However, he may offer the most tantalizing combination of size (6-3, 208 pounds), speed (4.51 40-yard dash) and athleticism of any receiver in the draft. Johnston is not considered as polished as the other receivers touted to go in the first round, particularly with his route running. Ravens 7-round mock draft: Trading back, filling biggest needs early, adding depth late Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (34th) The Ravens would happily live with a few breakdowns if he was consistently getting his hands on footballs and taking them the other way. He can be a bit of a gambler at times and get caught out of position. Forbes has extremely good instincts and anticipatory skills. He had 14 college interceptions and returned six for touchdowns. But he is the definition of a big-play corner. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State (35th)įorbes is only 166 pounds and his slight frame will likely discourage some teams. His size might scare off some teams, but watching him with the ball in his hands should alleviate some concern. He’s a dynamic playmaker who can beat cornerbacks deep with his speed and turn short catches into big plays with his vision and elusiveness. Flowers plays bigger than his 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame. Teams seem to have fallen in love with the former Boston College standout in the pre-draft process, and Baltimore was among a number of organizations to bring him in for a visit. His injury history is cause for some concern. He also has the versatility to play several spots along the defensive front, a quality the Ravens covet. He’s a big and explosive athlete who can get after the quarterback and hold his own in the run game. Bresee had nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss in three seasons. Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson (23rd)Ī Maryland native, Bresee is considered one of the top interior defensive linemen, and the Ravens could use one more piece to bolster their group following the departure of Calais Campbell. He’s drawn some comparisons to current Raven cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and it would be quite a story if he winds up starting opposite him. He plays with confidence and physicality, and his combination of size (6-foot-1, 197 pounds) and athleticism (he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash) could lead to him being selected in the middle of the first round. A tone-setter in the secondary, Banks loves beating up receivers at the line of scrimmage. He exudes some of the characteristics the team covets. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (27th)īanks is a Baltimore native, so he should be very familiar with how the Ravens play defense. Note: The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler’s overall ranking for the player is in parentheses.ĭane Brugler’s The Beast, the complete 2023 NFL Draft Guide, is now available. In big board 3.0, here’s the best guess at 10 players who could pique the Ravens’ interest if they are available when Baltimore is on the clock in the first round. The “what ifs” are what make the draft so much fun. However, what if a player they don’t expect to be available when they’re on the clock falls? What if the Ravens, who play things extremely close to the vest, have free-agent deals in the works for a veteran receiver and cornerback and don’t feel as much pressure to address those positions early in the draft? What if the best player available is an offensive tackle, an edge rusher or, gasp, a running back? It makes plenty of sense for the Ravens to be involved. The Ravens have only strengthened that belief by bringing in most of the top wide receivers and cornerbacks for pre-draft visits.įollow all of The Athletic’s NFL Draft 2023 coverage.īarring a trade up or down, Baltimore is in the range where draft pundits have predicted a run on receivers and the final few cornerbacks with first-round grades to come off the board. Those are viewed as the Ravens’ two biggest needs even after they signed wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. For weeks, the outside perception has been that Baltimore will be deciding between a cornerback and wide receiver with its first-round pick. This year, though, feels more predictable, at least in terms of the No. If you hear that they love a player in the days before the draft, your first inclination should be that it’s all a smokescreen, leaked to the media to increase their chances that the player they do covet is available. Yet, that doesn’t mean the Ravens are transparent come draft time.
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