributor with a high upside.
Second round – No. 60
LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State
One of the other biggest holes on Baltimore’s defense is at inside linebacker. Patrick Onwuasor ended up being a disappointment last season, causing the Ravens to get two free agents off their couches in the middle of the season to replace him. With Onwuasor and Josh Bynes set to hit free agency, there’s even less depth there than there was to begin last season.
Harrison dropped right into my lap in the second round and I just couldn’t say no. He fits the mold of Ravens linebackers — big, fast and aggressive. Harrison does a good job shedding blocks, finding the ball carrier and making them pay. He has the speed to be a factor in the passing game as well but he’s still developing as a coverage linebacker.
Harrison would be an immediate starter on a defense that desperately needs an answer in the middle of the field. While he might not play all three downs yet, there’s enough upside to believe he could within a year or two.
Third round – No. 92
DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Baltimore’s defensive line is really only tasked with holding up the offensive line so the linebackers and pass rushers can do their jobs to make the big plays. But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t do more and it would be nice to see more players added to the unit who can generate some pass rush as well.
By adding Davis in the third round, the Ravens would get a versatile defensive lineman who is big enough and can grow roots in the run game but is agile enough to knife upfield and generate pressure from either inside or the end.
The Ravens didn’t keep a lot of defensive linemen on their roster this season before having to go grab a few in the middle of the season. With Michael Pierce among the pending free agents and Brandon Williams a potential cap casualty after the 2020 season, this gives Baltimore some immediate help and insurance for the future.
