The Baltimore Ravens have an abundance of needs entering the 2023 NFL Draft, but they will have to restock the talent pool with just five picks, compared to 11 picks last year (and six in the fourth round alone).
Baltimore does have good reason for missing a couple of those picks, as the Ravens do not have their second-round selection (No. 56) following the midseason trade for linebacker Roquan Smith. He was well worth the lost draft pick as Smith was a perfect fit in the Ravens’ defense, and the organization rewarded him with a hefty new contract that will keep him in purple and black for the foreseeable future. Baltimore sent their fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the trade for Smith as well.
They also do not own their seventh-round choice as part of a trade package in the 2022 draft. The Ravens do own the Patriots’ fifth-round selection from the Shaun Wade trade a couple years ago.
Eric DeCosta and his predecessor Ozzie Newsome have been huge advocates of gaining extra selections through compensatory picks, but the Ravens don’t have that at their disposal this offseason. Barring any trades, they will enter the draft weekend with just those five picks.
I could absolutely see a scenario in which the Ravens trade down from No. 22 to recoup some picks lost in the Smith trade. And dare I say that a potential Lamar Jackson trade would land a massive haul of picks if the two sides can’t come to terms on a contract.
Let’s predict three players at each draft position that could be in a Ravens uniform following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Round 1, No. 22
Option 1: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Option 2: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Option 3: Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
Round 3, No. 86:
Option 1: Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
Option 2: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Option 3: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
Round 4, No. 125
Option 1: Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC
Option 2: Jonah Tavai, DL, San Diego State
Option 3: DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
Round 5, No. 159 — via New England Patriots:
Option 1: Yasir Abdullah, EDGE, Louisville
Option 2: Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska
Option 3: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia
Round 6, No. 200:
Option 1: McClendon Curtis, OT, Chattanooga
Option 2: BJ Thompson, EDGE, Stephen F. Austin
Option 3: Jake Bobo, WR, UCLA
Notes:
The Ravens like to follow their board and select the best player available, but there are three glaring needs that must be addressed in this draft: wide receiver, cornerback and pass rusher. Most of the picks reflect that.
Don’t be surprised if Baltimore trades back into the second round if doesn’t get its guy in the first. Eric DeCosta trading down to stockpile for an additional second or third-round selection in return shouldn’t shock anyone.
Secondary needs are interior offensive line (left guard), defensive line, developmental offensive lineman, running back depth and possibly backup quarterback if restricted free agent Tyler Huntley moves on.
Deonte Banks is a local talent out of Edgewood High School who fits the mold of a prototypical NFL cornerback with his size and athleticism. He has all the tools to be a first-round talent and should thrive playing for his hometown team. With Marcus Peters expected to be a salary cap casualty and the Ravens’ lofty expectations of their secondary, cornerback is their top choice of the draft.
Parker Washington is a stocky, slot receiver who can thrive over the middle for the Ravens. It’s no secret that Lamar Jackson is more effective attacking the middle of the field than the outside, so a slot receiver who is competitive after the catch would be a nice addition to the receiving corps. An outside receiver opposite Rashod Bateman is needed, but this is a weak class of not only outside receiver draftees but free agents as well.
One of my favorite mid-round targets this draft season is Andrew Vorhees. He’s a mauler as a run blocker and can play all five positions on the offensive line. Ben Powers is a free agent and Ben Cleveland hasn’t lived up to his draft expectations, so adding the versatile Vorhees to the mix gives them an option at left guard and another swing player for the O-line.
Waiting until the fifth round for a pass rusher isn’t ideal, but I think DeCosta finds someone in free agency to complement Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo while they prep a rookie. Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul are in the final legs of their career and Baltimore needs some juice on its defensive line. The Ravens struck gold in the fifth round of the 2016 draft when they selected pass rusher Matthew Judon. Yasir Abdullah or Ochaun Mathis could be that guy once again.
The last pick is a true developmental pick that could go a variety of ways. Just about every position is at play, but I’d like to see them add another offensive tackle with the pick. McClendon Curtis is an imposing player who also has versatility along the offensive line. You can never have enough offensive tackles in a division that features T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson.
What do you think of this Ravens mock draft?
Photo Credit: Courtesy of BC Football