There are a few draft experts that everyone follows and listens to what they have to say. ESPN’s Todd McShay is one of those guys. With the 2019 NFL draft order confirmed after Super Bowl LIII, McShay put out his second mock draft and has the Baltimore Ravens grabbing their new top wide receiver.
McShay mocked Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to the Ravens at their No. 22 selection.
“The Ravens definitely upgraded their receiving a bit this season, but they still lack a real game-changer. Metcalf missed a chunk of time this season with a neck injury, but he’s a big, vertical threat. He’d give Lamar Jackson a reliable option, especially in the red zone.”
Metcalf is considered by some to be the top wide receiver in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s the second wide receiver off the board in McShay’s mock draft, falling behind Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown.
Metcalf has some question marks surrounding him right now. He had suffered a scary neck injury last season that required surgery but has been cleared to resume football activities. If Metcalf can clear Baltimore’s medical tests, it’s easy to see why the Ravens would want him.
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Metcalf has the size of a premier wide receiver and the speed to go along with it. He’s a well-rounded prospect that could be both a deep threat and used inside. As we saw from his time at Ole Miss, Metcalf could make an immediate impact in the red zone as well, where he had 12 touchdowns over the last two seasons in just 19 games.
With John Brown set to hit free agency and Michael Crabtree a potential cap casualty, Baltimore is in need of more wide receivers. Grabbing one with so much potential early on could help fix their wide receiver woes finally and give quarterback Lamar Jackson the weapon around him to succeed.
The 2019 NFL draft starts on April 25 and runs through April 27. Here’s a full breakdown of the Ravens’ draft order as it stands before any trades or compensatory selections they might get.
