With the 8th Pick in the NFL Draft the Baltimore Ravens select…

There’s only one good thing that comes out of a 5-11 season, and that’s a top draft pick. With the NFL Combine just two days away, it’s about time for Ozzie Newsome and company to start seriously considering which prospect will be the best fit in Baltimore.

This year the Raven’s have a variety of needs to address, the most obvious being the quarterback situation. Steve McNair is struggling through a shoulder injury, Kyle Boller still isn’t the answer, and though Troy Smith showed some promise late last season he probably isn’t the solution either. With that being the case, it’s hard to imagine Newsome passing on Boston College’s Matt Ryan should he fall to 8. That may not be an option however, as Atlanta will pick either 3, 4, or 5 and will likely pick up the top ranked QB before the Ravens have a chance. Brian Brohm is also a possibility, but his draft stock has plummeted since the beginning of the season and he could now find himself in late round one to early round two.

So who do the Raven’s pick if Matt Ryan is off the board? Suggs was franchised, but you have to wonder if he’ll be a Raven after next season. Also Jarrett Johnson has had his fair share of injuries, making a 3-4 OLB a pressing need. Vernon Gholston from Ohio State is a perfect candidate to fill that position, as he is a physical freak and built for that role.

Cornerback is also an issue with Samari Rolle’s continual struggle with epilepsy and Chris McAlister on the wrong side of thirty. Aqib Talib (Kansas), Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) and Leodis McKelvin (Troy) all have top ten potential at cornerback and could be a strong possibility. Flowers’ physical play makes him the logical fit for Baltimore, but Talib has the potential to become a pure shutdown corner and came up with some big plays in college.

Then there’s the off chance that a top prospect like defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (USC) falls to pick 8. Ellis showed in college that he can get to the quarterback from the tackle position, and would be a great addition as a defensive end in the Raven’s 3-4 next to Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata.

Other needs this off-season include offensive line depth, and possibly a tall possession receiver but that can be addressed in later rounds. We’ll have to wait until after the combine to see which prospects distance themselves from the pack and establish themselves as the top prospects at their respected positions.